Paul Gaudette dette
Like many in the town, Judge Latrelle Cain holds a special place in my heart. It all started with a hit and run.
Yes, I was the driver— the hit was on a gas pump holder that was easily fixed.
I was 16 and had rushed to Stephenville after school to pick up “The Blair Witch Project” after it was released on DVD.
I pulled up to a Stephenville gas station and found it packed with vehicles that were cutting in front of each other to get to the pumps. As a calm, confident first-year driver, I saw someone start to go for the pump I had been waiting on as the driver left and quickly turned in.
I missed the mark by a bit and clipped the plastic holder, snapping it off and sending the nozzle to the ground.
I anxiously looked at the carnage I had cause, but realized it could be screwed back into place.
So I went into apologize and ask for a screwdriver to repair what I had done.
Well, that’s what I would or should have done. I went into the busy gas station where four or five people were waiting at the counter and got in line.
As I got to the counter with a crowd of people behind me, I confidently said, ‘Umm, I was pulling into the pump and there were a lot of people out there and I had been waiting and someone tried to get in front of me so I kind of…’ ‘Do you need something?!,’ the clearly overworked attendant asked.
‘Nope, just $20 on pump XX.’
The next morning, I awoke to a Dublin officer looking at our Pathfinder before coming to the door and asking to speak to me.
I was asked if I had been at the station and left in a rush. My still open gas cap answered the question for me.
Dad and I got dressed and drove back to the station where I delivered the apology I should have issued, but they had already repaired the holder, by screwing it back into place.
The incident meant I had to go visit with Judge Cain. Although Mom went with me, Judge Cain insisted I speak for myself. She said she could see I wasn’t a bad kid, but wanted me to see that actions have consequences so I was sentenced to more than 30 hours of community service.
This led to me working after school and on Saturdays at Dublin Public Library. I realize the mistakes I made along the way, but feel blessed that the experience led to me getting to know librarian Sandra Thomas and Judge Cain.
I would get to talk to both more when I started with the Citizen and both remembered me as we worked together as friends.
I quickly realized how good Judge Cain was in assessing character and how much she cared about the people she came into contact with. The damage I had caused was minor, but the experience cemented that everyone has to be responsible for their actions, whether accidental or intentional. It doesn’t matter if admitting to them is difficult.
I know her work saved some from going down the wrong paths, and I also know that she cared about everyone who came into her office regardless of the path they were on.
—Paul Gaudette is the managing editor of the Dublin Citizen. He can be reached at publisher@ dublincitizen. com.