When I hopped into Bus 54, there were no longer empty seats. I decided to stand between the ladies’ and men’s section, just beside the door. I wanted to be close to the window so if passengers came, I’d have something to lean on. Of course, I also wanted to look outside and watch the city scenery.
Aside from the fact that bus rides are cheaper than riding a taxi or buying my own car, they help me reflect about my life and the things I am going through. I see people walking in different directions, or just sitting on a bench probably waiting for bus. Life seems to be easy, simple and fast from this perspective. It’s the favourite part of my daily routine.
I am so busy that I usually skip lunch. I reach home starving and exhausted. No matter how hard my job is, I keep on doing it so I can send money to my family – and to my mother who has cancer.
I was thinking about my bills when my thoughts that day were interrupted by a woman sitting in front me. She started to frantically search her bag. She took out her cosmetics, her wallet, her journals and pens and other personal things. She said she was looking for her phone. Another passenger called her number and the woman was relieved to find her phone in her pocket. There were giggles and laughter in the bus, and then the woman got off at the next station with some other passengers.
A man sitting beside me noticed that the woman had left her wallet. I heard him whisper to his companion that the wallet was thick and that it must be full of money. I looked at it and saw that he was right.
“Let’s get the wallet.” The man behind me whispered again to his friend.
“But it may have her ID and other important cards.”
“Yes, and it might also have a large amount of money. Besides she can get a new card.”
“That would be a hassle for her.”
“So? She shouldn’t be absent minded.”
They agreed that they would pick up the wallet casually as they were leaving. But before they could react, I grabbed the wallet and exited the bus at the next stop.
I went to a bus waiting area and opened the wallet. I was nervous. The same thoughts that passed the men’s minds went through mine. With a wallet this thick, it must had to have a lot of money. It was almost the end of the month and the woman must have received her salary. It would surely help my mother’s medication, I thought. But the woman may have her own responsibilities and bills to pay, I argued with myself. She would also have her own problems and important things to spend her money on. I brushed away the thought of stealing from her.
When I opened the wallet to look for contact information, I noticed that there were only a few bills and some coins. What made it thick were the photographs of her family and some letters from them. It turned out that the woman was not as rich as we all thought. But to her the real treasures were her loved ones and memories.
I was happy to find her identification card in her wallet. I called the number and delivered her wallet. She thanked me for being honest, especially since it was valuable.
Deep inside me, I thanked her for teaching me the real meaning of wealth.
By Noelle Denisse M. Dumpit
