On the bus

by Rita Foelker

Amanda paid the bus driver the fair.

Her bag was weighing her shoulder down and she was walking to the back of the bus putting her change in her wallet when she saw a $10 dollar bill on the floor.

She had had few chances in her life to come across lost money...

Lost?

Could the owner be nearby?

When she sat down a few seats beyond the bill she noticed a blond girl with a jacket around her waist, sitting closest to the bill. Looking closer she also saw a $5 dollar bill.

Uau! $15 dollars would be worth a trip to the mall and a movie. And it was almost half of the money her parents gave her monthly…

But a thought crossed her mind: that money could have dropped out of the girl's jacket. The girl, who was talking happily with a friend next to her, hadn't noticed.

Amanda thought of taking the money and keeping it, but her conscience didn't let her do it.

She stood up took the money and tapped the girl on the arm:

- Look, I think this felt from your jacket.

The girl took the money without turning to look at Amanda and without stopping the conversation with her friend.

"How impolite! She didn't even thank me!"

Amanda went back to her seat annoyed.

"I should have kept the money!"

Later, when she calmed down, she started to think: "If I followed my conscience I should be happy. But instead I'm here mad at the girl!"

Should Amanda have kept the money?

Did she do the right thing by returning the money?

After all, what is more satisfying: following your conscience or not?

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