outside Winslow
Arizona
May 2018
As you may realize by now, the police keep a constant watch on Lisa when she is driving. I have been her passenger too numerous times to count when an officer has pulled her over. She moves fast, but they’re on to her.
This time we’re on Arizona Highway 87 traveling north, just outside Winslow. We are on our way by a circuitous route to the Grand Canyon, it is 4:38 in the afternoon and we’re only a few hours out of the airport.
I see red lights flash on Lisa’s face, the reflection of the patrol car lights in the rear view mirror. She pulls over. The cop car pulls over. We wait.
The uniform approaches on my side of the vehicle, likely with the desire not to be taken out by a passing truck. Crisp uniform, no hat, the wind blowing through his short blond hair.
“Afternoon. Where you folks from?”
“Pennsylvania. We’re on vacation.”
“Must be something going on. I stopped a car from Pennsylvania earlier today. Where you staying tonight?”
“The Best Western here in town. We’ve never been to Winslow before.” I hand him Lisa’s driver’s license and the car registration which I’ve dug out of the glove compartment.
“The Best Western? That’s fine. That’s a good place. Comfortable.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Ma’am, I clocked you doing 78 in a 65 zone,” he said as he examined the paperwork.
“Dang,” I interrupted.
“What’s your problem? She’s driving.”
“Yah, but she’s my squeeze and I’m a good boyfriend.”
“Uh-huh. Where you off to on this vacation, the two of you?”
“She’s never seen the Grand Canyon so that’s our destination.”
“That’s great! Everyone should go there.
“Here’s what I’m going to do. You weren’t speeding too bad so I’m going to give you a warning. No fine, no court date.”
Lisa breathes an audible sigh of relief. Noticing an industrial-looking, airtight building surrounded by concertina wire over there, I say, “That’s a prison right across the highway there, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“So because you are giving us a warning, we don’t have to go there tonight?”
“No, you don’t want to do that. The food’s much better at the Best Western. You folks have a nice day.”
“We will. At a slower speed.”
“Yes, ma’am.
“Oh, and uh… Winslow, Arizona. Take it easy,” he says with a grin.