Today I made $20.00 without barely batting an eyelash.
I owed someone $10.00 from this weekend and had no cash on me, so last night I went to the mini mart on my walk home from the bus to get some cash out of the ATM. I forgot to get change for the bus the next morning so today as I am leaving, I go to see if Bill (my neighbor) could break my ten spot for me.
No sir.
I decide to just start walking and perhaps go up to the gas station and try there, even though it was more than a few blocks out of my way, I was just going to have to be late today. On the other hand, I could just risk it and hop on the bus hoping someone has change. Drivers never make change, and usually when people get on the bus and ask other passengers for change people all act like they’re asleep or deaf.
As I am leaving the building, I hear some movement in one of the first floor apartments. I don’t hesitate to knock on the door (yes, it’s 7 a.m., but they are up, aren’t they?)
A young man sporting a wet head and a towel around his waist answers the door, and although he barely looks awake, I ask him if he has change for a $10.
“No, but if you gimme a sec, I’ll check around, my roommate might.”
door shuts.
I stand and wait, tapping my foot. “The bus is coming, the bus is coming,” I think over and over in my head.
Should I wait?
…or should I bolt, ’cause he probably won’t have the change anyway??
Naw. Stay here.
can’t hurt.
I hear him waking his poor roomate, Greg or something like that.
I wait some more. Door opens. sleepy young man looks at me and says “No change here, how much you need?”
“No, that’s alright, nevermind…” says I.
“No, really, it’s no big deal, how much?” So I think about it for a second and then I tell him it’s two bucks for the bus.
“O.K. Stay right there, I’ll be right back.” says he. wait some more.
fidget.
Once again breifly contemplate dashing out the door. It’s right THERE.”bus is coming….”
door opens. sleepy wet head hands me two bills and four quarters, which I shove into my pocket and then I silently thank my lucky stars ’cause now I’ll only be a few minutes late as opposed to my earlier expectations, and then I gush at him, “Thanks alot man, I really appreciate it, I live up in 6E and when I get home tonight I’ll pay you back and…”
He cuts me off to say that it’s not a problem, he’s been there before and then he wishes me a good day.
I return the pleasantry and all but run out the door, down the street, and two blocks to the bus stop, just in time for the early one.
I thank goodness for good neighbors and then I get on the bus and bitch under my breath how hot the bus is because of the fact that the driver has the radiator at about 95 degrees again today. I put one of the dollar bills and two quarters into the bus meter and get to work just in time.
I later notice that the other bill the guy handed me is a twenty.
Now, being that I’m flat broke right now, I could’ve been a dirty little brat and kept that money. it is still sitting on my dining room table right now but I had been downstairs knocking on their door at almost hourly intervals since I got home tonight, so I could give it back to the guy and yeah, I’m an honest person.