Doomsday Smileys [COLUMN]

Today I went to draw money at an ATM in a small shop. It's one of those crappy ATM's that bleep once the card has been read and if you remove your card too soon you have to do it again. I drew R1000, grabbed the cash, and then walked out. The cashier referred me back to the ATM, saying there was a note I'd missed.
I plucked it out of the plastic tray, feeling a bit silly, thanked her and was about to scoot when she pointed me back again. Another R100 note.

It is great to see this level of honesty. It was my first or second time ever in that shop, and I doubt whether the lady had seen me before.

I also had an experience some time ago where I left my cellphone in the bank. I didn't know it at the time...but the next day I went to the bank to make sure. They went into a separate room and brought it out. Anyone could have pocketed it. Again, quite refreshing to see this sort of thing.

Facebook can also, at times, come into its own. Through Facebook, for example, I've reunited with a girl in Ireland whom I knew as penpal and then lost touch with. Although I went to Ireland in the late 90's I never knew how to find her, and we're now in fairly regular contact.
Someone I did meet, and photographed, I've managed to feel that we've stayed in touch despite the fact that she has gone to study in Miami. I've also had various school friends (and some I'd rather have forgotten) contacting me and finding me on Facebook. It's not all good. When I was going through a particularly rough period (including time in jail and difficulties where I was staying) some colleagues who are 'friends' on Facebook knew exactly what I was going through but preferred to rather gossip about it amongst themselves. Even though I was literally walking past them each day, even having lunch with some of them, they preferred to be voyeurs and gossips to having any interest or care about what I was going through.

That said, some people were really supportive. One person on Facebook that I have met and another guy that I haven't.
I believe there are some people - not many, but a few - like that lady in the shop. They know that one good turn deserves another, and that you don't need a reason or a reward to do the right thing. It just feels good, feels right to be a decent human being, and that is reward itself.