Prompt and Circumstance

On Reflection

'mirror' (Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2016)

"Oh dear! I think that was a police car, dearest."

Through gritted teeth, her husband replied, "YES! It was... dammit." His heart sank as his eyes flickered between the highway ahead and his rear vision mirror. The 'cop' car turned across the long straight road stretching far behind and headed in their direction... fast.

"He's turned on his flashing lights," he said. His voice betrayed his anxiety.

"Shush, dearest," she said, her voice and words soothing, as always. "If he stops us, tell him the one about that faulty speedometer, and make sure you bring him to our car... to your door, actually." She patted his arm encouragingly, quietening his fears.

When both cars stopped, the old man hastily emerged from his car first; approached the police car and whilst pleading confusion about the altered speed limit AND unexpected problems with his car's speedometer, he drew the policeman to the open driver's door of his car.

The young policeman gingerly leaned into the car. To his relief, a little old granny sat in the passenger seat, tiny embroidery specs perched on the end of her nose. Of course, she's crocheting, he thought, and just like my Gran, what else but a granny square rug?

"Speeding?" Her tone was polite but shocked. "Oh seriously, dear. I would most surely have known. I can feel that sort of thing straight away. NO WAY!" She sniffed in disgust. "Old folk like us... we don't rush anywhere these days. Life is going more than too fast for us already. No... it must be that pesky speedometer."

As she saw his bemused, somewhat embarrassed expression, she added, "... there, there dear. We ALL get things wrong sometimes. Don't you worry about it... nice young fellow like you. Hmm... ?"

His smile was a touch bashful. "Sorry ma'am. But get hubby to check that speedo as soon as you can." He shook his head. "Seems something's malfunctioning there, and you might not be so lucky to get away with it next time. Especially over the border." And he beamed broadly as the old man hovered behind, vigorously nodding.

"Certainly dear. Thank you SO much for bringing it to our attention." With the sweetest of smiles she stopped crocheting to reach over and pat his arm. "Your mother must be SO proud of you!" They both beamed at each other.

As he drove off one way, and the old couple the other, the old lady said, "Oh my! That was close, dearest. I told you he'd never look in my pretty patchwork knitting bag back there," and she tilted her head towards the back seat.

"... because of your crocheted rug tucked over the top?" He chortled into his white whiskers. "Or because no-one would doubt the innocence of a dear little old granny, calmly crocheting?"

She laughed out loud. "Who'd have thought a stitch in time could save nine - or, in this case - hide thousands of dollars?" She smiled innocently and fluttered her eyelashes in best Hollywood style, "Our heist! That's what they call it in the movies, isn't it?"

She couldn't help adding, "They say you should always look to the future, dearest - that's why your rear-vision mirrors are SO small and your front windscreen is SO large!"