The Value of a Quarter

A New York City bus driver told this story upon his retirement. He had been working for the bus company for less than one year and still in his performance probation period. If he were dishonest or unkind in any manner, any supervisor would dismiss him immediately. 

He picked up a fare on the Broadway Line near Times Square. He was a second generation American and was familiar with many languages as NYC is a melting pot of immigrants. The bus stopped promptly and the door opened and a handicapped lady needed assistance getting into the bus. The lady had some physical problems and it soon became clear she had a problem understanding English. 

The driver helped the lady from the curb into the bus and told her the fare was 50 cents. The lady fumbled with her purse as she stood in an unsteady position. Then she reached inside and threw three quarters into the hopper. The driver immediately noticed the error and thought, there is an extra quarter for coffee later on.

The lady immediately moved down the isle to a seat. The driver looked in the mirror to insure she was seated and shut the door. He moved his foot from the brake to the gas as if to proceed and all of a sudden stopped in his tracks. He opened the hopper and removed the extra quarter and walked back to where the lady was. He handed her the quarter and she did not even respond. 

They proceeded and near Battery Park the women exited --- the last one off the bus. As she left the driver thought, I'm a Christian and I'm sure I did the right thing. I do not need a "thank you" from her for doing what is right! 

Several days later the bus company called a meeting to go over new safety regulations with all drivers. The district rep was talking and introducing the need for more care on the part of drivers. As he spoke the door opened and in walked the "handicapped" lady who had dropped the extra quarter in his hopper on the Broadway Line. The lady made her way to the front where the district rep was speaking.

As she stood next to the district rep, she called out in perfect English four names and asked all the men to come forward. It was now clear to everyone that she was an employee of the bus company. The first three men to arrive up front all received envelopes and were asked to return to their seats. The driver of the Broadway Line bus was asked to stand next to the lady. 

The lady introduced herself as a bus inspector. She went on to tell how she entered all four buses and deposited an extra quarter in the hopper. The Broadway Line driver was the only one to return the quarter and after checking paper work from the other three drivers did not find mention of the extra quarter. 

The three drivers were immediately dismissed while the Broadway Line driver was given immediate entry into the union and became a full-fledged driver. 

So 25 years later the driver who picked up the Broadway Line fare that day told the story of how he almost threw away his entire retirement for a cup of coffee worth 25 cents.

      ~ Written by Pastor Bill who has a cyber Christian ministry and whose web site is at http://www.ChristianCyberMinistries.org

He adds "Prayer: Father, please help me to be faithful in the small things so You can trust me with the big things." Scripture: Psalm 27:11 "Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty" ~

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