

### THE KINDEST PEOPLE: HEROES AND GOOD SAMARITANS, VOLUME 7

By David Bruce

Be excellent to each other.

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright 2012 by Bruce D. Bruce

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CHAPTER 1: STORIES 1-50

" **Good Job, Mom"**

In July 2012, Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant Cade Brenchley got an emergency call. A mother was in labor on the side of a highway, 75 miles from the nearest hospital. The couple, who want to be anonymous, are from Wendover, Utah, and they had been trying to make it to a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, but they had run out of time. Mr. Brenchley said, "I came upon them and there they were by themselves in a little Honda Accord. I walked up, and she was in the front passenger seat and had one baby in her arms wrapped up in a towel." The baby was a boy; his umbilical cord had been tied off with a shoelace. The mother said, "My water just broke on the other one!" Mr. Brenchley said, "You have another one ready to come out? I'm going to get my first-aid kit." He added, "The mother was a real trooper—for lack of a better word—for holding on to this baby and then getting ready to have the second one." The mother said, "Something is coming out!" Just 10 minutes after Mr. Brenchley had arrived, the second baby—a girl—was born. He said, "It just came right out and I had my gloves on and caught the baby and checked the airway with my pinky finger." He added, "I kind of held her up face-down, and a little breeze came in the door and her arms went like this [raising his arms] and she let out a good healthy cry." After the mother gave birth, he told her, "Good job, mom." Mr. Brenchley is a father of four, and he has been present each time his wife has given birth. He said, "It's a little bit different emotion, obviously, when they're your own children versus somebody else's, but it's still a neat experience helping bring a child into this world." The babies, Miguel and Jocelyn, are doing well. (1)

" **I Did Not Feel Pity for Her. I Felt a Lot of Respect"**

The least qualified athlete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London was also perhaps its bravest and most important hero. Although some people from her home country of Saudi Arabia called her one of the "Prostitutes of the Olympics," Wojdan Shaherkani, age 16 and 241 pounds, became the first female athlete from Saudi Arabia to compete in any Olympic event. Competing in heavyweight judo, Ms. Shaherkani lost in approximately 90 seconds to Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica, who is ranked 24th in the world. Ms. Mojica knew the meaning of Ms. Shaherkani's being able to compete in the Olympics. Ms. Mojica said, "I did not feel pity for her. I felt a lot of respect." Ms. Shaherkani and her father, Ali, hugged after the loss. Ms. Shaherkani had been studying judo for only two years, and the Olympics were her first official competition. She said, "I was scared a lot, because of all the crowd around, and I lost because this is the first time." Saudi Arabia did not broadcast the competition. Still, Ms. Shaherkani said, "Hopefully, this is the beginning of a new era." Her Saudi representative, Hani Kamal Najm, said, "I feel this is a milestone we've achieved." As Saudi officials had demanded, Olympic officials allowed Ms. Shaherkani to wear a modified hijab. Another Saudi woman, Sarah Attar, who was also well covered, later competed in the 800-meter run. Ms. Attar said, "It is the hugest honor to be here to represent the women of Saudi Arabia. It is an historic moment. I hope it will make a difference." She added, "For women in Saudi Arabia, I think this can really spark something to get more involved in sports, to become more athletic. Maybe in the next Olympics, we can have a very strong team to come." She has a Saudi father and an American mother and is a student at Pepperdine University near Los Angeles, California. Two other Islamic countries, Qatar and Brunei, brought female athletes to the Olympics for the first time. Ms. Attar's coach, Joaquim Cruz, who was the 1984 Olympic 800-meter run champion, agreed to coach her after he heard her story. He said, "She's a kid. She's 19 years old and this is like going to Disneyland for the first time. Everybody else is concerned about the press, the media, what people are going to say. She's just taking a ride." The crowd gave her a standing ovation as she finished the race in last place. Ms. Attar's father, Amer, said, "To see how the crowd reacted to her when she was running was very touching and very exciting." Ms. Attar said, "I mean, seeing the support like that, it's just an amazing experience. I was so excited to be a part of it. I really hope this can be the start of something amazing." Mr. Cruz said, "She's a dream come true for a lot of female athletes who dream about coming here and didn't have that opportunity. She's also a dream for a lot of generations to come. They can dream about that now, where they couldn't dream about it before." (2)

Good Deeds at the 2012 London Olympic Games

Bad people exist. When the Olympics were held in London in 2012, some bad people set up websites that sold fraudulent tickets to Olympic events. People paid good money for the tickets, and they could not attend the events because the tickets were fraudulent. Ann and Graham Smith bought fraudulent Olympic boxing tickets from one of those websites, and they traveled to London all the way from the Gold Coast in east Australia. Mrs. Smith said, "My husband's just devastated—he was crying yesterday. When my sister called 118 for the contact number of the website we bought tickets from, they told us there was a note on the system saying it was a bogus ticketing website. The Olympics was the main reason for coming over." Fortunately, good people also exist. A man from southwest London, who requested anonymity, gave them genuine Olympic boxing tickets. Mr. Smith said, "I'm overwhelmed by his generosity." Mrs. Smith told the Good Samaritan, "I am so delighted that we will still have the opportunity to go to an Olympic event. I am sure that your generosity will be rewarded in life." Here is another Olympic good deed: Chen Guanming cycled his rickshaw all the way from China to London for the Olympics Games, hoping to take part in the opening ceremony. He did not get to participate in the opening ceremony, but he did get to witness it—a Chinese person in London gave him a ticket. In addition, event company ATP Event Experts gave him tickets to witness the Olympic badminton competition. (3)

" **Faith, Focus, Finish"**

At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Manteo Mitchell, running for the United States in the first leg of the 4x400-meter relay, broke the fibula bone in his left leg with 200 meters left to run. Rather than stop running and lose the race, he kept on running. Mr. Mitchell had heard the "pop" when his leg broke: "I heard it and I felt it. But I figured it's what almost any person would've done in that situation." He added, "It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half." Despite the broken bone, Mr. Mitchell completed his part of the relay tied for fifth out of eight runners. If Mr. Mitchell had dropped out of this preliminary race, the Americans would have lost their chance to go on to compete for a medal. Mr. Mitchell said, "Even though track is an individual sport, you've got three guys depending on you, the whole world watching you. You don't want to let anyone down." He added, "I was doing my job. But probably at 201 meters, I heard it and I felt it." How is it possible to run on a broken leg? Adrenaline helps, yes, but more is needed. Mr. Mitchell said, "Faith, focus, finish. Faith, focus, finish. That's the only thing I could say to myself." Western Carolina coach Danny Williamson had given Mr. Mitchell a scholarship and worked with him. Mr. Williamson said, "He was a team person here. As soon as he came to Western Carolina, no matter what the situation, he'd do anything we asked of him." He added, "I don't know how you write this, but I'd like to believe the only way he would have stopped is if the leg had fallen off." Mr. Mitchell said, "I pretty much figured it was broken, because every step I took, it got more painful. But I was out there already. I just wanted to finish and do what I was called in to do." (4)

For Sale: An Olympic Bronze Medal

Before attending the 2012 Olympics in London, Zofia Noceti-Klepacka of Poland announced that if she won a medal she would sell it for a worthy cause. She did win a medal: the bronze in the women's RS-X, which involves windsurfing and a heavy sailboard. Ms. Noceti-Klepacka's neighbor is Zuzia, a five-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis. Her constant care is expensive, and the proceeds from the sale of the bronze will go to her and her family. Ms. Noceti-Klepacka said (translated by Google from an interview with Polskie Radio), "Susan is my neighbor, I know her since birth. I've seen that had problems, how many times was in the hospital, she spent much time there, her mom. Everyone here is praying that Susan survived. Now maybe you can not see it, but cystic fibrosis is a fatal disease before the Games and said that I was going to London after the medal for her." (5)

" **I Don't Need the Medal to Remember. I Know I'm the Olympic Champion. That's in My Heart"**

Some Olympic athletes have sold the gold medals they won—for good reasons. In 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the first year that Ukraine participated in the Olympics as an independent country, Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine won a gold medal in Boxing as a Super Heavyweight. He sold it for $1 million, all of which went to the Klitschko Brothers Foundation to help fund children's sports camps and facilities. The anonymous man who bought the medal gave it away—to Mr. Klitschko. In 2000 in Sydney, Australia, Anthony Ervin of the United States won a gold in swimming: the 50m freestyle. In 2004, he sold the medal on eBay for $17,101, all of which he donated to help the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. In 2004 in Athens, Greece, Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland won a gold medal in swimming: the 200m butterfly. She had announced even before she qualified for the Olympics that any medals she won would be sold to benefit charity. Her gold medal raised over $80,000 for a Polish charity that helps kids with leukemia. She said, "I don't need the medal to remember. I know I'm the Olympic champion. That's in my heart." (6)

" **The Men the Police have to Face have No Honour. I would Way Rather be an MMA [Mixed Martial Arts] Fighter Because the Men I Fight have Honour. These Guys were Just Straight-Up Cowards"**

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Nick Ring, age 33, broke up a street robbery and assault on two teenagers that occurred on a Calgary, Alberta, Canada, street on 6 June 2012. Mr. Ring said, "It was a random act, but from what I saw, it was very violent. I have no tolerance for that type of behaviour and I had to even out the playing field." He added, "It was a brutal assault. Hands down it was a horrible thing to witness. There was no way it was justified." Approximately six weeks later, in July 2012 in the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, he got to meet one of the teenagers he had saved. Anna Huang, age 17, said, "I was really happy and excited, and really thankful to him. If he wasn't there, I might have gotten more injured." Mr. Ring said to her, "I'm so glad you came here." Mr. Ring and another witness whom Mr. Ring called a "perfect stranger" had seen a group of 10 juveniles aged 15-18 stealing Ms. Huang's backpack and assaulting her and her boyfriend. The Good Samaritans called police and chased down the assailants. Ms. Huang, a Grade 11 student at Western Canadian High School, said that the group of assailants "came for trouble." She and her boyfriend were waiting for a bus when a girl elbowed Ms. Huang and then punched her. When Ms. Huang's boyfriend tried to protect her, the males in the group started to beat him. Mr. Ring said, "It was right out of a movie, they were holding him back and beating him up as well. It was a really horrible thing to see." One of the girls started kicking Ms. Huang. The two Good Samaritans arrived and chased the attackers for three or four blocks. They caught one and called the police. Mr. Ring chased after the others, something that helped police to locate them. Mr. Ring said, "These guys, they think they're tough but they're all little..." He added, "The men the police have to face have no honour. I would way rather be an MMA [Mixed Martial Arts] fighter because the men I fight have honour. These guys were just straight-up cowards." As a result of the attack, Ms. Huang said, "I'm scared going outside by myself." Xing Huang, her father, who uses a wheelchair, said about Mr. Ring, "I'm very thankful to him." Mr. Ring said, "It's a little sad. I don't think we need to live in a society like this, where you have to fear leaving the house, especially in Calgary, Alberta. This is a nice town. I've grown up here. I've watched it grow. For the most part, the people we have here are very nice people." He added, "I saw her [Ms. Huang] right at the scene of the crime, when she was right at her worst. I'm just glad I was able to help." (7)

Good Guy Davone Bess

On 1 June 2010, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess was in a car doing a radio interview with the _Jorge Sedano Show_ when he noticed an accident. He said, "I'm sorry. I have to call 911. Can I call you guys in like five minutes? I apologize. I'll call you right back. I have to call 911 for this man. I'll call you right back." He made sure that the man in the wrecked vehicle was OK and then called back and finished the interview. Later, Mr. Sedano talked to him at the Dolphins Training Facility. Mr. Bess said, "Man, it was crazy. I was on the phone with you, and I saw the truck swerving. Then, he just flipped over three times. That's when I stopped and went to see if he was OK. I saw he got out of the truck and was walking and saw he was cool. There were a lot of other people there, too, to make sure everything was OK." (8)

" **It's a Real Tragedy. He Drowned Saving His Wife"**

On 6 August 2012 off the southern tip of the Caribbean island of Aruba, former NBA All-Star Dan Roundfield, age 59, and his wife, Bernie, got caught in rough water past a protected reef area. He managed to help his wife to reach safety, but he drowned. A U.S. tourist who was snorkeling nearby helped Bernie reach shore. John Larmonie, a police spokesperson, said, "It's a real tragedy. He drowned saving his wife." The Roundfields were at an area called Baby Beach, which they had visited many times previously. Bernie said, "We always go to Baby Beach, and we go there because it's so safe. It happened so fast." Mr. Larmonie said that although Baby Beach is usually safe, "It was a really bad day to go outside the reef." Julia Roundfield, a sister-in-law, said, "He was a real sweet guy. He really was a sweetheart." In 1980, 1981 and 1982, Mr. Roundfield was an NBA All-Star; during those years, he played for the Atlanta Hawks. (9)

Storm Warning, Von Diesel, Bat Attitude, and Other Oz Roller Girls Do a Good Deed

After the Oz Roller Girls, a roller derby team in Oswego, New York, lost a bout on 14 July 2012 against the North Country Lumber Jills in Plattsburgh, New York, they drove home in two cars on Route 11. In a dark place near Malone, New York, after midnight, they saw some large things in the road. Realizing that four runaway horses were blocking the road, they decided to do a good deed and return them to their rightful owners. Members of the team—including Toni Pavo, aka Storm Warning; Yvonne Brown, aka Von Diesel; and Mindy Nichols, aka Bat Attitude—started rounding up the horses. Ms. Brown said, "We were out in the middle of nowhere, and I'm not gonna lie, it seemed just like a horror movie. It was pitch black, there were no cars coming, and we had to go to spooky-looking farm houses." A man at the first farm house they came to said that the horses weren't his, but he pointed to another farm house that the roller derby team could not see in the dark. They delivered the horses to the man and woman who lived there, and Ms. Pavo said, "The lady asked why we were dressed so strangely, and when we told her we just came back from a roller derby bout, she got really excited and told us she used to watch it on TV." (10)

A Special-Needs Triathlete

Brothers Cayden and Connor Long of Whitehouse, Tennessee, compete together in triathlons for children. Cayden is six years old and Connor is nine years old. What is unusual about these triathletes is that Camden has cerebral palsy and cannot walk or talk. Connor said, "People don't realize that when you're special needs and in a wheelchair, you won't be able to get out that much." Connor wanted his brother to be able to experience sports, so he asked their parents if they could compete together in a triathlon. In June 2011, they competed in their first triathlon and have competed in others since then. Connor said that it was "pretty inspiring to some people and it was cool to me that I took on the challenge to pull my younger sibling." In the swimming part of the triathlon, Cayden uses a special raft so his brother can tow him, and in the bicycling and running parts of the triathlon he uses a cart and stroller so his brother can tow or push him. The two boys are not out to finish first; their goal is to finish the race. Connor said about his brother, "When I see him smiling and laughing, that means he's having a good time." Cayden's mother said about him, "I know it's changed him. With the help of his brother, he's found something he can do." In July 2012, they competed in the first annual New England Kids Triathlon, held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A lifeguard swam with the boys to ensure Cayden's safety. (11)

" **The Young Woman was Not Humiliated"**

Late in her life, author Anaïs Nin spoke at Western Michigan University and answered questions from the audience, which was mostly composed of students. A young woman who asked her the first question asked a very personal question: What were the worst problems she faced in her marriage? Ms. Nin simply said, "I will pass a hat around the room and ask every married person to drop a note in it about the worst marital problem he or she has had to deal with. Then I will hold the hat up and say, 'Yes, all of these.'" (She did pass the hat, but only so people could write down questions for her.) Author Stephanie Gauper was impressed by the way that Ms. Nin answered the young woman's very personal question. Ms. Gauper wrote that "the way she turned the first question into a lesson on decorum and universality moved me and the whole audience, too. The young woman was not humiliated; she indeed appeared to feel honored by the kindly attention from this still gorgeous and brilliant older woman. I have seen speakers who would nail such a questioner to the wall. Nin was so gentle and teaching, so generous." (12)

**Ray Bradbury: "** **Writers Should Always Help Other Writers—Because You Can Bet Every Penny in Your Pocket that No One Else will Do It"**

The late Ray Bradbury was generous when it came to advising and helping other writers. When _New York Times_ bestselling author Jonathan Maberry was a young teenager, he met and got to know Mr. Bradbury. Mr. Maberry says about Mr. Bradbury, "He gave me a lot of very good advice on craft and the business of publishing, but one of the things that stuck out in my mind was this—he said, 'Writers should always help other writers—because you can bet every penny in your pocket that no one else will do it.' Mr. Maberry says that his manifesto now is this: "Writers should always help other writers." Mr. Maberry says that he "believes that if writers help other writers, then more good works will get published, more people will want to read these works, and all of publishing will thrive. Indie, mainstream, and solo press." (13)

" **Perhaps, the Most Polite Cease and Desist [Letter] Ever Written"**

Companies worry about copyright infringement. Things that can be and are copyrighted include the Jack Daniel's label that appears on its bottles of booze. Patrick Wensink wrote a novel titled _Broken Piano for President_ that in its first edition had a cover designed to resemble a Jack Daniel's label. A Jack Daniel's lawyer sent him a well-written and non-confrontational cease-and-desist letter. Jeff Patterson of Jeff Patterson Design wrote about it, "You'll be hard pressed to find a friendlier, more decent approach than this." In July 2012, Mr. Wensink wrote that it "is, perhaps, the most polite cease and desist ever written. If it wasn't signed by some lawyer, I'd imagine ol' Gentleman Jack penning it himself, twirling his bushy mustache." Here is a selection from the letter in which the lawyer, Christy Susman, Senior Attorney for Trademarks at Jack Daniel's, gives reasons for not allowing designs such as the one that appeared on the cover of Mr. Wensink's novel: "We are certainly flattered by your affection for the brand, but while we can appreciate the pop culture appeal of Jack Daniel's, we also have to be diligent to ensure that the Jack Daniel's trademarks are used correctly. Given the brand's popularity, it will probably come as no surprise that we come across designs like this on a regular basis. What may not be so apparent, however, is that if we allow uses like this one, we run the very real risk that our trademark will be weakened. As [you are] a fan of the brand, I'm sure that is not something you intended or would want to see happen." It is a nice, friendly paragraph and makes the company's case well. A short paragraph later makes an offer of help: "Because you are both a Louisville 'neighbor' and a fan of the brand, we simply request that you change the cover design when the book is reprinted. If you would be willing to change the design sooner than that (including on the digital version), we would be willing to contribute a reasonable amount toward the costs of doing so." Mr. Wensink wrote, "I've never received a cease and desist, but I don't imagine they're all this friendly. While I'm sad to see _Broken Piano for President_ 's artwork go, my publisher has decided to change the cover art in response to Jack Daniel's request. Jack also generously offered to help pay for a new cover, which I also bet doesn't happen often. My publisher, Lazy Fascist Press, will be funding the new artwork themselves, though. In response to controversy: _Broken Piano_ is currently in the Amazon Top 100, which is unthinkable for a small, independent press book like this. I spent six years working on this novel, so I'm incredibly pleased and flattered by the response. Of course, I plan to celebrate like Hemingway and Fitzgerald before me...I'm going to go change my son's diaper." (14)

" **Pick That Woman Up!"**

Good deeds tend to be practical and pragmatic rather than elegant. In 1977, poet Deena Metzger fell on an icy street in New York City. A black man saw her and ordered two young males who happened to be walking nearby, "Pick that woman up!" (15)

" **It was Pretty Frightening, But Anyone Would have Done the Same"**

In July 2012, a group of young fans waited for boy band The Wanted at Glasgow Airport in Scotland following the band's T in The Park performance. Members of The Wanted are Max George, age 23; Siva Kaneswaran, age 23; Jay McGuiness, age 21; Tom Parker, 23; and Nathan Sykes, age 19. One girl was so excited that she fainted. When she fell, she hit her head on a brick wall and started having convulsions. Mr. Sykes got out of the bus and stayed by her as Mr. Parker called an ambulance. Mr. Parker said, "It was pretty frightening, but anyone would have done the same." Afterward, Mr. Sycks tweeted, "Can someone please direct message to let me know if the girl from the airport is ok? Thanks." Later, he wrote, "Thanks for the updates guys, glad she is ok." (16)

" **It Brought Tears to My Daughter and Myself"**

On 30 June 2012 at a Blake Shelton country-music concert at Overland Park in Kansas, Patrick Connelly, who has disabilities and uses a wheelchair, was unable to see Mr. Shelton. Cheryl Connelly, his mother, said, "Patrick started crying because he couldn't see Blake Shelton; he couldn't see anything but the legs of the people in front of him. Ms. Connelly and her daughter tried to hold Patrick up so he could see, but the 100-degree temperature made it impossible for them to do that for more than a few minutes. Fortunately, two men—strangers to the Connelly family—offered to hold Patrick up. They held him up for approximately 20 minutes, and then they took him to the front of the stage to watch the rest of the concert. After the concert, Patrick even got to go backstage and shake Mr. Shelton's hand. Ms. Connelly said, "He loved it, he was so amazing, he was so happy, he actually got to see him up close and he was really, really happy and excited he got the opportunity to do that. It meant a lot to our family." Ms. Connelly said about the two Good Samaritans, "I can't thank them enough and what that meant for my family, and especially for Patrick, for what it meant for him to be able to see that. It brought tears to my daughter and myself." She added, "Today in this world you don't see that much heartfelt kindness from strangers." (17)

The Generosity of Genius

Jazz alto saxophonist Phil Woods, age 80 in 2012, learned from the best. At Julliard, he played classical clarinet during the daytime. He studied jazz informally at night and during his career with some of the best teachers in the world: Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk, and Clark Terry. He said, "I call it the 'generosity of genius.' You asked them a question and they told you the truth, they'd pull your coat." ("Pull your coat" means to teach.) Here's an example: "I remember one time Dizzy said to me, 'You're having trouble on the pickups of that tune, aren't you?' I said, 'Yeah, I am, Diz.' So he took me in the back, and he said, 'Now listen to me.' I'm 24 years old and here's the man who invented bebop showing me the s**t, playing his horn right in my face. He said, 'Now you do it.' You never forget lessons like that." (18)

" **She Saw This Young Guy Passed Out on His Back with Vomit Around Him"**

Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding has had a problem with alcohol in the past, and that may have helped her feel empathy when she saw a drunken reveler lying in the street unconscious while she was in vacation in the Spanish island Ibiza in July 2012. She got out of her car and put the man in the recovery position. An onlooker said, "Sarah was driving around the island in a hire car when she saw this young guy passed out on his back with vomit around him. She slammed on her brakes and rushed over to him to see if he was OK. Luckily, he was still breathing, but she was worried he might choke if he was sick so she put him on his side in the recovery position and then flagged a passing car down for assistance. A local then called an ambulance for him and the guy was taken to hospital." The onlooker added, "The medics said he would have to have his stomach pumped and thanked Sarah for stepping in. If he had been sick while he was lying on his back, he could have choked to death. Sarah said she felt sorry for the guy and couldn't drive on without making sure he was OK." (19)

Amelie Poulain Society

Adam Spunberg was impressed by the 2001 French film _Amelie_ , in which the title character, Amelie Poulain, played by Audrey Tautou, performed a number of good deeds and played a few pranks on people who deserved them. Mr. Spunberg was so impressed by the movie and the character that he started an Amelie Poulain Society while he was an undergraduate student at Columbia University and another chapter while he was a law student at Florida State University. Members are people who, like Amelie, aspire to be regular do-gooders. One of their good deeds took place in 2004, when Ron Zook was fired as University of Florida head football coach before the end of the season. (Mr. Zook coached for three seasons, with records of 8-5, 8-5, and 7-5.) Members of the Amelie Poulain Society felt that he was being unfairly criticized, so they made a photo collage of the coach's high points at the University of Florida as a gift for him. Mr. Spunberg said about the photo collage, "It didn't look professionally done." But it was sincere. Mr. Spunberg said, "What we wanted to say was that whether you like him or not as a coach, he was really run out of town in the wrong way—he never really had a good chance." By the way, Mr. Zook ended his career at the University of Florida on a high point: His team defeated Florida State in an away game. The website for the Amelie Poulain Society states, "The founding principle of this society is the desire to perform good deeds for others. Whether it be assisting a homeless person on the street or helping to make a person's birthday more special, members of APS are there to make an impact. The smallest individual gesture of kindness can mean a great deal to the recipient... imagine what a group can accomplish! Modeling these acts after those of Amelie Poulain, this society strives to use manpower, not finances, to make a difference." (20)

Ron "Perlman is 12 Flavors of Awesome"

The Make-a-Wish Foundation specializes in making the wishes of seriously ill children come true. Six-year-old Zachary, who has leukemia, had a wish: "to meet and become Hellboy." Actor Ron Perlman, who played the character Hellboy in two well-received movies, and Spectral Motion, which specializes in creature effects, made that wish come true. Mr. Perlman spent four hours in makeup with artists Lufeng Qu and Eden Elizalde to become Hellboy, and then he hung out with Zachary, who later got his own makeup session and transformed into the bright red hero. Mr. Perlman bought Zach, Zach's family, and the good people at Spectral Motion hamburgers, fries, and shakes. A few weeks earlier, another Make-a-Wish child, Caleb, visited Spectral Motion for a behind-the-scenes look at some characters that have been featured in _X-Men: The Last Stand_ and _Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer_. Both Mr. Perlman and Spectral Motion got some serious love from readers of the Facebook post about the Hellboy special event. Doreen Merchant wrote, "THIS is why I love this actor!! Simply MARVELOUS!!" Andrew Branton wrote, "This is awesome, you all did a great job. Glad Ron got in on it too!" Sheldon Lee Ron wrote, "Perlman is 12 flavors of awesome." (21)

Jennifer to the Rescue

During the summer of 2010, movie actress Jennifer Garner, wife of Ben Affleck, was driving in Los Angeles, California, when she saw a couple of women who were stranded because their car had run out of gas. Ms. Garner got a can of gas for them from a gas station and poured it into their car's gas tank. (22)

" **Amid Reporting on Murders, Break-Ins, Etc., It can be Easy to Forget that Most People are Good"**

On 8 August 2011, TV crime reporter Jillian Benfield of Aiken County, South Carolina, who works in Augusta, Georgia, was involved in a car accident. She wrote this letter to the editor of the _Augusta Chronicle_ , giving her account of the kindness she and her husband received: "As a TV news reporter on a crime beat, I spend most of my week bringing our viewers at WJBF stories about the bad things happening in our community. Amid reporting on murders, break-ins, etc., it can be easy to forget that most people are good. I was never so reminded of this as I was Aug. 8. My husband, Andy, and I were driving home from Florida on U.S. Highway 25. We were in Jenkins County [Georgia] just outside Millen when we drove off the road into the median, flipped and landed upside-down in a ditch. After struggling to get out of the car, I was surprised to see at least 15 people coming toward me asking if I was all right. Many of these good Samaritans were members of the Jenkins County community. They called the police for us, helped us chase down our dog all up and down Highway 25 (one person even gave us their leash) and stayed with us until EMS arrived. Everyone from Jenkins County EMS, the deputies from the Jenkins County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol and Sasser And Sons Towing could not have been more caring or compassionate. I personally want to thank Jenkins County EMS Director Henry Young and Jenkins County Sheriff Robert Oglesby for driving us more than an hour home to Aiken County. Thank you for caring, and thank you for reminding me of all the good that exists among us every day." (23)

" **I Couldn't Sleep Last Night. It was Too Cold on My Floor Even with My Blanket"**

Second-grade teacher Trisha Baxter teaches in Northridge, Ohio, and she lives in Beavercreek, Ohio. Her garage is the headquarters of her non-profit: Snuggled Up Inc., which provides children with beds and bedding. It distributes these items in each Snuggle Kit: inflatable mattress with pump, batteries for pump (if needed), sheet sets to fit mattress, snuggly blanket, new pillow, vinyl patch for leaks, and Rubbermaid tub to put everything in. She started her nonprofit after talking to one of her students: "She said, 'I couldn't sleep last night. It was too cold on my floor even with my blanket.'" Ms. Baxter asked her students at Morrison Elementary in Harrison Township how many slept on the floor. The answer was over half. Ms. Baxter said, "I turned away and kind of cried for a minute, just quiet tears, and turned back around and thought what can I do." For several months, she wondered what she could do, and then she had the idea of Snuggle Kits. She started by spending $70 to buy the materials for what are basically beds in boxes, she assembled the materials into kits, and she handed them out. She said, "We had about a hundred and fifty that were on my list in my school that needed a bed. [The children were] either sleeping on the floor or on the couch." Angela Deters, a single mother of six, said, "The girls either share a mattress or they would be lying on a pile of blankets. That first night of tucking your girls, your kids, into bed, an actual bed, what was that like? Honestly, it felt like Christmas." As of December 2011, more than 120 Snuggle Kits had been given away. (24)

