V is for Virtuous Vice

Note: I'm throwing my hat into the A-Z Blogging challenge sponsored by Tossing it out! What you will be reading via the letters A-Z will give you a glimpse into my world and what I do when I'm not here - blogging.

Dictionary definition of: 

Virtuous - having or showing high moral standards

                (blameless, righteous, good, worthy)

Vice    -    immoral or wicked behaviour; a shortcoming 

                a weakness of character or behaviour; a bad habit

The question then begs…

Can one have a virtuous vice?

She was given permission to go to the drive-in by her mother, but just barely. Mama was fond of the boy so she had agreed.

Her father was away for the weekend otherwise the answer would have been an emphatic No! Papa did not like the boy.

The boy’s car was a classic oldie, big and solid, but very fast - as was the boy - or so Papa thought. 

"And,” said Papa, in his sternest voice, “that boy has evil thoughts and no girl of mine will be allowed to ride in that devil car of his!”

As the clock approached nine and the sun had almost disappeared the boy knocked on the door. 

Mama had insisted on meeting him in the house and giving him her “look” - Mama’s look said a lot and you only needed one look to understand she meant business.

The girl and boy left for the drive-in.

The only intersection out of town was busy that evening as every other young couple was heading for the drive-in too. 

The boy was driving at just the right speed...not too fast, and not too slow; he remembered Mama’s look and had understood its meaning.

But…the other driver was not so careful.

When the call came Mama started to cry; the doctor said her girl was fine, but sadly the boy had died.

The town came together to grieve and mourn his death. Pews overflowed as people settled into their seats; a hush fell over the place and the girl’s Papa began to speak.

“I owe this boy my eternal gratitude; because of his virtuous vice my daughter’s life was spared.”

Can a virtue also be a vice?

Authors note: 

This story is about a boy’s car which is considered his vice; it becomes virtuous in a father's eyes when he realizes the devil car had been used for good and saved his daughter's life in that terrible car accident.

Until W...