Speeding Ticket!





 Jack took a long look at his speedometer
  before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone.
 Fourth time in as many months.
  How could 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 had seen every Sunday 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
My son is all I have left.

Sinderely  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.
 

  Return to Giggles and Sentiments