" **It's One of Those Oprah Moments, You Know?"**

On 10 December 2011, a couple of Christmas angels—a man and a woman who wished to remain anonymous—paid around $1,000 on the Minot, North Dakota, Kmart layaway accounts of four families with children. Toni Conway, an assistant manager, said that the couple waited in line with other customers and then told her what they wanted to do. Ms. Conway said, "They approached me and said, 'This is weird, but we'd like to help out families to pay off their layaway.' They said they had a budget, but can you help us pick out the families that have all toys. I guess it's all for kids." She gave the couple a list of layaway accounts. All of the accounts were overdue, and all of the accounts contained toys for children. The couple chose four layaway accounts to almost pay off, leaving only $5 or $10 due on each layaway account. Ms. Conway called the families whose layaway accounts had been nearly paid off. She said, "One was ready to cancel it because her dad kind of had a medical situation and they went home to Minneapolis, so she was crying on the phone." Another woman told Ms. Conway that she must be mistaken. When the woman became convinced that the Christmas angels had blessed her, she cried. Among those crying was Ms. Conway herself, who said, 'It's one of those Oprah moments, you know?'" Dave Bussard, store manager of Kmart, said about the Christmas angels, "I tell you, they're going to make this Christmas for those people very memorable." He added, "When we were calling to tell some of the folks that their layaways had been paid off for all but $5—Christmas angels had made a payment—they were just overwhelmed with joy and tears. It was just helping their dollar stretch further. That's nice to know that the people that were helped were truly folks that needed help." In addition, a Salvation Army Angel Tree is near the entrance of Kmart, and customers have bought for children most of the toys that they requested. Mr. Bussard said, "We have had an overwhelming response with the angel tree as well. People have been really kind to help out with picking up children's things [requests] off the tree and have been very, very generous. It's awesome to see that generosity in our community, because we have just so many good people in our community. People care about each other, and they're taking care of our own." He added, "Your body just starts tingling when you see the good deeds being done by good folks in the community. It just means so much to everybody." (25)

The Spirit of #40

In early December 2011, an anonymous man walked into the Kmart in Plainfield Township, Michigan, and paid for 14 customers' layaway orders, spending approximately $2,000 to do so. Tammy (no last name given), a single mother, had her layaway order of $150 paid off. Now her daughter, Aliyah, has a box of Christmas and birthday toys. Tammy said, "She got some Dora the Explorer] and baby doll stuff and her little Weebles. She loves Weebles, and her Minnie Mouse." Tammy said that when she heard that her layaway order had been paid off, "I was shocked, very shocked, being a single mom. You know, times are rough." She added, "It means a lot that somebody would be that thoughtful to take the time out and do something to help somebody else." Kmart employee Frank Russo called the customers whose layaway orders had been paid off. He said, "Some of them are crying over this—they're just so happy. They're just hysterical over this." The Secret Santa is anonymous, but he said that he is giving in the "Spirit of #40." According to an article written by Darren Cunningham, "The number 40 was worn by Doug Corradini who played football in Coopersville and died from [ cancer in 1983. He was described as a kind man who helped young people, including the donor. Today, Corradini's memory is bringing joy to families, particularly kids like Aliyah." Tammy said, "I would just tell him thank you, and I appreciate [it]." Aliyah said, "Thank you." The anonymous donor wrote in an email, "They [other people] don't have to spend 2K to help someone. Even $5 can make a huge difference for someone, just knowing someone cares." (26)

" **Utter Amazement and Then Shock. Thank You, Whoever You Are. You are a Wonderful Person"**

In December 2011, a Secret Santa passed out $100 bills at a food pantry in Brunswick, Maine. Many recipients of the money cried. Cyndy Carney, Executive Director of the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program on Union Street, said, "It was a total shock for us. This put a bright spot in their day." In 2009, the Secret Santa handed out $10,000 to people visiting a Goodwill store in Portland, Maine. In 2010, the Secret Santa handed out $20,000 at the Warming Hut food pantry in Sebago, Maine. In 2011, Michelle Phinney of Bowdoin, Maine, who had lost her job the previous year and who supports a two-year-old daughter, planned to use the money to help pay her electric bill. She said, "Utter amazement and then shock. Thank you, whoever you are. You are a wonderful person." The Secret Santa declined to give his identity. He said, "To me, remaining anonymous is the essence of the giving spirit." Maine's Secret Santa was inspired by the example of Larry Stewart, who until his death was a Secret Santa in Kansas City, Missouri. Maine's Secret Santa said, "The whole idea is to convince other people to do something similar. We'd love to see it happen more often." (27)

" **It Restores My Faith. This is What New Hampshire is All About: People Willing to Give, Even in a Desperate Situation"**

In December 2011, thefts occurred at two houses on Wilmot Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Both houses had nativity displays, and plastic baby Jesus figures were stolen from both displays. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan gave a replacement baby Jesus figure to Will Biron and offered to replace the other baby Jesus figure. Mr. Biron said, "It fits perfectly. I know my daughter is going to be very happy when she sees it. When it happened, she was crying, asking, 'How could someone do that?'" Stolen from the other nativity scene a few doors down was a figure of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. The homeowner, Michael Dachowski, placed this sign where the figure once stood: "Stolen by vandals. Merry Christmas." The Good Samaritan offered to replace this figure, and Mr. Dachowski planned to pick it up soon. Mr. Dachowski said about the figure, "These are things people collect over the years; they don't make them anymore." The Good Samaritan lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and he has a spectacular nativity scene. Mr. Dachowski plans to continue his Christmas display each year: "We've had thousands and thousands of people coming by, and this is only the second time we've had a problem." Mr. Biron said about the Good Samaritan, "It restores my faith. This is what New Hampshire is all about: people willing to give, even in a desperate situation." Mr. Birin does, however, plan to keep the baby Jesus figure inside his house at night. (28)

Incredible Stories of Good Deeds

People on Reddit sometimes have incredible stories of good deeds. For example, Throwawaybisquit wrote, "I've been incredibly sad all morning because I didn't have the [rent] money in time for him [my landlord] yesterday, like I promised him I would (and thought I would). I just got an email from him telling me he can't make it by till Monday (even though he works a block from where I live!) He knows I'm good for it, even if a little late, and he's saving me face. Thanks D." Throwawaybisquit then asked, "What generous deed has someone done for you?" PremiereLife responded, "My dad recently lost his job, and with it his health insurance. He had a heart attack last year, and has to take Effient as a result. A one-month supply is around $250 without the insurance to help. He went to his doctor's office yesterday to find a coupon to at least shave off some of the cost. A nurse went in the back, and ended up coming back with a two-month supply of free samples for him. Saved my parents from paying $500 out of pocket for a drug he absolutely needed." Uofm4ever wrote, "My neurologist did this for a year for me when I was in college and needed medicine to control my seizures. She could always give me enough to cover most but not all. Eventually it got to the point that I couldn't even cover my share anymore. I'm on a fairly new medicine and am a big guy, 6'4" 250 lbs, so it's over a $1,000 a month easily. I wrote the pharmaceutical company along with a letter from my doctor to explain my situation and see if they could help. A month later I received 4 1/2 months worth of medicine in the mail. They said they would've given me more but the government wouldn't let them give anymore than that every 6 months. They continued sending this to me every 6 months for the rest of my college life. My doctor covered the other month and half that I needed. I have no idea how I will ever be able to repay or thank my doctor and that company for showing such compassion." One more: Teddyclopse wrote, "When I was in first grade, my mom was really struggling financially. She mentioned something about how hard Thanksgiving was gonna be [for us] to one of my classmate's moms. Well, the week before Thanksgiving, there was a raffle where we could win an entire Thanksgiving dinner. My teacher gave every student two cards from a deck. When she gave me mine, she kinda said 'wait' and checked them before she gave them back to me. I won the raffle. Even if she hadn't checked the cards, I'd have suspected something. I never win anything." (29)

" **How You Go from Being a Bystander to an Upstander"**

American activist Leora Kahn put together an international exhibition of 21 stories of rescuers who took action in order to stop acts of genocide. For example, in 1994, genocide started in Rwanda, and Hutus began slaughtering Tutsis. A Hutu soldier named Silas (no last name given) smuggled Tutsis over the border to Burundi, where they would be safe. After Silas had saved over 50 Tutsis, the other Hutu soldiers discovered what he was doing and he had to flee for his life. Many of the rescuers are rejected by their own communities despite—or, rather, because of—their courage. Ms. Kahn said that Silas was unwilling to talk to her in his own village: "His courage led him to an unfulfilling life afterwards—he was a broken man—and this is common for rescuers. They become pariahs because they are traitors to their own people. Silas lost everything." Of course, the Rwandan genocide was an extreme case of evil, and most of us live in relatively peaceful places. Still, Ms. Kahn said, we can choose to do the right thing. She said, "This [exhibition] is really about how you go from being a bystander to an upstander. The examples [in this exhibition] are extreme, but everyone has it in them to go and step in. You can bring it down to bullying or doing an injustice. I don't say risk your life to stop a fight, but there are things to do and say, 'This isn't right.' Studies say if one person says, 'Stop,' others will follow. So don't just stand there." She gave an example: "If the police are beating up someone in the subway, you can just shout. I want everyone to know they have an option besides just standing there. 'Rescuer' is a tough word, so if we are talking about you and me I prefer 'upstander.'" Would Ms. Kahn be an upstander? She said, "I do question, what would I do? You don't know until it happens. It's about critical thinking and group behaviour, and not necessarily going where the rest of the group or the government goes." In July 2012, the exhibition opened at the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Melbourne, Australia. (30)

" **I Know that the Only Relationship Between Them and Me is that We Pray in the Same Congregation, But I Cannot Chase God's People from My House"**

In 1994, Rwanburindi Enoch and his wife lived peacefully in their village in Rwanda, but genocide broke out and militant Hutus murdered 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in approximately 100 days. Mr. Enoch and his wife were Hutus, but they helped Tutsis escape the slaughter. They allowed some Tutsis—who were wounded—to stay in their house. When their house was full, Mr. Enoch built another shelter on his property for more Tutsis. He said, "Many times the local authorities forced me to appear before the burgomaster, and every time it happened my family would lose all hope of seeing me again. My neighbors rushed to advise me to evict the refugees from my home as soon as possible, but I told them, 'I know that the only relationship between them and me is that we pray in the same congregation, but I cannot chase God's people from my house.'" Leora Kahn, an activist and executive director of PROOF: Media for Social Justice, met Mr. Enoch. She said, "People were killing Tutsis all around him, and he chose not to do that. The dignity in this man and his wife—it's pretty extraordinary." She put together an exhibition of 21 heroes who were "ordinary" people but who resisted genocide in various times and places. She said, "The people we interviewed are people like you and me—they're just regular people. They're farmers, taxi cab drivers, workers, fathers, mothers—and that's very important. You don't have to be a diplomat, or have a lot of money. Anyone can be an upstander." (31)

Hungry in More Than One Way

Rabbi Yechiel Meir of Gustinin once brought home a beggar after a fast day, saying that he was both hungry to break his fast and hungry to perform the mitzvah of welcoming a guest. By the way, Rabbi Simchah Bunim of Pshischa once asked how we can know that a sin is forgiven. His answer was that one knows that the sin has been forgiven when one no longer repeats it. (32)

" **You Shall Fear Your God"**

The Torah requires treating justly the weakest members of society. Note that whenever the Torah has a commandment of this kind, the commandment is followed by the phrase "You shall fear your God." For example, "You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the old: You shall fear your God" (Leviticus 19:32) and "You shall not place a stumbling block in front of a blind man: You shall fear your God" (Leviticus 25:43). (33)

Four Cups of Milk

A poor man came to R' Yoshe Ber of Brisk and asked if it were permitted to use four cups of milk instead of four cups of wine in the Pesach seder. R' Yoshe Ber asked the man if he were sick, and the man replied that he was well, but that wine was expensive. R' Yoshe Ber then lent the man some money—much more than was needed to buy the wine. Afterward, his wife asked why he had lent the man so much money. R' Yoshe Ber answered, "If he had been able to buy what he needed for Pesach, he would have had fish and meat at his table, and then he wouldn't have been able to have milk at all [because of Jewish dietary laws]. I understood that he had none of the necessities and had him take 25 rubles to buy whatever he lacked." (34)

" **People Often Forget that Judaism and Islam aren't So Far Apart as the Radicals From Both Sides would have Us Believe. We Are Both Abrahamic Religions and in Many Respects Share a Common Faith"—Rabbi Marc Scheier**

In December 2007 in a New York City subway, a group of approximately 10 people started yelling anti-Semitic words and attempted to beat up three Jews. Coming to the help of the Jews was a Muslim from Pakistan named Hassan Askari, an accounting student. He ended up with a busted nose and lips and two black eyes, but his intervention allowed one of the Jews to call 911 and get help. Mr. Askari said, "I was brought up to believe that you cannot walk away from an incident like this. I felt I could not just stand there and watch these people being beaten up without doing anything to help. I believe we are all members of one family, and my religion teaches me always to come to the aid of my fellow man in distress." Marc Scheier, a rabbi from the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, said, "As the quarrel turned progressively more violent, scores of people on the train ignored the fight and didn't want to have anything to do with it. Mr. Askari—like the Good Samaritan—was the only person brave enough to intervene. The symbolism of his action at Christmas time is striking—a foreign Muslim coming to the aid of three Jews in an act of kindness and cooperation. People often forget that Judaism and Islam aren't so far apart as the radicals from both sides would have us believe. We are both Abrahamic religions and in many respects share a common faith." Rabbi Scheier said about Mr. Askari, "He is such a humble and modest man blessed with the most extraordinary bravery." Mr. Askari said, "I have friends who are Jews, Christians, and Buddhists and would have acted in the same way if they were victims of an unprovoked attack." (35)

" **We Have Nothing Left. We Do Not Have Food for So Many People"**

In Calcutta, India, the Missionaries of Charity feed several thousand people every day. However, one day there was no food to feed them. A Sister told Mother Teresa, "We have nothing left. We do not have food for so many people." However, at 9 a.m. a truck loaded with bread arrived. At the city schools, children are given a slice of bread. That day, the city schools were closed for some reason, and the bread that would have given to the children was instead given to the Missionaries of Charity. All of the hungry people were able to eat bread until they were satisfied. By the way, while Mother Teresa was in China in 1969, she was asked what she thought a Communist was. She answered, "A child of God, a brother, a sister of mine." Asked where she had gotten that idea, Mother Teresa said, "From God himself. He said, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me'" (Matthew 25:40). (36)

Technically Prisoners Until the Day They Died

At times, the Quakers have been severely persecuted. For example, after the Conventicle Act of 1664, which made it illegal for more than four people to gather in one place, the Quakers continued to meet together to worship. The sheriffs who arrested the Quakers and imprisoned them quickly discovered that they were peaceful people, and very often the sheriffs would allow the Quakers to return home, with the provision that they return to imprisonment when asked to do so. Many of the Quakers were never asked to return to imprisonment, even though they were technically prisoners until the day they died. (37)

**Parable of the Good Samaritan: "** **Go, and Do Thou Likewise"**

"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him [Jesus], saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said unto him, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" And he answering said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." And he said unto him, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" And Jesus answering said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, 'Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.' Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He that shewed mercy on him." Then said Jesus unto him, "Go, and do thou likewise." (38)

" **God Prefers Kind Atheists to Hateful Christians"**

In March 2012, the Rose City Park United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon, had this message up on its signboard: "God prefers kind atheists to hateful Christians." Pastor Tom Tate wrote, "The sign hits at the very core of much of what is happening in Christianity today: Are we loved by God because we have the right beliefs, or are we loved, period? And what does God want from us? We can listen to the prophet, 'What does the Lord require? To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God' (Micah 6:8)." To Pastor Tate, it is a given that God prefers kindness to hatred. He asks, "Isn't that the meaning of one of the most often quoted parables: the Good Samaritan? As far as Jesus' crowd was concerned, Samaritans were atheists. What was Jesus' meaning? Did the Samaritan convert to the 'right beliefs'? Not according to the story. As a matter of fact, it was the teachers of law, those with 'right beliefs' who didn't get it; who 'passed by.'" The message on the signboard is an example of good teaching. (39)

" **We Welcome You"**

Churches should be welcoming places. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, is a welcoming place. This is the welcoming message that people receive: "We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can't carry a note in a bucket. You're welcome here if you're 'just browsing,' just woke up or just got out of jail. We don't care if you're more Catholic than the Pope, or haven't been in church since little Joey's Baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you're having problems or you're down in the dumps or if you don't like 'organized religion,' we've been there too. If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you're welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don't work, can't spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts... and you!" (40)

Abraham Lincoln: Granter of Life

America Presidents have the power to grant pardons. In 1863, the Army's Judge Advocate General gave deserter Michael Delaney the death sentence. In 1862, Mr. Delaney had deserted from a Colorado regiment. President Abraham Lincoln reviewed the legal papers, and he noticed that although Mr. Delaney had deserted from one Colorado regiment, he had reenlisted in another Colorado regiment. Therefore, President Lincoln decided to give him a second chance. He wrote on the legal papers, "Let him fight instead of being shot. A Lincoln." (41)

" **I would have Hated to See Those Items Sold on EBay. They Belonged to the Family"**

Greg Yoder found some World War II medals when he cleaned an old house in Kokomo, Indiana. The medals had been awarded to Glen Maggart. Mr. Yoder said, "It had his birth certificate, his obituary, and it had the documentation of when he was awarded them." Estelle Hawk found out about the medals and persuaded Mr. Yoder—after months of effort—to sell them to her for $100. Ms. Hawk said, "I was interested in finding who they belonged to. It was the right thing to do." She added, "I would have hated to see those items sold on eBay. They belonged to the family." A birth certificate showed that Glen Maggart was born 16 July 1923 in Greentown, Indiana. She contacted the American Legion Post in Greentown and asked for help to track down Mr. Maggart's family so she could give them the medals. Post Commander Lewie Moloch said, "We're talking 65-year-old medals. I'm thinking there's no way we're going to figure this out. I only knew one person named Maggart. I went to college with him." He added, "I knew Monty Maggart was a teacher at Eastern. I explained to him what I had." Monty Maggart's father, Vernon, turned out to be Glen Maggart's cousin. Ms. Hawk said about Vernon Maggart, "He came over [in October 2011], and we gave him the medals, and he was happy as a lark. He was very grateful and shocked and surprised." She added, "I would be so sad for family members that didn't have these. It's a part of their family history." Mr. Yoder learned about what Ms. Hawk had done, was moved and impressed, and refunded the $100 she had paid him for the medals. Mr. Maggart died in April 1962. (42)

" **It's from LT Michael P. Murphy'"**

Jeff Beaurline, U.S. Navy SAR (Search and Rescue) Corpsman (retired), wanted to honor Lt. Michael Murphy on St. Patrick's Day, 2012. He came up with an original way of doing that, as he explained on Facebook: "As promised... I just walked into a local pub (PUB 25, Newtown, CT) and asked to speak with the Owner/Manager. I asked if I could leave a cold one on the bar for Michael all day. I showed him the 'Reserved' sign I made and explained I wanted to leave him sufficient funds to buy a random person a Guinness every hour today, and that when the surprised patron asks him 'Who is this from?' he should reply: 'It's from LT Michael P. Murphy' and point to the reserved sign. The Owner/Manager was so in tune with this small gesture, he refused my money, introduced me to two men working in the PUB who just returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq with the ASSURANCE that my request on Michael's behalf would be honored. God Bless America!" A Gold Star mother, the mother of Specialist Micheal "Pokey" Phillips, who was Killed in Action in Iraq, posted Mr. Beaurline's Facebook post on her blog. She wrote, "I came across this on facebook... I have credited the man who did this and shared it originally. What he doesn't know that in his honoring Lt. Murphy he has comforted a Gold Star mom who sometimes wonders if the 'Grateful Nation' exists." In a comment to her blog entry, Mr. Beaurline wrote on 23 March 2012, "It was my privilege to honor LT Michael P. Murphy on ST. Patrick's Day. It only seemed fitting to honor an Irish American Hero on that day. I thought I would open the eyes of just a few citizens that never heard the story of him and his four man SEAL TEAM. My simple gesture went 'viral' across the Internet and on that day tens of thousands of people read of, spoke of, prayed for, and toasted LT Michael P. Murphy. For that I am pleased as my mission for a fallen Brother at arms, 'Seal Of Honor' with a 'Heart of a lion' was clearly accomplished. He was NOT FORGOTTEN." (43)

A Strong Woman

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a strong woman, and some conservatives don't like that. Former President Richard Nixon once said about her, "Hillary pounds the piano so hard that Bill can't be heard. You want a wife who's intelligent, but not too intelligent." When Bill Clinton was serving as Governor of Arkansas, the main financial support of the Clinton family was his wife, Hillary, a lawyer who earned three or four times as much as her husband earned as Governor. By the way, when Bill was Governor of Arkansas, Hillary found herself seated beside President George Bush (senior). She had long been interested in the health of children, and so she told President Bush how poorly the United States protected the health of its children under one year of age. President Bush responded, "Our health care system is the envy of the world." Mrs. Clinton replied, "Not if you want to keep your child alive to the year of his first birthday." After investigating the matter, President Bush told Bill Clinton, "Tell Hillary she was right." (44)

The Prince of Wales and Scotland Yard: Good Samaritans

On 14 October 2007, Prince Charles of England and his Scotland Yard personal protection officers became Good Samaritans when they stopped at the site of an accident in which a motorcyclist fell 15 feet off a mountain road. As Prince Charles was driving to his Birkhall residence on the Balmoral Estate, he saw the motorcyclist on the A93 near Glenshee Ski Centre. Hugh Simpson, age 52, had slipped on gravel and fell down a steep drop. He landed with his Kawasaki motorbike beside him a few feet away from the River Clunie. Prince Charles, who was driving alone, stopped his car. In a vehicle behind him were some Scotland Yard personal protection officers, one of whom gave Mr. Simpson first aid. A spokesperson for Clarence House, a royal home in London, said, "The Prince of Wales in his car came upon an accident and stopped to help. The police officers with him helped the injured motorcyclist because they have the first aid training and they went to his assistance." (45)

" **I'm Trying to Make a Living. Why? I've Got Three Children. I Want Them to Get an Education. I wasn't Fortunate Enough to Get an Education, But I Want Them to Get It. And They're Doing Good"**

One of the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States was Booker Wright, who spoke honestly in a 1965 interview for a 1966 documentary about what it was like to be a waiter at a restaurant for whites only in Mississippi. Mr. Wright wore a white suit and sang the menu to wealthy white diners. Mr. Wright said in the documentary, "Some people are nice. Some is not. Some call me Booker, some call me John, some call me Jim. Some call me n*****. All that hurts, but you have to smile. The meaner the man be, the more you smile, although you're crying on the inside. Although you're wondering what else can I do? Sometimes he'll tip you, sometimes he'll say, 'I'm not going to tip the n*****, don't look for no tip.'" The documentary was _Mississippi: A Self-Portrait_ , which Frank DeFellita created for NBC television. Appearing in the documentary took courage because of the fear of reprisals. Probably because of his participation in the documentary, Mr. Wright was fired from his job, and he was brutally beaten. He started a restaurant in the black part of town, and his restaurant was firebombed. Seven years after the documentary was aired, a black man walked into Mr. Wright's restaurant and shot him. Mr. Wright's descendants speculate that a white person had hired the black man to murder Mr. Wright. Before making the documentary, Mr. DeFellita knew about Civil Rights violence. He said, "I had a talk with Booker and said, 'Do you really want to do this? This is going to air all over the South and they're going to watch you, in a sense, ridicule them as being fools.'" He said that Mr. Wright responded, "The time has come. I've got to talk the way I feel." In the 1965 interview, Mr. Wright imitates one of his white customers saying, "Don't talk to him like that, that's a good n*****, that's my n*****." Mr. Wright said that he responded, "Yes, sir, boss. I'm your n*****.'" Why did he respond in this way? He explained, "I'm trying to make a living. Why? I've got three children. I want them to get an education. I wasn't fortunate enough to get an education, but I want them to get it. And they're doing good. That's what I'm struggling for. I don't want this and I don't want that. But I just don't want my children to have to go through what I go through here." (46)

" **You Rock, Mom!"**

In February 2012, Maureen Walsh, State Representative from Walla Walla, Washington, gave a speech to 97 of her colleagues in the Washington Legislature in which she supported legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. Actor George Takei, best known for playing the character "Mr. Sulu" on _Star Trek_ , is a gay man, and he posted video of her speech on Facebook, where it went viral and generated almost universal positive feedback. Ms. Walsh said, "I can't believe what's going on. I just got an email from Ireland." In her speech, Ms. Walsh talked about her late husband and how she wants everyone to be able to experience the kind of connection they had while they were married. She also talked about loving her gay daughter and how she hopes one day to attend her daughter's wedding. Ms. Walsh said afterward, "I was proud of myself because I didn't cry. When I really got emotional was afterward when my daughter texted me and said, 'You rock, Mom!'" In his Facebook post about Ms. Walsh's speech, Mr. Takei wrote, "A glimpse inside the debates of the Washington Legislature on same-sex marriage equality. This mom of three really hits it home. It is hard to watch without choking up as she does." Ms. Walsh was one of the few Republicans in the House to vote with a majority of Democrats in favor of the bill allowing gay couples to marry in the state of Washington. The bill passed. Ms. Walsh commended her colleagues: "I'm just so impressed with my colleagues on the House floor. People were kind and gracious about this issue. It's tough to be the odd man out in the caucus, but my caucus has been so kind to me. I am so proud to work with these people." (47)

" **I Don't Want to be an Eagle Scout if a Young Man Who is Gay Can't be One, Too"**

The Boy Scouts is, supposedly, a private organization and so has the right to ban gays. But human beings, gay or straight, have the right to say that gays ought to be allowed to be Boy Scouts. Martin Cizmar, a straight former Eagle Scout, wants gays to be able to be Boy Scouts. Because the Boy Scouts, as of July 2012, ban gays, Mr. Cizmar returned his Eagle Scout badge to the Boy Scouts of America organization along with a letter in which he wrote, "I am not gay. However, I cannot in good conscious conscience] hold this badge as long as the BSA continues a policy of bigotry. Though I didn't know at the time, I was acquainted with a number of gay scouts and scouters. They were all great men, loyal to the scout oath and motto and helpful to the movement. There is no fair reason they should not be allowed to participate in scouting. I suspect you know this, too. As an adult, I also understand that such policy changes are fraught with complications, possibly including the defection of members affiliated with certain religious groups with dire financial implications. It's a tough position, but a scout is brave." An editorial in the _Los Angeles Times_ opposed the Boy Scouts' ban on gays: "Some may believe that by banning people who are openly gay, the organization is keeping out sexual predators. But [ repeated studies have shown how false this assertion is. Besides, if that were the reason, what would be the point of prohibiting a lesbian woman from being a den mother, as the Boy Scouts have done? The more likely reason is a pragmatic one: The Boy Scouts, unlike the Girl Scouts or international Scouting groups, derive considerable support from religious organizations that take a dim view of homosexuality, especially the Mormon and Roman Catholic churches." Mr. Cizmar concluded his letter, "I don't want to be an Eagle Scout if a young man who is gay can't be one, too." Mr. Cizmar is the arts and culture editor of the weekly newspaper _Williamette Week_ in Portland, Oregon. (48)

" **Homosexuality is Not a Moral Deviance, Bigotry Is"**

As of July 2012, the Boy Scouts of America won't allow openly gay, bisexual, or transgender kids to become Boy Scouts and it won't allow GBLT (Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender) adults to serve as Boy Scout masters. Lots of Eagle Scouts are unhappy with that ban, and some have been sending their Eagle Scout awards back to the Boy Scouts. For example, Christopher Baker, who is the husband of Boing Boing writer Maggie Koerth-Baker, sent back his Eagle Scout award on 23 July 2012, along with a letter that stated in part, "Banning openly gay scouts and leaders is not a neutral position anymore than separate but equal was a neutral policy on race. Gay scouts and leaders have the right and obligation to be true to themselves. Homosexuality is not a moral deviance, bigotry is. Parents' rights to discuss sexuality with their children should not be extended to banning the participation of openly gay scouts anymore than Jewish religious practices require the banning of bacon on a camp out, or Christian Science religious practices require Scouts to forego first aid training. Today I am returning my Eagle Scout medal because I do not want to be associated with the bigotry for which it now stands. I hope that one day BSA stands up for all boys. It saddens me that until that day comes any sons of mine will not participate in the Boy Scouts." After Ms. Koerth-Baker posted her article, she heard back from a reader: In 1986, Andrew Reinhard earned his Eagle Scout award. In July 2012, he sent it back. (49)

