I Got 35 Problems and a Glitch is One

Val was dealing with money issues last week. Juggling a total of $35 worth of problems.

First cat out of the bag, I got a letter from my bank saying that they had found no basis for my claim of getting $140 out of the ATM, rather than the $160 I requested. AS IF I would go through all that to scam $20 from my bank of 30 years! I guess that car I saw at the ATM while I was in the drive-thru line to report the issue actually came out $20 ahead that day. I guess that might be why they rushed off as if the ATM was broken. Oh, well. Whatcha gonna do? I reported the truth, and was denied my rightful cash. It's out of my control. I guess my trust in technology has been destroyed...

In other news, Even Steven attempted (or tempted me) to remedy the situation.

Wednesday, I headed for the School Turn Casey's after the Walmart shopping. I buy scratchers there if I'm in the neighborhood, but I won't make a special trip over there for that purpose alone. On this day, the parking situation was a three-ring circus without a ringmaster. I considered not stopping, but only briefly.

Once inside, a cheery old lady clerk took my two winners, which added up to $10. I asked for 5 tickets, the $5 ones. So that was $25 worth of scratchers, with $10 credit for the winners. That meant I owed her $15.

Cheery Old Lady scanned my purchases, and subtracted the winners. I handed her a twenty to pay. She got all flustered. "Oh. I must have done something wrong."

"I owe you $15. I bought $25 worth, and cashed in $10."

Cheery Old Lady smiled. Then took my twenty, opened the drawer, and handed me my change. I folded it and put it in my pocket, not thinking. After navigating my way out of that parking lot, something was gnawing at my brain. Something was off. I was running through that ticket purchase.  I made a left turn onto the lake road, and reached into my shirt pocket. A TEN and a FIVE. That couldn't be right.

I thought it over again. I should only have gotten back $5. I had owed $15, and handed her a twenty. Yet she had given BACK $15. Well. That was wrong. That wouldn't do. Should I go back?

Let the record show that by now, I was past the railroad tracks by the shooting range. It was two-lane blacktop over to Backroads. Nowhere to turn around. I had my cold groceries in T-Hoe's rear. I was expecting to hear from my insurance representative after lunch. It was now 11:48. Dang it! It would be easiest to forget the whole thing. Not my problem.

But it WAS my problem! That wasn't my rightful money. Cheery Old Lady had been so nice. Her drawer would come up short. She'd have to pay. Maybe she'd get fired! I didn't need that extra ten dollars. It wasn't mine. DANG IT!

At the outskirts of Backroads, I proceeded over the railroad tracks by the lake. There! I could make a U-turn in the dirt parking lot where the cop car sometimes sits.

Yeah. I turned around. Headed back to Casey's with that excess change. It was going to cost me five miles and ten minutes to go back. Then another five miles and ten minutes to get back to this point again. But that was the right thing to do

Cheery Old Lady WAS NOT THERE! It was a big red-headed dude. I've seen him working before. Oh, crap. I'd have to explain to him. What guarantee was there that he'd give the money to Cheery Old Lady? What if he pocketed the cash? Oh, well. It would be out of my hands. I was doing what I could.

I explained the situation to Big Red. He said, "Do you have your receipt?"

WHO KEEPS A RECEIPT FOR SCRATCHERS? Not this ol' Val. They don't even give you the receipt unless you ask for it.

"No. I was just here. About 10 minutes ago, buying lottery tickets."

"I saw you."

"I bought five of the $5 tickets."

Big Red started rolling back the cash register tape. He found the purchase. "It says you got $15 change."

"YES! But I was only SUPPOSED to get $5. I bought $25 worth, cashed in $10 in winnings, and paid with a twenty. I GOT TOO MUCH MONEY BACK!"

"Oh. And you want to give it back?"

"Yes. I drove all the way back over here from Backroads. It's not mine. I don't want the register to come up short."

By this time, Cheery Old Lady had come out of the back room. She looked a little nervous.

"You gave me too much change, so I brought it back."

I handed Big Red the ten, and turned to leave.

"Thank you! That is a good customer right there! Most people would not have done that." Cheery Old Lady sang my praises.

"It's off my conscience now!"

Seriously. I didn't go back seeking praise. I went back because it was the right thing to do.

So, I was out the $20 the ATM robbed me of, but I almost had a gift of $10 in improper change. I did the right thing, for which it turns out I was handsomely rewarded. Literally. Read on.
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Alternate Title: "Two Wrongs Don't Make It Right"
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Let the record show that three of my five tickets were winners. $15, $15, and $100

It may look like PacMan only won $55, but as you'll see, the $5 prize was paired with a 10X.