Writing class assignment for the prompt “$100”.
Some years ago, standing in the checkout lane at the supermarket, I glanced down on the floor and caught sight of the tell-tale green of … a bill … a folded-up piece of paper money. There is no mistaking that color.
Aha! I thought. Lucky me! I’ve found a dollar! Good for me!
As I bent to pick it up, intending to slip it into my pocket — finders keepers, right? — I saw that there was another number next to the “1”. A zero. Oh my, I thought. It’s a $10 dollar bill. My excitement ebbed. Keeping a random $1 bill is one thing, but $10 …? How could I rationalize keeping the money? My conscience began to prick at me, and I tried to ignore it.
And then when I actually picked up the money, guess what it was — a $100 bill.
I’m happy to report that my conscience didn’t need to prick at me. The message was loud and clear; I knew what to do. I gave the $100 bill to the clerk, who summoned the manager, who said, “Someone will be back looking for this!” and took it safely away to the office.