Joshie's Extra-Long Vacation at the Ritz-Carleton

In 2012, the wife and two children of Chris Hurn stayed a few days at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island in Florida while he was away on business. Unfortunately, when they left the Ritz-Carleton, they left behind Joshie, a blanket-cum-stuffed-giraffe that belonged to the Hurns' eight-year-old son and that he had had since he was around 18 months or two years old. Mr. Hurn told his son a white lie about Joshie—he told him, "Joshie is fine. He's just taking an extra-long vacation at the resort." An employee at the Ritz-Carleton called to say that they had found Joshie, and Mr. Hurn told the employee about his white lie and requested that a special photograph be taken of Joshie. A few days later, Joshie arrived in the mail with some extras, including a Frisbee, a football, and a scrapbook of photographs. One photograph (that Mr. Hurn requested that the Ritz-Carleton staff take) showed Joshie wearing sunglasses and sitting on a chair by the swimming pool. Other photographs (that were the ideas of the Ritz-Carleton staff) showed Joshie getting a massage at the spa, Joshie making friends with other animals such as a parrot and some stuffed animals, Joshie driving a golf cart on the beach, and Joshie wearing a Ritz-Carlton ID badge as an honorary member of the Loss Prevention Team and helping by taking a shift in front of the security monitors. Mr. Hurn said, "It goes without saying that the Ritz-Carlton can count on my family to be repeat customers." (50)
CHAPTER 2: STORIES 51-100

" **I am Amazed, and I'm Grateful. You're a Blessing to Me"**

In July 2012, Marylyn Thurmond, age 57, needed some repairs made to her Detroit, Michigan, home so that she could get around more easily. She has health problems, and she needs to use a walker. The steps leading to her house were crumbling, and she needed a wheelchair ramp so she could use an electric scooter. Thanks to a Good Samaritan who read about her in a _Detroit Free Press_ article, she got a wooden wheelchair ramp and some repairs free of charge. The Good Samaritan is Malcolm Hazel, age 41, who owns ARM Property Maintenance. Mr. Hazel and his wife, Adrienne, have three children: Asia, Richard, and Malcolm. The business' name comes from the first letters of the first names of the children. Ms. Thurmond said, "I'm just overwhelmed that somebody said they would help." Mr. Hazel donated the materials for the ramp and the repairs, as well as his labor and the labor of one of his employees. In addition to building the wooden wheelchair ramp, they repaired the crumbling concrete steps and replaced some decrepit metal railings with sturdy wooden railings. Mr. Hazel said about his Good Samaritanism, "I just felt compelled. When you can do something for someone who appreciates it, it makes it worthwhile." Ms. Thurmond said to Mr. Hazel, "I am amazed, and I'm grateful. You're a blessing to me." (51)

A Flat Tire and Good Karma

During the Great Depression, Flannery Bolt, a business in Pennsylvania, announced that it was hiring for a few jobs. Lots of people showed up and waited in line for an interview, including Mr. Chabala's father, who noticed when a woman, who was alone, suddenly had a flat tire. He got out of line and changed the woman's tire for her, and then he got back into line, at the end, afraid that new employees would have already filled the job openings before he would get a chance to be interviewed. But the car came by again, and a gentleman got out. The gentleman owned the business, the woman was his wife, and he gave Mr. Chabala's father a job. (52)

" **ASK A NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING PHYSICIST!"**

In 1988, Leon M. Lederman, Melvin Schwartz, and Jack Steinberger won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on neutrinos. Since that time, Dr. Lederman has taught many courses, and at least twice—once in Chicago, Illinois, and once in New York City—he has sat at a table on a sidewalk and answered questions about physics from members of the general public. People know that they can ask him questions because of the sign that says, "ASK A NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING PHYSICIST!" An additional sign has a drawing of an atom and an arrow that points to Mr. Lederman. He is able to explain physics concepts clearly, and by all accounts he is a very nice person. In a comment on a story that the website Boing Boing published about Dr. Lederman, Dan Shapiro wrote, "I spent a summer at Fermilab in high school, and one day snuck out of the program and tracked down Dr. Lederman in his office. The door was closed, and I tentatively asked a woman sitting outside if the professor might be available for just a quick autograph. She stared at me for a second, stood up, and yelled, 'LEEEEOOON!' Then she sat down and told me, 'I think he's in the can.' The Nobel-prize-winning physicist emerged from said can a moment later. He gave me a big smile and shook my hand. I asked him for an autograph, and he said, in a voice with what I took to be a thick foreign accent, 'I'm very sorry I can't speak with you right now.' He scribbled his name on the paper, and continued, 'I just got back from the dentist and my mouth hurts like a motherf[**]ker.' At least I think that's what he said, as there was clearly a lot of Novocain involved. Big smile, another handshake, and a great reminder that heroes can be nice normal human beings, too." In addition, "Kludgegrrl" wrote this comment: "Back when I was an undergraduate in the '80's, Dr. Lederman taught a 'physics for poets' class at the U of Chicago (which required all students to take three terms of physical science, among many other things). How angry was my boyfriend, a physics major, that I got to have him as a prof! Allegedly, Dr. Lederman would *only* teach undergraduates who were not physics majors, because it was a more interesting challenge. At any rate, he was an excellent teacher and it was a wonderful class." (53)

Two-Year-Old Emma's Magic Arms

Megan Lavelle's two-year-old daughter, Emma, was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenital, which keeps her from lifting or moving her arms. Ms. Lavelle said, "When she was born, her legs were up by her ears and her shoulders were internally rotated." Emma was unable to feed herself, rub her eyes, play with Legos, or draw. Fortunately, the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX), which was created by Tariq Rahman and Whitney Sample of the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, changed that. Design magazine _Core77_ states that the WREX is an "assistive device made of hinged metal bars and resistance bands that enables people with underdeveloped arms to play and feed themselves." Mr. Rahman said that Emma first tried an early version of WREX: "The WREX was attached to a stand and she was able to put her arms into the WREX and for the first time be able to lift her hands up towards her mouth." The early version was too large and heavy for little Emma, so the WREX inventors created a small, lightweight version by using 3D printers, also known as additive manufacturing. Emma now has a tiny WREX that she carries around. She calls the WREX her "magic arms," and with it she can feed herself and use her arms while playing. (54)

" **He Screamed When He Heard the News Because It Means that Not Only will He be Able to Walk Again like All His Friends, He will be Able to Run and Climb, Too"**

In March 2011, because of the rare and aggressive cancer Ewing's Sarcoma, Kieran Maxwell's left leg was amputated below the knee. He was diagnosed with the cancer in October 2010. In the summer of 2012, the British 13-year-old fell while carrying the Olympic torch in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. (The 2012 Olympics were held in London.) Fortunately, Colin and Chris Weir, who won £161 million in a lottery in 2011, decided to buy him a new, lightweight prosthetic leg. The cost of the prosthetic will be in the five figures, and his parents had been trying to raise money for the prosthetic. Kieran's mother, Nicola Maxwell, said, "Kieran is our hero, and we have been touched by all the support and kindness we've received since he was diagnosed with cancer. We thought it was going to take a long time to raise the money for a new prosthetic leg, but this donation from Chris and Colin means Kieran can get his new leg within six weeks. We can't explain how much this means to us and Kieran. He screamed when he heard the news because it means that not only will he be able to walk again like all his friends, he will be able to run and climb, too. We can't thank the Weirs enough, because this will really change his life. Kieran started yelling and dancing around when he heard. He couldn't believe it. I am still pinching myself. What they have done for Kieran will be a small drop in the ocean for them, but for him it will change his life. He can go back to being a normal boy. He can be himself. Words cannot describe what they have done." Mrs. Weir said, "When we heard about Kieran and his family's fantastic efforts to raise money for a new prosthetic leg, we had to help. It is a privilege to support him and, with this new leg, we hope he will continue to be determined to remain active and live life to the full." Kieran's parents will donate the proceeds from their fundraising to the Toma Fund, which helps teenagers with cancer. (55)

" **We've Got to Get Those Stitches Out of Your Mouth"**

On 29 June 2012, a storm hit Crofton, Maryland, and the electricity at the home of Vonnie Callaway went out. In fact, it went out all throughout the area. Ms. Callaway figured that she would have her stitches from dental surgery taken out on a different day because of the lack of electricity, but her dentist, Dr. Deborah Rodriguez, drove up in a small sports utility vehicle and told her, "We've got to get those stitches out of your mouth." She did exactly that on the deck in the daylight with sterile instruments, latex gloves, and towels. Ms. Callaway wrote in a letter to the editor, "This young woman has shepherded me through this extensive dental work with my comfort and care being her top concern. She recently lost her father, but what a tribute to parents to have left the legacy of this kind person. Dr. Rodriguez is an employee of the county Health Department and works with underprivileged children and adults who need dental care. Not only am I fortunate to have her as my dentist, but Maryland and Anne Arundel County are fortunate to have this kind of lady providing services for us." (56)

" **You Stay Here and Look After Your Husband"**

On 8 September 2006, taxi driver Sid Freeman, age 67, was at Prestige Hand Car Wash and Valeting in Sandy Lane, Sidcup, England, when he began to feel ill. Suffering severe stomach cramps, he fell to the ground. Mr. Freeman said, "I was kneeling behind my car when this chap came along and asked if he could help." Mr. Freeman asked the man to drive him home, saying that his wife would then drive the man back to Prestige Hand Car Wash and Valeting. Mr. Freeman said, "When we got home, he helped my wife lift me into the house and laid me on the settee. When Patricia tried to drive him back, he wouldn't hear of it. He said, 'You stay here and look after your husband.'" Mr. Freeman added, I think it was absolutely fabulous what he did. Talk about a Good Samaritan." (57)

Sometimes, Orange Juice is Exactly What is Needed

In September 2009, Deepak Obhrai, an Indian-origin five-time MP from Calgary, Canada, then age 59, helped a woman diabetic during a flight from Ottawa to Calgary. Sensing a disturbance in the back of the plane, Mr. Obhrai went there and saw an ill woman. Because he is a diabetic, he recognized her symptoms. He always carries an insulin kit, and he used it to check whether the woman's insulin level was low. Mr. Obhrai said, "I figured it out and took a reading with my blood-sugar measuring instrument. I was right. I asked the attendants to give her orange juice. The woman drank the juice and was soon feeling normal. She completed her journey and walked off a normal person." For two decades, he has been a diabetic. He said, "I have taken all precautions and done well." (58)

" **The Rest of Us will Still Call Him a Hero"**

In July 2012, Dr. Jeremy Kilburn, an Air Force pulmonologist from Las Vegas, Nevada, broke his leg while hiking with a friend, Dan Grasso of Sunnyvale, California, in California's Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Big Bear Lake, in San Bernardino County. The accident was caused when Dr. Kilburn's German shepherd bumped into him and knocked him down. Dr. Kilburn had served as a trauma surgeon in Afghanistan—experience that came in handy when one of his rescuers was injured. The California Highway Patrol sent two officers—Brian Henderson and paramedic Tony Stanley—in a medevac helicopter. Mr. Stanley was hit in the back of the head by one of the helicopter's rotors. He collapsed, bleeding and unconscious. Mr. Grasso said, "I knew that for him to have a chance of surviving, I would have to get Jeremy to him." Mr. Grasso helped Dr. Kilburn hop 50 yards to Mr. Stanley, and Dr. Kilburn put pressure on Mr. Stanley's wound and gave him oxygen. Two counselors, Elizabeth Fitch and Bryce Harbert, who were in the area hiking with children, helped load Mr. Stanley into the helicopter. Dr. Kilburn also got in the helicopter with the pilot, and Ms. Fitch acted as a flight nurse during the 40-mile trip to a hospital in Redding, California. California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow said, "Thanks to the assistance they provided, Tony is alive today. I cannot even imagine the pain Dr. Kilburn was in, unable to walk.... Without regard to his own injuries and pain, Dr. Kilburn performed critical life-saving steps." He added, "Dr. Kilburn's actions were clearly above and beyond the call of duty. These individuals are not only heroes; they are guardian angels." Mr. Grasso said about Dr. Kilburn, "He's not the kind of guy to take a lot of credit for something like this. He says, 'That's my job. I do this every day.' That's for him to say. The rest of us will still call him a hero." (59)

" **It Still Hasn't Sunk in that Someone We Didn't Even Know would Do Something like This. It Shows that There is Some Good in the World"**

Ellie Jury, a two-year-old who lives in Wales, needed surgery for spastic diplegia, a rare form of cerebral palsy. The operation would be expensive—£40,000—and would take place in St Louis, Missouri, USA. In March 2012, her family had a collection bucket for donations in Cardiff, Wales, as Wales played France in rugby, and they had collected almost £300 in change. Then Conor McCloskey, age 40, a wealthy managing director of an energy firm, stopped by and made a major contribution toward their goal. He put in the collection bucket a check for £21,000. Ellie's mother, Lucy, age 20, of Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales, said. "It still hasn't sunk in that someone we didn't even know would do something like this. It shows that there is some good in the world." Mr. McCloskey said, "No child should have to grow up with that. My wife and I have two nine-month-old boys ourselves. We are not heroes. We were in the position to donate the money to help Ellie, so we did." (60)

" **A Car Pulled Up Beside Me. Then a Man Just Asked Me if I Wanted a Free Mobility Scooter"**

In July 2012, Brett Jones was in a wheelchair accessing a phone booth in Tinana, Queensland, Australia. He said, "My prosthetic leg had been hurting. So I took my wheelchair down to the phone booth to make a phone call. I was struggling a little bit when a car pulled up beside me. Then a man just asked me if I wanted a free mobility scooter. I was a bit shocked, but I said, 'Yes.'" Twenty-four hours later, he had a new mobility scooter. He said, "The next day he took me down to the Friendlies Chemist in Maryborough and picked out a scooter with all the bells and whistles. It was really incredible; he was just so generous." The Good Samaritan did have one condition. Mr. Jones said, "I've been disqualified from driving quite a few times. But the man who bought me the scooter said he didn't care, as long as I promised to use it and not drive without a licence again." The Good Samaritan is Peter Shadforth from the RV Homebase in Tinana. Mr. Jones stated, "He said I was the third person he had bought one for. It was great to have something go my way. Hopefully having the scooter will keep me out of the courts, too." (61)

" **The Point is You have Two and You Only Need One"**

In February 2012 in England, Richard Pitman donated his kidney to a stranger. Mr. Pitman, age 69, is a former jump jockey who in his 15-year career won 470 races, including the King George VI Chase and the Whitbread Gold Cup. He then started a career commentating on races for the BBC and Sky. His kidney was removed at Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Because of the rules for organ transplants in England, he does not know who received his kidney. He also does not know whether the recipient is a man or a woman. However, he does know that the transplant went well. Mr. Pitman decided to donate one of his kidneys after seeing his friend Tim Gibson, age 61, suffer from kidney failure and then enjoy a much-improved life after receiving a kidney transplant. After the operation, Mr. Pitman said that he was tired, but "I feel great. I feel it was worthwhile, and I feel strong." He added that his medical team impressed him and made sure he knew the risks of donating a kidney: "There are risks, but they point them out to you and keep telling you right up until the anaesthetic that you can pull out at any point. It is medicine that saves people's lives, but I have done my small part in a big team." Mr. Pitman said about his friend Mr. Gibson, whose kidneys had failed but who received a kidney transplant, "I was watching him dying in front of my eyes, and I have since seen him blossom. He went from dropping off to absolutely zinging. Not knowing who will receive [my] kidney doesn't bother me. I just want to help anyone who was suffering like Tim was." He added that making the decision to donate a kidney and save a life was easy: "The point is you have two and you only need one." His wife, Mandy, was a little leery of his decision to donate a kidney. He said, "Mandy's reaction was, 'It's your decision and that's fine, but I'd prefer that you didn't do it.' My younger daughter thought the same, but my other daughter, a physiotherapist who is married to a doctor, backed me all the way. I'm glad to say they're all behind me now, which is great." Lisa Burnapp, the lead nurse for living donation for NHS [National Health Service] Blood and Transplant, said about people deciding to donate their organs to strangers, "These are spontaneous and voluntary offers of donation, motivated by a decision to do something genuinely good for someone in need. The generosity of altruistic donors, like Richard Pitman, means that more patients can enjoy a life with their families and loved ones that is free from dialysis." (62)

" **I'm Very Excited, Happy. I Love Her. She's Really Part of the Family Now, Forever"**

In June 2012, Briana Delcampo, age 18, of Tucson, Arizona, donated a kidney to toddler Isaiah Hernandez, who had suffered from renal failure throughout much of his life. The transplant will keep him from having to need dialysis. Briana's mother, Lynnette Torrez, said, "I knew I wanted her to do it, but at the same time I was afraid for her to go through with it. I guess as a mother I kind of felt selfish because I didn't want to [take a chance of losing] her." Isaiah's mother, Terri Hernandez, said about Briana, "She's doing something brave for a teenager. Most teenagers don't do things like this. I asked her many times if she wanted to back out then I wouldn't hold it against her. She said she wanted to do it." Ms. Torrez said about her daughter, "She told me everybody has a purpose in life here and that was her purpose to save his." Briana said that when Isaiah's need for a kidney became urgent, "The first thing that came to mind was: I would love to be tested." She has been a friend of the Hernandez family for years. She said, "I've lived 18 years and I've got to do things. I've got to travel and do things that people wish they could do, and I just want him to grow up and be able to do the things I did. You know, live a normal life." She added that when she decided to be tested to see if she would be a good match as a donor, "A lot of people asked me, think about it first. Everybody that I talked to. I was just, 100 percent, told them how I felt. I told them that I wanted to do it. Nobody was going to change my mind." Ms. Torrez said about Briana, "I'm very excited, happy. I love her. She's really part of the family now, forever." (63)

Secret Agent C Defeats Rex Velvet, Rescues Hostages

In July 2012, super-villain Rex Velvet kidnapped the Seattle Seahawks mascot, Blitz (a large bird, of course), in Seattle, Washington. Fortunately, Secret Agent C, aka Colby (no last name given because he is, after all, a secret agent), a Make-a-Wish kid who has spinal muscular atrophy, which weakens muscles, was able to crack the case. On 15 July, Secret Agent C took a ride in a Hummer limo to a place where he was outfitted in a secret-agent tuxedo with special spy gear (his motorized wheelchair already looked like special spy gear), and then he ate a meal in Sky City atop the Space Needle and visited the Seattle Crime Lab. On 16 July, when the kidnapping of Blitz and a former Wish recipient named Secret Agent R was discovered, Secret Agent C was ready. The first step was to start gathering clues. Secret Agent C used a two-way radio to relay orders: "It's going to be really dangerous, so I'm going to send you in, Dad." Secret Agent Dad is Secret Agent C's sidekick. The first clue was a piece of paper discovered inside the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts. Next they discovered mysterious markings on cups at a Starbucks. The clues revealed the location where the kidnapping had taken place. At that location, Secret Agent C found zip ties and giant footprints and duct tape. Secret Agent C deduced that Blitz had been tied up there. More clues led him to the Seattle waterfront. Fast action was needed, so Secret Agent C went there in a helicopter. Hovering over Lake Washington, they saw a boat on which were Rex Velvet and his hostages. Secret Agent C herded the boat to shore and the hero and villain fought a shoot-out with silly string. Secret Agent C defeated Rex Velvet, who ran away screaming, "You may have won the battle, but you have not won the war." Justice triumphed. Colby's mother, Jodi, said about Secret Agent C, "He's completely enjoyed himself. He's been grinning from ear to ear the entire time." Twelve-year-old Secret Agent C said, "It's probably the best birthday anybody is going to get." (64)

" **Thank God Richard [McGrail] Came Along When He Did and Stopped to Help Me and Thank Goodness It Wasn't a Child that was Attacked"**

On 29 June 2009, Rob Bedford, age 78, who has a heart condition, was taking his usual morning walk in Wanganui, New Zealand, when he heard barking coming from a house. This did not worry him. He said, "The barking was fairly usual. It was just dogs defending their property." But two dogs ran across the street and attacked him. Mr. Bedford said, "At one stage, I could only see the pitbull. When I turned to see where the other dog was, it [the pitbull] came at me frothing and snarling and pushed me to the ground." Richard McGrail, who was passing by in his vehicle, saw Mr. Bedford fall to the ground. Mr. McGrail said, "At first I thought they were his dogs playing. Then I realised when he fell, they weren't, and they were attacking him." He scared the dogs off Mr. Bedford by blasting his horn. He followed them while still blasting his horn until they were back on their owner's property. Mr. Bedford had gotten up. He was having difficulty breathing, and he asked Mr. McGrail to take him home. Mr. Bedford said, "I thought two things. Thank God Richard came along when he did and stopped to help me and thank goodness it wasn't a child that was attacked. I couldn't believe the force that pitbull came at me—a child wouldn't have had a chance. I mean I might be getting on but I'm not feeble but I went down straight away." At home, he discovered that he had been bitten in each leg. He called the police, and they showed up at his home with St. John ambulance staff and the dog ranger. Mr. Bedford said, "Believe you me... thank goodness for Richard. It's a great thing when people stop to help. I would've been done-for. There's no way I could have fought those dogs off on my own. I'm very grateful." At the Wanganui Hospital's Emergency department, staff gave him a tetanus shot and dressed his wounds. Mr. Bedford said, "They told me dog bites were taken very seriously." Mr. Bedford is a former farmer, and he said that in the country "both dogs would be history. They would have been shot immediately—no PC stuff in the country." The dogs were taken to the dog pound. (65)

" **Without Hesitation, the Two Men Kicked Off Their Shoes, Plunged into the Water and Waded Through the Surf to Reach the Injured Swimmer"**

In September 2011, a British man named Michael Cohen, age 42, was attacked by a Great White Shark while swimming at Fish Hoek beach in Cape Town, South Africa. The shark bit off one of his legs, but two local men—Douglas Drysdale, age 61, and Hugh Till, age 66—saved Mr. Cohen by pulling him out of the water and putting a tourniquet on his leg to stop the loss of blood. Mr. Drysdale and Mr. Till are volunteer preachers at a prison. Surgeon professor Andrew Nichol said, "That tourniquet [...] consisted of a wetsuit applied around the thigh and wrapped around with two belts very, very tightly. It was an amateur tourniquet, but it had almost completely resulted in a cessation of blood loss." Dr. Nicol added, "Self-made, improvised tourniquets don't tend to work and are frowned on in the medical literature. But this was life-saving. I would highly commend the first aid that people gave on the beach—they saved the life of this patient." National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said, "Without hesitation, the two men kicked off their shoes, plunged into the water and waded through the surf to reach the injured swimmer. Douglas had called the emergency services before plunging into the water himself." (66)

" **I Love You, Jessi-Cat"**

Lorcan Dillon, a seven-year-old boy who lives in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester, England, has an anxiety disorder called selective mutism that makes it difficult for him to express emotions and to communicate with other people. However, a pet cat has helped him make progress in overcoming his disorder. The pet cat is a cream Birman named Jessi-cat. Lorcan's mother Jayne Dillon, age 44, a former hospital midwife, got the cat for him. In July 2012, she said, "Jessi-Cat has made a huge difference to Lorcan's life. We've had her for a couple of years, and in the last year alone he seems to be making excellent progress at school. In the past two weeks he's started communicating with people he doesn't know very well and even reads to one of the teachers now—something he's never done before. The bond between Lorcan and Jessi-Cat is so touching as he's able to show physical affection to her which he doesn't like doing with people—even me. She's such a delightful, responsive cat, and he hugs and kisses her all the time." She added, "The reason why we have got Jessi-Cat is because pets and cats in particular I think are very good with children with special needs or autism or anything like that, and it's a way for Lorcan to communicate. Lorcan does speak at home with his family, but still finds it hard to show his emotions to them—he can't say 'I love you' to his mum. He does speak normally at home—he doesn't have selective mutism with us at all in the house. But he doesn't express his emotions—he would not say 'I love you, mummy' or anything like that but with the cat he can cuddle her and stroke her and talk to her and he does say 'I love you, Jessi-Cat,' which is really nice. It is a way for him to express his emotions that otherwise he wouldn't be able to do." In addition, she said, "Lorcan was diagnosed [with selective mutism] when he started nursery school at three and a half. The staff were concerned that he wouldn't speak to any of the adults and most of the children. Lorcan can find it very hard to express himself yet he can be himself around Jessi-Cat and finds it very easy to talk to her. She is always interested in what he's doing and that unconditional love she has for him has been a huge boost to his confidence. Lorcan is able to connect love to Jessi-Cat, something he can't do with people and she's been a great support to him when things have been really hard. She is without a doubt the best friend a boy could have and has made a huge positive impact in his life." (67)

" **We Tried to Find Our Way Out of the Woods. We Kept Following Paths and Stuff, and We Got Lost** **"**

On 30 July 2012, two girls—Carlie and Lacey Parga, ages eight and five, got lost in the woods near their home in Newnan, Georgia. Carlie said, "We tried to find our way out of the woods. We kept following paths and stuff, and we got lost." They walked for two hours and then decided to stay where they were. Carlie said, "We were scared we were going to get lost more." Their father, David, called police. Police, firefighters, neighbors, and family all joined in the search. Among the searchers was neighbor Carvin Young, and Bell, his three-year-old pet Chihuahua. Mr. Young said, "Bell sniffed them out. She smelled them, her tail went to wagging and she kept running and running until she got to them. She started jumping up on me, and I knew we were close." The searchers followed Bell, who led them to the two lost girls, whose mother, Rebecca, called it "a sheer blessing that she [Bell] lives across the street from us. Bell is familiar with them, and she knew they were back there, she knew my kids. That's what kept drawing her to go in that direction." (68)

" **He Thinks His Purpose in Life is to Watch After His Grandmother, Gloria"**

In July 2011, Titan, a six-year-old pit bull belonging to John and Gloria Benton of Lawrenceville, Georgia, acted strangely. John, a jewelry store owner, was going to work, but Titan ran back and forth from him to the couple's bedroom. John went to the bedroom and discovered that Gloria had fractured her skull after suffering an aneurysm. John said, "What the doctor said, had it not been for this dog, if he had let me leave that house, she would have either bled to death or the aneurysm would have killed her. And it's a, like I said, we owe a whole lot to this little rascal. It's not about the breed, but the way they are raised." Gloria said about Titan, "He is so special. And you just can't give him enough love. He loves to be loved on." In 2012, Titan again helped Gloria. This time, Gloria had fallen in the bathroom and broken a hip, and Titan woke up John, who said about him, "He thinks his purpose in life is to watch after his grandmother, Gloria." (69)

" **She was Unconscious, but Breathing"**

On 1 June 2012, Frank Delarosa saw a one-year-old pit bull mix dragging a leash behind her in Double Trouble State Park in Bayville, New Jersey. Mr. Delarosa picked up the dog and tried to carry her to the park office. But the dog was restless, so he put her down on the ground, and she began tugging at him, pulling him down the path to some cranberry bogs. There he found Dona Timoney, age 51, of Beachwood, New Jersey, who had suffered some kind of medical emergency. Mr. Delarosa said, "She was unconscious, but breathing." He called for help, and Detective Will Cullen and Patrolman Jon Sperber arrived. Members of the Bayville First Aid Squad and MONOC paramedic took Ms. Timoney to Community Medical Center in Toms River, New Jersey, and she was later airlifted to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. Mr. Cullen said, "The back of her car was filled with treats and bones. She's obviously an avid animal lover." In 2011, Ms. Timoney had rescued the pit bull mix, named Lily, from a drug house in North Carolina. Unfortunately, almost two weeks after Lily had led Mr. Delarosa to her, Ms. Timoney died. Her daughter is taking care of Lily. (70)

" **Dogs Need Love and Dogs Love Barbecue, Too"**

In late July 2012, Wayne Mueller, co-owner of Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, Texas, gave Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter a gift: 200 pounds of beef rib bones. The dogs at the shelter appreciated the gift. Cheryl Schneider, the director of the shelter, said, "There was a sudden silence. The dogs were quiet and it lasted for the afternoon." Mr. Mueller said that he plans to continue giving this kind of gift to the animal shelter: "With these animals, you never know if this is their last stop or not. They are totally reliant on the hearts and efforts of the local community to come and save them." Mr. Mueller said that he could have sold the bones to pet food stores: "There's money to be made out there, but it doesn't fit who we are. This is just a new way of us giving back to the canine community. Dogs need love and dogs love barbecue, too." (71)

Rescue of Three Bear Cubs

In 2012, three baby bears climbed into a dumpster in Ruidoso, New Mexico, to get food, but they were unable to get out again. Mama Bear stayed by her cubs but was unable to help them. YouTube user Kbear0330 posted a video on 20 July 2012 that showed how two people were able to safely rescue the baby bears. They backed a pickup truck to the dumpster and put a wooden ladder in it and then drove away. The bear cubs used the ladder to climb out of the dumpster. Kbear0330 wrote, "Thank you, everyone, for your positive responses! The baby bears were quite ingenious to be able to use the metal bars on the outside of the dumpster to climb into the dumpster (the footholds are there for the dump truck to be able to pick it up). They showed their intelligence again when they figured out so quickly how to use the ladder to climb out of the dumpster. It is an endearing video. My aunt's friends Tom and Shirley figured out a great solution to the problem. I am glad they videoed it!" (72)

