I once returned some money to someone and it made her cry. Gather 'round my friends as I tell you a tale of bravery and adventure!
This was in early August of this year. It was one of, if not the hottest day of the year so far. I was at work and walked down to street to my favorite Sushi restaurant for lunch. As I was eating my food I notice a teenager walked in, maybe about 17-19 no older or younger I'm sure. He walks up to the lady at the register and asks for change for a 20. He hurries out, and the lady goes "Sir ?" The way she said it had a bit of concern in it so I turned around to see what's up? Now this lady speaks almost ZERO english, and this is a mom and pop restaurant, with only 2 chiefs in the back. I get up to examine the money and of course the bills were fake. Now if she didn't care, I wouldn't have cared. But she looked at me with such a look of sorrow, I looked out the window to see where the guy went and I stepped out side...
The chase begins!
I said "Hey Kid!" I made sure to call him kid to make him think I was some big old man, I'm only 22, but I didn't want him thinking we were roughly the same age and he could kick my butt. When he herd me a ran across the street at the cross walk, and then I ran across the busy street of La Brea in Los Angeles with cars coming every which and way. I picked a heck of a day to wear flip flops! He saw me rounding the corner and sped off like a rabbit. I bent down behind a bush at the corner so he couldn't see me and took off the flip flops as not to make noise when I run. I ran across another street, and dashed down the block bare foot. The ground was so hot, pluss I didn't want him see me running after him because he had such a huge head start, so I ran on the grass, and in between the tress that separated the side walk and the street.
He would stop running, then start running and he did that about 2 times, but I was certain he thought I gave up the chase. I always let at least a half block separate us before I went running up to the corner
to catch up, ducking behind bushes and tress.
This went on for 10 minutes, and he kept making turns through the residential areas, but I was determined to follow him home, and then call the police. Finally I gave up that plan, I needed to get back to my food, and work, so I decided to just sneak up on him. After a full 15 minutes of almost the most awkward running I snuck up on him at a stop light. I wasn't a full foot away from him when I said "Hey mister you've gotta give that back" He turned around and looked at me like I was the devil or some evil ghost. He was stumbling over his words, and didn't know what to say. I said "give me the money or I'm calling the police" He couldn't run any where and if he tried I couldn't chase because my feet were so blistered and bloody. He reached for his pocket, and I was prepared to use all the martial arts training I ever learned to win this upcoming duel! Lucky for him, he pulled a wallet and without another word he gave me the money and sped off like a road runner! I called a friend of mine who picked me up and took me back to the sushi shop.
When I came back the lady was so happy I was ok, and when I showed her the money she started balling. Almost drove me to tears!
And thats how I got free sushi for the rest of my days!