A $10 Bill
September in Southern Maryland often has really gorgeous days and this morning was one. As icing on the cake, I found a $10 bill in the Walmart parking lot. Life was good.
On arriving at the shelter, I saw a resident, who I will call “Joe”, pacing fretfully in front. I knew he had a court date with expected jail time in an hour so I was not surprised.
He asked me for a cigarette in exchange for 50 cents. I laughed, " Joe, you know I don't smoke! But hey! Here is a $10.00 bill that I found in the Walmart parking lot. Buy a pack with it."
Joe thanked me and swore he would pay me back. I reminded him he did not have to, it was found money, didn't belong to me or him. Hoped he would give it to some one in need. Make money travel.
Joe went to court; I went to work and that was that.
Every Spring we spread mulch out in front of the House. Last week "Louie" one of the residents helped with the spreading. After completion, he came to my office.
"Miss Trish, I had to move the ECHO stone out front to get the mulch around it. Guess what I found under it?"
"What?"
" A $10 bill."
"Really!"
"Can I keep it?"
"I guess "
Later that day I remembered Joe.
At the Evening Discussion we told the residents the story and reminded Louie it really wasn't his $10. That some Money travels. That Joe was telling us that we have "needs" and we have "wants" Choose what you "need" and think twice about your "wants".
PS Joe was lucky that fine September day. No jail time. He just came back, changed his cloths, and went to work. A week later his 90 days were up, and he traveled to New Orleans for a better job.
September in Southern Maryland often has really gorgeous days and this morning was one. As icing on the cake, I found a $10 bill in the Walmart parking lot. Life was good.
On arriving at the shelter, I saw a resident, who I will call “Joe”, pacing fretfully in front. I knew he had a court date with expected jail time in an hour so I was not surprised.
He asked me for a cigarette in exchange for 50 cents. I laughed, " Joe, you know I don't smoke! But hey! Here is a $10.00 bill that I found in the Walmart parking lot. Buy a pack with it."
Joe thanked me and swore he would pay me back. I reminded him he did not have to, it was found money, didn't belong to me or him. Hoped he would give it to some one in need. Make money travel.
Joe went to court; I went to work and that was that.
Every Spring we spread mulch out in front of the House. Last week "Louie" one of the residents helped with the spreading. After completion, he came to my office.
"Miss Trish, I had to move the ECHO stone out front to get the mulch around it. Guess what I found under it?"
"What?"
" A $10 bill."
"Really!"
"Can I keep it?"
"I guess "
Later that day I remembered Joe.
At the Evening Discussion we told the residents the story and reminded Louie it really wasn't his $10. That some Money travels. That Joe was telling us that we have "needs" and we have "wants" Choose what you "need" and think twice about your "wants".
PS Joe was lucky that fine September day. No jail time. He just came back, changed his cloths, and went to work. A week later his 90 days were up, and he traveled to New Orleans for a better job.