Stretching the Law

Situation:  Gary and Gretchen were married with a six-week-old baby girl.  Besides the six-week mother-baby physician check-ups, Gretchen and the baby had not left their house, until that day, since before the baby was born.  They went to visit Gary's family in another city, about two hours by interstate highway.

The family visit was fun with everyone, of course, fussing over the beautiful baby.  After dinner, Gary, Gretchen and the baby started the drive home.  Gretchen sighed to herself.  She had hoped that Gary wouldn't go way over the speed limit the way he usually did.  Surely, Gary wouldn't endanger the new baby, his own daughter!

It was not to be.  Gary not only went over the speed limit, he went 30 miles over the speed limit!  Gretchen was terrified.  She said not a word.  This is what happened, as she related it.  They went over a small hill and she thought they might fly!  Gretchen prayed,  "Dear God, please let a policeman catch him."  Before the thought left her mind, sirens were heard behind the car.  A state trooper pulled them over to the side of the road.

The trooper was in a good mood. He said, "Son, I didn't know these little cars would go this fast!  You were going 30 over the limit.  You have to see the judge.  Follow me."

Gary, Gretchen, and the baby followed the trooper, very slowly, under the speed limit.  Not a word was said.  The county seat was not close to the interstate.  By the time they reached the courthouse, it was dark.  Gary had to park directly next to the county jail.  Then he left with the trooper.

Gretchen waited as long as she could, then she had to breast-feed the baby, in the front seat of the car, next to the jail.  She felt very uncomfortable but she had to do it.

Gary was gone a long time.  The judge said, "Your fine is. . .payable in cash only."  Gary had credit cards and the checkbook but very little cash.  Gretchen had no money at all.  Gary had to call his family, one-and-a-half hours away to bring him the cash.  Finally they came, Gary paid the fine and his family went one way, Gary, Gretchen, and the baby went home.

Gretchen said nothing about this incident - ever.  Gary never went over the speed limit again with Gretchen in the car.

Gretchen found out years later what happened on Gary's family's end.  His mother or brother did not have the cash needed for the fine.  They had to go borrow money from one of his mother's friends.

Lessons learned:  We ALL must respect ALL laws and do as the laws say.  If we sincerely think a law is unfair or unjust, which is rare, we need to take legal means to change the law.  Gary's constant speeding was part of his total lack of respect for most laws.  He cheated terribly on his income taxes also.  Sooner or later, the law will catch up with us and we will pay, one way or another!

Outcome:  Gary's behavior not only betrayed a lack of respect for laws, but a lack of respect for everything that was not him!  In time, he turned into a horrible bully.  In more time, Gretchen gathered the strength to leave him, for good - divorce.  She had wished she had known about this before she had married him.  If only she had known. . .