I finally renewed my driver’s license the other day. That is after almost two years of driving without a valid one. Now, I can be a maniac on the road. No more Ms. Nice Girl. No more driving saint behind the wheel. I can now grow claws behind the wheel and honk at every car who gets in my way.

It’s different now. Whatever happens, I have proof that I can drive. If a traffic officer stops me for driving too slow or too fast, I won’t hesitate to stop and explain my way out of a traffic ticket. When just last week, I would never be caught violating any traffic law. That’s the beauty of a having a license. It gives you freedom to do whatever. Especially when you’re inside your car and you’re protected by steel. In your car, you’re anonymous behind those one-way or dark tint and dark shades.

Away from the road, it’s a different story. You can’t honk at the person in front of you even though she walks like there’s a procession or a death march. You can’t cut the person ahead of you in the cashier or elbow your way inside the cinema. You just can’t. Why? Because people might see you. No contraption, no steel, no dark shades to protect you.

Politeness. That’s what happens when you don’t have protection and license.

photo: epak