Read This
Slowly (it is based on a true story)
A siren, a flashing
light and Jack looked carefully at his speedometer before slowing
down: 73kmh in a 60 zone. Fourth time in as many months.
How could a guy get caught so
often?
When his car had slowed to 10 kph, 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 the golf club? Jack sunk farther into
his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop
catching a guy from his own club. 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 jumped out of the car and 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
looked at 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." Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time for new
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 licence?
Whatever the
reason, Jack wouldn't be playing golf with this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the right. 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
the police 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. And despite all of our focus
and training in Orica I am staggered when I still see
traffic infringement reports of our staff, your staff, breaking the speed limit, often in excess of
15 kilometres. This is an important message; please pass it on
to your staff and friends. Drive safely and carefully.
Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker.
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