One evening a very wealthy man named Steve, his pregnant wife Lynn, and their two kids (James, 4, and Gwen, 2) visit a high-end European car dealership on the outskirts of town looking for a new car.
Steve falls in love with one of the newer German touring sedans. After haggling over the price he finally settles the deal.
They buy the car and arrange to drive it off the lot. Steve fastens the two child-safety seats in the backseat and buckles James and Gwen in their respective places.
As he opens the door for Lynn the salesman standing close by says, “I hope you enjoy her. She’s a fine machine. It’s a shame you don’t live in Germany though. This car is not made for American highways. She was engineered to purr at about 120 mph on the autobahn, not 65 on I81.”
Steve, rounding the car to the drive’s side, quips over his shoulder, “We’ll see what we can do about that…”. He slides into his seat, keys the ignition, and rolls out of the lot.
Watching the family leave the salesman shrugs to his partner, “What an odd thing to say?”
Five minutes later Steve pulls onto an access ramp that leads to the interstate. It is a surprise move. Lynn assumed they were heading home.
“Where are we going honey?” She asks.
“I thought we’d take her out for a little spin”
“Oh, well, I suppose that’s fine but it should be a short one. The kids are really tired. It‘s way past their bed-time.”
James pipes up from the back, “I’m not tired daddy.”
“Of course you’re not Jimmy. You want to take a drive with daddy don’t you?”
“Yes daddy, please.”
“Well, I suppose it won’t hurt”
Steve gently moves into the far left lane heading south toward Pennsylvania.
He accelerates gradually and deliberately.
The car glides. The engine hums softly. It’s a pleasant evening.
5 minutes later Lynn glances at the speedometer.
120 mph.
She gasps. It feels like they’re going 55. What an amazing car. She assumes Steve has not been paying attention.
“Sweetheart, look how fast you’re going.”
Steve glances down.
“Yes. I know.” He smiles, “Isn’t this car great?”
“Yes, it’s a wonderful car…but the speed limit is 65 mph.”
“I know.”
“You’re almost going twice that.”
“I know”
Lynn feels the car lurch forward. “What are you doing?” she asks.
“Accelerating.”
“Yes, I see that honey but you’re already speeding and we can’t afford a ticket. Besides, this is really dangerous and the kids are in the car.”
“Lynn, didn’t you hear the salesman? This car is designed for the autobahn. It was made to go fast. I’m simply driving the car as it was intended to be driven.”
“What about the limits?”
“Nobody drives 65mph anymore and besides that do you realize how long it has been since the speed limit was set?”
“How long?”
“At least 15 years ago. Do you realize how much more advanced we are now, technologically speaking, than we were then? I mean, when the state passed the speed limit restrictions they had no idea that cars could be engineered like they are today.”
“But Steve, I don’t think they were thinking about the capacity of particular cars. They were thinking about the maximum possible safe speed for any vehicle.”
Just then flashing lights in the rearview mirror catch Steve’s eye. “I wonder what they want?”
“Steve, you’re speeding. They want to give you a ticket.”
“They must not be aware of the latest German engineering.”
“Sure Steve, just pull over.”
“Okay.”
Steve slows down and pulls off the road.
The state patrol officer pulls in behind him, steps out of his car, and approaches Steve’s side.
Steve, familiar with the drill, has his license and registration out and ready.
“Good evening officer, what can I do for you?”
“Good Evening sir. Do you know why I’m pulling you over?”
“I have no idea?”
“Do you have any idea how fast you were going?”
“Sure. I was cruising at about 120 and I was on my way up to 130 when you stopped me. Is there a problem?”
“Yes. The speed limit is 65mph here.”
“Have you been talking to my wife or something? C’mon, these laws are so outdated.”
“Uh, well, this conversation is already above my pay-grade. I just enforce law.”
“Officer, do you know how many laws there are in this state?”
“Thousands I guess.”
“That’s right, thousands. And out of these thousands of laws, how many actually deal with speeding?”
“Well, one.”
“So out of thousands of laws, you zero in on the one and only law that deals with speeding?
“But that’s the law you broke…“
“And then you choose to misapply that law to my German engineered sedan, a car that the law obviously fails to take into account?”
“Sir, I don’t care about your German engineered car or the other ten thousand laws on the books right now. I care that you are breaking a law of this state and endangering your family and everyone else on the road. So here….”
He tears off a ticket stub and hands it to Steve.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a ticket. Be happy sir. You’re lucky I don’t have the time to run you in.”
“What a joke.”
“Call it whatever you want so long as you pay up.”
The officer turns on his heels and heads back to his car. Steve crumples up the ticket, tosses it in the back seat and, shaking his head, rolls up his window.
“Wow was that guy narrow minded! I mean, why do we have laws in the first place if not to preserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? That’s the spirit of the law, that’s the spirit of the Constitution—to make it possible for guys like me to pursue happiness. That’s all I’m trying to do.’
“I don’t think the word ‘happiness’ means what you think it means Steve. I think…”
“Yes, I know. I’ve heard what you think. We’ve had quite a long conversation too. Now hold on because we’re not finished with our drive.”
“What are you talking about? Let‘s go home Steve. Haven‘t you had enough?”
“Hey, I’m the head of this family and I say we’re not finished with this ride.”
Steve slams the accelerator to the floor and the German engineered sedan skids back onto the highway.
“If you’re hell bent on doing this, at least let us out.”
“What!? Hell no you’re not getting out. We’re a family. You promised to love, honor and obey me. Now obey!”
“Let us go Steve. I didn’t promise to let you endanger our kids. I’m pregnant for goodness sake!”
“James, do you want to go home and go to bed with mommy or do you want to drive fast with daddy?”
“Drive fast! Drive fast! This is fun daddy!”
“See honey, the kids are on my side.”
The car glides. The engine hums softly. It’s a pleasant evening
To be continued.
25 Comments •
] but recognizing the need to repent and take action, I pulled into my Chevi dealership. I saw a burnt orange ‘75 Chevette with 4 speed over in the corner still there from when I drove out in the new Nova. I told my parihioner owner that I wanted to trade and why I needed to do it. A living parable. 
And what we’re supposed to get out of this is THAT MEN ARE EVIL!!!!!
; > )
Seriously, the line that most spoke to me is:
“If you’re hell bent on doing this, at least let us out.”
“What!? Hell no you’re not getting out. We’re a family. You promised to love, honor and obey me. Now obey!”