July 11, 2005:

She left you in the passenger seat, parked facing upward on a steep, steep hill. With alarm you realize the brakes are loose, the car is slipping, rolling slowly backward, downhill into traffic. Twisting, you push your tiny child's foot against the brake pedal hard as you can, looking backward through the rear window, steering one-handed in reverse through oncoming traffic. It's a miracle no-one dies. You're as surprised as anyone when you arrive unharmed at the bottom of the hill.