Consequences

The country lane had poor lighting, he was driving carefully.

It was getting late and he was making his way home when the flashing blue light sped past him and pulled up. The driver slowed to a stop behind the police car. He was surprised to find the constabulary patrolling such a minor road at this time of night, but he had nothing to worry about. The driver of the police car seemed to be taking a long time getting out. The man sat waiting. After a while, he began to feel agitated. Finally, a large figure got out and walked back slowly to the man’s vehicle. As the policeman approached, the man wound down his window.

The man in uniform leaned in with a stern expression. “Good evening, sir. I would ask you to turn your ignition off.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Just turn the ignition off, thank you, sir.”

He turned the key. The engine died.

“Thank you, sir.” “Your licence please, sir.”

The man handed him his licence.

The officer took the card and appeared to scratch it several times, then scribbled something in his notebook. He peered in again, and asked, “Is this your licence and ID?”

The man nodded.

The officer handed it back, saying, “The photo appears to be damaged; you’d be wise to get it replaced, sir.” He stepped back, looking around the car. “Is this your vehicle, sir?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Are you sure about that, sir?”

“Yes, of course.”

The policeman sniffed. “Of course, you say.”

The driver was becoming uncomfortable with the way things were going. He asked, “Look, did I do something wrong, officer?”

“Ah! Why would you think that, sir?” More scribbling.

“Just seems A bit unusual, that’s all.”

“Unusual you say.” The officer made another note and walked to the back of the car. Moments later the man heard the tinkling of broken glass.

The policeman returned. “Where you aware that you have a broken light, sir?”

The man stayed quiet for a moment. “No. No I didn’t. I’ll get it fixed. Now, have you finished with me? Can I go now?”

The policeman stood back and straightened. “Right, out of the car, sir.”

“Out of the car, whatever…” the man spluttered.

He was cut short by the policeman’s harsh command. “Get out of the car… sir!”

As the man got out, the sudden blow to his stomach winded him and he crumpled to the ground.

The policeman looked down at the man. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you in, sir.”

The man winced in pain. “Take me in, whatever for?” he said, holding his stomach.

The little notebook came out and the policeman began to read.

“Well, sir, firstly there’s the matter of the rear light. This being the reason for my pulling you over. Then there was your refusal to produce your licence until I insisted. Your damaged licence is hard to read so that a proper identification was not possible. Then, after your initial refusal to get out of the car, you got out and attacked me…”

“Attacked?” the man on the ground croaked.

“Yes, sir, a vicious attack.”

“My stomach! What about that?”

“Self-defence. You lunged at me.” The policeman laughed. “You see, a thing like a broken tail light can lead to consequences, sir.”

Still in pain, the man looked up and asked, “Consequences? What do you mean consequences?”

“Well, sir, for instance you might get pulled over by someone who, as a totally innocent child was bullied at school, who years later joins the police force!”