The TLC of a Teddy Bear

On 19 May 2012, a sloth baby named Sjakie was born at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, the Netherlands. The baby needed to be fed with a syringe because its mother was unable to produce enough milk. Sloth babies, however, cling to their mothers while being fed, so the zookeepers needed to come up with a furry substitute for Sjakie's mother. Zoo biologist Wineke Schoo said, "We tried to find something that resembled the fur of the mother. In the zoo, we have lots of shops with teddy bears, so we tried some." Unfortunately, Sjakie rejected those teddy bears. Fortunately, the two-year-old daughter of a zookeeper volunteered the use of her own teddy bear, and Sjakie ate while clinging to that teddy bear's fur. Ms. Schoo said that the toddler "likes it very much that the sloth is using her bear." Sjakie still is close to her biological mother. Ms. Schoo said that Sjakie "hangs with her mother; she is really relaxed." (73)

" **My Children are Going to Love You"**

In July 2012 in the Bronx, New York, Juan Diaz was eating breakfast when he smelled smoke and realized his apartment was on fire. He, his wife, and their three children—ages eight, six, and four—made it out safely, but he said that his wife and children were worried about one thing: "They were screaming 'The dog! The dog!'" Firefighters got the small, smoky fire under control, and the fire chief outside the building radioed firefighter Phil Grippo, who found the Chihuahua hiding in a closet under some clothing with its nose sticking out. Mr. Diaz told the firefighter, "My children are going to love you." (74)

" **I Believe God was Testing Me. He Put Those Kids at My Door and Said, "What are You Gonna Do?"**

For 42 years, Ruby Dunson, an African-American who was age 80 in 2012, has been raising abandoned children in addition to her two biological daughters. She started when a neighbor asked her to look after her newborn for her briefly. Ms. Dunson remembered, "She said, 'Will you keep her for me? I want to go to a concert.' And she never came back." Ms. Dunson raised the girl. She raised 10 children, only two of whom are her biological children. The 10 children she raised are now a doctor in reading education, a nurse, an aspiring medical school student, a paralegal, a sheriff's deputy, a Chrysler plant worker, a human services employee, a U-Haul driver, and two stay-at-home moms. Theresa Dunson, age 28, weighed two pounds when was abandoned at birth at a hospital. Ms. Dunson adopted her. Theresa said, "Personally, she's my hero. She saved me from—I don't know—a life of the unknown." U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade for the Eastern District of Michigan grew up in the house where Ms. Dunson now lives. Ms. McQuade said about Ms. Dunson, "She is an inspiration. She is a quiet hero who saved children and guided them to become highly productive citizens." Ms. Dunson said, "I believe God was testing me. He put those kids at my door and said, 'What are you gonna do?'" Robin Jones, one of Ms. Dunson's two biological daughters, said, "I would just come home from school sometimes, and I would have a new sibling. I never knew what to expect." She added, "Every day was just a new adventure. We never looked at anyone as if they were an outsider. And we just loved them unconditionally, as if they were born into our family." Theresa said about Ms. Dunson, "She's the most loving person. There's nothing that she wouldn't do for her kids, or anyone else for that matter. She sacrificed a lot." Rosalyn Shahid, who was one of Ms. Dunson's foster kids, said, "I think she is just completely, holistically, the most caring person that I know. It felt very natural to call her mom. I've never called her anything else but mom." Nicole Johnson, a biology student in Florida and one of the foster children Ms. Dunson raised, said, "Oh, I love her. I love her so much. That's mom. She raised me from a week old. If I didn't know her, I don't think I would have turned out as good as I have." Ms. Dunson said, "I just owe so much to God that my kids turned out so good." She said that she often prayed, "'Please, Lord, take care of my kids. And help me.' And He did." (75)

Help for a Stranded Father and his Two Children

In early December 2010, a father and two children became stranded in Punta Gorda, Florida, with no vehicle and no money and nowhere to go. The mother of the children, who lived in Springfield, Illinois, called the Charlotte County Sheriff's deputies to ask them to check on the father and children, whom they found in a Waffle House restaurant. The father, who has legal custody of the children with their mother, had taken the children to Florida in late November. Deputies spoke with the father, who said that he planned on going to the Salvation Army to get help. A customer in the Waffle House overheard the conversation and offered to buy plane tickets for the two children to fly back to Illinois to be with their mother. With the father's permission, the Good Samaritan, who wished to remain anonymous, bought the plane tickets. Corporal Phil Schofield of the Charlotte County Sheriff's office used his own money to pay for a hotel room for the father to stay the night in until he could get to the Salvation Army. (76)

Learning to Love Again

A young boy grew up during the Cambodian terror. He was imprisoned in a camp, and several times a day people were brought to the outskirts of the camp to be killed, and the children were forced to watch. One of the rules was that any child who cried would also be killed, and for years the boy was forced to live with this terror, surviving in part by cutting off all feeling. Eventually, the political situation changed, and an American family adopted the boy. At this point, the boy knew he had to change—he had to learn to love again. He accomplished this with the help of his foster father. Looking into the eyes of his foster father, he knew that he was loved and he was able to start loving again. (77)

" **Then He Said He was Scared, Closed His Eyes, and Put His Head on the Glass. That's When I Knew He was Dead"**

In July 2012, Paul Parker, age 63, was driving Miranda Bowman, his 12-year-old granddaughter, to her home in Burlington Township, New Jersey. He died of heart failure with his foot on the accelerator. Miranda said, "He said he didn't feel well and told me to just keep talking to him. Then he said he was scared, closed his eyes, and put his head on the glass. That's when I knew he was dead." The car sped up and approached 80 mph. Miranda was unable to unlock her cellphone to call 911. She said, "I thought I was going to die, too. I didn't know what to do. I took off my seat belt and slid over to put my foot on the brake, but I couldn't stop it." She steered the car into some bushes, hoping to slow down and stop the car. She said, "It sounds weird, but I saw people do this on TV. The car just kept running over bushes and trees. I ducked down and covered my head." It worked, and she was unhurt. Stephanie Bowman, Miranda's mother and Paul Parker's daughter, said, "She is my hero. As much as I am upset about losing my father, I can't even imagine how worse this could have been." (78)

" **I was Like if You're Getting So Much Better Then Why are You Coughing So Much Worse?"**

In February 2012, Noah Drayton, age 13, boarded his school bus in Norwich, Connecticut, and noticed that bus driver Steve Kimball looked ill. However, Mr. Kimball insisted that he was OK. Noah said, "I said, 'Mr. Steve, are you okay?' 'I'm fine. I'm getting better.' 'Mr. Steve, are you okay?' 'Noah, I am fine. I am getting better.' But I said to myself in my head I was like if you're getting so much better then why are you coughing so much worse?" Noah got off the bus when it stopped at a nearby school and telephoned his mother. She telephoned his father, who then telephoned the First Student bus company, which sent a driver to replace Mr. Kimball, who went to the hospital, where he discovered that he was having a heart attack. He had to be airlifted to Yale-New Haven Hospital so he could have emergency surgery. Noah said, "I got to give my mom and dad a lot of credit here because they were the ones, they were the go-to-person in the middle to call the bus company because I didn't have the number, so thank you, guys." Noah said that when he found out about Mr. Kimball's emergency surgery, "I had a rush through my stomach like you know when you go on those things at roller coaster parks, they drop down and you get that tickle in your stomach? I got one of those, but it was much worse." Mr. Kimball said, "Noah ended up being God's miracle for me. He literally saved my life." Noah said, "It makes me feel good, but I just did what I thought was the right thing to do." Sabryna Drayton, Noah's mother, "We're proud of him, and most 13-year-olds are not thinking of anyone but themselves. Just shows me that we're in good hands." (79)

" **Little Teddy Nelson, I Love Him. He is My Hero"**

On 2 April 2010 in a rural area of Jefferson County, Alabama, Faye Cooper, who has multiple sclerosis and knee problems, fell in her driveway. She said, "I scooted over to the garage door and started calling out, 'Please help me, please help me.'" She also sounded the car alarm, hoping that someone would hear it. Someone did hear it, over an hour later. While playing in his yard, Teddy Nelson, age four, heard the car alarm and went to find his father, who said, "Teddy came into the house, saying 'Dad, I heard someone yelling out in the woods and somebody's car alarm going off.' I said, 'Are you sure?' We live a long way from anybody." Teddy's father investigated and found Ms. Cooper, who said, "When I saw them pull in the drive, I looked up and said, 'Thank you, Lord. I know you sent them people to get me up off this floor.'" Teddy's father is proud of him: "He is quite a good little man. He does what is right in any situation." Ms. Cooper said, "Little Teddy Nelson, I love him. He is my hero." (80)

" **I Love Them to the Moon and Back a Million Trillion Infinity"**

In May 2009 in Tinino, Washington, Tara Asbach suffered a ruptured ovarian cyst. She managed to dial 911 but collapsed and was unable to complete the call. Ms. Asbach said, "It was excruciating pain that went all through my chest, ribs and stomach. I begin to feel like I was suffocating." Her son, six-year-old Ethan, completed the 911 call for her and probably saved her life. He hit SEND on the phone and told the emergency operator his address and gave a description of his home. He also rolled his mother onto her side, and he opened the door for emergency personnel. Ms. Asbach said, "He kept giving me kisses and telling me I was going to be OK and that he loved me. I was so proud of him and how calm he was during the whole situation." Ethan's kindergarten teacher, Shirley George, said, "He's our hero, and we are really proud of him." Ethan's grandmother, Tracee Swanson, said, "I wasn't surprised by Ethan's actions because I knew he was capable of this." Ethan said about his family, "I love them to the moon and back a million trillion infinity." (81)

" **She Says, 'Grandpa, I Know What I Did. I Think I Did a Good Deed.' And a Good Deed It was Indeed. I'm Very Proud of Her"**

On 11 July 2011, Charles Evans, age 64, began having trouble breathing in his home in south Florida. Fortunately, his granddaughter, eight-year-old Ayanna Evans, knew to call 911. Ayanna said, "I saw how he was hurting, and he couldn't breathe well, so I thought, 'I should call an ambulance.'" Mr. Evans said, "What I remember is not being able to breathe, and my grandbaby came in, and she got on the bed, and she wiped my face with a damp towel. She looked at me, and she decided that she wanted to call 911." Ayanna told the 911 operator about her grandfather, "He's coughing and couldn't really breathe so good, and he still can't breathe so good." The 911 operator asked, "He can't breathe so good right now?" Ayanna replied affirmatively and said that her grandfather has medical problems. The operator asked, "Is he awake?" Ayanna said, "Yes." The operator asked, "Is he breathing?" Ayanna said, "He's breathing now on his asthma machine." Mr. Evans said, "Can't breathe, and it kinda hurts." The operator asked, "What did he say?" Ayanna said, "He says he can't breathe, and he kinda hurts." Miami Fire Rescue transported Mr. Evans to a hospital. Ayanna said that her school had taught her what to do. She said, "When we have fundraisers, firefighters give us this little book, and it says a lot of stuff and pictures. It says, 'When somebody needs help, you call 911.'" Mr. Evans said about his granddaughter, "She says, 'Grandpa, I know what I did. I think I did a good deed.' And a good deed it was indeed. I'm very proud of her. There's no words that can explain the way I feel." (82)

" **You Never Know When You Might Find Yourself in a Situation to Help Someone in Distress"**

On 19 April 2012 in Pickens County, South Carolina, Michael Rowland left work and decided to take a different route home. Not far from his home, he saw what appeared to be a light flashing on and off in a house. He turned around and investigated and discovered that 81-year-old Veronica Bagwell had displaced her hip and needed help. He did not have a cell phone, but he was able to enter her home and use her phone to call 911. Ms. Bagwell's daughter, Martha, said, "If this incident had happened 30 minutes to an hour later, after daylight, no one would have been able to see the flashing light. Seems as though he was sent that way for a special reason." Pickens County Sheriff David Stone said, "It pays to always be observant of your surroundings, and Michael's willingness to take a moment to stop and investigate the situation is a good example to us all. You never know when you might find yourself in a situation to help someone in distress." Ms. Bagwell went to a hospital and is recuperating well. (83)

" **I was Just Screaming at the Guy to Wake Up. But He wasn't Breathing, and I Couldn't Find a Pulse. Luckily, I Knew What to Do"**

On 30 July 2012 in Portland, Oregon, Gabe Shallouf, age 19, saw a lawnmower sitting on a lawn. No one seemed to be around it, but then he noticed an elderly man lying on the lawn. He shouted to his mother, "Stop the car! Stop the car!" He then ran to the man and began to administer CPR. He said, "I was just screaming at the guy to wake up. But he wasn't breathing, and I couldn't find a pulse. Luckily, I knew what to do." His mother, Dana Pascoe, parked the car and called 911. Two more people stopped. One person monitored the elderly man's pulse; the second person shouted at the man, hoping to bring him back to consciousness. Gabe said, "I thought I had lost him a couple of times. He turned purple and breathed what sounded like a last breath. But I didn't stop the CPR. I knew I shouldn't stop until paramedics arrived." A Clackamas Fire District 1 crew quickly arrived and took over. Gabe said, "I stuck around to make sure he was OK. When he began complaining about the firefighters messing with him, I knew he was doing better." Gabe thanked the two people who stopped to help: "Without their help, I couldn't have done what I did. It definitely was a team effort." Gabe knew what to do because of his training from when he was a Navy corpsman. Also, he had completed a civilian course in CPR and earned a certificate. He said, "They tell you that once you learn, you never forget, that it all will come back to you. I never believed that before I had a chance to actually use my training. Today, I knew they were right—I knew exactly what to do." (84)

" **I'm Just So Lucky and Proud that I Have Daughters that can Perform CPR"**

On 28 July 2012 in Glen Allen, Virginia, Alec Kornacki was working on his car when a jack slipped and the car fell on top of him. His daughter, Lauren, lifted the car off him and gave him CPR, saving his life. Lauren said, "I just lifted up kind of right here and just kind of threw it, shoved my body as hard as I could, then I came back and dragged him out and started CPR. It flashed like, 'I'm going to lose my dad.' His eyes were open, he wasn't responding to me. I knew I had to get his heart beating again and I had to get him breathing." Lauren's mother, Liz, said, "As I go to open the garage door, I hear a primal scream, like... dial 911!" Lauren said, "I opened up his airway to make sure he could breathe and everything and at that point I'm just telling him, talking to him: 'You can't leave me. Just stay with me. Keep breathing.'" Her father went to the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital because of several broken ribs. Liz, who visited him at the hospital with Lauren, said, "I told him what happened. He just, the tears just come to his eyes. He said thank you for saving my life, and she just smiled her blue-eyed smile and that was it." Lauren said, "Just seeing him move and breathing, I literally just sat there and was watching his chest rise and that's when I lost it. I just couldn't handle it." Liz said about Lauren, "She got his heart beating again and got him breathing again. So, she's it. He gave her life and then [she] gave [him] life. I am in awe of her. I am in awe of her. She is the day. She saved the day. I can't even tell you how proud I am of her." Alec said, "I'm just so lucky and proud that I have daughters that can perform CPR and have the knowledge to save lives. I think it's an important skill for everyone to know, and if it weren't for Lauren I would not be alive today." All three of his daughters know CPR. (85)

" **If They had Not Stopped and Taken a Moment Out of the Day, I Would Not be Alive Today. I was Dead and They Helped Bring Me Back to Life"**

In April 2012, Brian Bristol, who is a superintendent at the Lakeside School District, went into full cardiac arrest as he was jogging in Alpine, California. If not for two people and some emergency rescue workers who helped him, he would have died. Mr. Bristol does not remember what happened, but he did listen to the 911 call that helped save his life. He said, "I'm just tingling over it. It was so emotional to hear I was just lying there like that and knowing that 90 percent of people don't recover from something like that and die." While driving home, Kellie Peel saw Mr. Bristol, pulled over, and called 911. She told the emergency operator that a man on the side of the road did not seem to be breathing. She said, "There was no life in his eyes. It was very scary." Joe Kuhn was in a different car. He pulled over and did chest compressions while Ms. Peel talked to the 911 operator. Mr. Kuhn said that he said to Mr. Bristol, "'Come on, buddy. Help is on the way." Paramedics arrived quickly. Mr. Bristol is grateful to all. He especially mentioned the two people driving by who stopped: "If they had not stopped and taken a moment out of the day, I would not be alive today. I was dead and they helped bring me back to life." (86)

" **It was Two or Three Minutes—Maybe Four. But That's a Long Couple of Minutes to See Your Husband or Your Loved One, the Person You Love Most in the World, Slipping Away** **"**

In September 2010 in Charlotte County, Florida, Tim McElwaney saved the life of Mark Holladay, who said, "I went to spruce up the yard and I went out and I started mowing and the heat got to me and I didn't really realize it until it was too late. I had collapsed at the front door. He [Mark] appeared out of nowhere and he saved my life. There is no doubt in my mind that he saved my life." Mark's wife, Lauren, found him collapsed outside and screamed for help. Tim heard the screams: "They were horrifying. You could tell this lady was desperate. She needed somebody to help her, and out of the corner of my eye I saw her cradling her husband." Lauren said that she thought her and her husband's 26-year marriage was coming to an end. She said, "Honestly, it was two or three minutes—maybe four. But that's a long couple of minutes to see your husband or your loved one, the person you love most in the world, slipping away." Tim said, "I got him flat on his back and I started CPR. And after a couple of repetitions, he took a deep breath." Lauren said, "I felt like I was going to be a widow and he put his hands on his chest and he started breathing." Mark said to Tim, "I thought I was gone and because of you, I get to spend more time with my beautiful wife." Tim said, "I don't really feel like I'm a hero. I just wanted to do what I thought everybody would do. I try to treat everyone the same way I want to be treated." (87)

" **I Think These Strangers, Whoever They are, Might be Really Gratified to Know that Their being So Responsible and So Willing to Help has Really Made a Big Difference in Our Lives"**

On 29 June 2012, Gordon McCaw, age 60, had a heart attack while riding in a car near Dunbar and 28th in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his partner, Elaine Bougie Gilligan. She called 911 and was told to take him out of the car so she could lay him on his back, but she was not strong enough to lift him. She appealed for help from two male passersby and they got Mr. McCaw out of the car and gave him CPR until emergency workers arrived and took him to Vancouver General Hospital. The two male passersby saved Mr. McCaw's life. Ms. Gilligan said, "The doctor did keep stressing... that there's no doubt that the CPR administered on the street before the emergency responders got there are a good part of the reasons for his excellent outcome." She added about the two Good Samaritans, "I think these strangers, whoever they are, might be really gratified to know that their being so responsible and so willing to help has really made a big difference in our lives." Ms. Gilligan sent a thank-you letter to the _Vancouver Courier_ : "Gord is very grateful to the strangers who gave him CPR and wishes he knew who they are. He and I give them our thanks, and are also very grateful to all the competent, sensitive, and articulate VGH emergency and cardiac staff." Mr. McCaw recovered and said, "When I'm back running on all cylinders, I definitely will make a priority to learn CPR... I'd like to be able to pay it forward." (88)

" **One of the First Things We're Going to Do Once Joel is Recuperated is All Get Fully Certified in CPR"**

On 31 May 2012 in his home in Colonie, New York, Joel Stashenko went into full cardiac arrest and collapsed. His wife, Claudia Hutton, started doing CPR. Fortunately, their son, 13-year-old Casey Stashenko, knew CPR better than she did. Claudia said, "Casey came by and said, 'You're doing it all wrong,' and pushed me out of the way. I felt helpless and he didn't. He was empowered." In July 2012, members of the Shaker Road Loudonville Fire Department and Colonie Emergency Management Service honored Casey, then age 14, for saving his father's life with CPR. Casey learned how to do CPR in health class at Sand Creek Middle School in Albany, New York. Shaker Road Loudonville Fire Chief David Leonardo said, "Community involvement is so important on a cardiac arrest because the quicker you can start CPR the better." Claudia said, "One of the first things we're going to do once Joel is recuperated is all get fully certified in CPR." Joel said about his cardiac arrest, "It gives you pause, of course, and makes you think of the future, to do a better job of taking care of yourself." Joel added that he was "very proud" of his son. (89)

" **You are Supergirl"**

On 8 July 2012, fire broke out in the apartment next door to Shontal Gaymon, age 29, in Griswold Heights, Troy, New York. She rushed to the burning apartment and rescued one-year-old Nickia Frazier, who was in her crib. In August, she returned to her home after spending time in a hospital getting burns to her arms and hands treated. Police Captain John Cooney told her, "You are supergirl." Ms. Gaymon said about the burning apartment, "Hot. Very, very hot." Why did she risk her life? She explained, "We're like family around here." Nickia's mother is Princess Lashley, age 22, who stated how she felt following the rescue of Nickia, "Happy. Excited that I still have my daughter." Police Chief John Tedesco said about Ms. Gaymon, "She is truly by any definition a hero. The average citizen gets overlooked for the deeds that they do." Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia presented Ms. Gaymon with a bouquet of flowers. In recognition of Ms. Gaymon's heroism, Troy's Police Benevolent Association, Uniformed Firefighters Association, and Command Officers Association have all donated money to pay for her next six months of rent. In addition, Price Chopper Supermarkets has donated a gift card to her. Firefighter Eric Wisher, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said, "Shontal did a heroic act. It's the least we could do to pay her rent." Police Benevolent Association President Robert Fitzgerald said, "We're blessed to have someone like her in our community." (90)

" **I was Scared. The Only Thing I was Trying to Do was at Least to Save Some Lives. That's All I was Thinking About"**

On 6 August 2012 in Richmond County, Georgia, fire broke out at a home. A fire alarm woke up two children—a seven-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy—and they ran to get help from neighbors, saying that their sister and father were still inside the home. Felande Ross, a 19-year-old African-American who knew the family, rescued a four-year-old girl from the fire but could not rescue the children's father. Mr. Ross' mother, Vickey McKie, said, "I just thank the Lord for his courage and his quick thinking and reaction." Mr. Ross said, "When I heard there was a child inside, I started pulling the [window] screen off." He added, "If I had just waited for the firefighters, she probably wouldn't have had a chance." Smoke filled the home. Mr. Ross said, "Got to the side and got the window open and I was screaming for the little girl. I was like, 'Destiny, can you grab my hand? Can you grab my hand?' And she wasn't making any noise, and I was like, 'Destiny, oh my God. It's OK, it's OK. Please just grab my hand; just grab my hand.'" A man named Miller Jenkins also climbed in through the window and helped Mr. Ross pull the girl to safety. Ms. McKie said about Mr. Jenkins, "I've never seen him before. I just call him an angel." Mr. Ross re-entered the home and attempted to save the children's father. Mr. Ross was forced to leave when the roof started to cave in. Richmond County Deputy Coroner Johnny McDonald said about Mr. Ross, "He is a witness and a true-life hero." Mr. Ross said, "I was scared. The only thing I was trying to do was at least to save some lives. That's all I was thinking about." (91)

" **She Dropped Her Son First, and I was Scared"**

When fire broke out in a house in Bond Hill, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, a mother was forced to drop her three children out of a second-floor window. Fortunately, a next-door neighbor, Ryan Kupiec, caught the children. He woke up when he heard the children's screams and he told his wife to call 911 and then he ran to help his neighbors. He said, "She dropped her son first, and I was scared to catch him because he's so little. I knew if he fell it could be bad, and then she dropped her two daughters." Mr. Kupiec said he prayed to God to help catch the children and not drop them. He safely caught all three children, who were aged four, 10, and 13. Firefighters arrived and used a ladder to rescue the mother. Neighbor and witness Donna Carnegie said, "Well, I hope if my house was on fire or anything was going on, I hope that somebody would come out and help me." She comforted her neighbor. Mr. Kupiec said, "And I thought once everybody leaves, she still has a house that's burned up, and that made me sad, but at the same time, I knew they were safe, and that I was thankful for." (92)

" **Oh, My God! Gary's House is on Fire!"**

Late at night on 29 March 2012 in DeForest, Wisconsin, an apparent explosion caused a fire in a house belonging to Gary and Eileen Schutte in the 100 block of Paradise Court. Luann Allen, a neighbor, woke up when she heard what sounded like an explosion, and then she woke up her husband, Robert. He looked out the window, and he did not like what he saw: "It was nasty. I looked out, and I said, 'Oh, my God! Gary's house is on fire.' And I said, 'Call 911.'" He also saw fire: "The flames were actually rolling up the side here, where the gas line is there." No one was outside the house; the Schuttes were still asleep and unaware that their house was on fire. Mr. Allen went outside and shattered the Schuttes' front door with a rock. He said, "I just kept yelling, 'Gary! Fire! Fire!' I just wanted somebody to hear it, you know." Mr. Schutte woke up, but he thought that someone was trying to break in the house. Mr. Allen said, "All of a sudden, I heard something. 'Get out of here!' He thought somebody was breaking in. He had no clue he had a fire yet." Fortunately, the Schuttes safely evacuated their house, which was a total loss. DeForest Fire Chief Paul Nelson said about Mr. Allen, "He certainly saved their life. He came to their rescue." Mr. Allen said, "It's just what you do." He added, "I'm so glad Luann woke up." (93)

" **We're Just Real Thankful that They Did Come Help Us Because Our Kids were in There"**

In February 2012, Emily Clark was on her way to work when she saw that the front of a house was on fire in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Ms. Clark and another woman opened a padlocked back door so that they could rescue the family inside the home. Ms. Clark said, "We went inside and kind of woke them up and everybody sort of got up and started getting outside." Everyone made it safely outside, including Crystal Berryhill, who said, "We don't know any of these people, so we're just real thankful that they did come help us because our kids were in there." Ms. Berryhill, her husband, and two young children were inside the house. (94)

Hero Police Officers

In August 2005 police officers Carlos Mayas and Brian Brosnan responded to an emergency: a burning apartment on Chicago's West Side. Mr. Mayas said, "We heard the victims yelling, 'Help us! We can't see! We're up here!' We tried the door. It was locked. We had to kick it in. We ran up the stairs [and encountered] thick black smoke. We couldn't see anything." Mr. Brosnan said, "We worked our way in there, and we were lucky to get in contact with [the family] right away." The officers rescued a man and a woman and their six-year-old daughter. (95)

" **We Lost Her as a Hero Saving Her Own Grandson"**

In July 2012 fire broke out in the house of volunteer firefighters Scott and Beth Childers on County Road 50 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Scott and the Childers' 17-year-old daughter made it safely outside. Beth went back inside the burning home to save the Childers' two-year-old grandson. She saved his life by passing him through the window to her daughter, but she died in the fire. Scott was taken to the intensive care unit of a hospital because of smoke inhalation. The children also suffered from smoke inhalation. Assistant Fire Chief John White said about Beth, who died at age 42, "We lost her as a hero saving her own grandson. It's been tough, a real tough morning losing one of our own members, and the way we lost her." In honor of Beth Childers, local fire departments flew their flags at half-mast. (96)

" **He Contributed to Those Kids Being Alive Today. I Wanted to Give Him a Proper Thank You"**

On 13 June 2011, William "Bill" Young noticed smoke coming from a house as he was driving his red pickup truck on Highway 13 in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. He drove to the house, and a woman came running to him. The woman was grandmother Karen Brecke, who had been able to run out of the house with one-year-old Reyna Romo. She had told two other children—seven-year-old Aiden Romo and five-year-old Jordyn Romo—to follow her, but they were still inside the burning house. Mr. Young ran to the house, and he saw the children inside a doorway that was partially on fire. The children yelled to him that it was too hot for them to exit through the doorway. Mr. Young ran inside the house, grabbed the children, shielded them from the fire with his body, and took them outside to safety. The family was safe and fire trucks were arriving, and Mr. Young left without leaving his name. Ms. Brecke and the children's mother, Patsy Gumz, wanted to thank the Good Samaritan. Using a description of his red pickup truck, they located him after a week of searching. Abbotsford Fire Chief Jody Apfelbeck nominated Mr. Young for a Real Heroes Award, which he received in 2012. Fire Chief Apfelbeck said, "He contributed to those kids being alive today. I wanted to give him a proper thank you." Mr. Young lives in Marshfield, Wisconsin, with his wife, Ann, and their two children. (97)

