Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down
to 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 the worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching
a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little
anxious 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 the 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 and 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. Slam-
ming 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 joke? Certainly no 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 ...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.

Life is precious.
Handle with care.

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This page was created on 4~04~00