A Matter of Habit?

I never used to go anywhere without the car. I regarded it as an essential part of myself. But when the price of petrol doubled in one year, I resolved not to use the car except when absolutely necessary.

For example, I always used to take the car when I went to fetch the papers on Sunday morning, although our newsagent’s is only 10 minutes’ walk away; now I go on foot.

I tell myself that I’m not only economizing on petrol but keeping fit at the same time. It’s all a question of habit really. I’m sure you can get used to anything if you can get used to anything if you try and I rely feel that I rely on the car less than I used to.

Besides’ now that we live in the suburbs, I can walk down the road and catch a bus to the office or to any other part of the town. We used to live in the country about 15 miles from town and then I would frequently drive to and fro twice in one day. That meant I would use 15 gallons of petrol and more in a week; now I need half that amount.

The trouble is that I am also getting used to the petrol prices. They don’t seem so very high to me any more. Perhaps it’s easier to get accustomed to expensive petrol than it is to doing without the car.

Debra

Debra is a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl. She speaks about her daily routine.

At 7.30 my alarm clock rings. I lie for a while deciding whether to pretend to be seriously ill. This trick doesn't usually work, but I try anyway. My mother never believes me. So I finally get up. I leave the house for school at 8 a.m. As on Saturdays I work in a shop which sells jeans, I can only stay in bed later than usual on Sundays. I have a long lie-in and have my Sunday breakfast, at about 3 p.m. My mother doesn't approve, and my father thinks it's a big joke, but for me this is very important.

I usually enjoy school if I'm ready with my schoolwork. I hate the feeling of being left behind with anything. I enjoy school mainly because of the number of friends I have there. I also hate being alone. Another good reason for coming to school is to see my boyfriend, Mike. I meet him every lunchtime. However, I don't let this interfere with my schoolwork.

After school I either have basketball practice for the school team, or I go home to get myself ready to go out with Mike. I see Mike almost every evening. He says he doesn't mind what I look like but I like to look my best. I do my homework either before I see him, or after he leaves for the bus at 11 p.m. Either way my homework gets done.

When I go to bed I often think about possible careers and dream of becoming rich and famous (just like they do in the movies). Then I start to worry about anything and everything. I worry about school, money, my future, what I look like, what people think about me and what I could do to change the way people think about me. That's why I usually fall asleep only at 1 a.m.

I really enjoy looking after young children. They are so interesting. It was my ambition to be a nanny or a nursery nurse, but efforts to make me change my mind finally succeeded. My parents and friends are saying all the time, “There's no money in it. You'd be able to get a far better job.” I suppose I could babysit until I have children of my own. I'm looking forward very much to having children, but I'm not keen on the idea of being a typical mother and housewife. I also want a career, and a good one, but doing what? I wish I knew! My father continuously asks whether I've made up my mind yet. Now I'm concentrating on getting good exam results so that I'll have a solid base to move in any direction – preferably upwards.