" **That Could have been My Momma in that Car"**

In August 2012 on Highway 301 just outside Manning in Clarendon County, Texas, a 54-year-old woman wrecked her car, which caught on fire and trapped her inside. Lamar Weldon, a 19-year-old African-American, used what he had learned in a volunteer firefighters class to save her. When he arrived on the scene, someone spoke to him: "She said, 'Somebody's in there! Somebody's in there!'" Mr. Weldon said, "The car was lying on its side, like you lie and sleep on your side, it was lying on its side right here and the fire was started here in the back." He and another man worked to save the woman's life. Mr. Weldon said, "I ran back to my car, I got a crowbar and so he met me at the same time. So me and him were working on the front window to get her out. In the firefighter class they tell you what kind of sounds you're going to hear when it's about to blow." The other man ran to get water, and Mr. Weldon was able to get the woman out: "When I grabbed both of her hands, I pulled her. As soon as I pulled her out, about two minutes, boom, the whole car in flames." He had risked his life for a perfect stranger. Mr. Weldon said, "That could have been my momma in that car, that's how I look at it." He added, "God blessed me, I just knew God had me, on my side, I knew he wouldn't let me get hurt trying to save another person." (98)

" **I'm Just Not Used to Being Upside Down in My Car in Creeks"**

In July 2012 in Longview, Texas, on West Loop 281 and Sabine Street, 24-year-old Lauren Nesbitt had a one-car accident, ending up upside down in a creek. She said, "I am a country girl. I used to walk through creeks, climb trees. So, I'm used to it. I'm just not used to being upside down in my car in creeks." She remembered, "A guy with a trailer pulled in front of me—[I was] trying to avoid an accident, hit the curb, and flew into the creek." Fortunately, two men—Don Hall and James Searcy—who were working nearby came to her rescue and helped her get out of her car. Mr. Hall said, "My partner heard a crash, and we could hear something sliding and caught a glimpse of something red. A car just went into the ditch." Ms. Nesbitt said, "I was trying to get out. I couldn't get the windows down. I didn't have enough strength to open my door. I was panicking." Actually, Mr. Hall and Mr. Searcy thought that she stayed calm. Mr. Hall said, "She was real calm [...] she never panicked or started going crazy. So, that really helped out." With the car filling up with water, Ms. Nesbitt managed to take off her seat belt. She said, "Thank God. Nothing but the grace of God that I got my seat belt off, because it had turned upside down... I'm trying not to cry now, because I could have been dead, you know. I could have gone like everybody else that was in car accidents. He spared my life." Ms. Nesbitt "friended" her two rescuers on Facebook. (99)

" **I Managed to Get in Front of It and Stop It [a Runaway Car] Before It Crashed into Anything"**

In July 2012, Zac Brown, age 17, became a hero when he stopped a car from rolling into Mayfair Centre: a Shropshire community centre. He was collecting trolleys [shopping carts] at the Church Stretton Co-op in Lion Meadow's, Shropshire, when Carole Sharpe, age 54, saw a green Vauxhall Cavalier start rolling backward. She yelled a warning to Zac, who ran to the car, dug in his heels, and stopped it. Zac said, "The car had been in the car park [parking lot] for about 15 minutes, so I didn't think anything of it. When it began to move, I thought someone was inside reversing, but then it went over the kerb and I thought, 'Oh no.' I managed to get in front of it and stop it before it crashed into anything." Ms. Sharpe said, "Zac was the hero of the night. He ran straight down the middle of the road to stop it. It's lucky there was no traffic. The handbrake in the car must have been off. If Zac had not stopped it, the car would have hit the Mayfair." Zac's mother, Sally Brown, said that although Zac's family is proud of him, "We have told him not to do something like this again—he might get squashed next time." Zac said about the runaway car, "Apparently the owner of the car [had] reported it stolen to the police." Julie Tustin, manager at the Mayfair Centre, also said, "We would like to thank Zac for what he has done; we are all very grateful." (100)
CHAPTER 3: STORIES 101-150

Wonderful Kindness of Mr. Stephen Burke of Napier, New Zealand

In December 2004, the borrowed car driven by English tourists Gary and Samantha Dwyer broke down on the Napier-Taupo Road, just north of Bay View, New Zealand. For two hours, dozens of vehicles drove by them and no one stopped to help. Then Stephen Burke of Napier stopped to ask if they were all right. He looked at their car, decided that a quick fix would not work, and then drove to his home to get a rope so that he could tow them back to Bay View so the car could be repaired in a shop. He also—remarkably—lent them a vehicle so they could go to Taupo for bungy jumping. Ms. Dwyer said, "He saved it [the Dwyers' New Zealand vacation]. People would not do anything like this in England. We cannot leave Napier without telling people about Mr. Burke's wonderful kindness." (101)

" **There's No Question in My Mind She Saved My Brother's Life"**

On 24 July 2012, Justin Wilson, age 22, fell asleep while driving and crashed into a wall by the side of stretch of the Capital City Freeway in Sacramento, California. He said that he "just fell asleep on the way home." In the crash, he broke his leg and hand; his femur snapped in half. Mr. Wilson said, "My upper leg was like Jell-O." Even worse, his car was positioned where it could easily be hit. Mr. Wilson said, "There was a curve there and it was nighttime and they couldn't see me, so people were trying to swerve out of the way to avoid me." He tried to wave down someone to help him. He said, "Finally somebody stopped. She put my arm around her and she helped me over the guardrail and she said, 'We got to get out of here because we're going to get hit by a car.'" A crash occurred seconds after she got him away from his car. Mr. Wilson said, "The semi came around and hit that car and it sounded like a bomb, it was so loud." Who was the woman? She disappeared. Mr. Wilson said, "Somebody was looking out for me." His sister said, "There's no question in my mind she saved my brother's life." (102)

" **This One Man [...] Put His Life on the Line for Somebody He Didn't Even Know"**

On 25 July 2012 while driving on Interstate 85 near Pelham Road in Greenville, South Carolina, retired combat medic Lauren James had a seizure, her first in a long time. The seizure occurred because of a brain injury from an IED that exploded in 2008 while she was serving in Afghanistan. Fortunately, Derrick Wood, who was driving on the interstate, saw Ms. James. He said, "I was able to come up beside [Ms. James], and I saw she was laid over across the seat, and I knew what a seizure looks like. She hit the wall a couple more times, and that slowed her down even more, and I was able to actually pull over in front of her." He drove his SUV in front of Ms. James' Jeep and used it to stop the Jeep. Mr. Wood said, "I honestly believe that God places us in places at certain times, and we're supposed to be there. Some traffic was not stopping, and slowing down, so I didn't want her to go across, and get hurt, or something worse than that." Ms. James said, "When I came to, there were a lot of people standing outside of my car, and I was up close to the cement barrier, and they were asking me if I wanted to go to the hospital, and I had no idea what had happened. This one man that was going to Greenville to take a test [at school] put his life on the line for somebody he didn't even know." (103)

" **Absolutely He Saved My Life. I have No Question About That. I was There at the Wrong Time. He was There at the Right Time"**

In July 2012, Robin Tarani met and thanked the man who saved her life: Worcester, Massachusetts, police officer Mark Portuondo. On 14 September 2011, she was riding a motorcycle to work when a car ran a stop sign and crashed into her, nearly severing her leg, which had to be amputated. Now she has a prosthetic leg, but she is still alive. Mr. Portuondo, who was in a car behind her when the accident occurred, clamped off her severed artery, saving her life. Ms. Tarani said, "'Thank you' is so insignificant. It's just not enough." She added, "Absolutely he saved my life. I have no question about that. I was there at the wrong time. He was there at the right time." Officer Portuondo said about Ms. Tarani, "Her being calm kept me calm. She never really panicked. She is an amazing woman. Looking down, she could clearly tell she had lost her leg. She just stayed in control." Ms. Tarani said, "I'm getting there. Every day is a challenge. I'm not saying it's easy." She said that she is grateful to be able to see her children grow up. (104)

" **My Car's Totaled, But What are You Gonna Do in that Situation? You Can't Just Drive By or Run the Gentleman Over. You have to Stop!"**

In May 2010 in Dallas, Texas, two motorcyclists were racing at speeds of over 100 mph when one motorcyclist lost control, hit a car, and crashed. The motorcycle continued down the road for about a quarter of a mile without a driver. A Good Samaritan positioned his car to shield the injured motorcyclist, who was lying in the road, from traffic, but it was dark and early in the morning and a vehicle rear-ended the Good Samaritan's vehicle, and then another vehicle rear-ended that vehicle. Dallas Police Lieutenant Jimmy Vaughan expressed sympathy for the Good Samaritan and said that he was doing the right thing by protecting the motorcyclist. Good Samaritan Mark Mansfield said, "My car's totaled, but what are you gonna do in that situation? You can't just drive by or run the gentleman over. You have to stop!" The motorcyclist was in stable condition. (105)

" **Not Only has My Son Helped Save a Life, But has Also Set a Good Example for Others. I am Proud of Him"**

On 10 July 2012 in Malad, a suburb of Mumbai, India, a speeding motorcyclist hit a 12-year-old boy who was on his bicycle going to school. The motorcyclist did not stop although the boy was injured. Meet Shah, age 22, was on his way to college when he witnessed the hit-and-run accident. Mr. Shah took the unconscious boy to get medical help. He said, "I took the boy to a clinic in an auto and admitted him for treatment as he was still unconscious. I was in a hurry, as I needed to get to my college for some project work, but was also concerned about his health. I handed my gold chain worth Rs. 60,000 [over $1,000 US] to the doctor and also my mobile no. I got my chain back in the afternoon, and the victim's family thanked me profusely." The injured boy's father said, "We are very grateful to him as he took Kashyap to the clinic for treatment at the right time. He also gave his gold chain to the doctor, which no one else would have done. My son currently has pain in his right leg and hand." Ronak Savla, a witness, said, "The biker escaped to avoid police action. The victim was injured, and that youth took him to a doctor for medical care." Bipin Shah, Meet's father, said that "not only has my son helped save a life, but has also set a good example for others. I am proud of him." Meet Shah is a first-year mass media student at Nagindas Khandwala College in Malad. (106)

" **What is the Bus Doing? Why Isn't It Stopping?"**

On 15 September 2011 in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, Matt Collins and his business partner, Damon Padovano, were at the intersection of Elm Grove Road and Bluemound, looking at a bus. Mr. Padovano said, "We were wondering, 'What is the bus doing? Why isn't it stopping?' Then we were like, 'There is no bus driver.'" They pulled the car out of the path of the bus, and Mr. Collins jumped out of the car and onto the bus and found the bus driver slumped over. Mr. Collins said, "I braked and slowed down the bus, stopped it, threw it in park, checked for a pulse." He got the driver out of the bus and started giving him CPR. Rescue workers arrived, took over the CPR, and revived the driver. Two special-needs children on the bus were unharmed. Mr. Collins said, "From my standpoint, I just believe in providence. We were supposed to be there at the right time." (107)

Sina Akinseye "Prayed for Her After the Accident and Got Other Churches to Pray, So It Felt Like Half of London was Praying for Us"

In 2012, Sina Akinseye, a 50-year-old Christian pastor at the New Life Centre in Bexleyheath, England, came across a car accident and stayed with six-year-old Tyla Hart, and her mother Michelle, age 27, until an ambulance arrived. Mr. Akinseye said, "It was a traumatising experience for the family. I was on my way from Bexleyheath to pick my children up from school in Northfleet and instead of going my usual route, I felt God guiding me to go a different way. I wasn't planning on going that way. When I saw the mum in such a state, I knew I had to cover the little girl with prayer. I was with them for 30 or 40 minutes until the ambulance came." Ms. Hart, who met him in July several days after the accident, said, "It was all smiles. Tyla gave him a big cuddle and a thank-you card she had made. It felt quite emotional to see him again and thank him for what he's done." She added, "We sat down with him and his wife and had tea and biscuits. We talked about the accident, but he didn't look like how I thought he would. We were both concentrating on Tyla at the time so I didn't really look at his face. He said he prayed for her after the accident and got other churches to pray, so it felt like half of London was praying for us." For a week, Tyla was in a coma with head injuries at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. She recovered and was in good health. Mr. Akinseye said, "I believe her life is a testimony, and it's confirmation God can heal. I was praying God would intervene and give her good health. I prayed for her every day, but I never knew if I would see her again. I was trying to bring the Bible to life, so the Good Samaritan is a good example." (108)

" **I Thought He was Underneath the Truck Until He Yelled Again, and I Looked Straight Up, and He was Dripping Blood on My Shirt"**

In 2011, co-workers Brenda Sutcliffe and Bryan Cramer were riding through Newberry, South Carolina, when they heard a cry for help. They investigated, and almost 30 yards from the road they found a semi that had wrecked in a bad storm. The driver, Roger Bourassa, was injured, and they called 911. Mr. Cramer said, "I thought he was underneath the truck until he yelled again, and I looked straight up, and he was dripping blood on my shirt." Mr. Bourassa said, "As far down as I was, I could've laid there for days or weeks before anyone found me." Mr. Cramer and Mr. Bourassa lost contact after that, and they did not even know each other's name. Mr. Cramer tried to find out about the man whose life he had helped save, but privacy laws made that difficult. Mr. Cramer said, "I never heard anything about him. We never knew his name." Mr. Bourassa did not even remember the crash, much less the people who had saved him. Mr. Bourassa said, "Trying to find somebody you don't know, don't know what they look like, you don't go trying to find something you can't find." But on 6 July 2012, a little more than a year after the wreck, the two men met by chance in the waiting room of a doctor. They started talking and learned who each other was. Mr. Cramer said, "The hairs were standing up on my neck. Chill bumps were coming all over me. I was so astounded." Mr. Bourassa said, "What are the chances? I mean the chances of finding a needle in a haystack are probably better than us bumping into each other." Mr. Cramer said, "I look at it as a prayer that was answered. Because we did pray for him. And this is the way God is showing us this is a prayer answered." Mr. Bourassa said, "The man upstairs thought it was time. The chances of the same hospital, same lab." Mr. Cramer said, "I hope it's an inspiration to people out there to see that things do happen for a reason. It may come full circle, but there's a reason for that." Making a good story even better, after Mr. Bourassa said that he had lost his wedding band at the scene of the wreck, Mr. Cramer went there with a metal detector and found it for him. (109)

" **There was Smoke All Over. But Once I Saw There were Kids, I Didn't Care. I had to Help"**

In September 1998 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, a school bus carrying 13 special-needs children caught on fire. Bus driver Barbara Wozniak and her aide got all but two students, who were in wheelchairs, out of the bus. As they worked to unlock those two children's wheelchairs, two Good Samaritans—Maurice Carter and Clifford Cartwright—showed up and helped carry the children away from the bus. Ms. Wozniak said, "I'm very grateful for every bit of their [Carter's and Cartwright's] help." Mr. Cartwright said, "There was smoke all over. But once I saw there were kids, I didn't care. I had to help." No one was injured, but the fire destroyed the bus. Ms. Wozniak said, "I'm still nervous, but I'm just grateful that the children are all safe." (110)

" **Brad and I Could Have Lost Our Son Yesterday, and We Could Possibly be Planning a Funeral Right Now had It Not Been for This Man. From the Bottom of My Heart, THANK YOU!!!"**

On 9 June 2012 in Wood County, Wisconsin, a 16-year-old Pittsville driver lost control of his vehicle and hit an oncoming car in which were Rhonda Sherman, age 46, and Christopher Crary, age three. Ms. Sherman was thrown from the car. Wisconsin State Patrol Sergeant Steve Krueger said, "The child remained in the vehicle, and then after the crash was over, that vehicle was on fire." Fortunately, a Good Samaritan who was not named saved the boy. Brad Crary, the father of Christopher, said, "I owe my life to him." He added, "I never thought that anything in my life, I could have lost him [Christopher], and this gentleman is a hero." Sergeant Krueger said, "Fortunately, there was a passerby or witness that scrambled over to the car and got the child out before the vehicle burned." Mr. Crary said, "Had that guy not come by and pulled him out, I could have lost him." Ms. Sherman was in serious condition. Nicole Van Ryzin, her daughter, said, "She's going to get well, long road to recovery, but she will get better. We're thankful that she's still with us and thankful for everyone on [the] scene." The boy had a few small burns, but no serious injuries. Mr. Crary said, "I was so relieved and so thankful." He added that he would like to thank the Good Samaritan: "I would love to get a hold of the gentleman, I really would." In a comment posted to this story, "Meghan 569" wrote, "I am the mother of Christopher and I'm with Brad on this, I really want to thank this man in person! Brad and I could have lost our son yesterday, and we could possibly be planning a funeral right now had it not been for this man. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!!" (111)

154 Heroes; One Restaurant Bill

On 21 July 2012, the heaviest rainfall in 61 years hit Beijing, China, trapping about 200 people on an expressway. Fortunately, 154 migrant workers, all of whom worked for a water treatment factory in the Fengtai district of Beijing, rescued them. Cui Yongyuan, a famous anchorman from China Central Television, treated all 154 heroes to a restaurant meal. (112)

" **I Would Give the People Who Helped Us a Big Hug if I Saw Them Again"**

On 10 February 2012, Ethel Mabey took her husband, Jim, age 72, who has Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body dementia and who uses a wheelchair, for an outdoor outing from Whare Aroha to the Lakefront in Rotorua, New Zealand. She said, "We've been married for more than 50 years, and he's been like my rock. I often take him out to get fresh air—we can go walking for miles together. I was sitting on one of the park benches near the offices, and Jim was in one of those reclining wheelchairs facing the lake. There was bird poo on the back of the bench which I had put my hand in and as I went to wipe it off on some grass, I turned around and he was in the lake." Three men and a woman helped to lift him and his chair out of the water of Lake Rotorua. Ms. Mabey said, "It was incredible to see his survival instincts kick in; he was on his tummy dog paddling—he's had dementia since 2003." Ms. Mabey and a man got in the water to pull her husband out of the lake, and the others helped from the bank. She said, "The water was about chest height on me—the chair had launched itself quite far into the lake." She added, "I usually put the brakes on his chair but I mustn't have and I just feel terrible over it. But I would give the people who helped us a big hug if I saw them again. I wish I could remember them but ... I was just doing everything automatically. I turned around to say 'Thank you' and was off back to Whare Aroha to get him out of his wet clothes. I would never in a million years [have] been able to get him out by myself... so those that helped us were brilliant." (113)

" **I was There, and I Care About People, and They were in Danger"**

On 30 July 2012, the yacht of canoe instructor Richard Brown, and his partner, Sue Taffler, filled with water in the sea off Brixham, Devon, England. Fortunately, Stuart Crang, age 10, rowed his eight-foot dinghy out to them and towed them to shore. Mr. Brown called young Stuart an "absolute star." Mr. Brown and Ms. Taffler were not in a life-threatening situation, but they were in danger of losing their yacht. Stuart said that he helped them "because I was there, and I care about people, and they were in danger. I just put them on tow and brought them in." Stuart's father, Nigel, said, "All he had was a bit of rope about 4 feet long, which he tied to the front. The couple didn't want to get in his boat in case they capsized him out, and he towed them for 30 minutes for about half a mile." Nigel added, "You normally see him towing something around the harbour. I just didn't expect him with a boat and two people in the water. We're very proud of what he's done." (114)

" **I am a Normal Citizen [...] Doing What I Feel like Most People would have Done"**

On 26 July 2012, Mack McKinney, an African-American pizza deliveryman for Pizza Hut, delivered an order at the Willow Way Apartments near Riverdale, Georgia. People frantically waved him down. He said, "I opened the [car] door and the lady was like, 'Do you swim?' and I was like, 'Yeah, I swim.'" A girl, age 13, was drowning at the bottom of a swimming pool. Mr. Kinney jumped in the pool. He said that he had not been swimming for a while, "so when I jumped in, I was like, 'Whoa, I forgot how to do this.' But then it snapped in and I got her out.'" A nurse gave the girl CPR. The teenaged girl was in stable condition at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Mr. McKinney said, "I mean, I don't consider myself a hero. You know, I am a normal citizen, you know what I am saying, doing what I feel like most people would have done." (115)

" **It Seemed Like a Half Hour of Pure Terror"**

On 9 August 2012 in Hermosa Beach, California, George Murray heard screams. A four-year-old boy had been pulled from a swimming pool, he was unconscious, and family members were screaming for help. Mr. Murray said, "I heard a guy screaming for help. I looked down at the pool and there was a child just pulled out of the pool onto the concrete. And he was totally incoherent." Mr. Murray performed CPR on the boy; the boy's uncle helped him. Mr. Murray said, "It was three minutes... maybe five minutes—it seemed like a half hour of pure terror." The boy's eyes opened, but they were unfocused. Mr. Murray said, "They were looking right through me. I thought I lost him right there." The boy coughed up water, and paramedics arrived quickly. The boy cried, but he was alive. Mr. Murray said that the minutes of performing CPR and worrying that the boy might not survive were "five, ten minutes of the most terrifying moments of my life." (116)

" **Help! Someone's Drowning in the Pool!"**

On 2 July 2012, Cooper Davis, an eight-year-old boy who lives in Johns Creek, Georgia, was vacationing in Garden Grove, California. He swam laps and noticed a boy at the bottom of the pool. Cooper said, "I thought [the boy] was playing so I took a breath and another kid said, 'Help! Help! A kid's underwater!" Cooper dove and brought the boy to the surface of the pool. Cooper's father, Jeff Davis, said, "I heard someone yell, 'Help! Someone's drowning in the pool!' I looked up because I figured it could have been my kid and I ran to the pool.... [but] it wasn't my son that was in trouble. When I got over there, the boy was face up at the edge.... [he] was limp and his eyes were shut. I just pulled him out and yelled, 'Help! Someone call 911! This boy can't breathe!'" Mr. Davis gave the boy CPR, and an unidentified Good Samaritan quickly joined him. Mr. Davis said, "We saw a little drizzle of water come out of his mouth and his eyes were still shut and it seemed like he was trying to breathe so we turned him on his side." Paramedics arrived quickly. Mike Feher, an officer of the Garden Grove Police Resort Team, said, "Whatever efforts that everyone did... saved this boy's life." When Cooper was asked if he considered himself a hero, he said, "Well, sort of. I'm just glad that the kid's OK." (117)

" **Thank God You're Here. I Thought I was Going to Drown"**

In 2002, the family of Susan Tordella vacationed in Puerto Rico. Some of the teens were caught in a swell, and one swimmer grew weak. Susan's son, Ian Tordella-Williams, then aged 17, saw them, wondered if everyone was OK, but did nothing, although he could have gone to them with his surfboard and helped. Fortunately, everyone got back to shore OK, but when Ian learned that some of the teens had been having trouble making it to shore, he resolved to be more alert and helpful in the future. On 4 July 2012, on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, Ian, now age 27 and a former lifeguard, saw four tweens in trouble in the water. Ian did not know it then, but a 43-year-old man had already drowned trying to save them. He grabbed a cheap raft and went into the water after them. He reached the first tween, who told him, "Thank God you're here. I thought I was going to drown." They then went after the other three tweens. Everyone was able to keep from drowning by holding on to the raft for 25 minutes—when the Coast Guard arrived. Ms. Tordella recommends teaching children how to swim and how to wear life jackets. (118)

" **I Thought We Did a Pretty Good Thing—We Saved Two People's Lives"**

On 18 July 2012, a five-year-old boy slipped and fell off a jetty (pier) into the bitterly cold waters at Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. His stepmother, age 44, jumped into the water after him, but she ran into difficulty. Alexsei Bondarenko-Edwards, a 21-year-old lifeguard, was going to call 000 [Australia's emergency number], but he decided he didn't have time. He said, "I stripped off the gear and jumped in. The lady was holding her son above the water. Just as I got to him, he went under and she went under as well. They were down for good until I pulled them up." Mr. Bondarenko-Edwards dragged the mother to shore, and 20-year-old French tourist Chrystal Franc took the boy to shore. Mr. Bondarenko-Edwards gave the stepmother first aid, and Chrystal and two other friends kept the boy warm by wrapping him in towels. Senior Constable Nick Carlson said about Mr. Bondarenko-Edwards, "We could definitely nominate him for a bravery award for jumping in without any floatation, and when it's freezing cold." Mr. Bondarenko-Edwards, however, said, "I don't deserve a medal... I did what had to be done. Everyone else was helping out... It's not like I was a lone hero. It didn't sink in until yesterday when I thought we did a pretty good thing—we saved two people's lives." The stepmother was in intensive care at the Royal Melbourne Hospital but was said to be improving. (119)

" **Lukey is Drowning in the Pool!'"**

On 13 July 2012 in the Natrona section of Harrison Township, Pennsylvania, Fawn Deiseroth was in her second-floor home when her six-year-old daughter, Savannah, gave her some important news. Ms. Deiseroth said, "The kids all play together and my daughter came up and said, 'Lukey is drowning in the pool!'" Lukey is two-year-old Lucas Najanick, the son of some neighbors. Ms. Deiseroth looked out of a window into her neighbors' yard, which has an above-ground swimming pool. The neighbors were yelling for help. Ms. Deiseroth said, "I just took off." She knows CPR because she used to be an EMT with Lower Burrell No. 1 Fire Company. When she arrived, Lucas' mother, Jessie, had gotten him out of the pool and was giving him emergency breaths. Ms. Deiseroth said, "His mother had him on the ground outside the pool and he was blue. She had been giving him breaths when I got there." She helped his mother administer CPR. She said about Lucas, "He was breathing when the ambulance crew got here." She added, "This was very upsetting. I've dragged them [victims] out of the river before when they've been gone. But I never, ever thought I would do that." She praised Lucas' parents: "They are very good parents. They don't even let the kids in the backyard without someone being there." (120)

" **Whenever You Jump Into One of These Lakes, You will Get Tangled Up and Definitely Drown"**

On 10 July 2012, teenager Carlos Murias, age 17, rescued a grandmother and her grandson from a lake in Hialeah Gardens, Florida. The boy had fallen into the lake and his grandmother had gone after him, but she had gotten tangled up in the weeds of the lake. Hialeah Gardens Police Lieutenant Carlos Fojo said, "The lakes, they have a lot of debris around the sides of them. You got to be careful. Whenever you jump into one of these lakes, you will get tangled up and definitely drown." The grandmother was face down in the water, and the little boy was screaming, "Help! Help!" Carlos said, "I pulled them out of the water. I took the kid out first, and then I pulled her out." In making the rescue, he lost his cell phone in the lake. The boy was breathing, but the grandmother was not. One of Carlos' friends said, "She was purple. Like black purple." Carlos gave the grandmother mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue emergency workers arrived. Mr. Fojo said about the grandmother, "She had pulse momentarily, a couple of times. She would lose it and come back, and we continued the CPR on her." The grandmother was in serious condition. (121)

" **I was Scared, But It Turned Out Great. The Van's Not Important"**

On 12 July 2012, a two-year-old boy climbed unnoticed into his grandfather's van while on an outing to feed the ducks at Eagle Lake in Del City, Oklahoma. The boy shifted the van into gear, and the van rolled into the lake. The boy's grandfather, Tommy Albertson, age 50, rescued the boy moments before the van sank, nose first. Mr. Albertson said, "I was scared to death. I was scared, but it turned out great. The van's not important." Both Mr. Albertson and his grandson were unhurt. The two-year-old boy did not cry; he was too young to understand the danger he was in. Mr. Albertson was still shaken when he talked to reporters. (122)

" **Another Second and That Guy would have been Gone. Those Kids are Heroes"**

On 8 July 2012, Daniel Chapman, age 20, was wading in the Missouri River near the shore of Verde Park in Great Falls, Montana, when an undercurrent pulled him into deep water. He started shouting that he couldn't swim. Two boys with stand-up paddle boards—14-year-old Jacob Vidal and 10-year-old J.T. Whitaker—were nearby. (Stand-up paddle boards are similar to heavy surf boards; people can stand on them and move them with a long paddle.) Henry Vidal, Jacob's father, said, "I looked at Jake and said, 'Go out and get them.'" The two boys, who were wearing life jackets, went into the water with their paddle boards and got Mr. Chapman onto Jacob's board. Mr. Chapman had been wading with a female friend; she helped them get Mr. Chapman on the board. Mr. Chapman said, "If he hadn't been there, I wouldn't have made it." He had started floating face down in the water. By the time they got to him, he had gone under the water; they found him and took him to shore. Henry Vidal said, "Another second and that guy would have been gone. Those kids are heroes." J.T. said, "We thought they were joking at first, and then we looked and saw he was actually drowning. I was scared." Jacob said, "The thing that was going through my head the most was to get him to the board and go from there." Mr. Chapman said, "All I can say is thank you and thank you again. I could never thank him enough for that." (123)

