At first, Paul got no answer. He heard some funny gasping, choking noises coming from inside Hank's bedroom. "Hank? It's me, Paul. I know you're in there."
더 많이 gulps for air, and then, "Okay. Come in."
Paul opened the door and stepped into his brother's room, which was full of model cars, posters of athletes and action movies, and lots of football gear. Hank sat on his bed, head downcast, looking 더 많이 forlorn than Paul had seen him in a long time. He was gasping for breath and blinking hard, and Paul realized his brother was trying very hard not to cry.
"You know, if 당신 need to let it out," Paul shut the door and came over to sit 의해 Hank, "no one's going to see 당신 but me."
Hank shook his head, wavy blond hair falling 앞으로 to hide his face. "Real men don't cry."
"Is that what your 프렌즈 tell you?" Hank looked up as Paul's tone came out unusually firm. "I cry when I'm this upset, Hank. What does that say about me?"
Hank managed a small, watery smile at these words.
"It'll be hard enough telling my 프렌즈 I didn't pass my driver's test without also letting them know I cried about it." Hank's head dropped into his hands with a huge sigh. "Do 당신 know how long we've all been talking about what kind of cars we're going to drive? I kept telling them I'd be getting a cool sports car 또는 muscle car and everyone's looking 앞으로 to taking rides in mine 더 많이 than anyone's. And if I don't have one I'll have to rely on 당신 또는 our parents 또는 them for rides everywhere while all my 프렌즈 are going wherever they want whenever they feel like it, and I'll be such a loser!" 의해 the time he was done, there was no holding back. The tears were flowing in earnest.
"No one calls my brother a loser." Paul waited, and once 더 많이 Hank managed a smile. "Who cares if 당신 can drive 또는 not?"
Hank swallowed and dried his eyes. "Okay, I'm not a loser. I still really want to be able to drive. Just for me."
Paul decided it was a good time now to tell him. "You know, Hank, you're not a bad driver. The only problem was 당신 were thinking too much."
Hank sighed, flopping down onto his bedcovers (dark blue patterned with little footballs). "Well, there's so much to remember. I wanted to make sure I got everything right!"
"I think that was your problem." Paul remembered how it felt when he was taking the test. "When 당신 don't think too hard, after a while, it's like there's nothing except 당신 and the car. 당신 just have to get a feel for it."
Hank shook his head. "You're just a better driver than me."
"No. I'm not." Paul stood up firmly. "Look, Hank, if 당신 want to retake your driver's test and pass this time, 당신 will. I'll help 당신 stop overthinking. And trust me, that's all 당신 have to do."
He turned and headed for the door. "I'll be waiting tomorrow after school, Hank. We'll practise together. And I'm not taking no for an answer!"
의해 the time Paul left, Hank really was smiling.
더 많이 gulps for air, and then, "Okay. Come in."
Paul opened the door and stepped into his brother's room, which was full of model cars, posters of athletes and action movies, and lots of football gear. Hank sat on his bed, head downcast, looking 더 많이 forlorn than Paul had seen him in a long time. He was gasping for breath and blinking hard, and Paul realized his brother was trying very hard not to cry.
"You know, if 당신 need to let it out," Paul shut the door and came over to sit 의해 Hank, "no one's going to see 당신 but me."
Hank shook his head, wavy blond hair falling 앞으로 to hide his face. "Real men don't cry."
"Is that what your 프렌즈 tell you?" Hank looked up as Paul's tone came out unusually firm. "I cry when I'm this upset, Hank. What does that say about me?"
Hank managed a small, watery smile at these words.
"It'll be hard enough telling my 프렌즈 I didn't pass my driver's test without also letting them know I cried about it." Hank's head dropped into his hands with a huge sigh. "Do 당신 know how long we've all been talking about what kind of cars we're going to drive? I kept telling them I'd be getting a cool sports car 또는 muscle car and everyone's looking 앞으로 to taking rides in mine 더 많이 than anyone's. And if I don't have one I'll have to rely on 당신 또는 our parents 또는 them for rides everywhere while all my 프렌즈 are going wherever they want whenever they feel like it, and I'll be such a loser!" 의해 the time he was done, there was no holding back. The tears were flowing in earnest.
"No one calls my brother a loser." Paul waited, and once 더 많이 Hank managed a smile. "Who cares if 당신 can drive 또는 not?"
Hank swallowed and dried his eyes. "Okay, I'm not a loser. I still really want to be able to drive. Just for me."
Paul decided it was a good time now to tell him. "You know, Hank, you're not a bad driver. The only problem was 당신 were thinking too much."
Hank sighed, flopping down onto his bedcovers (dark blue patterned with little footballs). "Well, there's so much to remember. I wanted to make sure I got everything right!"
"I think that was your problem." Paul remembered how it felt when he was taking the test. "When 당신 don't think too hard, after a while, it's like there's nothing except 당신 and the car. 당신 just have to get a feel for it."
Hank shook his head. "You're just a better driver than me."
"No. I'm not." Paul stood up firmly. "Look, Hank, if 당신 want to retake your driver's test and pass this time, 당신 will. I'll help 당신 stop overthinking. And trust me, that's all 당신 have to do."
He turned and headed for the door. "I'll be waiting tomorrow after school, Hank. We'll practise together. And I'm not taking no for an answer!"
의해 the time Paul left, Hank really was smiling.