Five Hundred Times

In the traffic court of a large mid-western city, a young lady was brought before the judge to answer a ticket given her for driving through a red light. She explained to his honor that she was a school teacher and requested an immediate¹ disposal of her case in order that she might hasten on to her classes. A wild gleam came into the judge's eye. You are a school teacher, eh? said he. Madam, I shall realize my lifelong ambition. Sit down at that table and write 'I went through a red light' five hundred times.

在中西部一个大城市的交通法庭里，一位年轻女士被带到法官面前，她由于开车闯红灯被开了罚单。女士向法官解释，她是一名学校老师，请求法官马上处理她的案子，以便可以赶回去上课。法官眼中闪过一丝狡黠，说道：你是学校的老师，对吗？女士，我马上要实现今生的愿望了。在那张桌子旁坐下，写‘我开车闯了红灯’500遍。