by Alan Townendpleasantness of the weather for the time of year. «Oh er - yes.
Absolutely». I hesitated and agreed wholeheartedly. «Is this your
car, sir». — He asked me whether it was my car.
«Yes, indeed» I affirmed confidently. «Don't see many of this
particular make often. I've sometimes thought of buying one
myself.» — He reckoned that you did not often see many of that
particular make. He sometimes thought of buying one myself. «Oh,
really». I expressed interest in his comment.
«What is this man up to? Is he trying to lure me into starting up the
car so that he can then breathalze me?» — I asked myself what that
man was up to and wondered whether he was trying to lure me into
starting up the car so that he could then breathalyze me. «But then I
doubt I could afford it. Cost a fair amount, I expect?» — Then he
doubted whether he could afford it and conjectured that it it had to
cost a fair amount. «I picked it up quite cheaply actually. It has done
a lot of miles, you see.» — I explained that I had it picked up quite
cheaply because it had done a lot of miles. The man was beginning
to get on my nerves. Why didn't he just arrest me for intent to drive
a motor car while under the influence of drink?
The next question seemed a bit fatuous as I was clutching my car
keys at the time. «Going for a spin, sir?» — He asked me whether I
was going for a spin and I didn't like the way he emphasized the
word spin. «No, I'm just going to put the car in the garage.» — I
denied this and pointed out that I was just going to put the car in the
garage. «Don't let me hold you up. I'm just waiting around to catch
the odd speeding motorist and anyone who's had a bit too many, ha
ha.» — He told me not to let him hold me up and went on to say that
he was just waiting around to catch the odd speeding motorist and
then added with a chuckle anyone who had had too much to drink.
I couldn't hesitate any longer and got into the car and switched on
the engine. «Just a minute, sir.» — The policeman asked me politely
to stop for a minute. The voice of my conscience spoke: «He's got
you now and you've fallen right into the trap.» — He had got me now
and I had fallen right into the trap. «What's the matter?» — I asked
what the matter was.
«Let me just see that the road's clear for you.» — He me to let him
see the road was clear. It was and so was I. I breathed a sight of
relief, drove the car into the garage and shut the door. As I turned to
go into the house, I was aware of the policeman. He put his hand
into his pocket. I assumed that the moment of truth had arrived. Out
came his handkerchief, after all even policemen have to blow their
noses. «What does he want, now?» — I asked myself what he was
going to do next. «It is my duty to point out to you, sir» — it was his
duty to point out to me that I drove a car under the influence? No.
He just wanted to point out that one of my brake lights had gone and
suggested I put it right as soon as possible.
I needed a drink.