Fat Wallet, Honest Taxi Driver - Honesty Story #19

I think we all know and have experieced at least once that terrible feeling when we reach for our wallet only to find it’s missing. A man in Seatle, Washington that identified himself as Peter, according to a story on MSNBC, experienced this feeling first-hand when he realized he’d left his wallet containing $5,950 in the taxi cab.

According to the story, Peter called the taxi company in order to notify them that he had left his wallet in the taxi that took him to the airport. The surpervisor notified the driver, Vinod Mango, who pulled over to look to see if the wallet was indeed in the back seat. He saw the wallet in the backseat (it probably was pretty noticeable since it must have been a fat wallet full of $50 and $100 bills) and quickly drove back the airport. The grateful passenger got his wallet back. He said the large amount of cash he was carrying was intended for buying a car.

The India-born driver, Vinod Mango later said, “If money doesn’t belong to me, I don’t keep it… I know God is watching everybody, every second.” In addition to having the reward of being honest and do the right thing, Vinod received a $100 reward from the passenger.

(Photo Matti Blume)

Add comment May 7th, 2007

A knight in shining armor! - Good Deeds Story #1

This story was sent in by one of our readers who tells about a good deed of a stranger.

A few days ago my water bottle opened in my backpack and killed my cellphone. It is totally dead, may it rest in peace, and I was left with no phone whatsoever— other than a payphone. This is a very disconcerting feeling— suddenly loosing communication with friends, family, and lovers. Like disappearing from the world.

I went to the phone store today hoping that the issue would be a quick fix and that at the very worst I’d have to by a cheap new phone. However, I’m on an old family plan that’s not compatible with ANYTHING out there, and in order for me to get a new phone, everyone in my family would have had to upgrade to the new plan, renew it for two years, and get new phones. This would have also required the presence of my father in that very Cingular store for him to sign contracts. In short: it was an impossible option. Besides that option, I could go on my own phone plan… which would cost four times as much as what I have with my family. ALSO NOT FEASIBLE OPTION!

After talking with some folks, I discovered something of a loophole. All I had to do was buy a cheap phone and then purchase a code that would unlock the phone and allow it to work with my family plan/service. I went back to the phone store to by the cheapest phone I could find. 19.95.

However, I soon found out that the price was so low because it was part of the service. There was nothing I could do… I had to suck it up, since you HAVE to have a phone in these days.

“How much is it without the plan, then?” I asked the man who had been helping me all afternoon. I could pay. “$125.”

Ok, so….poor college kid that I am… I couldn’t pay. Once again, I was sent back to the drawing board… and still phone-less. I thanked the man kindly for his help, wished him a good evening, and left the store.

Upset and not feeling like heading immediately home, I stepped into another store to look at and try on some pretty things- convinced that it would make me feel better. I had a few things in my arms and was heading to the dressing room when I heard…. “That’s a pretty dress.”

I turned around. It was him! Phone Store Man! He was standing there awkwardly… with a phone in his hand, which was shaking slightly. “This is my phone.” He said. “I mean– my old phone.” He stepped closer. “And this is what you do….”

He pointed out the serial number and told me how to find an unlocked code…. and he gave me the phone. He wouldn’t accept any cash or anything….. the only thing he said was… “Just promise me that you’ll do good things for other people, too….” And then he disappeared.

Sent in by Penelope Wayward

1 comment May 17th, 2007