Deputy Joe Bob was chasing Orey Wilson down the road at a high rate of speed. Joe Bob was thrilled to finally get to do this. For Orey it was just another day. Joe Bob knew he’d get Orey. Orey knew better. Orey suddenly pulled off the road and went across a field. Joe Bob did the same. Joe Bob could tell the field was muddy but he still figured he had Orey. He figured wrong.

Joe Bob soon noticed that Orey was getting farther and farther away. Joe Bob then noticed that he wasn’t going forward. Joe Bob was going deeper to be truthful. Joe Bob looked out his window and saw that he was up to the wheel wells in mud. Dang! OK, Orey gets away. Just back it out nice and easy like. Double dang! Won’t go back at all. Great, just great. Can’t call for a tow or the Sheriff will know what happened. After last week, Joe Bob didn’t want him to know.

“Uh, Sheriff, this Joe Bob. I got some bad news. Someone stole my cruiser.”

“Someone stole your cruiser? You’re calling me so I take it you weren’t kidnapped.”

“Uh, well, no, I weren’t took, jus’ my car.”

“Joe Bob, I have a headache. I just now got it. How did someone steal your cruiser?”

“Well, it be like this. I seen a bunch of youngun’s hangin’ around Old Dooley’s store. I knew there were goin’ to be trouble what with Old Dooley bein’ so contankerous. Anyways, I gets out to run the boys off and next thing ya know, danged iffen one of them didn’t sneak inta the cruiser and take off with it.”

No, didn’t want to have to face the Sheriff with this one. Maybe, he thought, if I help a little I can back it out. Joe Bob put his left foot out the door and pushed back with it while he gassed with his right. Hey, it’s moving a little. This is going to work! Go home, wash the car, wash me, change clothes and the Sheriff won’t ever know.

Then, Joe Bob fell out of the car. Now he was really muddy. Shoot! Hey! The cruiser! It’s still going! Across the road and into the swamp.

Joe Bob stood on the road and watched the cruise slowly settle into the swamp. He tried to imagine what kind of headache the Sheriff was going to have this time.