As I pulled into a parking space at the CVS off Route 3 I caught a glimpse of it.
I was skeptical; these things happen to other people not me. However there was no mistake. On the ground next to my car lay a wallet bulging with cash.
I pulled out the driver’s license and looked at the face of a Latino gentleman with a very non-Jewish name.
For a moment thoughts of the applicability of the laws of hashavas aveidah (returning a lost object) coupled with the adage “finders keepers; losers weepers” danced in my head.
However memories of the bad press we often receive coupled with the hope of a kiddush Hashem overcame any of my initial thoughts and I made a beeline for the counter and announced loud and clear “Excuse me I just found this wallet in the parking lot.”
The woman behind the counter looked at me somewhat surprised as she too noticed the bills bulging from the overstuffed wallet.
She looked at the driver’s license went to the computer clicked a few times and faster than I could say hashavas aveidah she already had his phone number. She said she’d call him and thanked me.
I made my way down the store aisles to pick up a few items and when I returned to the register she told me that the man had already retrieved the wallet and left.
I was a little miffed that I hadn’t had the opportunity to show off my nice hat and beard to Mr. Morales; however if that’s the way the Chief Conductor wanted it who am I to question?
As I checked out the woman said “Can I see your CVS card?”
I fumbled to find the little plastic thing while wondering why I had to scan this thing just to buy toothpaste. After she scanned it and read off my phone number and address I felt as if she knew more about me than my wife does.
I left the store and the wallet was forgotten.
Fast-forward two weeks.
On the line is a Yiddish-speaking gentleman.
He says: “Mazel Tov!” and I’m convinced that these words are a prelude to solicit funds for hachnassas kallah. As he continues speaking however I understand he’s thanking me for my participation in his son’s wedding.
And I have no idea who this man or his son is.
Hearing my confusion he asks me if I returned a wallet two weeks ago.
I say yes but I have no idea what my returning that wallet at CVS has to do with this man.
“I was in a cab from Monroe to Newark Airport ” he explained “to be at my son’s wedding in England. On the way I asked the driver to stop at a store to pick up a few last-minute things. But when we got back into the cab and started driving again the driver suddenly said ‘I can’t find my wallet.’ He pulled over and refused to drive without it. I was stuck! I was sure I was going to miss my flight and my son’s chasunah. But suddenly a woman from the store calls and tells the driver that his wallet’s been found. We drove back to get it headed straight to the airport and I made the flight by five minutes! Because of you I danced at the chasunah of my son! How can I ever thank you?”
Stunned I finally asked “How did you find me?”
“That was no problem. When I returned from England I went back to the store and reminded the woman about the wallet. I gave her the time and date and she was able to access all of your information as you had scanned your store card.”
The Chief Conductor has His plans; He’s just waiting for me to do my part. —