" **Jen Pulled Some Serious Lifeguard Stuff"**

On 29 June 2012, Jennifer Mahin, age 17, of Carlsbad, California, graduated from the California State lifeguard academy in Carlsbad. A few hours later, she saved a life. She and her family were walking on the north jetty at Oceanside, California, when some teenagers asked for help: They wanted them to call 911. A 17-year-old girl was caught in a rip current that kept her from reaching shore, and she was drowning. Someone had tried but failed to rescue her. Stephanie Fabinski, age 15, said about Jennifer, "She just took off her shirt and jumped in." Because of the rip current, Jennifer could not get the girl out of the water, but she held her head above the water until help arrived. Jennifer said, "I held her head up because I didn't know if she was breathing. She went under, so I just assumed she wasn't breathing." Rescuers tossed Jennifer a rescue device that she clipped to the girl, who was taken a hospital as a precaution. Jennifer said about the rescue, "It's the most gratifying thing ever." Jennifer's friend Malia Magro, age 15, said, "Jen pulled some serious lifeguard stuff." (124)

" **I've Been Doing This Kind of Thing for 11 Years, and Every Time I Save a Life, I Feel Good"**

On 11 September 2005, an off-duty lifeguard named Papinki Lobello saved the lives of a brother and sister at Monwabisi Beach, Cape Town, South Africa. Mr. Lobello was passing the beach when he saw that a man and a woman were in trouble. National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said, "After he called for back up, Lobello swam 300m to pull out a 20-year-old man. Then he headed back into the swell, swam about 150m and rescued the woman. The rescued man's condition was critical, and Lobello, who is also an ambulance man, immediately began resuscitating. Paramedics who got to the scene also helped to resuscitate the couple before they were rushed to the GF Jooste Hospital in Manenberg. While the man was stable, the woman is critical." Mr. Lambinon added, "It was superb effort from all the emergency services who responded. Lobello went beyond the call of duty, and we commend him for acting with distinction." Mr. Lobello said, "I saw them and dived into the water. I went to the man first and dragged him out. He was struggling and tried to talk. Then I went for the woman who was face down in the water." He added, "I've been doing this kind of thing for 11 years, and every time I save a life, I feel good. I've done a diving course, and I'm currently attending an advance[d] course in diving to further improve my skills. I am just proud to be someone who is in a position to do something for others." (125)

" **They are Heroes. If It Weren't for the Men, the Woman would Have Drowned"**

In September 2005 in Western Australia, Bob Thompson and Rhett Topliss saved the life of an 18-year-old woman when the car she was driving—too quickly—left the road and plunged into the Preston River, stopping upside down. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Topliss were driving in opposite directions, but both stopped when they saw the accident and came to the woman's rescue. A fire and rescue volunteer said, "They are heroes. If it weren't for the men, the woman would have drowned. They deserve a bravery medal." Sergeant Mark Smith said, "If you are doing the speed limit, these things won't happen. The road was not at fault... there will not be an investigation into the conditions. She's just lucky to be alive." (126)

" **Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things, and They Do It for People They Don't Know or Have Never Met"**

On 1 July 2008 at Gilbert Park in Wausau, Wisconsin, a husband and a wife attempted to launch their boat into the Wisconsin River. Unfortunately, the swift current pulled their SUV into the water, and the woman was trapped inside. Four Good Samaritans came to the rescue. Courtney Flanders and Emily Duncanson were on a pontoon in the river. Immediately, they jumped into the river to help. Ms. Duncanson said that "it's a scary thing... we couldn't get her out at first." Ms. Flanders said, "It's something that needed to be done. Thank goodness we were there." John Martinez Senior and Alfredo Marrero also came to the rescue and jumped into the river. Mr. Martinez said, "There was a woman pounding on the window, and I just pulled over right away... just went to go to save the woman any way that I could." Mr. Marrero said, "I had no chance to think about it. So I went and dove in. I was hoping she wouldn't die on me inside there, though. When we were under the water, she was looking at my face... and... going like this... I was kind of scared." Arnold Lang, the man who nominated the four for the Red Cross Good Samaritan hero award, which they were awarded in 2009, said, "Ordinary people do extraordinary things, and they do it for people they don't know or have never met." Mr. Martinez said, "I will do it again if I have to, regardless of the conditions." Mr. Marrero said, "I was there. I wasn't going to let her die in front of me... so I was in the right place at the right time the way I see it. I'm glad that she's still here with us today." (127)

A Good Deed and Good Karma

In July 2007, Tom Milan of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Pat Hirsch of Onancock, Virginia, did a good deed. They were heading out to go tarpon fishing in the backwater areas of the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore—Sand Shoal Inlet near Oyster—when they noticed a light out to sea. The light was neither a buoy nor a navigational beacon, so they decided to investigate. As they got closer, the light began to flash in blips of three. The light was coming from a pontoon boat, on which were four anglers, who were in trouble. The pontoon boat had a broken motor. Mr. Milan said, "They had been out there since the previous morning. There was a real old man and another one that was blind. There was a woman and another guy. They were from North Carolina and had been croaker fishing. They said they were OK but tired." Mr. Milan and Mr. Hirsch towed the pontoon boat to the ramp at Oyster; the trip took more than two hours. But some good karma may have resulted from the good deed. Mr. Milan had trying to learn to catch tarpon, but he had never gotten a bite. Next time out, things were different. Mr. Milan said, "We got a bite. It wasn't a big one or anything, but I had finally gotten a Virginia tarpon to bite." So did Mr. Hirsch. (128)

" **Please Let Me Catch Her, Please Let Me Catch Her. That's All I Could Say. Let Me Catch the Little Baby"**

On 16 July 2012 in Brooklyn, New York, Stephen St. Bernard, age 52, an African-American Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) city bus driver, heard screams. He rushed to the building courtyard from which the screams were coming and saw a seven-year-old girl teetering on an air conditioner outside a third-floor apartment. He said, "She just stood up there teetering, teetering." She fell. Mr. St. Bernard said that he was thinking, "Please let me catch her, please let me catch her. That's all I could say. Let me catch the little baby." He has a daughter about the same age as the girl who fell. He said, "I think about my daughter, and you know, she's a little kid." He caught the falling girl. He said, "I picked her up and carried her, and I was holding her, rubbing her, and she just more or less kept looking around. She never closed her eyes; she didn't lose consciousness." Paramedics took her to Coney Island Hospital; she had very minor injuries. The girl's aunt, Monique Harding, said about Mr. St. Bernard, "He's my hero. He definitely did our family a favor today." The girl has autism, and she had climbed on top of the air conditioner while her mother was watching other children. Mr. St. Bernard suffered a torn tendon when he caught the girl. His daughter, Tahaani, said, "The child was like almost like my age, so like he always carries me, so I guess he'd probably be able to catch her." (129)

" **And Just Think, I Did It All in My Flip-Flops"**

On 1 July 2012, Kristen Beach, age 21, heard screams across the street from her apartment building in downtown Medford, Oregon. A two-year-old boy was screaming as he hung onto a small lip around the edge of the roof of a three-story residence. She ran across the street. She said, "He was crying when he was up there. I could see the tears and the snot running down his face." She said to the boy, "It's OK, baby. If you fall, I will catch you." Ms. Beach remembered, "I was completely ready. But I was terrified." She caught him. Ms. Beach said, "I asked if he was hurt: 'Do you have owies?' I was crying right along with him." The two-year-old boy was checked out by medical personnel and had no injuries. Medford Police Sergeant D.J. Graham said, "It's amazing. The baby was really calm when we arrived on the scene." Ms. Beach said, "Everybody kept patting me on the shoulders and saying, 'You're my hero.'" The boy's mother was grateful. Ms. Beach said, "She just hugged me and said, 'Thank you, thank you.'" Ms. Beach has a two-year-old child of her own. She said, "If my baby was in the same predicament, I would hope somebody else would do the same thing." One thing did stick out to her: "And just think, I did it all in my flip-flops." (130)

" **Can You Catch My Baby? You Got My Baby?"**

On 31 January 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, a man doused a woman with lighter fluid and prepared to set her on fire. To save her 18-month-old baby's life, she dangled him outside a second-story window and called for help to another young mother, Naquetta Jackson, who said, "She's just like, 'Can you catch my baby? You got my baby?' I said, 'Yes, I got him,' and she dropped him in my arms and I caught the baby." The man then set the woman on fire and she jumped out the window with her clothing ablaze. The man fled but was arrested a few hours later. The boy's mother suffered burns and a broken arm and was treated at MetroHealth Medical Center. Ms. Jackson said, "Honestly, I really do believe it was God that told me to be there; it was meant for me to be there." (131)

Helping a Woman Who had Fresh Bruises on Her Face

In 2012, Lorraine Landsburg, a bus driver for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, told _Boston Globe_ columnist Brian McGrory about a good deed she had done a few years ago. At the end of her shift, she drove into Mattapan Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Her sole passenger was a woman who had fresh bruises on her face. The woman asked Ms. Landsburg if any trollies were still running. They weren't. She then asked if Ms. Landsburg could drop her off back at where she had boarded the bus. Ms. Landsburg said, "She said her boyfriend hit her. I told her I didn't feel right dropping her off there. She said she was trying to get to Waltham, and I lived nearby." Ms. Landsburg drove the woman to Waltham, Massachusetts. (132)

A Long-Lost Friend

On 24 June 2008 at the Shepperton train station in Surrey, England, a 40-year-old man made inappropriate advances to a 15-year-old schoolgirl, who mouthed the word "help" to an older woman who then pretended to be the schoolgirl's long-lost friend. The Good Samaritan stayed with her until the schoolgirl could safely board the train. Police were looking for the man who had acted inappropriately. (133)

Good Samaritan Gives Rape Victim £10,000

In 2009, Lloyd Gardner, a 22-year-old restaurant manager, was awarded £10,000 for providing evidence that led to the capture of a rapist who had left his victim for dead. Over three years after she was left naked and unconscious in the centre of Exeter, Devon, England, she still used a wheelchair. Mr. Gardner gave the woman his reward money. He said, "I didn't feel like I'd earned it. The fact that such a horrific thing happened to that lady, I thought it would benefit her life more than it would mine. I just wanted to try and improve her standard of life. It's a huge amount of money, but I've been lucky throughout my life—she nearly died and was left in a horrendous state after the attack. I thought the money would go a lot further to improve her situation. I just wanted to help in any way possible, and I hope this has done that." Mr. Lloyd added, "I thought what I told police was quite minor at the time, but they told me it was what they needed and had been a vital part of the case." Local Sergeant Nick Harper said, "Lloyd's act of kindness was unbelievable. He is an outstanding member of the community." The rapist was convicted and given two life sentences. (134)

" **She was Screaming, Trying to Get Someone's Attention"**

In October 2010, Michael Starback and Geoff Shires, who are surfing buddies, were in a car when they saw a masked man trying to abduct a 16-year-old girl on State Street in Ukiah, California. Mr. Starback, age 47, said, "She was screaming, trying to get someone's attention." She fought him and broke free, but he grabbed her again. Mr. Shires jumped out of the car, and the masked man let the girl go and quickly walked away. The man took off his mask, apparently in an attempt to blend in with his surroundings. The 16-year-old girl got in the car, and Mr. Starback called 911. Mr. Starback followed the man, calling in the man's location, and police arrested the man, who admitted that he had intended to rape the girl and maybe kill her. The man was later sentenced to seven years in prison. The Mendocino County District Attorney said in a statement, "We all should extend hearty thanks to the good Samaritans in this case for coming to the rescue and for helping put a dangerous guy behind bars." The incident did not take long, about 20 minutes, but Mr. Starback said that it "seemed like forever." The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office gave both men certificates of appreciation that stated, "Thank you for your willingness to become involved to insure the safety of a child without concern for yourself. You have the respect of the community you live in and the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office." In 2011, the local American Red Cross gave the two men its Real Heroes award. (135)

" **She Thanked Me So Many Times. But Someone had to Save Her... I Don't See Myself as a Hero"**

On 2 July 2012, a woman was stabbed over 20 times while she was staying in a youth hostel located near Fridhemsplan on the central Stockholm island of Kungsholmen. Another person staying at the hostel rescued her. Police got a telephone call at around 2:20 a.m. about the stabbing. Police spokesperson Lars Marklund said, "The neighbour in the room next door heard the scream, forced open the door, and saved her life." Police made an arrest in the case. The hero, whose name was not given but who had saved the woman and fought her attacker, is a tourist from South Africa. He said, "She thanked me so many times. But someone had to save her... I don't see myself as a hero." The woman was in stable condition. (136)

" **She Basically Put Up a Fight—She Wasn't Gonna Go Quietly"**

On 9 September 2009 on Colchester Avenue in Burlington, Vermont, a man tried to abduct a woman. Lieutenant Art Cyr of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations said, "I don't know what this man's intent was if he was to get her in the vehicle. I don't have those answers yet." The woman screamed, and another woman ran to the rescue. Rebecca Shipley of Burlington said, "My adrenaline was just worried about the girl. I didn't care about the guy. He grabbed her mainly in the front trying to put the girl into his vehicle. She basically put up a fight—she wasn't gonna go quietly." Ms. Shipley helped the intended victim get away from the man. Many students from the University of Vermont live in the area. University of Vermont first-year student Erin Eudete Greene said, "That's really scary like you hear about stuff like that, but I don't know, it just kind of seems like it won't happen. Then it does and it's just kind of like a slap in the face." Another University of Vermont first-year student, Erin Minella, said, "I've only been here for a little over a week, and my mom is always reminding me to be with like friends, never walk back alone." Lieutenant Cyr said, "Everybody needs to be on their toes, be aware of what's going on, be safe in your surroundings, don't go out alone for a while." (137)

" **Anybody Who Heard that Scream Would have Done Something"**

On 13 December 2011 in Washington, D.C., a man attempted to kidnap a woman on M Street NW near 25th Street, between Georgetown and Foggy Bottom. He dragged her by her hair more than 50 feet as she screamed for help. The woman, who works in the neighborhood, said, "All of a sudden someone comes from behind me and wraps their arms around my mouth, eyes, and head. I started kicking and trying to get away, and I fell to the ground." Her kidnapper did not say anything. She said, "He grabbed my hair, and I started screaming as loud as I could." The kidnapper started to drag her. She said, "He had both of his hands on me dragging me by my hair on my back." He dragged her down the ramp of a parking garage. Fortunately, some Good Samaritans rescued her. Michael Anderson heard the woman scream as he was sitting in his office at the Patton Boggs law firm. He looked out the window and saw the kidnapping attempt, and then he ran down five flights of stairs and into the parking garage. The kidnapper released the woman and fled, but Mr. Anderson pursued him and grabbed the kidnapper's head. He and four other Good Samaritans held the alleged kidnapper and stayed with the woman until police arrived. Mr. Anderson said, "Anybody who heard that scream would have done something." Still, he said that he had wondered to himself, "The man was capable of attacking a woman in broad daylight. What might he do next?" Other Good Samaritans also responded and helped restrain the kidnapper. In 2012, Washington D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier awarded Citizen of the Year medals to Mr. Anderson, Robert Petris, Suthima Malayaman (a woman who, like Mr. Anderson, worked at the Patton Boggs law firm), Glen Hackbarth, and Ann Donohue for their "fearless display of bravery and concern." Just 90 minutes before the attack, the kidnapper had attacked another woman, but she had been able to fight back and he had fled. Police Chief Lanier wants citizens to do such things as scribble down a license plate number in a carjacking or, when it is possible to do safely and after calling police) follow a street robber from a safe distance. Only when a life is at stake should someone put him- or herself in danger. People should not put themselves in danger when only personal property or money is at stake. For those things, she said, "It's not worth getting stabbed or shot." James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, said, "Innocent people can get hurt. The police are trained to know what to do and when to do it. The public is not." Often, calling 911 is enough. (138)

" **When He Hit Him in the Face, I Was Just Like 'Oh My Gosh, He's Going to Jail.' I Mean I was Scared for the [Police] Officer"**

In December 2011 in Canton, Ohio, Krysta Engel, who was in her car with her two-year-old daughter, motioned for a man carrying bags to cross the street in front of her. Instead, the man became enraged and started kicking her car and yelling obscenities. Ms. Engel said, "I didn't know why he was kicking the car. I don't know why he went off. I was just trying to let him walk." She got on the telephone to call 911, but she saw Police Officer Tim Marks and flagged him down. The man hit Officer Marks in the face. Ms. Engle said, "When he hit him in the face, I was just like 'Oh, my gosh, he's going to jail.' I mean I was scared for the officer." Etta Henderhan, a witness, saw Officer Marks trying to protect himself with a taser. She said, "He gave him some good tasing and that, I mean you could see the expression on his face, that it was working, but it just wasn't slowing him down." Officer Marks dropped the taser and grabbed his baton, but the man got hold of Officer Marks' baton and started hitting him with it. Ms. Henderhan said, "I would say he was in some good trouble. I would say on his own he could not have subdued him, he would need somebody to back him up." Ms. Engel called 911 to get help for the police officer. Fortunately, Tom Bowman, a civilian, came to the rescue, pulling the man off Officer Marks and helping to subdue him. Ms. Engle said about the police officer, "I would think that he would probably be in the hospital for a long time, if not dead, if this man had not shown up." Ms. Henderhan said about Mr. Bowman's heroism, "Thank God. Not many people do that anymore." The man who attacked Officer Marks may be mentally ill. Jeremiah Gates, a neighbor, said, "He sits on the porch and yells at himself and talks to people that aren't there all the time, yells at cars as they go by, and always causing trouble." (139)

" **There's a Couple Guys Who have been Shot, Officers, and You Can See the Bullet Holes in Each One of Their Arms, and So It Was Like, Okay, We have to Stop the Bleeding"**

In June 2012 in Spokane, Washington, two sheriff's deputies were shot during what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop. The shooter sped away and later committed suicide. Lying on the ground were 45-year-old Deputy Matt Spink and 42-year-old Deputy Mike Northway. Deputy Northway was shot four times, once in each arm and leg, and Deputy Spink had been shot once in the leg. Three people—Krista Crawford, her fiancé, and former paramedic Rick Jacks—came to the rescue. They applied pressure to the wounds to stop or slow down the bleeding until emergency workers arrived. Ms. Crawford said, "I wasn't really thinking about the severity of the situation. There's a couple guys who have been shot, officers, and you can see the bullet holes in each one of their arms, and so it was like, okay, we have to stop the bleeding. I didn't feel panicked or anything. It was just kind of like autopilot kicked in." Both sheriff's deputies were taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. (140)

" **Whatever Time He Spent in that Struggle Gave the Women Time to Get Cover"**

On 5 August 2012 a shooter murdered six worshippers at a Sikh temple south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The president of the temple, Sadwant Kaleka, age 65, who was armed only with a blunt ceremonial knife, gained time for others to flee by facing the shooter, who shot him and killed him. Amardeep Singh Kaleka, the hero's son, said that FBI agents shook his hand and told him, "Your dad's a hero." Amardeep added, "Whatever time he spent in that struggle gave the women time to get cover. He was a hero through and through. There couldn't have been a better place for him to lay to rest." The Sikh women who were preparing the traditional post-worship afternoon meal were able to hide in a pantry. One of those women was Amardeep's mother, who called police using a mobile phone. The murderer had a 9-11 tattoo and may have mistaken the Sikhs for Muslims. Sikhs are not Muslims. Amardeep said, "As I saw the picture of the man who took away my father's life—you look at his face and it's full of hollow emptiness—a dark void. I feel a lot of sadness towards that individual. I'm not going to replace it with anger." (141)

" **There's a Guy with a Gun! Hide! Hide!"**

On 5 August 2012, a shooter murdered six worshippers at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Playing outside the temple were nine-year-old Amanat Singh and her 11-year-old brother, Abhay Singh. They heard the gunfire, but at first they thought they were hearing the sound of fireworks. Amanat said, "We saw a guy. He got out of a cab and he fast-walked and hit two people who were getting into their car." Both children ran into the temple and warned worshippers. Abhay said, "As soon as we got in the kitchen, I started yelling. I'm like, 'There's a guy with a gun! Hide! Hide!" Amanat said she feared that the gunman was "going to kill everyone." More than a dozen people hid. Harban Singh Farwaha said, "They saved my life." And not just his life, he said, but the lives of "my wife, my daughter-in-law, and many people." Amanat said, "I feel proud because I saved lots of lives." Oak Creek Police Lieutenant Brian Murphy responded to the shooting and was shot several times by the attacker. New York-based Sikhs for Justice pledged $10,000 for him. G.S. Pannun, attorney and spokesman for Sikhs for Justice, issued this statement: "This tragic incident is just one more example of the need for all ethnic groups to support each other and raise their voices against violence in our country and abroad. Since 9/11 there have been innumerable instance of hate crimes against members of the Sikh community. Our government must take urgent steps to educate the country about the Sikh population and help put an end to these horrific and deadly acts of violence. Our organization, Sikhs for Justice, is proudly pledging a $10,000 award to Lieutenant Brian Murphy, the officer wounded in the incident." (142)

Taking Bullets for Girlfriends and Dates

In the 20 July 2012 shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, at least three men died while using their bodies as shields to protect women: Matt McQuinn, age 27; Jonathan Blunk, age 26; and Alex Teves, age 24. Mr. McQuinn was shot three times after diving in front of his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, age 27, who was shot in the knee. Samantha's brother, Nick, was also at the theater. He said, "Matt took three hits: one in the chest, one in the back, and one in the leg." Jonathan Blunk pushed his date, Jansen Young, age 21, to the floor and under the seat, telling her, "Stay down!" She added that he told her, "We have to get down and stay down." Moments later, he was killed. Ms. Young said, "He took a bullet for me." It took a while for her to realize that he was dead: "I guess I didn't really know he had passed until I started shaking him and saying, 'Jon, Jon, we have to go.... I know I would not be here today if Jon had not been next to me in that movie theater." Blunk's estranged wife, Chantel Blunk, said, "He always talked about if he were going to die, he wanted to die a hero." Mr. Teves used his body as a shield to cover his girlfriend, Amanda Lindgren. Mr. Teves' grandmother Rae Iacovelli said, "He shielded her. He got down on the floor and covered her up." Mr. Teves and Ms. Lindgren had been dating for a little over a year. Ms. Iacovelli said, "They were very serious. He was a good kid. He had so many friends. No matter where he went, he put people at ease. He was a fun kid. A happy boy." (143)

Heroine Amid the Bullets

In the 20 July 2012 shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, 19-year-old Allie Young was shot in the neck. She pleaded with her best friend, Stephanie Davies, age 21, to flee and save her life, but Ms. Davies stayed, applied pressure to the wound, and called 911. Later, she helped her get to an ambulance. After meeting with them, President Barack Obama said, "Because of Stephanie's timely actions, I just had a conversation with Allie downstairs and she is going to be fine." Lisa Smith, Ph.D., director of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, said, "The bond between these two women was so strong that the choice was to stay and in a sense fight to save her friend's life. It doesn't get any stronger than that." Ms. Smith called Ms. Davies' act "an amazing act of selflessness. She was putting her friend's life on the same level or maybe even higher than her own. She was willing to stay and protect her at a large risk to herself." (144)

**Heroine of the** **20 July 2012 Shooting at a Movie Theater in Aurora, Colorado: The Dispatcher**

The 20 July 2012 shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, had its heroes and heroines in addition to its one evil mass murderer. "Jack Dunphy," the pseudonym of an officer with the Los Angeles (California) Police Department, pointed out one hero who was overlooked in the immediate aftermath of the shooting: the dispatcher. Dispatchers pass out information to police officers and help guide their response to emergencies. Mr. Dunphy wrote about the Aurora dispatcher, "She was the calm voice when one was most needed." She is the one who alerted police to the unfolding tragedy. At 12:39 a.m. she said, "Three-fifteen and Three-fourteen [the two units she was dispatching] for a shooting at Century Theaters, 14300 East Alameda. They say somebody's shooting in the auditorium." Later, she gave more information: "There is at least one person that's been shot but they're saying there's hundreds of people just running around." As more information came in, she gave it to the police officers. Mr. Dunphy wrote, "Every cop knows the frustration of having a dispatcher on the frequency who is not quite up to the task. The slightest delay in processing a request for assistance or information on a license plate or the details of a suspect's description will have a cop grinding his teeth and pounding on the dashboard of his patrol car. It is not a job that just anyone can handle. I was a young rookie cop when my training officer took me to the LAPD communications center, then located in the old Parker Center headquarters building in downtown Los Angeles. It was important for me, he said, to see how difficult a dispatcher's job was. It hasn't gotten any easier, even as the technology has advanced with computers replacing the handwritten cards that once were used to log radio calls and track the status of police units. But one thing in the dispatcher's job has remained constant even as the tools have changed: the need to remain calm while dealing with people who are not." The Aurora dispatcher was up to the job. Mr. Dunphy wrote, "As the information flowed from the officers to the dispatcher, as the requests for police and rescue personnel to respond to one location and then another and another accumulated with maddening speed, as the anguished voices of the wounded filtered over the radio, this remarkable woman processed it all as calmly and efficiently as if she dealt with this sort of thing every night of her life. [Aurora is normally a quiet and safe community.] She communicated with her officers, with the fire department, and, as the scale of the incident became apparent, with officers from Denver and the other surrounding cities that sent people to help." Mr. Dunphy hopes that the dispatcher gets the credit that is coming to her: "From what I've seen it looks as though the Aurora Police Department acquitted itself well in handling this most challenging situation. In due season the tales of heroism among the officers will emerge, but when the accolades are bestowed there will be no one more deserving than that one voice on the radio. She could not have handled it better. May we soon know her name, may she get the praise and thanks she very much deserves." (145)

" **Please Help Me! Please Help Me! God, He's Coming Back!"**

On 20 July 2012, a gunman opened fire and killed 12 people and wounded many more at a showing of the movie _Batman Rises_ at the Century 16 multiplex in Aurora, Colorado. Eric Hunter, a 23-year-old radiology technician, was in Theater 8; the shooting occurred in Theater 9. Mr. Hunter heard three pops, was startled, and then decided that it was a publicity stunt for the movie. But he heard eight more pops and decided that it was not a publicity stunt. He said, "I jumped up, probably not the smartest thing to do, and started down the stairs." He opened an exit door and saw two teenage girls. One girl had been wounded in the face. A girl said, "Please help me! Please help me! God, he's coming back!" He pulled the girls into Theater 8, and the gunman appeared. Mr. Hunter slammed the door shut, preventing the gunman from entering Theater 9 and murdering people there. The gunman pounded on the door, then left. Mr. Hunter called 911 and told the emergency operator, "Somebody is shooting at Century 16!" Mr. Hunter and an off-duty paramedic gave first aid to the two girls. During the shooting, Jarell Brooks, a 19-year-old African-American, helped a white mother and her children get out of the theater. Mr. Brooks said, "At the end of the aisle, I ran into a woman. She yelled, 'My kids!' and I saw she had two young kids with her. I made sure they got in the aisle and pushed behind her to make sure she got out of there." The gunman shot Mr. Brooks in the thigh and also shot the mother: Patricia Legarreta. Mr. Brooks said, "We fell together. I picked myself back up and continued to the back exit door, on one leg." Ms. Legarreta said, "I was thinking, I have to get this family out, without getting hit myself. I managed to do one." She added that she is happy that people like Mr. Brooks are in this world: "It makes me feel glad because I felt helpless. Everybody at that moment was going through it, and to know that someone had that mindset, it makes me feel happy to know that in times of trial, there are good people out there." (146)

" **My Whole Body was Sort of in Shock and Shaking"**

During the 20 July 2012 shooting in Aurora, Colorado, Bonnie Kate Pourciau was shot below the knee and needed help. Eric Wilkins helped her. He said, "I was one of the last people out, and I just happened to look down to my right and she just happened to be the first person lying there." Ms. Pourciau had been separated from her best friend, Elizabeth Sumrall. Mr. Wilkins said, "From talking to her I found out that they literally didn't know anybody here." Fortunately, he had had medical training. He said, "Physically what I did is, I got down by her leg where you could see the wound about two, three inches below her knee. I just put pressure [...] while the other guy who was there just held her hand. He tried talking to her. I tried talking to her. Probably asked her the same questions like three or four times." Ms. Pourciau is glad that they talked to her: "It was so intense... then I didn't necessarily feel the pain, but my whole body was sort of in shock and shaking." Mr. Wilkins said, "She was lying there... obviously in a lot of pain, but she was not screaming. She was not hysterical or anything. She was really calm." Eventually, Mr. Wilkins and others were able to put her in a police car so she could be taken to a hospital. (147)

