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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/Mathio_Albero on 2026-02-15 16:22:04+00:00.

This happened yesterday and my ego is still in shambles.

For context, me(23M) and my gf(23F) met at Dallas but both are not from here.

After being perfect boyfriend for nearly a year the time to meet her family has come and i flew into Albuquerque where she grew up. She told me many times that it'd be a big deal, i just never understood how bif of a deal it really was.

Her dad is one of those old school types who you often see in movies. Firm handshake. Eye contact that feels like a job interview.

We land, he picks us up in this old dusty Ford truck(of course manual)

On the drive back he starts talking about how kids these days cannot drive real cars. I laugh and say yeah thats wild. He looks at me and goes you can drive stick, right?

Now here is the thing. Ive watched YouTube videos. I understand the concept. Clutch, shift, gas. Easy. In theory. So I say yeah, I got it, and i couldnt be more wrong.

Halfway home he pulls over and says tha its my turn. I get in the driver seat already sweating through my shirt. I stall it immediately.

He nods slowly. Says ease off the clutch slower. I try again. Stall. Third time I get it moving but I rev the engine like Im trying to wake up the whole Albuquerque. The truck lurches forward and i almost take out smbd mailbox.

My girlfriend is in the passenger seat trying not to laugh. I can see her shoulders shaking.

Then comes the hill. A small one. But to me it might as well have been Everest. I panic and forget everything. The truck rolls back a little and he has to yank the handbrake. He calmly says maybe let me handle it.

We switch seats. He drives the rest of the way in silence.

At dinner he tells the whole family about man with no practical skills. I keep smiling like it was funny but inside I wanted to evaporate.

This morning he asked if I want a lesson tomorrow. I said yes because apparently I enjoy suffering and i still want to date his daughter.

TL;DR: I lied about knowing how to drive on manual to impress my girlfriend’s dad and instead confirmed every stereotype he has about me.