by: MaryAnne

*Spark Word Challenge: Reprobate*

(Author’s Note: I used the definition from my Webster’s dictionary for this one and you’ll see why.)

Rosco was what the word reprobate was all about…

“Rosco Coltrane, you old reprobate. If your momma heard you talkin’ like that, she wouldn’t show up at church this Sunday…”

Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane selected the dictionary off the book shelf in the booking room and turned back to the booking desk. He flipped open the book, turning pages and finding the entry for the word reprobate.

“To disapprove of strongly;” he read aloud. “Condemn….to reject or abandon….without principles; depraved; corrupt–” He narrowed his eyes, “lost in sin; rejected by God. A very bad or immoral person; scoundrel.” Scowling, he closed the book with a loud bang.

“I’m not a scoundrel!” he declared to the empty booking room. Empty, save for Flash, who looked up from her place on the floor and regarded Rosco for a moment. He looked down to his faithful companion. “Am I Flash?”

She just looked back at him, giving no bark in reply. In the quiet of the room, Rosco pondered the definition of reprobate, one word of the definition sticking out more than the others. Corrupt.

He knew what that meant. How often had he heard that when people were referring to him in hushed and no so hushed tones? Crooked lawman. Bought. Bribed.

“I know you’re the best, Rosco….the best law man my money can buy…”

Rosco sighed heavily, feeling the weight of each part of the definition of reprobate. He had rejected and abandoned the straight as an arrow law enforcing he had been known for since he first put on the Sheriff’s badge. Now he was without principles. Principles of his own, anyway. Everything he did was by, for or because of Boss Hogg. Corrupt. He took rakes off various vices committed in Hazzard and turned the other way while various crimes ran rampant in the county. Corrupt….bought off.

Lost in sin; rejected by God….

“Am I?” he whispered. He looked to the window and the blue sky beyond. Sometimes he felt lost. Sometimes he felt rejected. He knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew it was, but he was too far gone now. He wasn’t completely immoral, but half way was too far.

Rejected by God. He’d grown up God fearing. He went to church every Sunday, said grace before his meal and prayed to the Lord above when his life and heart were troubled. Was he rejected by God because he had, in turn, rejected law? The law he had taken an oath way back when to uphold, the justice he vowed to seek, the service he pledged, the duty he said he would fulfill, all thrown away because…..

Because his pension was taken away. He wasn’t going to get paid, so in bitter anger he turned his back on the law, thinking to get in bribes and rakes what he lost in his pension. But there was no price that could be put on what he had lost otherwise.

Rosco closed his eyes and sighed. No, there was no price that could be put on that. He had lost much more than he ever thought he was going to gain.

“I am…” he conceded. He opened his eyes and looked down at the dictionary. You are, Rosco P. Coltrane. You’re what the word reprobate is all about… He picked up the book and returned it to the bookshelf. He turned back to the booking desk, wondering…could he change? Was it too late?

He looked at Flash. “It’s never too late to…change. Is it, Flash?”

This time the basset answered him with a resounding bark.

“Yeah,” he said softly. Rosco picked up his black hat off the booking desk and put it on. He then stepped down and walked to Flash, gathering the basset hound up in his arms. “Yeah,” he repeated. “Rosco P. Coltrane ain’t no scoundrel…yer daddy ain’t no scoundrel.” He headed to the booking room doors. “I can prove it…”

~End~