Christian Bale Visits Injured of Aurora Shooting

Following the 20 July 2012 shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, that was showing a midnight screening of the movie _The Dark Knight Rises_ , actor Christian Bale, who played Batman, visited people who were wounded by the man who killed 12 people. Mr. Bale spent about two-and-a-half hours visiting seven patients and some medical personnel at the Medical Center of Aurora. (Two of the patients came from Swedish Medical Center.) Bill Voloch, the interim president of the facility, said, "It was good for the patients. We hope it was therapeutic for them, and all the staff really appreciated him coming." He added, "The patients were really happy to meet Bale. They are obviously big fans of his movies. They wanted to see Batman and were really pleased to see Bale." Mr. Bale met many medical personnel at an appreciation buffet, including Nurse Crystal Flateland, who said, "I am probably one of the biggest Batman fans ever. It was amazing, actually, to get to meet him. I think it's really great he came out here. It was touching." During the tragedy, she worked many, many hours straight. Mr. Bale did not want media present. (Relatives and friends of the injured tweeted photos of Mr. Bale's visit.) Mr. Voloch said, "He just wanted to meet with victims and police." Previously, Mr. Bale had released this statement: "Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them." Christopher Nolan, director of the movie, released a statement expressing his "profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy." Anne Hathaway, who played Catwoman in the movie, said, "My heart aches and breaks for the lives taken and altered by this unfathomably senseless act." (148)

" **My Uncle Greg Just Got Two New Lungs From a Victim of the Aurora [Colorado] Shootings"**

Following the 20 July 2012 shootings at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, one man apparently received a lung transplant from one of the victims of the shootings. "Lucasmassey" posted a photo of a man wearing an oxygen mask in a hospital with two female visitors and the photo byline "My Uncle Greg just got two new lungs from a victim of the Aurora shootings. Amazing that such tragedy saves a man's life, too." The Imgur image was posted on Reddit and received many comments. Reddit user swordfishtrombonez wrote, "I know if I was in the victim's family's shoes, the idea of your uncle getting another chance would be such a great source of comfort." Reddit user Bunglejerry wrote, "To think that the alternative is simply to have perfectly good organs go to waste in a box in the ground... not being an organ donor seems such a selfish waste." (149)

" **If You've Got a Bunch of People Trying [to Do the Right Thing] You've Got Yourself a Justice League"**

On 20 July 2012, Kacy Faulconer and her husband went to see _The Dark Knight Rises_ —thankfully in some other theater than the one where the shooting occurred. Several teenage boys were in two rows of seats, and she asked whether two open seats were saved. They were. However, she wrote, "I was halfway down the stadium-seating steps when one of the boys caught up to me and grabbed my arm. They'd rearranged to give us two seats together. Not a big deal. But actually kind of a huge deal." These times are dark in many ways, and good deeds such as this are important. Ms. Faulconer wrote, "We find ourselves weary here in the post 9/11 United States. There's a lot to be scared of and it seems like it will take a lot to fix it. But within this context of unease, I think small acts such as giving up seats in a theater become even more important. That's why I love super heroes. I love them because I believe that good and evil are at odds. I love it when people do their best, when they are principled, stick up for others, fling webs, stop bad guys, are not selfish or mean. I love it when they rally. I believe in Batman because I am Batman. I think raising kids is heroic. I think being kind and fair is heroic. I think moving over for someone in a movie theater is heroic. I don't have Bruce Wayne money or Batman gear, but I am trying. Really, so many people are trying. And if you've got a bunch of people trying [to do the right thing] you've got yourself a Justice League and that gives me a lot of hope." (150)
CHAPTER 4: STORIES 151-200

The Popcorn Hero Rises

On 20 July 2012, Cathy Sawchak of Brentwood, Pennsylvania, attended the first showing of _The Dark Knight Rises_ with some of her friends, her husband, and her son. She went to the concession stand and purchased three large drinks and two large popcorns and then realized that she would have difficulty carrying everything back to the movie theater. In a letter to the editor, she wrote, "Out of the blue, a nice, young man who looked like he just came from work asked me if I was going back to theater 6. When I told him no, theater 4, he said that he would walk me back into the theater and carry my popcorn for me. I was amazed!" She added, "With all the unfortunate events that have happened lately related to _The Dark Knight Rises_ , I just wanted to say thank you to this kind and thoughtful person. I will never forget your random act of kindness. Believe me, it doesn't happen every day!" (151)

Burglars Try But Fail to Ruin Wedding

In August 2011, burglars stole four wedding dresses from Elite Cleaners in Lufkin, Texas. One of the dresses belonged to Crystal Wilson, age 30, who was to be married to David Allen in just a few days. Elite Cleaners has insurance, and Ms. Wilson quickly got a check, but she knew that she could not replace the dress for that amount of money in the time remaining before the wedding. Crystal said, "I got the dress at Second Blessings in Huntington for $150. I had been looking for a dress for four months. It was a $1,500 dress originally with beading and a four-and-a-half-foot train." Her best friend, Kelly Wilson, who works at Charlie's Restaurant, where Crystal had also worked, talked there about what had happened. Regular customers donated $900 to help Crystal replace the dress. She went to David's Bridal in Tyler, Texas, and found a dress she liked. Crystal said, "It was thanks to some good people in this world who made donations that I was able to get enough money to go buy another dress." She added a message for the burglars, "I just want them to know I fell in love with that dress, and they ruined that. I'm 30 years old, and I've never been married before. I've been waiting for this day all my life. I was able to fix it, but had it not been for those people it would have absolutely ruined my wedding day. There are three other girls in this town going through what I'm going through. Hopefully their weddings aren't as close around the corner as mine. They made a big disaster out of people's wedding days by stealing dresses." (152)

" **This is the First and Last Time I will Ever Commit a Crime"**

On 26 July 2012, a thief broke into a family's house in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and stole a camera and video game console. However, the thief quickly felt guilty and returned the items anonymously, leaving the stolen items, $50 of the thief's own money (to repair a screen door that the thief had damaged), and a note at the family's house. The thief wrote, "I can't put it into words how sorry I am," and added, "This is the first and last time I will ever commit a crime.... Please find it in your hearts to forgive the stranger who harmed you." The thief mentioned suffering from financial difficulties. Guelph police Sergeant Doug Pflug said the family were not aware of having burgled until they found the bag: "They were surprised. They didn't know their home had been violated." This is not the first time in Guelph that a thief has returned stolen items and apologized. In August 2011, thieves returned some items stolen from parked cars. In that case, the apology note was signed, "Two stupid kids." (153)

" **I Thought, This Guy Cannot Possibly Get Away with That. He Just Can't. That's Too Brazen. In Broad Daylight with 60 Witnesses Looking at Him? It was Just Too Wrong"**

In February 2011, a man tried to steal Dan McLaughlin's $2,500 bicycle that he had put in a bike rack on the front of the bus he was riding. Chris Bolivar, an employee at the Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles, California, chased the thief and recovered the bike. He was at the front of the bus, having given his seat to an older woman, and so he witnessed the theft. As the bus was stopped at a red light, a young man rushed up to the bus and grabbed the bike and started to run away with it. Mr. Bolivar, age 59, ran after him. He shouted, "It's not your bike!" The thief dropped the bike and fled. Mr. McLaughlin was in the rear of the bus. Busy with his BlackBerry, he had not even noticed what was going on until he heard, "Bike! Bike!" Then he saw Mr. Bolivar returning with his bike, which now had slightly bent handlebars. The passengers on the bus applauded Mr. Bolivar when he got back on the bus. Passenger Janette Brown, age 60, said, "It made your hair on your arms stand up." Ms. Brown wanted Mr. Bolivar to get credit for his good deed. She knew where he worked because the name of his place of employment was printed on his windbreaker. She went to the Department of Water and Power website, found an email address, and typed, as subject, "DWP HERO." In the body of the email, she wrote about his good deed—and other good deeds: "Chris, always the gentleman to us older ladies, typically gives up his seat when the bus is crowded." Mr. McLaughlin sent his own email to the Department of Water and Power, using the subject line, "Bike stolen! Bike recovered!!" In the body of the email, he wrote, "By the time I got to the door of the bus, this Hero was walking back with my carbon fiber beauty!! (There is a God!!! ;) )." The next morning, when Mr. Bolivar arrived at work, the guards at the front door applauded him. When he entered his working area, other employees said, "Woot Woot!" and "Way to go!" He also received many high fives and complimentary emails from other employees, many of whom he did not know. In addition, the Los Angeles cycling world got to know about his good deed when Ted Rogers wrote about it in his popular blog titled _Biking in LA_. Mr. Bolivar had a bike when he was young. He named it Sky Blue after a popular fictional crime-fighting aviator named Sky King who appeared on TV. Mr. Bolivar said, "I was the Sky King of the streets back then. I kept law and order with all my buddies. Me and my bike, we were quite a team." In February 2011, he helped keep law and order on the streets of Los Angeles. He said about the would-be thief, "I thought, this guy cannot possibly get away with that. He just can't. That's too brazen. In broad daylight with 60 witnesses looking at him? It was just too wrong." He added, "I am glad that God had me at the front of that bus." (154)

" **The Only Thing He was Talking About was His Mum and that He Didn't Want to Die. He Knew He was Going to Die, But I Couldn't Help Him"**

On 3 July 2008, Shakilus Townsend, age 16, was murdered in Thornton Heath, south London, England. Sharon Simpson, a 47-year-old mother of four, scared off his attackers and tried to save him, earning the thanks of his parents: Nicola Dyer and her husband, Derek. The parents and the hero met. Ms. Simpson said, "There was crying and pain. They said he was a very happy guy, he was nice." Ms. Simpson saw two teenage boys whose faces were covered kicking and punching Shakilus and beating him with a baseball bat. She ran out of her apartment and ran to Shakilus and his attackers. She said, "I said to them don't slap him, don't hit him at all. I said leave him alone." She added, "I thought that could have been one of mine. I tried to save him, but I couldn't." Shakilus had been stabbed, and she tried to stop the bleeding. She said, "The only thing he was talking about was his mum and that he didn't want to die. He knew he was going to die, but I couldn't help him." (155)

" **What is This Guy Doing? Is He Going to Get in an Accident? Is This Guy Going to Get Away?"**

On 15 January 2012 in Brookside, a neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jay Howell saw a green pickup truck swerving in and out of lanes. He said that he thought, "What is this guy doing? Is he going to get in an accident? Is this guy going to get away?" He turned his car around and followed the truck. He said, "That made me make a U-turn. I knew that guy was going to cause an accident." Actually, the driver had already caused an accident and had fled the scene without stopping. Tulsa police were already investigating the hit-and-run accident. Mr. Howell noticed damage to the driver's truck: "This part of the tire was under the car. He was driving on the rim." Sparks were flying from the truck. Mr. Howell continued to follow the truck, which started going the wrong way on a one-way street. The driver then got out of the truck and ran. Mr. Howell had called 911, and now he told the dispatcher that the driver had left the truck. He said, "He is starting to run, so I am going to hang up with you." The dispatcher, however, wanted him to stay on the line. He chased the driver and caught up with him; the driver was a teenager. Mr. Howell said, "I said, 'Hold it right there.' Acting as if I had authority." He added about the teenager, "He then backed up and laid on his hands and knees. I said, 'Get up and come with me.'" According to Mr. Howell, the teenager had trouble standing up. Mr. Howell said, "'Dude, have you been out drinking?' He says, 'Man, I've been out drinking real bad.'" Police arrived and arrested the teenager. Mr. Howell said, "I don't know if it's being a good citizen. I was being nosy, and I just happened to do the right thing along the way." Chasing a suspect can be dangerous, but in this case it worked out OK. (156)

" **When I Heard 'Police,' That was, Like, the Best Thing I Had Ever Heard in My Entire Life"**

On 4 July 2012, three men broke into a home in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Inside the home were a 13-year-old boy, his three-year-old cousin, his mother, and three other women. The teenager's mother said, "They said they wanted the money, and I'm thinking, 'What money?' I don't have any money." The teenaged boy ran out of a back door and to a water ice stand parking lot, where he borrowed a cell phone and called police. His mother said, "Before I had a chance to realize what was going on, there were guns pointed at my head. So they were chasing him with guns through the house. And he just ran out the back door." She added, "I kept thinking to myself, if he didn't make it out there is no way we're going to make it out. There was nobody there to help us." Police arrived quickly and kicked in the front door. The boy's mother said, "If it was not for my son, we probably would not be alive. I don't think they had any intention of letting us live." She added, "When I heard 'Police,' that was, like, the best thing I had ever heard in my entire life." Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said about the suspects, "We believe in our initial investigation that they hit the wrong house. They were looking for a drug house, and this house was not a drug house." He added, "If it wasn't for the 13-year-old, we'd have never caught these guys. These guys truly are scumbags. They're animals. That's what they are." The boy's mother said about him, "He is definitely a hero. He saved six lives, including his own. I'm just grateful and thankful that he had the mind to do that." She did not want to be identified. (157)

" **Noticed a Kid on the Side of the Road Crying"**

On 27 June 2012, Brandon Kramer, age 13, of Rensselaer, New York, was riding his new Haro BMX bicycle, but he ran into trouble with some teenagers on the Mill Street Hill in Troy, New York. He said, "And then they came up to us and they grabbed my bike, my grip on the bike and they were like, 'Get off the bike now or I'm going to hurt you.'" They stole his bike. Adam Coonradt, a father who worked for All-Lifts, an industrial rigging company in Albany, New York, was driving home from work when he saw Brandon. He said, "Noticed a kid on the side of the road crying. I did pull over and ask what was going on, because I'm also a volunteer firefighter and an EMT and I wanted to make sure the child wasn't injured or anything like that." When he found out what had happened, he followed the suspects and called police. Captain John Cooney, Troy Police Department, said, "They did identify one of the perpetrators in this case who was a 15-year-old male charged with robbery, but in the process, encountered quite a bit of resistance." A 19-year-old man was also arrested. Marie Kramer, Brandon's mother, told Mr. Coonradt, "I just wanted to thank you so much. I'm so grateful for you being there. An angel sent you there at that time." Police did not find the bike, but Mr. Coonradt's company decided to replace it. On 28 June, All-Lifts gave Brandon a brand-new Mongoose bike and a helmet. (158)

" **It's My Birthday, Surprise Me'"**

In 2012, a Pizza Hut delivery driver gave Reddit user beep_b33p a surprise on her birthday. She explained, "On my pizza delivery order, I wrote 'It's my birthday, surprise me' in the special accomodations section. The driver went to the CVS and bought me a birthday card, then put a dollar in it and taped it to the pizza box with a letter. :)." The note the delivery guy wrote stated, "Have a great birthday. I know we've just met but it feels like for ever." (159)

Helping a Young Blind Man—Twice

A woman who posts online using the name Hasifa tells about helping a young blind man. She first saw him in a Subway restaurant trying to get a drink. Hasifa wrote, "He was spilling everything and making a mess. He was looking for the lids but reaching in the wrong trays and dropping straws and napkins everywhere." Hasifa asked if he wanted help. He did, so Hasifa guided his hands through the process of getting the drink and then guided him to a table. Later, Hasifa saw the young man in the rain. He wanted to cross the street but was hesitant to do so. Hasifa helped him cross the street and discovered why he was so hesitant to cross it on his own: He had difficulty hearing cars over the sound of falling rain. Hasifa wrote, "As I got in my car to go home, I was soaking wet but on the inside I felt warm. I was glad that I was able to be in both places to help that young man out even if it was very simple. He helped me as well. He told me I had a positive energy and that made me feel great about myself. So wherever he is today, I hope he knows what a pleasure it was for me to have those two moments with him." By the way, "Hasifa" is an Arabic name for females; the name means sagacious or judicious. (160)

A "FILTHY PIG!" Does a Good Deed

Not everything is as it appears. In mid-July 2012, _New York Times_ writer Russell T. Middleton was on a train. So was a woman wearing a flowing dress made of a material that stretches. As the woman walked by Mr. Middleton, the bottom of her dress got caught on his armrest. Not knowing that, the woman continued to walk, and her dress stretched and stretched and stretched. Lots of people reached for the dress, but Mr. Middleton grabbed it first and unhooked it. He writes, "Right as I unhooked it, saving her from the worst commuter wardrobe malfunction ever, she turned about and looked right at me." From her perspective, it seemed as if Mr. Middleton was a pervert. She screamed at him, "YOU FILTHY PIG!" She stormed out of the train car, and everyone in the train car laughed. (161)

" **I Didn't Know that There were Still People Like Her in the World"**

On 30 July 2012, Lyndon Santos took a 36-second video of a remarkable good deed that took place under the Edsa-Timog flyover in Quezon City, Philippines. A girl of five or six was naked in rainy weather, and a young woman took off her jacket, put it on the girl, waved goodbye to her, and left. Mr. Santos said, "I was so touched by what I witnessed. [...] The woman's good deed ended with a wave of goodbye and a quick run for cover. _Meron pa palang ganitong klaseng tao! Kung sino ka man, Mabuhay ka, madam!_ " (I didn't know that there were still people like her in the world. Whoever you are, madam, long live!)" (162)

" **I am Mint"**

On 4 August 2012, Charlotte Leary posted this Twitter item: "good deed for the day: giving an old man workin for charity free icecream. I'm am mint." ("Mint" means nice or cool or good.) (163)

" **I Rode Past a Lady in the Pourin Rain [...]"**

On 1 August 2012, A.Seges wrote on her Twitter account, "I rode past a lady in the pourin rain n sumn kept telln me turn around n give her a ride. She deff appreciated it i did my good deed fr 2day." (164)

" **First Good Deed of the Day Done"**

Opportunities for good deeds exist if you look for them. For example, on 27 July 2012, Steinar Knutsen, President & CEO of New Site Media Group, LLC, performed this good deed: "I just helped an elderly woman park her car... as in, I got in the car and parked it for her. First good deed of the day done." (165)

Some "Superman" Moments

In March 2012, an open thread on the _Guardian_ (UK) website asked, "Are you a Good Samaritan?" Here are some of the comments: 1) "MetalDad" wrote, "My occasional altruism is described by my wife as my 'superman' moments. There aren't that many, because it's not every day the opportunity arises, but I have, for example, stopped a fight on the tube, stopped two men abusing an elderly woman whose car they had banged into at a junction, freed a lady whose mobility scooter overturned and got her on her way safely and so on. My wife recently had me turn the car around and go back to an old lady sitting on a garden wall who she thought looked lost. She was—and my wife walked her back home, as she didn't want to get in the car with a strange man (understandable...). In addition, I always try and be polite, pleasant and helpful where I can to everyone I meet. But that's just part of everyday life. If they turn out to be one of nature's nasty pieces, then they get back what they give in good measure—but I think it's always a good idea to start with a predisposition to be helpful..." 2) "MarcusMoore" wrote, "Years ago, the woman in the queue ahead of me found herself short of cash, in a fluster and looking round, all forlorn. She insisted on taking my name and phone number when I 'lent' her a couple of quid. I had heard nothing for over a month, when a stranger telephoned asking if I remembered being in shop X on such-and-such a day. As I shopped there irregularly, I was able to recall the incident. She then told me she'd lost the bit of paper I'd given her, couldn't remember my forename and had been working her way through the telephone book to track me down. Moore is a not uncommon surname and, in those days, there were several pages of us in the phone book. Her altruism was, in my opinion, considerably more worthy than my small gesture." 3) "Bitthick" wrote, "In Glasgow [Scotland], it's customary that when you've bought an all-day ticket and you're done travelling, you hand it on to someone. It costs a third of what an unemployed person has to live on for a day, so if you're back earlyish in the day, you can open up a day of freedom for someone. They're planning some new system soon to make that impossible, of course." 4) "VirginiaMoffatt" wrote, "I have experienced many, many acts of random kindness from strangers, but two stick out. First one—travelling in San Francisco, years ago, I had no change for the bus. It was a downtown area, and [the] majority of folk did not look particularly affluent. Several people just jumped up and offered to give me the money I needed—a simple small gesture that filled me with warmth. Second one—I broke down on a massive roundabout one winter. My children, brother and I piled out on the side of the road. It was freezing and we had an hour to wait for the RAC [Royal Automobile Club]. There was no safe way to cross the roundabout, though we could see a Service Station nearby. I will be eternally grateful to the wonderful couple who stopped and took the kids and my brother to the service station whilst I waited for the RAC. People do good deeds all the time. They don't boast about them, they just do them. And that's why I believe ultimately in the goodness of humanity." (166)

" **You have No Idea How Scared I was, Lying in the Middle of the Street"**

On 6 October 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mike Donelson was motoring along in his electric wheelchair when he ran into a problem: "As I came down the sidewalk at the curb, my front wheels struck a patch of raised blacktop and I was thrown forward out of my chair and into the street. Unable to get up by myself, I lay there stunned and staring at the sky for a few seconds, then frantically tried to move back toward the curb as best I could, but had no success." Fortunately, two people in two different cars stopped to help him. A man and a woman both stopped, and each grabbed one of Mr. Donelson's arms and lifted him back into his wheelchair and made sure that he got over the patch of raised blacktop. In a 9 October 2008 letter to the editor of the _Las Vegas Sun_ , he wrote, "To those angels of mercy, you have no idea how scared I was, lying in the middle of the street. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart, and I am so sorry I didn't even think to ask your names. God love you both. I will never forget you." (167)

" **We Gave an American Couple a Lift, But They Seemed Pretty Scared at Being in a Stranger's Car. I Think They Thought I was Going to Kidnap Them"**

When a power outage stranded train travelers at Elstree and Borehamwood Station in Hertfordshire, England, Matthew Rutherford, a 37-year-old actor, gave a friend a ride to West Hampstead Station. He and his friend stopped at Elstree and Borehamwood station to ask if anyone wanted a ride into London. Mr. Rutherford said, "We gave an American couple a lift, but they seemed pretty scared at being in a stranger's car. I think they thought I was going to kidnap them." After dropping off his friend and the American couple, he then returned to the train station and offered people a ride back to Borehamwood. Mr. Rutherford said, "After I began to go home from West Hampstead, I realised people were going to be stuck at the station, so I turned round and went down to the platform. I just shouted down to everyone there asking if people wanted a lift and a few people's hands shot up. Eventually I had to turn people down. I didn't think about it really, I was just helping a few people out, doing a bit of a good deed I suppose." (168)

Extreme Acts of Kindness

On 27 July 2012, Reddit user Couscousmagoose posted this note: "A homeless man chased me down to return my monthly train ticket worth $163 that I dropped today. Has anyone else experienced random extreme acts of kindness from someone very unlikely?" Among the responses was this one by Diemac: "I had some huge, crazy looking, tattooed gangster looking guy running behind me, he scared me shitless. He was huge, and he grabs my shoulder and says; ay dawg, you dropped your wallet, be careful homie." And Compromised_account posted this note: "I was 19, in Bangkok with no money and a big backpack, just getting off a long [*]ss flight from Calcutta. I needed to make a collect call home and then desperately get my parents to wire some money through the western union. I was pretty stressed out. I barely managed to get out of the airport, because they don't exchange Indian currency there. So I had to beg some guy to swap currencies just for 5 dollars so I could get out of the airport. Then this Tuk Tuk driver came up to me and started talking. At first I figured he would just try and take advantage of me because I am a tourist. On the contrary, he helped me find a post office where I could make the international collect call, as well as where the western union was, and even showed me a cheap hotel right by Kho San road. All of this he did for free and out of the kindness of his heart. So the few days I was there I would always see him and he would want to give me free rides even though I had money now. What a great guy. Perhaps some people can easily recognize another who is in trouble and just feel the need to intervene." And Lowlypeon wrote, "My youngest brother came home from the hospital when he was almost a year old. At that point the portion of the bill that insurance hadn't covered was something like 200K. When my parents went in to discuss a payment plan, they discovered that the entire bill had been paid for anonymously. A serious boost to my faith in humanity right there." Here is one more (of many): Muqaddimah wrote, "My backpack got stolen at my university library while I was studying. In a total rookie manoeuvre, I left it at my desk when I got up to fill my water bottle. It was out of my sight for a grand total of about twenty seconds, but it was enough for someone to grab it. Normally, this sort of thing would be a medium level p[*]ss off, as I don't own many expensive things, and usually there wouldn't be much more than a few books and maybe some food in there. On this day, however, I had just purchased an engagement ring, and it was in the front pocket of my bag. When I came back and found it was missing, I was crushed. I slumped down in my seat, thinking about the thousand dollars I had just spent on that ring and cursing my own stupidity for leaving it unattended. After about ten minutes of intense self loathing, I got a tap on the shoulder. I turned to see another student, about my age, with my bag in one hand and the jeweller's box in the other. He had been rooting though my bag, and upon finding the ring, felt too guilty to keep it. He apologized profusely, saying he had never really felt bad about stealing sh[*]t before then, and that he was going to stop doing it. He returned my stuff, and offered his sincere congratulations on my pending engagement. In hindsight I probably should have been pissed at him and told him off for stealing sh[*]t in the library to begin with, but I was dumbstruck, and probably said less than five words to him before he turned and hurried off. I hope he really did change his ways." (169)

" **This is the Most Wonderful Story"**

In August 2012 in Golden, Colorado, Gail Wilkerson accidentally flushed two diamond rings down the toilet. The monetary value was $10,000, but they also had sentimental value. Her father had given her one of the rings on her 18th birthday. The other ring contained diamonds that her mother had worn. Ms. Wilkerson said, "You can't put anything to it to describe it. I just felt like not a whole person without them." She had gone to a water park and had taken off her rings, wrapped them in Kleenex, and put them in her purse. She said, "Well, during the day I had blown my nose, and I had thrown more Kleenexes in there, so when I got home I just grabbed the Kleenexes, threw them down the toilet." Later, after going to bed and waking up, she remembered her rings: "And I started screaming, 'Oh, my gosh! I flushed my rings down the toilet.'" She hired a plumbing crew to check her house's sewer line, but they did not find the rings. They suggested getting help from the local sewer crew. The crew from North Table Mountain Water and Sanitation thought that the chances of finding the rings were low, but they used a jet truck to spray the sewer line and set a trap to recover the rings, if possible. Jason Hart and Kevin Osborne had found many things in the sewer. Mr. Hart said, "We've found screwdrivers, G.I. Joes, and Barbie heads. All of a sudden I see a gold band, and a ring." They had recovered the rings. He added, "I was pretty surprised." Ms. Wilkerson said, "They could have given up, and they didn't have to go through all the extra lengths." She added, "This is the most wonderful story." (170)

**He Got SWAG:** **Confidence, Style, and the Ability to Come Out of What Everybody Else Thinks is the Normal Way Of Life**

The stereotypical good deed is helping an old lady cross the street. It may be a stereotype, but it can be a good deed. This good deed happened in Russia on 17 July 2012. An old lady with a cane and wheeled carrier was attempting to cross a four-lane street at a crosswalk. She had made it halfway across, but she could go no farther because cars were not stopping for her even though she was in a crosswalk. A male Good Samaritan stopped his car, got out, took the old woman's wheeled carrier and her hand, and led her safely across the street, then got back in his car. The good deed took less than a minute. One person who posted video of this good deed titled it "SWAG." Grace B., an Answer Expert, defines "SWAG" in this way: "What swag stands for depends on who you are talking to. Swag can mean many things. Everybody has their own style, but swag is a step above that. Swag is confidence, style, and the ability to come out of what everybody else thinks is the normal way of life. When somebody tells you that you have swag, it is a compliment. I have heard old people use the word 'swag'; it has become a household word." (171)

" **I Help When I Can"**

In the summer of 2010, Melody Dietz, an administrative assistant to Dr. Enrique Fernandez in Bradenton, Florida, noticed 71-year-old Mary Weiss wandering around a nearby parking lot. Ms. Weiss had visited another nearby doctor, and she was now unable to find her car. Florida is hot, and Ms. Weiss said later, "I was ready to pass out." Ms. Dietz stopped and offered to help Ms. Weiss. Ms. Dietz then drove her around and found her car. As a thank-you, Ms. Weiss sent a dozen roses to Ms. Dietz, whom she called "a guardian angel." She also sent an appreciative letter to Ms. Dietz' boss. Ms. Dietz said, "So many times you help somebody and you don't get a thank you. I help when I can." Other good people are in Bradenton. On 30 July 2011, a woman who was riding a bicycle found an envelope containing $1,500. She turned it in to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. A card inside the envelope identified the owner, another woman, whom deputies called and asked if she were missing anything. She replied that she was missing $1,500. She got her money back. (172)

Torrential Downpours and a Good Samaritan

In July 2012, Nora Hawkes, age 92, of Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland, left the driver's window of her car open. Unfortunately, it rained—hard. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan helped her. In a 26 July 2012 letter to the editor of the _Irish Times_ , she wrote, "An angel of mercy had taken the time and made the considerable effort to close the opening with a plastic sheet thus saving my car seats from the weekend's torrential downpours and making my car look less vulnerable than it clearly was. My self-reproach at my carelessness was more than compensated for by the warm glow of appreciation for the unknown good Samaritan. Please allow me through your letters column to express my sincere thanks." (173)

