Here is a true story, no names of folks or towns because they are still around. We lived in another state years ago and to get through some tough times I was working two jobs. The second job was in the layaway of a department store and we closed at 9 pm on Saturday night. On the way home in a more secluded area I passed a car off the roadway and it seemed to me like it was too far off, as maybe through the fence. I went back and positioned my car so the head light shone on the vehicle. Sure enough, it had ran through the fence and a fellow was sitting in the drivers seat, door open and looking for his car keys. He was clearly drunk. No cell phones in those days, but I knew there was a pay phone booth a few miles ahead and he could call the state police from there. On the way, he said he had 14 children and he already had a DWI on his records and would I just take him to the town where he lived, which was where I lived. I fussed at him about being drunk and spending his money foolishly, etc, but he talked me out of calling the police in that there was no damage to his car and he would take care of the farmers fence. Big mistake…I took him on home…In just a few minutes there was a fork in the road and I took the fork toward our town. He said, “where you taking me?”. “Home,” I said.”No you ain’t, I been down that road to many times and this one ain’t it.” We argued that point for a minute or so…I was driving a Ford Falcon, driving about 65 or so, then he threw a back handed punch with his left arm, his fist landing under my chin and into my throat, and just held the blow, not releasing his arm. My head went back over the Falcon seat but luckily I maintained control of the vehicle. I expected his right hand to come with a knife or something….It did not..I managed to get his arm down from my throat and then he wrapped both of his arms around himself and went to crying like a baby….I was beginning to think the night was going to go on forever. We got to the hometown without further troubles and he directed me to his home..It is now 10 pm or later. I let him out and he says, “you got to come in with me.” I reply, “I can’t do that, it is the middle of the night, your family could be in all manner of dress, I just can’t come in.” He says, “you got to. I don’t know where my car is. You gonna have to tell my wife what happened and where my car is.”….I knew there was truth in that statement and agreed to do it…Yes, another mistake, once we get started it goes on and on, don’t it!….He opens the door and I walk in. His kids are playing a game in the living room and his wife is dressed, thank goodness, I walk in toward his wife, my eyes on her surprised face when this dude suddenly slams the door shut, puts his shoulder against it and shouts, “Call the sheriff…This guy rolled me and took all my money…Call the sheriff”…You can imagine the look that had to be on my face when that happened….I still had on my dept store badge, with my name on it and I said, “Mam, you do need to call the police because he has ran through a fence and we left the scene and did not call the police. As far as his money, I did not take anything from him and he hit me on the way up here and I did not hit him back. So you do what you see fit on calling the police.” I told her where I lived and that my phone number was in the phone book if she needed anything and that satisfied her. I left….Now I am really late getting home myself…The wife is up waiting on me and I tell her the story….All of it and get chewed out for stopping to help folks and she said many, many, times that it was going to get me in trouble…After rehashing all of it, we go to bed…I had just dropped of to sleep when the phone rang and it was the state police, “Mr. Hester.” “Yes”. “This is Sargent ——- of the Texas Highway Patrol. I understand you aided and abetted in a person leaving the scene of an accident tonight.” “Yessir, I’m guilty. Do you want me to come down to your office?” “No, our dispatcher says he knows you and that you are a good man and I may need you to later, but for now could you give me your account of the accident?”..I told him the story……Nothing further came of it…That father really had 5 children, not 14. One of them had cancer at the time and died a short time later…This story has stayed with me so strong all these years, one because I told it so many times the night it happened and two, because if my child had been dying of cancer would I have acted any differently? I don’t think I would have done that, but who can say…His wife was a precious lady and while I was in the house, with all that going on, she still looked at that fellow with love in her eyes…….There are times when you just don’t know what’s going on in people lives, do we…..Sometimes all we can do it pray that God will hear there moanings and groanings, which he said He would do….I don’t know why I wanted to tell this story as I am not sure of its value, but I think in hind sight I may not change a thing…I think that couple may still be alive and if they read this story they will know who its about and to them I say, “God Bless You”….I think of your family often….Pete Hester
