http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right Good people still exist. I consider myself one of them. Here's my two short stories from today. Woke up to a phone call from Kendra (Who's real name is Kym, she just prefers Kendra [for whatever reason], but I'll call her Kym from now on) asking what I'm doing today. I said nothing and she said we should go to the city with our friends and I agreed. So we all get together at my friend Chazz's ex-girlfriend Alyssa's house (who is Kym's best friend) and sort everything out. We leave around 12:00 PM and head to a McDonald's to grab a quick bite before we head to the BART station. Everyone else had already ordered their food and was sitting down eating while I was in line still. A little girl in ragged clothes walked in and got in line behind me; she appeared to be entirely alone. I heard her jingling some change and it turned out to be .59 cents. I ordered my coffee and fries and stepped out of the way so she could order. I waited next to the cash register to see what the little girl was doing and she looked at me and smiled, seeming happy. She asked the older lady working the register for one of the .50 cent cookies that they sell. It turns out it's .66 cents after tax. She was heartbroken. I asked her if that's all the money she had, and she said yes, that she hadn't eaten in three days and was trying to get enough money to eat. I asked if she had any parents and she said she didn't know where they were. I grabbed her hand and took her back to the register (I had taken her aside to talk) and ordered a Happy Meal with the generic girl toy they offered, as well as a small Oreo McFlurry and gave it to her. She seemed confused, as if nobody had ever done anything like this for her. I then gave her a $50 bill and told the manager of the McDonald's to call Child Protective Services and find her parents, and buy her some new clothes with that $50. He did just that. Before we left the little girl (who's name is Kaylee) came up to me right at the door and gave me the toy she had gotten from the meal and gave me hug and a tearful thank you. I said don't worry about it, enjoy your new clothes sweetie, and left. Fast-forward to about 2:30 PM -- We're in the city. I've got some loose change hanging out in my pocket and there are plenty of homeless people in the city, so I decided to give it to someone. I grabbed a Grande Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks and my friends and I headed into the main shopping area to enjoy the day and do some Christmas shopping. About fifteen minutes into our walking around, I spot a homeless man sitting on the steps with his dog, apparently asleep. Target acquired. I walk over after telling my friends to go ahead without me for a minute. I sit down next to him and gently tap him on the shoulder; not wanting to startle him. He wakes up and his dog slowly walks over to me and licks my hand. I ask him his name; it's Tom, he says, and this is Kinder, pointing at his dog. I introduce myself and grab his small empty soup can next to him and drop some change into it. God Bless, he says; and smiles weakly. We both get up and as I'm getting up I subtly pull a $100 bill from my jacket pocket and shake his hand, slipping it into his. Before he realizes what happened I pet the dog, bid farewell and start walking away. I turn my head around to see him crying and holding his dog. I tear up and sit down in a semi-secluded area of a cafe to take in what I had just done for two complete strangers not three hours apart. I never even told my friends. Sometimes I wonder if people notice things like that. Then I remember 95% of society is filled with people who only care about themselves, and that thought is promptly shoved out of my head. Good night, TIF.