Jack took a long look at his
speedometer before slowing down:
73 in a 55 zone.
Fourth time in as
many months.
How could a guy get caught so often?
When his car had
slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially.
Let
the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard.
Maybe some other car
will tweak his backside with a mirror.
The cop was stepping out of his
car, the big pad in hand.
Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat.
This
was worse than the coming ticket.
A Christian cop catching a guy from
his own church.
A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home
after a long day at the office.
A guy he was about to play golf with
tomorrow.
Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every
Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.
"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
"Hello, Jack." No
smile.
"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and
kids."
"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.
"I've seen some
long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit-just
this once." Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement." Diane said something
about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?"
"I know what
you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our
precinct."
Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to
change tactics.
"What'd you clock me at?"
"Seventy. Would you sit
back in your car please?"
"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as
soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier
with every ticket.
"Please, Jack, in the car."
Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open
door.
Slamming it shut, he stared at the dash board.
He was in no
rush to open the window.
The minutes ticked by.
Bob scribbled away
on the pad.
Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?
Whatever the
reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop
again.
A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.
There was Bob,
a folded paper in hand.
Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches,
just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.
"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.
Bob
returned to his police car without a word.
Jack watched his retreat in
the mirror.
Jack unfolded the sheet of paper.
How much was this one
going to cost?
Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of
joke?
Certainly not a ticket.
Jack began to read:
"Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter.
She was six when
killed by a car.
You guessed it - a speeding driver.
A fine and
three months in jail, and the man was free.
Free to hug his daughters.
All three of them.
I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until
Heaven before I can ever hug her again.
A thousand times I've tried to
forgive that man.
A thousand times I thought I had.
Maybe I did, but
I need to do it again.
Even now.
Pray for me. And be careful, Jack,
my son is all I have left."
"Bob"
Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the
road.
Jack watched until it disappeared.
A full 15 minutes later, he
too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and
hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.
Life is precious.
Handle with care.
Drive safely and
carefully.
Remember, cars are not the only thing recalled by their
maker.
~~ Author Unknown ~~