Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down:73 mph in a
55 mph zone. It was his fourth time getting stopped in four months. How
could a guy get a break?
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 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.” 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 wasn’t 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 there, 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-opened 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 diver’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, 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 couldn’t 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 joke? It certainly wasn’t a ticket. Jack began to
read:
Dear Jack,
Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when she was 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 had only one, and I’m going to have to wait until heaven before I
can hug her again. A thousand times I’ve tried to forgive that man. A
thousand times I’ve 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 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, he hugged a surprised wife and children when he
arrived.
Life is precious. Handle it with care. Drive safely and pay attention to
what you’re doing.