Belly Laugh: 16th Birthday Dreams and the Chicken Car Who Stole Them

 

 

 

 

Yes, this is the famous "Chicken Car" from Decatur, IL. And yes, that is a youthful Brent standing alongside the streamer and balloon adorned "infamous" vehicle. The car was given to me as a "gift" for my 16th birthday. For years my parents promised in prideful tones to buy me this lovely, custom-painted vehicular specimen when I turned 16. Laughter always ensued shortly after their pronouncements. I, too, laughed... nervously-- mostly because I knew my parents could be capable of many things, and mischief of this magnitude was par for the course. Well, that day came. My 16th birthday. No gift. Not even a simple "happy birthday." No cake.  No balloons.  Nothing. Discouraged and bordering on depression, I went out to mow the lawn.  As I mowed, I noticed a peculiar sight. All up and down Adams Drive, neighbors suddenly appeared on their porches in wild anticipation-- as if a parade of sorts would soon be arriving. I, too, watched with great curiosity. Then the horns blew... people scampered to street; wildly waving as a car... THAT car... slowly rumbled down the road. Stunned, frightened, nauseous, I peered over, eyes squinting, to see who was driving that chicken. Yep. It was Mom and Dad. And yep, they pulled right into our driveway. With great excitement, my Dad jumped out, beaming ear-to-ear, and said, "this is your special day, my son, here are the keys to your first car!" "Only the best for my son," he said. I thought I was going to be sick. I said, "You're kidding, right?!?  My sister, Natalie, grabbed the door of that blinged - out - psychedelic former Cadillac and said, "you should be ashamed! Mom and Dad spent good money on this car! I would be proud to drive this to school! Just think, you'll never lose it in the parking lot!" My parents insisted I have photos taken with my "new car."  Please note the pinwheel I'm holding.  Mom handed it to me shortly before the first "click."  She said, "I know how you like shiny things-- here's a pinwheel to celebrate!"  My parents' prank lasted for hours, and they even required me to pick up my friends and cruise down the most popular street in town, Eldorado-- a street literally packed with kids from my high school. The entire neighborhood was in on it, too. And I was completely convinced my parents had really done it this time. Fortunately, they had only rented the car for the day. The joke was on me. I can still remember thinking, in prayerful gratitude, "thank you, Lord, for preventing the inevitable onslaught of teasing, strange looks, and the ultimate loss of friendship" this car would most certainly create. One thing is for sure, my 16th birthday was a memorable one. And I cherish this photo. Thankfully 26 years later, my parents have never changed. I love them, and I especially love them for renting--not buying--this "gem" of modern day transportation. 

Copyright 2014 © Brent Goken  All Rights Reserved.