Guest guest Posted January 2, 2002 Report Share Posted January 2, 2002 > For those of us that like to drive in the fast lane. > > 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 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 > dashboard. 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. This is an > important message; please pass it along to your > friends. Drive safely and carefully. Remember, cars > are not the only things recalled by their maker. > > Funny how you can send a thousand jokes' through > e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you > start sending messages regarding the sanctity of > life, people think twice about sharing. > > Funny how when you go to forward this message, you > will not send it to many on your address list > because you're not sure what they believe, or what > they will think of you for sending it to them. Pass > this on, you may save a life. Maybe not, but we'll > never know if we don't try. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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