As a child I was taught that “finders keepers” was not always the case. Just because you find something, doesn’t mean it’s yours or that it’s right to keep it. That could not have rang more true one day, in the spring of 1983 when I was walking home from school. I had about two blocks to go before reaching home and looked down only to spot a $20.00 bill laying in the grass. I thought I had struck it rich! I proceeded another block, turned the corner and noticed a young lady with two kids walking rather fast, while looking down as if she had lost something. I stopped her and asked if she had lost something? She replied that she had lost some money and was looking for it. I then pulled the $20.00 out of my pocket and asked, “Is it this it?” She immediately exclaimed, “Yes!” and started to cry. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and continued towards town all the while repeating, “Thank You, God Bless You, Thank You, God Bless You.” I never saw that lady or those kids again, years went by I grew up and moved away.

Then in 2012 my dad called me and said, “Do you remember when you found $20.00 and gave it back to that lady many years ago?” I replied, “Yes I do, it was the best $20.00 I never got to keep, because getting a kiss from a pretty lady for a boy that age was a moment to remember.” My dad chuckled a bit and replied, “I ran into her the other day and she wanted me to tell you, that she never forgot you and to let you know that you are a hero in her eyes.

When you two met that day, her husband had just been killed in a car accident a week prior and that was her last $20.00. She had dropped it on the way to get food for her kids. She doubled back to find it, but didn’t see it, she was about to give up and go home with no food.” As I got a little teary eyed from hearing the “rest of the story” all I could think was, that’s the best $20.00 I never got to
keep, but now for a whole different reason.

Anonymous

Source: The Coffee Table Gazette Issue 1. Published 07-04-20. Reprinted with permission.