This Was a Stalled Escape

It was in Newbury, Berkshire. I was seventeen when I tried to steal her car ' a stupid plan born out of bravado and panic. The woman was just taking her son to school, walking towards the driver's door when I stepped in front of her and pointed the gun at her face. She froze. I told her to hand over the keys, and she did. For a moment, I felt powerful. Untouchable. Then I sat in the driver's seat and saw the gearstick. A manual. I didn't know how to drive one. I tried anyway ' grinding the gears, jolting forward a few metres while she ran off with her boy. The car shuddered and stalled again and again. Finally I gave up and bolted. They caught me minutes later. I failed at the crime and the escape. All I remember now is her face when the gun came up.