Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers-

Is it better to give or receive?

By Tracy Henderson Hunter

After a long day at work and after visiting her mom in the hospital, Brenna caught the crowded train to head home. She was exhausted but too stressed too sleep on the long ride, wondering if the eviction notice would be on the door or if the water would still be on. With the pandemic, hours getting cut and everything else she was taking care of, she had fallen so far behind. She zoned out the window, overwhelmed knowing she was drowning financially with no end in sight. She was jolted by the squealing brakes as the train came to a stop.

“Excuse me Sir!” she yelled, but the sharp dressed man stepped away, the train door closed behind him and he was gone. On the seat next to her where he had been seated, the man had left behind a little black Moleskine book. He looked important and so did this notebook.

Wanting to return it to him, she went to look for his contact information so she could try to call and catch up to him. As she opened the beautifully crafted leather notebook, a heavy unsealed envelope fell out revealing a large sum of cash and a note. She took out the note and quickly tucked the money back inside in a panic, hoping no one had noticed.

Opening the note, it read “Here’s $20,000 - finders keepers or so they say, but its far better to give it away”. She looked around for the hidden camera, thinking this must surely be a joke or a setup. But no one yelled “surprise” or jumped out with a production crew. Instead, she sat frozen in silence pondering her predicament. She knew if she turned in the notebook with that much cash, there’s a chance he’d never see it again. And she didn’t want to draw attention to herself holding that amount of cash on the train; it wasn’t safe. So she put the notebook with the envelope inside of it in her briefcase and stayed on high alert til the train pulled up to her stop. She got off the train, taking the notebook and its contents home with her.

Once home, she locked the door, and checked out the window to make sure she hadn’t been followed. Thankfully no eviction notice…yet. And low and beyond, the water was still on! Grateful for the little things, if only for another day.

She checked the notebook again for any contact information. Only the initials ‘RAK’. Initials? Who puts initials for contact information, seriously? She thumbed thru the notebook and found a calendar with several notations. There were several detailed notes including dates, times, locations, account numbers and amounts but no names. She was truly puzzled. Why would someone carry so much cash? Why would he not put his actual name or contact information in his notebook? Is this some kind of a game or joke? Oh. how nice it would be to have $20,000 to catch up on my bills! Why did this happen to me? So many questions!

Brenna knew she had to give this some thought, to try to figure out what all this meant. She always thought better after a good night’s rest, and though she was exhausted, her mind raced and she couldn’t sleep. After what seemed like an eternity of tossing and turning, she woke determined to figure out what the notes on the calendar meant.

She sat down and added up the amounts noted on the different appointments in the calendar, and they all added up to $20,000! Though she did not know whose appointments or amounts they were, she knew it was no accident it matched the amount in the envelope. Some people would say Brenna had a choice in that moment, to keep the money, or keep the appointments. But to her there never was a choice. This was always about doing the right thing. Though as desperate as she may have needed it, it wasn’t hers to keep. If she couldn’t get the notebook and money back to the man, then she’d had to keep the appointments herself.

The first appointment was the next day. She set out early to ensure she was on time. She took a ride share to the location and had them wait for her, since she wasn’t quite what she was getting herself into. It was a small office, with a front desk. Very underwhelming. It wasn’t even clear what kind of office it was. Breanna told the receptionist she was there to make a payment but she only had the account number and the initials RAK. The lady managed to pull up the account, confirmed the amount and initials, and accepted the payment. That seemed too easy, she thought.

Brenna diligently kept every appointment thru the following week, each one nondescript location after another. It was never obvious what any of these places were, just generic offices across town. She was curious what this was all about, but she really didn’t feel it was her right to ask either, it wasn’t her money or her business. With her full schedule of work and caregiving, Brenna really didn’t have time for all this but she really didn’t know what else to do.

She knew it wasn’t her money, but she also knew she couldn’t return it to him. She knew there was a plan for this money, and then of course, the note. The note said ‘far better to give it away’ but there were account numbers. Were these gifts or were they bills? She really did not know who or what they were for, but the mystery made her curious and she felt it was her responsibility to see it through.

One by one, she checked them off in the calendar in the little black notebook, paying out the exact amounts indicated until the last day, the last payment. Finally, it was coming to an end and she could get back to her life (and her own bills and stress!). She was still curious and not sure what this was all about, but she felt good knowing she had at least done her part. She let out a sigh of relief and walked in the door. This location seemed a little different, it was a bit brighter, more cheerful. The people seemed more approachable and friendly. Once she had made the payment, the receptionist asked Brenna “Are you the one that found the notebook?” Brenna looked shocked and startled. Before she could answer, the woman smiled and said “This is for you, have a nice day!” and handed Brenna an envelope. She clearly knew who Brenna was even if Brenna wasn’t sure how. Confused, Brenna left the office and walked outside to read the note.

She opened the envelope and it read:

“Tis better to give, than receive, it’s true.

Each of these payments were made for you.

Your mortgage is caught up, your car won’t be taken away

Your mom’s prescriptions are covered, and the lights will stay.

You’ve been chosen to have a blessing come your way

Because of what you do for others every day.

I’ve seen how you give, always putting others first,

Even keeping those appointments that weren’t even yours.

You could have kept the money, as many others would

But your heart made sure you did what you should

You did the right thing, without knowing why or who,

So it’s time something nice was done for you.

Enjoy this blessing, enjoy the notebook too!

And keep paying it forward it all that you do.”

-RAK (Random Acts of Kindness)

Brenna stood outside the doorway and cried. She didn’t know who, what, where, why or how she was the one chosen to be so blessed, but she was overwhelmed with gratitude, and relief. Finally, she could breathe again. She drove home in peaceful quiet and for the first time in a long time, she finally got a good night’s rest.