A week ago I was driving home from Lakeport. I had just come from our one-a-month support group for folks that had lost their spouse. As I rounded the corner, going toward the 29 freeway north and Upper Lake, I noticed one of the UPS trucks barreling ahead of me. It was heading in the same direction as I was.
By the time I waited for cross traffic and forged ahead, the UPS truck was lost to view. I remembered that particular truck. Mostly, it was because both of its back doors were wide open and flapping in the wind. From what I could see of the inside of the truck it was stuffed to the gills with lots of interesting boxes, parcels and packages.
“Oh, oh,” I said to myself. “Someone forgot to lock the doors. The driver must either have implicit faith in his ability to balance the loose, open-door, load … or he forgot. If he was practicing his balancing act he was a braver man than I. If I was he, and I lost a box, I would have been afraid my customers would hang me to the nearest telephone post for carelessness.”
Sure enough, as traffic cleared, I rounded the corner, and started down the off-ramp to Highway 29, what did I spy? Five good-looking well-packaged boxes lying on the side of the off-ramp road all ready to be salvaged by any needy soul.
I am curious about everything. By the look of the packages, and how carefully they were wrapped, I was certain two or three were filled with uncut diamonds, precious stones or $100 bills. The other two boxes were smaller. No doubt each of them only contained Rolex watches … or pearl necklaces.
I stopped. I wasn’t the only driver who stopped to get his share. A blue pick-up truck was right behind me. The lady inside said her name was Betty and I told her mine was Gene. I picked up the two largest boxes and Betty collected the other two. Into her pick-up went all five we had rescued. By the time we found a jewel fence in Upper Lake or Lakeport, each of us would have plenty of money. Then I had a change of heart. What about the poor UPS driver? How would he explain losing a million dollars …or whatever what was in the five boxes might be worth?
I am always willing to share good deeds. I was in a hurry to get home and Betty had a pick-up.
“I told Betty, “ There must be a million dollars worth of stuff in these five boxes. The reward will be monumental. Be sure, when you return the boxes to UPS, tell them my name so I get my share of the huge reward. When you return the boxes to UPS be sure to tell them I also write the weekly Witter Springs Articles every Wednesday. Send my share of the reward to Dave Faries, the editor. I know he will hold it for me until I get around to pick up my bag of money.
I was happy. My share of the reward would probably be several thousand dollars at least. I didn’t need the reward money and I felt that being a good citizen made me feel good. It always pays to do a good deed … especially if there is a fat reward.
Gene Paleno is an author and illustrator living in Witter Springs.
