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. 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 police 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 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, Jack, 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.
>
> Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread
> like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the
> sanctity of
> life, people think twice about sharing.
>
> Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to
many
> on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what
they
> will think of you for sending it to them.
>
> Pass this on - you may save a life.
>
> Maybe not, but we'll never know if you don't try

ttt