I had a rather long and difficult day at work yesterday. (The next week is likely to be stressful.) I got home late, and there was snow to shovel when I got there. A guy came over and said that if I had gotten home a few minutes earlier, he would have done it for me. He then mentioned something about doing it for $3. I had no money in my pocket, and I really needed the exercise anyway. My front sidewalk/driveway is so small that it seems ridiculously lazy to have someone else do it.
The guy then revealed that he had a broken plastic shovel and was apparently trying to finish someone else's sidewalk. He asked me if I had an extra, and I did. "Trade you?", he asked. I told him that was okay, and to just bring the other shovel back when he was done.
When I was finished shoveling and got back in the house, it occurred to me that he might rip me off and not return the shovel. It's not like it was my only one, or that it was gold and encrusted with diamonds. I felt vaguely foolish and naive.
However, when I went out later, he had indeed returned the shovel, which made me feel good that people are usually basically decent if you give them a chance.
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