DATE’S END

After a pleasant evening it’s natural to want to sit a while in front of a girl’s house and talk. Many parents, however, are concerned when they see the car parked out front too long. Also, neighbors may get the wrong impression when these sessions last more than a few minutes. If your parents are up and you want to talk some more, invite your date in for a Coke or cocoa.

It’s up to the girl to ring down the curtain on a date. When they arrive at her home, she can signal that she’s not interested in prolonged car conversations by opening the car door.

At this point, the boy walks his date to the door, and unless he’s invited in, makes his brief good night and leaves.

Parking and Petting

Parents and teen-agers alike are concerned about “parking.” Many questions come up regarding whether or not to park, and how to prevent unfortunate incidents in a car. When you start to drive, the responsibility for “safe parking” as well as safe driving is both yours and your date’s. For a detailed discussion of this problem, see page 173.

SUMMING UP

A boy should not feel out of things if he doesn’t have a car for dates. When it comes down to cases, most girls would much rather go by bus than not go out at all. If a boy is fun to be with, his having a car is not too important to the girl.

An enterprising lad does not let the lack of a car keep him from asking a girl for a date. There are many things you can do without a car. If you live in a place with nearby public transportation, the problem is simple. Even if you live in a rural area without buses, streetcars, or trains, you are still not cut off from activities. You can usually get a lift from someone with a car, and for special events your parents probably would be glad to drive you.

You can always plan interesting dates at home, and you may even enjoy just going for a long walk. Some teen-agers bicycle into town for a movie just for the fun of it. Especially in good weather, you may want to plan dates which involve hiking or biking.

Having a car for dates is fun when the car is used correctly. But like a lot of money, it’s not really necessary for a good time.