How a Good Deed Had an Unexpected Consequence
Well, this is what happened…
My wife and I were grocery shopping when we saw one of the all too many homeless people in the parking lot. He had everything he owned on his back and an older German Sheppard with a secure harness and leash.
We are dog people, and as we passed, we said she (a guess) looked like a very sweet dog. He smiled and said she was.
Leaving the store, we saw that he was walking out of the lot. I said I think we should give him something, thinking of the $20 I had in my wallet.
CONFESSION: I feel empathy for those who ran out of luck and can’t seem to find it again. Holding hopeful cardboard signs at intersections and “camping” under bridges. But I rarely give them money.
That’s why my impulse to give him $20 surprised me, like a new neural pathway that bypassed the usual gates.
As we drove near him, she said she had it, but I said I got it and pulled out my wallet and the money, gave it to her, and she gave it to the man. He said thanks, he appreciated it and seemed to mean it.
Not wanting to bother with putting my wallet back in my pocket, I put it on my seat between my legs and drove off. We headed for a favorite restaurant for lunch. Not many cars in the lot at 2 and I parked close to the entrance.
HOW IT HAPPENED: I open the door and put my left leg out, then get out, sweeping the wallet to the ground without it making a sound. No splat, no helpful bounce to draw my attention. Damned inconsiderate.
My wife pays for lunch so I don’t go for my wallet. Drive home, put my keys on the dresser and reach for my wallet. No wallet. Not good.
Not in the car. Really not good. Call the restaurant that looks where I told them I parked. No wallet has been turned in. I am not shocked.
So all the notifications and cancellations begin: credit and debit cards, gas cards, health cards, driver’s license, etc…..buy a new wallet and put a chain on it like the bikers do?
CONFESSION 2: The next day, after all the notifications, I hopped into the car to run some errands and opened the center console to stash my cell phone and there, what was lost now is found — my wallet.
First reaction was being stunned that I had not looked there, despite putting it there sometimes as when going through a car wash or into the gym.
Second reaction was should I tell my wife her blockhead found his wallet after she good naturedly dug up account and contact info all afternoon that turned out to be unnecessary?
Don’t tell her means the damage has been done, she has more or less forgiven you and do you really want to tell her she did all that work for nothing?
A LITTLE WHITE LIE: This is one of the most useful and enduring justifications for not telling all of the truth. It says the recipient is not harmed by believing it. No harm no foul.
A LWL can be spoken or something held back with the same intent.
What would you do?
