Death Warrant

When my son's ticket was about
to go to warrant, I went
to the courthouse and explained to the judge
that he was in the hospital, dying.
Someone gasped.
Someone grabbed my hand.

Josh lusted over a muscle car,
a Dodge Charger with a Hemi-powered,
5.7L V8 under the hood.
He wanted me to buy it. I wanted
to lease it. He said that meant
I knew he was going to die.

The judge looked over the warrant.
"He's in the hospital, you say?"
"Yes, your honor. Terminal cancer."

"Good," she said. She handed
the paperwork back to the bailiff.
"Then he won't be driving
without a license,
out there endangering others."