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-one. 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 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 letter
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, 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 thing recalled by their maker.
A speeding ticket you will never forget!