Our Oldsmobile has side vents.
Which block the wind when the windows are down.
Or point the air in when you need it.
We follow cars with purple tail lights way ahead.
One car has a broken light that is white.
Our steering wheel is ivory.
The gear shift has a glass knob you can see though.
I sit in front in the middle and sometimes get to shift.
Our Olds is two-toned, white and turquoise.
It has a silver hood ornament, a jet with swept wings.
All the cars on our block are streamlined.
I know all the cars. Dad tests me as we drive.
Pontiacs have four chrome stripes running down the hood
Buicks are round and have holes punched into the side
Mercurys are low and have a toothy grill.
Our Olds Super can outrun the Wilson’s car.
We circle the drive in to get hamburgers and shakes.
A Vespa scooter and Studebaker are in front of us.
They are talking to each other. The Vespa wobbles to stay up.
Dad likes root beer floats at the “A and W” best of all.
Mom likes Dairy Queen hot fudge sundaes.
Some days, we make popcorn and go to the drive-in theater
We park on a bump looking up at the screen. Dad pulls the speakers in.
Kris gets to turn the round button.
It is sunset. The stars are coming out before it is dark.
We kids play on swings under the screen until the cars honk for us.
The “Vista Vision” logo is on the screen. John Wayne’s name appears.
We are just in time.
We have to be quiet. Mom and Dad sit together in front.
We fall asleep during the movie and wake as we pull into our drive
We are carried into the house to bed.