Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: TEARS - (as in crying) (10/04/04)
TITLE: No Weapon Formed Against Me Will Prosper By Lynda Lee Schab 10/07/04 |
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Blue lights appeared out of nowhere, illuminating her rearview mirror. "Great!" Suzie said out loud, smacking the steering wheel. "Just what I need!"
Pulling off to the side of the road, Suzie stretched out her arm, popped open the glove compartment and rummaged around for her registration. Now Jack was really going to blow his top. It had been her responsibility to register the car when they had moved to California three months ago and she had completely forgotten.
The officer was at her window and she rolled it down, flashing a warm smile. "Is there a problem, Officer?" she asked sweetly.
"Do you realize how fast you were going?" he asked, expressionless.
"Um---Hmmm. No, not really. I couldn't have been going over the speed limit, though. I always watch my speed. Don't want to break the law!"
"You were going sixty miles per hour. The speed limit is forty-five. Can I see your license and registration?" No smile from Officer Crabby Pants.
"Well, that's the thing, Officer. We just moved here three months ago from Michigan and I haven't gotten our new registration yet," Suzie explained as she handed over her Michigan registration.
"You've had plenty of time. I'm going to have to write you up. Hold tight." She watched Officer Grinch saunter back to his cruiser, as if he had all the time in the world. She checked her watch. Jack was probably seething by now!
This cop obviously had no mercy! Suzie simply could not afford a ticket right now. Besides facing Jack's wrath, finances were tight - they had no extra money to spend on traffic tickets! She would have to think of something - fast. Officer Scowley was on his way back. She rifled through her purse for her weapon. She didn't want to use it but she would if necessary.
"I issued you two tickets," he said. Suzie started to protest and the officer cut her off. "Actually, you should thank me. I only wrote you for ten over. Saved you some big money. I also wrote you up for an expired registration."
Suzie had no choice. It was now or never. She tightened the grip on her weapon and pulled it out. She could have sworn she saw fear in Officer Do-No-Good's face. Sweet revenge.
"Wahhh-----" she wailed, swiping at her eyes with the tissue. "Please, Officer. You can't give me a t-ticket. I p-promise to run right to the Secretary of State and r-register the car. And I swear I will never speed again." Suzie's breath came in short bursts and she twisted her face, contorting it as if in severe pain. Tears sprouted from her eyes and she made a display of soaking the tissue.
"Maam, I'm afraid…" (Yes! She knew he was afraid) "that no weapon formed against me will prosper. I'll have to write you up for trying to manipulate an officer of the law with tears."
"What?" Suzie asked, confused.
"Crying your way out of a speeding ticket is against the law in the state of California."
"What are you talking about?" Suzie asked, her eyes suddenly drying up to accommodate anger. "Michigan doesn't have a law like that. I've never heard something so stupid!"
"There are too many actresses in California. It would be impossible to tell who was truly sorry and who was faking it."
Suzie watched, dumbfounded, as Officer Lower-than-Low wrote out the ticket.
"How much is the fine?" Suzie demanded.
"No fine. You'll probably just be sentenced to attend Cryers Anonomous for six months. Only subsequent offenders get fined. Just make sure you don't try it again." The officer smiled for the first time and headed back to his cruiser.
Suzie was in shock. Jack would be furious! She wondered if her weapon would work on him today. Highly doubtful. She wadded up the tissue, tossed it angrily out of the window and watched in horror as it hit Officer Evil smack dab in the back of the head.
Then Suzie cried. For real.
Lynda Schab
copyright 2004
Exactly 750 words!