Quote:
You're out and about doing whatever it is you've got on your agenda for the day when you just so happen to spot a dark patch of color among the snow that lines the side of path you're on. Upon closer inspection, it's a leather wallet, stained from the dampness of the snow. Peeking inside, you find two things: one, a crumpled list of people's first names with random objects scribbled next to them and a collection of dollar bills. A lot of dollar bills. In fact, at first glance, it looks to be well over two hundred dollars.

There are no other items in the wallet - no identification, no credit cards, nothing to help you identify the wallet's owner, just a shopping list and a wad of money. Looking around the area, it's clear that nobody else is around.

What do you do?


This particular winter had been full of snow. Day after day, it seemed to just keep piling up. While she didn't particularly hate the snow, it did hinder her ability to scout. She was taking advantage of her forced break by getting some Christmas shopping done early. She had already shopped for family, all that was left was some cute things for her friends. She had an idea for some cute crafting projects and was on her way to the store now for some supplies. She was trudging her way through the snow one small step at a time, without a car it was walking or the bus. Honestly, she wasn't sure she'd trust a bus with the condition of the roads.

Her eyes were glued to the sidewalk in front of her, watching her steps for any hazards alone the way. That's why the lonely wallet was so easy for her to spot in the stamped down snow around her. She picked it up curiously and flipped it open, hoping to figure out who is belonged to. Hopefully that person was still near by. However, she couldn't find a single ID or anything to identify it's owner. Worse, the thing was loaded. Mostly with dollar bills, but still quite full. There was a list of names, but that didn't really help her out. She glanced around to see if anyone was about and looking for it, but she was alone on this particular stretch of street. The wallet itself was fairly cold as well, it must have been out here for a while.

She felt bad, because the ones probably indicated a waitressing job (or something else that included tips). Whoever the wallet belonged to, they had worked hard to earn this much cash and bring a jolly Christmas to the people on this list. "Ugh, this sucks...." Not just for the person that lost the wallet, but because now she needed to take a detour on the way to the craft store and drop this off at a police station. She doubted they would be ably to identify the owner. Without any identification, how could you trust that it belonged to the person that came along to claim it? Maybe they could ask about the list of names. Surely whoever had lost it would be able to name everyone on it, or at least she hoped so.

When she finally made it to the station she handed it over, letting the officer know where she had found it and about the list inside. He told her she'd be able to claim it if no one came in for it, but she didn't really need the money. "Oh no. If no one comes to claim it you officers can split it. Treat yourself to a good breakfast or something." She hoped she could trust the officer to at least look for the owner. Instead of just taking up her offer to spend it on themselves. Who carried that much cash around in their wallet without ID anyway? Hopefully they'd wander in here and find it, or else maybe they'd come up with the money again. After all, people tended to be more generous during the Holidays.