- Joined
- May 19, 2001
- Messages
- 26,034
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THERE IS AN E-MAIL THAT HAS A MESSAGE WORTH PASSING ON,<br />THIS IS ONE OF THEM SPECIALLY WHEN SUMMER IS HERE AND KIDS ARE OUT THERE<br />PLAYING.<br /><br />Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone.<br />Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?<br /><br />When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only<br />partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some<br />other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his<br />car, the big pad in hand.<br /><br />Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse<br />than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who<br />happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy<br />he was about to play golf with tomorrow.<br /><br />Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd<br />never seen in uniform.<br /><br />"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."<br /><br />"Hello, Jack." No smile.<br /><br />"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."<br /><br />"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good. "I've seen some long days at the<br />office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once."<br /><br />Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef<br />and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you mean. I also know that<br />you have a reputation in our precinct ." Ouch. This was not going in the right<br />direction. Time to change tactics.<br /><br />"What'd you clock me at?"<br /><br />"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"<br /><br />"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as saw you. I was barely nudging<br />65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.<br /><br />"Please, Jack, in the car."<br /><br />Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut,<br />he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.<br /><br />The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.<br /><br />Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?<br /><br />Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near<br />this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a<br />folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough<br />room for Bob to pass him the slip.<br /><br />"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.<br /><br />Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the<br />mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?<br /><br />Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?<br /><br />Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:<br /><br />"Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car.<br />You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man<br />was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had one, and I'm<br />going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.<br /><br />A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I<br />had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be<br />careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."<br /><br />"Bob"<br /><br />Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road.<br />Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away<br />and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and<br />kids when he arrived.<br /><br />Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message. Drive safely<br />and carefully. Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker.
