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.
