Fw:The fast lane

[Guest guest]

> For those of us that like to drive in the fast lane.

>

> 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 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 things 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 we don't try.

>