dollar for dollar

Last weekend my parents were here for a visit. They live 6 hours away so we all anxiously await their arrival since we only see them every 4 to 6 weeks or so. In an attempt to pacify my kids while we puttered around town, my mom offered a $5 bill to each of them to spend at Target, our final stop. While we split up to divide and conquer, my mom produced said bills and handed one to each. By the time our purchases were gathered and we agonized over what small toy could be had and we backtracked across the store two times, we arrived at the checkouts, sans one bill. Was it my 3 year old that inconveniently dropped his along the way? No.......it was my 7 year old. My son had his wadded up in his sweaty palm, terrified of losing out on the treat!

My dad felt bad for her, and of course, gave her another $5. While we waited in line he decided to inquire at the service desk about our casualty. Lost cause.....no,wait, not so. Someone had just minutes earlier returned a bill found at the back of the store. Well my dad knew of course the denomination and so with a signature in the book it was returned to him. Yes, a book, full of money in plastic covers. They said it happens all the time. I was so impressed by the honesty that seems to be lacking in our society these days I had to include this story for all to read. This also prompted a conversation about found money and what we had done with it in the past. I have found dollar bills on the ground before and thought it was my lucky day. My husband found a twenty blowing across a parking lot with no one around. A friend had found a stack rolled up, once, and returned to the store, and someone was standing there wanting to report it missing. The consensus was, yes, a large amount of money always needed to be turned in in hopes of the rightful owner being found, but now we will turn in the smallest of finds, even a dollar, because some bright eyed girl may be standing at the counter hoping someone found it for her.

So how does this tie in to bella? I found a dollar bill underneath the couch while I was sweeping. Can anyone account for it? I need to clear my conscience!!