The Ticket...
Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55
zone. The flashing blue in his rear view mirror insisted he pull over
quickly, but Jack let the car coast.
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.
He slumped into his seat, the collar of his trench coat covering his
ears. He tapped the steering wheel, doing his best to look bored, his
eyes on the 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.
Jack was tempted to leave the window shut long enough to gain the
psychological edge but decided on a different tack. 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, bottom teeth scratching his upper lip. When Bob vanished inside
his car, 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.
Bob
Jack shifted uncomfortably in his trench coat. Then he twisted 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.
Author Unknown
