Sometime in 1985* – Fall

I was living with a friend of a friend in Mesa Arizona. I had landed there after covering most of the states on my motorcycle. The deal was that I would live there, take care of the 3 kids, cook and clean for room and board with a stipend. I had a credit card for groceries (and beer) and was typically done for the day by 6:00 PM. After that I was free to do as I pleased. The friend of a friend was a hospital administrator and her husband was an Arizona congressman. He was an asshole. He would come home daily, kick the dog and demand a martini, put Dean Martin on the stereo and proceed to make everyone’s life miserable by yelling at the kids. I would serve dinner about 5:30, and make myself scarce.

On one of those nights, I went to my favorite local Chinese restaurant for dinner. Dressed in my best tattered blue jeans and leather jacket, I was well known at the restaurant as a regular. The food was good, the service good, the beer was cold and the prices fair. On that particular night, I finished my dinner, settled my tab and left.

On the way out to the bike I looked down and saw a money clip laying on the ground. It was gold and had the initials JTG engraved on it. I picked it up and walked back inside. I showed it to the owner at the front desk and inquired if anyone had reported it missing. No one had. I left my name and the number at the congressman’s house and rode home.

Once home, I stopped to look at the clip. There were a few credit cards and about $1200.00 cash. I was in the living room with the congressman and his company, and told him what I’d found. “Looks like you’re $1200 richer.” He said. I told him that I’d left my name and number and he told me that was “stupid”. I got a phone book out and started looking through the G’s for a JT or the name on the credit cards. The congressman told me I was being foolish and to just keep the money. I bit my tongue.

About a half hour later, the phone rang. It was the restaurant. A man had gone to pay his bill and found that he lad lost his money clip. He identified it. I said I would be down there in 15 minutes.

When I walked into the restaurant, the owner and the man who’d lost the clip were up front. “See? I told you he look rough, but he nice guy.” Said the restaurant owner to the man. I shook the man’s hand and introduced myself. I handed him back his money clip. He immediately began peeling off bills. “I don’t want your money man,” I said. “Well, at least let me buy you a beer” he said. And we headed off to the bar. He bought me a beer, we chatted a bit, and I went on my way.

When I got back to the house, the congressman said “That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen anyone do.”.

I went to bed without replying.

*Thanks to my mother (Seren) for setting me straight on the year.