Heading home after lunch and time spent with a friend,

I had only good thoughts and no plans to offend.

I turned off of the street and into the parkway.

`Twas my normal route home, I drove most everyday.

On the opposite corner, six wide lanes away,

the red traffic light caused a school bus a delay.

It appeared the bus was getting ready to turn.

Moving out of my turn-lane was my chief concern.

My radio was playing a favorite song.

I was making good time and was humming along,

In my rear-view mirror, came a flashing red light.

I had to pull over to discover my plight.

“Mr. Officer, Sir, Did I do something wrong?”

He glared at me sharply and declared loud and strong,

“When a school bus is letting off kids, you must stop! 

Don’t you give me that look. Don’t you know I’m a cop?”

-0-

He gave me a ticket and a day to appear.

I decided to fight, as the court day drew near.

I’d not seen a sign letting me know I should stop.

My record was clean; I didn’t need it to drop.

I was a bundle of nerves my first day in court.

When called up to the stand, I held on for support.

The judge did the talking, and he was a good sport.

He had checked my record and got a good report.

“I see that you've been driving for many a year.

You have no citations, so you’ve nothing to fear.

I'll dismiss this ticket from your record today.

I've done the same thing, so you will not have to pay.”