I found money in an ATM and now I regret returning it a little bit.

I walked up to a Wells Fargo ATM and there was three hundred dollars just sitting there in the cash slot. No one was around. It looked like someone made a withdrawal and then walked off without taking their money. I waited about ten minutes to see if anyone would come running back, but no one did and the area stayed completely quiet.

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My nine year old son was with me and he was so excited. He asked if we finally got to keep it and that moment hit me harder than I expected. I told him that the right thing to do was to return it, even though it was a Sunday and we would have to wait until Monday to talk to someone at the bank. I figured it was a good moment to teach him something about honesty, responsibility, and doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

On Monday I walked into the bank and explained everything to the manager. I told them the date, the ATM, and what happened. They said no one had contacted them yet and that they would just put the cash back into the system. If someone came in asking about missing money they might check balances at the end of the month or something along those lines. There was no real reaction, no acknowledgment of the trouble or the choice I made. Just a quick thanks and that was it. The money basically vanished back into the bank’s hands.

I am not desperate for cash, but three hundred dollars would have helped. Groceries, gas, bills, anything. And a small part of me was hoping that doing the right thing would feel better, or at least come with a little appreciation. Instead it felt weirdly disappointing. It felt like I handed the money over and it made no difference at all.

I keep reminding myself that it was still a good lesson for my kid. He saw me choose integrity over quick money and maybe that will stick with him as he grows up and faces his own temptations. But I won’t lie. Every once in a while I think about that three hundred dollars and how easily I could have just walked away with it.

Still, I hope he remembers the moment for what it was. A real example of honesty, even if it left me with a tiny sting of regret.

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