" **I Got a Gut Feeling that Something was Wrong"**

On 8 June 2012, Iris Thomsen, age 87, failed to show up to eat at Sweet Lovers cafe in Moorabbin, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Because she had shown up to eat there every Friday for nine years, café owner Mark Montagnani wondered what had happened to her. He said, "When we didn't see her by 1 p.m., I started to worry. I rang the hairdresser, knowing she [Ms. Thomsen] has a regular hairdressing appointment every Friday and she hadn't been, and hadn't called to cancel. I got a gut feeling that something was wrong." He and beautician Laura Acciarito went to Ms. Thomsen's house to check on her. Good thing. She had tripped over an electric blanket cord and had broken both of her hips. For two hours, she had been lying on the floor. Mr. Montagnani said, "She had dragged herself trying to get to the phone." She spent almost a month in a hospital and rehabilitation, and in July she was back home. Mr. Montagnani said, "You get to know a lot of the regular customers and you grow to care for them. We become part of their lives and they become part of ours. There's a real community spirit here." Ms. Thomsen said, "Mark and I are very good friends. If it wasn't for him, I could have been in a lot of trouble." She said that she now recommends that elderly people who live alone wear personal alarm pendants. (174)

" **It's a Freaky Thing; Strange Things Happen, I Guess"**

In July 2012 in Nova Scotia, Canada, Stephen Dykens was driving home when he got a wrong number on his cell phone. He said, "I was going to ignore it, and she said, 'I'm scared. I can't find my daughter and I think I'm having a stroke,' and when she said the word 'stroke,' that made me think, 'Wow, this person really needs some help.'" The woman was Eileen O'Hara, who is age 77, is blind, and has lung and brain cancer. He asked for her address, and it just so happened that he was very close to her home. Mr. Dykens said, "I looked up at that moment and the Greenwich road sign was right there, so I said, 'We're here, we gotta help ya.'" Ms. O'Hara said, "I was afraid to walk, but I opened the door to let them in and they came in to rescue me." Mr. Dykens and his passenger entered the home and waited with her until emergency personnel arrived. He said, "I just sort of bent down on my knee and had my hand on her leg and just kind of you know tried to talk calmly and assure her that help was on the way." She went to a hospital, where she was treated for bleeding in the brain. She said that she is grateful for all of the help she received: "I'd say thank you very much. I appreciate it." Ruth Gaul, Ms. O'Hara's daughter, said, "There was an angel. There was an angel looking after mom that day. What do you do when that happens? You know, you just say, 'Thank you,' over and over again and I would like to meet him and thank him in person." Ms. O'Hara said, "I think about things more, how things happen, how lucky I was, how lucky I am to be here." Mr. Dykens said that he does not consider himself a hero: "It's not that big a deal. I mean, I can't see why anyone else wouldn't do it, I mean it's just kinda wild that she called the right car going by." He added, "It's a freaky thing; strange things happen, I guess." (175)

Four Raves for People in Washington State

In the 15 July 2012 _Seattle Times_ (Washington) "Rave & Rave" column appeared this anonymous Rave: "To the King County Sheriff's Office [in Washington state], my heroes! I locked my keys in my car ... while the car was running ... in the middle of the woods while gathering firewood. A passer-by told me a bear was sighted 1/4 mile down the road. My roadside assistance provider said they couldn't help because I was on a dirt road. I called the Sheriff's Office, they arrived quickly, got my door open and were very sympathetic and kind given the absurdity of the situation." And in the same column appeared this anonymous Rave: "To Chihuly Garden and Glass staff [in Seattle, Washington] who made the exhibit so enjoyable for two senior citizens. I use a walker, and two kind, helpful employees accompanied my husband and me so we could experience the beauty of this show with ease and comfort. Thank you!" And here's a third rave from the same column: "To the police officer who was so understanding when I had a terrible, humiliating panic attack when he pulled me over for a minor traffic violation. I have Asperger's syndrome and he recognized my behavior from his volunteer experiences. I will never forget his kindness and compassion." And here's a fourth Rave from the same column: "To the young couple at the Beach Cafe [in Kirkland, Washington] who anonymously paid for our dinner to honor my 87-year-old grandfather who was wearing his World War II Veteran's hat." (176)

" **I am So Grateful There are People This Kind and Generous, and Willing to Help!"**

Good people live in Missoula, Montana. Maren Longhurst of Rockford, Washington, is grateful to a Good Samaritan from Missoula, who spent _over three hours_ helping her and her three daughters. In a 26 July 2012 letter to the editor of the _Missoulian_ (Missoula, Montana), she wrote, "I wanted to write and thank the good samaritan from Missoula who stopped and helped when my car broke down on Montana Highway 200 last weekend. We were far from anywhere, the temperature was over 90 degrees, and he kept his car running to let my three daughters stay cool while I tried to find a tow truck. He stayed with us for over three hours to make sure we could get back to stay with relatives that night. I am so grateful there are people this kind and generous, and willing to help!" And Catherine O'Neill of Missoula, Montana, needed help and got it from two Good Samaritans. In a 22 April 2012 letter to the editor of the _Missoulian_ , she wrote, "Good Samaritans—thank you! Proof to me once again that Missoulians are the best: while [I was] running errands my wallet inadvertently fell out of my purse. I realized it when trying to pay for my ink cartridges at Staples. I retraced my steps and came across two lovely women—one tried to track me down in the store and the other waited by my car to see if I returned. Many thanks to these two angels for watching out for a stranger!" Here's one more example of a good person who lives in Missoula. Kerin Young wrote this 26 January 2012 letter to the editor of the _Missoulian_ : "I live at Missoula Manor and I would like to thank the grandson of one of our residents. You were here today helping your grandfather get his truck swept off and plowed out. I asked you what you would charge me to plow my car area and you said, 'Don't worry about it.' You then [after helping me] went and helped another female resident. Your actions were very much welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for your kindness." (177)

**Good People Live in** **Rotorua, New Zealand**

On 12 May 2012, Fred Haumaha ran into some trouble when he tried to buy a tarpaulin at Bunnings Warehouse in Rotorua, New Zealand. His credit card was declined —twice. He left the tarpaulin at the counter and attempted to withdraw money from a money machine, but Kiwibank told him that he could not because of a system glitch. He then returned to the counter to say that he could not buy the tarpaulin only to be told that two women had paid for it for him. The employees said that the women had stated that Mr. Haumaha was "blessed by God today." Mr. Haumaha said, "I'm just really stunned, grateful and appreciative.... I ran out and tried to find them to thank them." He needed the tarpaulin for his mother's gravestone, which he was readying for a _hura kohatu_ (dedication ceremony). He said, "With the wet weather we've had, the tarpaulin has come in handy. We didn't finish the work on Mum's grave so we are using it to keep it dry." Also in 2012, a Slovenian man appeared in the Rotorua District Court. The Slovenian man was told that if he paid his $87 bill that the charges against him would be dropped, but he said that he had no money. A total stranger sitting in Rotorua District Court paid the bill for him. And in January 2012, Tony Grabrovaz, a Rotorua pensioner, was short of money when paying for his purchases, but the next person in line gave $20 to the shop assistant so Mr. Grabrovaz could get all of his purchases instead of having to put items back. Mr. Grabrovaz thanked the Good Samaritan in the pages of _The Daily Post_ (Rotorua, New Zealand). The Good Samaritan, who wanted to be identified only as Neil, saw Mr. Grabrovaz' photo in the newspaper. Neil said, "I recognised his face in the paper and thought 'far out'—he has gone to a lot of bother to thank someone for $20. It just blew me away the effort he went to. It makes you feel so good about doing something so little for someone else." Neil has helped other people. He and three other children from different homes were adopted by a couple about whom he said, "They taught us to think about others, not just ourselves." Neil's wife said, "It's nothing unexpected when it comes to Neil. He's always helping the young guys he works with—anywhere he sees a need." (178)

Good People Live in and Around Kendal, England

Lots of evidence exists that lots of good people live in and around Kendal, England: 1) In an October 2007 letter to the editor of _The Westmorland Gazette_ (Kendal, England), E. Winwood of Stoneclough wrote, "THROUGH your column, I should like to thank the charming lady who returned my telephone bill and the money enclosed in it. I left, or should I say lost it on the 512 bus to Bolton on Wednesday morning. I waited for the bus to return to King Street and asked the driver had anybody handed it in, but no one had. I received a phone call that afternoon from the Good Samaritan saying that she had found it and would post it on to me. Unfortunately, I have not been able to thank her personally. But for restoring my faith in somebody, after thinking I should never see it again, I say a very, very big thank you. It arrived safely on Friday morning." 2) In 1996, a thief forced his way into the home of Annie Moores, age 99, in Breightmet, and stole £40 from her handbag. Gordon Halliwell, of Wisbeck Road, Tonge Fold, heard about her loss and gave her a card and £50. He said, "I just thought the story was very, very sad. It caught my eye, and I decided to do something about it." He added, "I've enclosed £40 for the loss and £10 to spend on herself. If receiving this money gives Miss Moores half the pleasure it's given me in giving it, then I will be satisfied. I believe in doing a good deed every day. What you do in your life always comes back round." Ms. Moores said, "After what happened to me, I thought all the kind people in this world had gone. Now I know they haven't. I would like to thank this man." 3) In 1998, the Bolton Wanderers football (American soccer) team came across a car that had broken down on the road; they pushed it to the side of the road. Colin Todd said about his players, "They are a modest set. There are no bigheads among them. We were coming off the M62 onto the M1 when the car in front of us broke down. They just got out and pushed it off the road. That was their good deed for the day." 4) In November 2004, James Salter, a 68-year-old grandfather-of-nine who has cerebral palsy and uses an electric wheelchair, ran out of power and was unable to move while he was shopping in Blackburn town centre. Worse, it was raining. Fortunately, a group of young teenagers, three boys and a girl, aged about 13 or 14, pushed his wheelchair for him all the way to his home. Mr. Salter had asked them to push him to where he could get a taxi, but they did more than that. He said, "They pushed me all the way home and helped me down my hallway, too. I offered them £5 for their good deed, but they said they would not take any money and then they went. I don't know who they were, but they said they lived in Little Harwood. I never really got a chance to thank them properly but their help was invaluable. They were real Good Samaritans because it was throwing it down with rain at the time. A motorist actually stopped because they thought the kids were giving me trouble, but I said they were helping me. You read so much in the paper these days about children misbehaving, but there are some really good kids out there." Vicky Shepard, services development manager at Age Concern, Blackburn, said, "It is good to hear that these youngsters took time to go out of their way to ensure that this gentleman got home safely. We are sure that their efforts helped him at what must have been a very distressing time." (179)

**Good People Live in and Around** **Chattanooga,** **Tennessee**

In the summer of 2012, the Ashton family suffered a house fire in Tennessee. Fortunately, they received help from neighbors and a total stranger and the fire department and the American Red Cross. Because of such help, their house was not a total loss and they had a place to stay. In addition, their pet dog, Baxter, was safe. In a letter to the editor of the _Chattanooga Times Free Press_ (Tennessee) that was published on 1 July 2012, the Ashton family wrote, "Briana Matton saw the smoke and called her dad, David. David ran to our house and started hosing down the fire. A stranger driving by saw the smoke and stopped. He took a neighbor's hose and helped water down the fire. (We hope he reads this so he will know how much we appreciated his help since he had left before we arrived home.) Thanks to the quick response of the wonderful fire departments. They rescued our dog, Baxter, who promptly ran off as soon as he was rescued. Our neighbors, the McBrayers, brought Baxter home. Thanks to the Red Cross for making arrangements for several days' accommodations. We will never forget all these wonderful people for what they did for us and our dog, Baxter." Many good people live in the Chattanooga area. A 6 May 2012 letter to the editor of the _Chattanooga Times Free Press_ that was signed "Ronnie's Fan Club" praised Ronnie Buck, who works at the East Brainerd Bi-Lo in Chattanooga: "In a world where good customer service is hard to find, there is one person who still believes in taking care of the client no matter what it takes. Thank you to employee Ronnie Buck at the East Brainerd Bi-Lo. The smile says it all when he bags your groceries. He is also the one who each week offers to take an elderly woman's groceries to her apartment. It's nice to see someone who actually enjoys their job and lets others know it! Thank you, Ronnie, for bringing back true Southern hospitality!" Here is one more piece of evidence that good people live in and around Chattanooga: In a letter to the editor of the _Chattanooga Times Free Press_ (Tennessee) that was published on 15 July 2012, Ken Boyd wrote, "Recently I decided to have my driveway resurfaced. On the Better Business Bureau website, I found several companies that were given their highest rating. I decided Phaltless Inc. would be my first choice. During my discussion with Pete Masic, I mentioned that I needed the work done rather quickly because I have terminal cancer. Within days, Pete and his crew arrived. Pete informed me that the owner of Phaltless, Jason Davis, had decided to donate the materials for the job and the paving crew had decided to donate their labor! Needless to say, I was speechless. No one has ever done something so nice for me. The driveway, which was badly in need of repair, is now beautifully and professionally resurfaced. It is encouraging to know that we have a generous business owner like Jason Davis and such unselfish employees. I offer my heartfelt thanks to these wonderful men at Phaltless for the peace of mind this kind act has provided." (180)

Good People Live in Homer, Alaska

Kim Greer of Homer, Alaska, sent this letter to the editor of Homernews.com. It appeared online on 18 July 2012: "I would like to thank the unknown person who found my debit card at the base of the Spit [a piece of land jutting out into Kachemak Bay] and took time and effort to find me and return it. It saved me a lot of worry at the busy grocery stores in the checkout line and many other moments of anxiety around money. I am grateful to you and your actions. I will remember to remember and pay it forward somehow, like every good deed noticed." Good people live in Homer. This letter by Kim Burrows to the editor of Homernews.com appeared online on 26 January 2011: "We've all been there in the checkout line at the grocery store with $20 in your pocket and the total comes to $22 plus change. Then, along comes Sal. 'How much do you need? Three bucks? Here, take it!' People like you are what makes Homer homier. Thanks, Sal. I'll pay it forward." Need more evidence that good people live in Homer? No problem. This letter by Terri Mach to the editor of Homernews.com appeared online on 7 July 2005: "On June 25, a Good Samaritan and his crew pulled three adults and two young children from a burning boat in Kachemak Bay. Flames lapped over the bow of that Samaritan's boat during the rescue, but he was able to get all five passengers safely to his boat and away from the burning vessel. He transferred the passengers to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boat when they arrived. That Good Samaritan was John Halverson with his wife, Tami, and friends Bob and Debi Glassmaker. They were a little late for dinner, but we're used to this. Last year dinner was delayed three hours while John and Tami towed a boat in distress back to Homer Harbor. We just wanted to say 'thanks, John' for risking your boat and safety to help others. We'll always hold dinner for you." (181)

Honest and Caring Folk Live in and Around Annapolis, Maryland

Here is proof that honest and caring people live in and around Annapolis, Maryland: 1) In March 2012, Janet Berry of Annapolis lost her little black purse. She called places that she had been, but no one at the places she called had found it. Fortunately, a man called her and said, "I was standing on West Street [in Annapolis] and saw a purse lying on the ground." Ms. Berry screamed, "That's mine!" The man, whose name is Lou, said that he would leave the purse at the 7-Eleven. In a letter to the editor of Capitalgazette.com, Ms. Berry wrote, "Sure enough, my purse was there with everything intact. So thank you, Lou, and the people at the 7-Eleven. You are proof that honest and caring folk still live in Annapolis." 2) On 8 April 2012, this letter to the editor by Theano P. Platt of Annapolis appeared online at Capitalgazette.com: "My faith in people has been restored. I wanted to say thank you to the stranger who did a kind deed. On Tuesday, March 20, I realized that I was unable to find my checkbook. (I searched everywhere!) So I called the bank that evening and froze my account. The following day, Wednesday, March 21, I received in the mail an unsigned note along with my checkbook, stating that it was found in the parking lot at the mall on Monday, March 19. I have no other way of thanking this person except through our local paper. An act of kindness should be acknowledged, and I just wanted to say thank you. It's just nice to know that there are still honest people out there." 3) On 12 November 2012, the 12-year-old daughter of Lynda Tison of Arnold, Maryland, went to Annapolis Mall with friends to see a movie. Afterwards, her friends left, and she called home for a ride. Her mother was worried that she was alone, but it turned out that two teenage girls saw her. In a letter to the editor that appeared online at Capitalgazette.com, Lynda wrote, "My daughter waited by the food court entrance and noticed two teenage girls leave the mall. A minute later, they returned and asked if her if she needed help. She told them she was waiting for a ride. The girls sat down near her and chatted. They said they really didn't want to go home yet anyway. They mentioned that they had to get up at 5 a.m. for a lacrosse tournament. My daughter wanted to ask who they played for (she plays lacrosse also) but she told me she couldn't ask because she was afraid she would cry if she spoke. When I arrived at the mall, my daughter was standing outside. She hopped in the car and we drove away. There were a lot of people coming and going in the crowd and I did not notice the two girls sitting nearby. I would love to have expressed my gratitude to these two young ladies. They made an astute observation and acted with kindness." Later, the two teenage Good Samaritans were identified. Mark Mozier of Odenton, Maryland, wrote this letter to the editor that appeared online at Capitalgazette.com, "The two teens who waited with the young girl at the Annapolis Westfield mall were Amanda Mozier of Arundel High School and Emma Lane of Archbishop Spalding High School. They play lacrosse for their schools and both belong to CCLAX, which is one of the top club lacrosse organizations in the county. They were shopping in the mall and also waiting to be picked up. As they walked out of the mall, they saw the young girl standing outside. When they got to the parking lot, they saw some kids who they felt were trouble and decided to make sure the young girl was OK. When they [talked to] her, she told them she was waiting for her ride and they told her they would wait with her. They both were late getting to their pick-up point, but it was for a good reason. I was very proud of both of them for doing what they did and when we saw the [letter to the editor] it was a surprise." (182)

Good People Live in Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Here's some evidence: 1) Greg Stephens of Collingwood Fuels Ltd. thanked some Good Samaritans in a 26 July 2012 letter to the editor that appeared on Southwesternontario.ca (Canada). He had sent a driver to Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, to get a new, empty propane tank using a pickup truck and trailer. The driver ran into trouble when he discovered that a brake had stuck and one of his tires was on fire. Fortunately, he got plenty of help: "A Good Samaritan hooked [onto] the new tank and pulled it off the trailer for him. The tank was new, no propane in it. He [the driver] also had many more stop and six people gave him their own fire extinguishers to put it out. Rick was a little frazzled and didn't get any names of all the people who stopped. I'm just writing this to thank all the Good Samaritans who helped him out... Thank you." 2) In an 18 January 2012 letter to the editor that appeared on Southwesternontario.ca, Rachel Slaney thanked two Good Samaritans who found her cellphone after she had lost it—twice!—and returned it to her: "To the two honest St. Marys citizens who so kindly turned in my lost cellphone this past week: In the course of one week I unknowingly had my brand-new cellphone fall out of my coat pocket: once in front of the Black Angus and once in the Independent Grocer parking lot. Both times an honest person(s) returned my phone by bringing it into the restaurant/store. It is rare to find one person honest enough to do that, let alone two. So thank you to the anonymous persons who saved me from a very expensive phone replacement and the loss of all the pictures and videos of my baby girl that were saved on it. It's nice to know there are still some good people in this world today." 3) In a 29 June 2011 letter to the editor that appeared on Southwesternontario.ca, Jean Jenner of Stratford, Ontario, wrote, "On June 23 I was cycling on Waterloo Street when my pant leg was caught on my bike with the unfortunate result I fell onto the road. A very kind lady came to my aid, helped me get up onto my feet and retrieve my belongings from the roadside. I wish to thank you for taking the time to assist me and making sure I wasn't injured." (183)

" **Take a Taxi"**

This letter to the editor of _The Gazette_ of Montreal, Canada, by E. Menten was published on 18 April 2009: "There ARE angels in Montreal. I had appointments at St. Mary's Hospital on March 30, 3l, and April l, as well as April 8. I am undergoing all sorts of tests because it's suspected I need a hip replacement. On March 31, after my appointment, I managed to walk to the Metro supermarket on Côte des Neiges and bought a few things. With my heavy bag in one hand and my cane in the other, I shuffled across the street to the Maison de la Presse Internationale. While paying for a magazine, I remarked that it was too bad I only had $20 on me, it surely wouldn't be enough to take me home to St. Laurent. I shuffled out of the store to wait for the bus, but I had gone about 10 meters when I felt someone tapping me on the shoulder. It was the young lady who ran the store that day. She handed me a $20 bill and said: 'Take a taxi.' I was so overwhelmed I cried." (184)

" **Thank You, Mystery Woman"**

On 28 December 2011, Sandra Mikulich of Sugar Creek, Missouri, received an important phone call: A woman had found her wallet. Sandra returned to the Hallmark store outside of which she had dropped her wallet, and the woman returned it to her. In a letter of the editor of the _Examiner_ (Independence, Missouri), Ms. Mikulich wrote, "I never thought to offer her a reward, but I don't think she would have accepted it. Just having it returned to the owner was what she wanted. This could have gone very badly for me, but it is gratifying to know there are still honest people out there who will still do the right thing. Thank you, mystery woman." Other good people live in Missouri. Louise A. Grzincic wrote in a 3 April 2012 letter to the editor of the _Examiner_ about good deeds being done in Independence, "A few months ago my husband dropped his cell phone in the parking lot at Price Chopper. Someone took the time to call us. He returned it to Price Chopper for us to pick up. On March 24, I dropped my Discover card as I got out of the truck to go into Price Chopper. When I went to get my card out, it was not in my purse. I panicked as I knew I had it in the truck. I went to the service desk, and I said this may sound funny, but did someone turn in a Discover card? She said yes, about an hour go. It was mine. I tried to find out who had turned it in and was not able to do so. So, to both of these individuals we owe a great debt. Thank you for being so honest." One more example: Shirley Beasley of Grain Valley, Missouri, wrote in a 9 February 2012 letter to the editor of the _Examiner_ , "A great big God bless and thank you to the good Samaritans on Major Road. You knew we needed help and you were there: plowing, mail, paper, groceries and calls to see if we needed anything. We didn't even need to ask—wow!" (185)

Finding Buried Treasure While Scuba Diving

Fifteen years ago, Don Golightly lost his wallet, but in July 2012 two young men found it while scuba diving in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which is in Wyoming and Utah. On 14 July 2012, his son called and asked if he had lost his wallet. Not thinking about the wallet he had lost 15 years previously, Mr. Golightly said that he had not. He said, "I checked my pocket and my wallet was still there." Two young men, however, stopped by his home and explained that one of them had seen a piece of Velcro sticking up out of the bottom of the reservoir. Mr. Golightly offered the young men a monetary reward, but they turned down the money. Mr. Golightly said, "I appreciate good-hearted, young men like that." He forgot to ask the two young men for their names. The wallet still had his vacation money in it. Mr. Golightly's son, Isaac, said, "What are the odds the wallet of 15 years ago would come back with the money in it? Not intact, but the money was still there." Actually, the wallet is faded, but still opens and close. Mr. Golightly said, "A little clean-up and I'd be able to use that wallet again." (186)

" **I Hope, Every Day, I Live My Life like That"**

In 2008, Sean Kirst and his wife visited Cleveland, Ohio, and on their way back home they stopped at a Flying J truck stop. Just as they were leaving, a big, balding trucker knocked on their car window. Mr. Kirst was a little worried, but he rolled down the window. The trucker told him, "Your tire's just about flat." The trucker was right. They had a slow leak—a back tire had only a half-inch of air left in it. They filled it up with air, and it got them back home—safely—to Syracuse, New York. Mr. Kirst, who is a columnist for the _Post-Standard_ in Syracuse, appreciates the trucker's good deed: "If he hadn't told us, the tire would certainly have gone flat on the interstate. If he hadn't told us, we would have ended up having to summon a tow truck—if the flat didn't [get] us into an accident. If he hadn't told us, it would have taken many more stressful hours to get home—if we even could have made it home on the little 'bubble' that serves as a spare. The guy could have just let us pull out. He could have told himself that we'd make it home all right, or that he couldn't get to us before we left. He could have simply decided not to get involved with strangers. He didn't. He knocked on our window. I hope, every day, I live my life like that." (187)

" **He Probably Saved My Life"**

Sometimes, an action that can seem like a small good deed can be—literally—a lifesaver. In the 30 June 2009 edition of the _Florida Times-Union_ (Jacksonville, Florida) appeared this letter to the editor that was written by an anonymous woman: "Last Thursday on Blanding Boulevard, near the [Florida Community College at Jacksonville] Kent Campus, my car tire blew and this wonderful man stopped and changed the tire in the midday heat. Considering I am in my 80s, and on full-time oxygen, he probably saved my life. There are amazing, good Samaritans in Jacksonville." (188)

Two Unnamed Washington State Patrol Troopers Help "Over-the-Hill Old Duffer"

On 6 May 1995, this letter to the editor by Marty Ross of Bellevue, Washington, appeared in the _Seattle Times_ (Washington): "I want to thank two state highway troopers who were really good Samaritans when I was on the freeway a few nights ago and had a flat tire. I was sitting in my car with my emergency blinkers on, wondering how I was going to change a tire, in the dark, and under doctor's orders not to lift anything very heavy. The two troopers not only stopped to see what was wrong, they took the tire to a service station, had it repaired, brought it back and put it back on my car! They did all this very cheerfully and quickly. It gave me, an over-the-hill old duffer, the assurance that there is still a lot of kindness in our world in spite of the terrible things happening every day. My heartfelt thank to the Washington State Patrol and especially two unnamed troopers." (189)

" **Having been a Boy Scout in My Day, I Like to Do a Good Deed When I Can"**

On 13 July 2012, Patricia and Donald Lichtenthal, who are from The Villages, Florida, were visiting the Boulevard Mall in the Buffalo, New York, area, and got a flat tire. They called AAA, and while they were talking on the telephone, a man and his wife and son approached them. The man offered to change their flat tire for them, and the person from AAA overheard him and said, "Do as the gentleman says, as it would probably be a three-hour wait for you." The man changed their tire, declined payment, and said, "Having been a Boy Scout in my day, I like to do a good deed when I can." In a letter to the editor, the Lichtenthals wrote, "He was a lifesaver for us. Quite often, we hear about all the bad things that happen in this world. This day ended as a wonderful story. How great this world would be if everyone took the time to stop and do a good deed. We will be forever grateful and hope this letter encourages others to do the same. We know that we will be on the lookout to pay this good deed forward." (190)

" **This is What You Call a Good Samaritan"**

On 30 July 2012, Chery Faber of Melbourne, Florida, had a front-tire blowout. Fortunately, she was OK, although a little shaken. Also fortunately, a man and his son saw that she had a flat tire. They stopped, and the man changed her flat tire. He would not accept money from her; he just asked her to pay the good deed forward. Ms. Faber wrote in a letter to the editor, "This is what you call a good Samaritan. I would have had to wait in the hot sun for AAA to come which would have taken at least 45 minutes. This man and his son were heading somewhere, but stopped to help me just because. I just wanted him to know how much it meant to me and I thank him from the bottom of my heart." (191)

Thank You, Vern Green

On 14 January 1995, on Interstate 5 near Weed, California, Peter and Chris Mitchell of Dunsmuir, California, got a flat tire. Peter said, "It was our son's truck. So we didn't know where the jack was stored and we had no tools." Fortunately, Vern and Jean Green, a vacationing couple from Redmond, Washington, stopped, and Mr. Green quickly changed the tire for them. He did not wait for thanks and instead quickly drove off. The Mitchells wanted to thank Mr. Green, and so they jotted down the Greens' Washington state car license number. They wrote a thank-you note and sent it to the Washington State Department of Motor Vehicles, along with the car license number, and asked employees there to forward the note. It took a while, but the thank-you note arrived. Mission, and thank you, accomplished. (192)

" **I am Truly Indebted to Them"**

Rob Pavlik of St. Augustine, Florida, wrote this email to the editor of the _Florida Times-Union_ (Jacksonville, Florida) about an incident that occurred in April 2012: "My wife and young son were involved in a serious auto accident east of Old St. Augustine Road on Interstate 295 on Friday the 13th when a semi truck forced her violently into the guardrail. By the grace of God, neither were injured. I wanted to thank all the Good Samaritans, Jacksonville Police and Fire Departments that came to assistance. I am truly indebted to them." (193)

" **Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Very Much for Your Caring, Kindness and Help Following My Unfortunate Fall** **"**

On 8 July 2012, this letter by Frank Schindler of Port Moody, Canada, was published in the _North Shore News_ (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada): "To the good lady Samaritan who helped me last week: I am very sorry for ruining your enjoyment of the Canada Day [1 July] parade in North Vancouver. You took me into your home to take care of me after the unfortunate incident in which I fell over on my bike and injured myself. You made sure that an ambulance was called; you supplied me with an ice pack to ease my bleeding. You and your family did an awesome job. Words cannot express my gratitude for your kind, helpful actions. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much for your caring, kindness and help following my unfortunate fall." By the way, Canada Day celebrates the anniversary of 1 July 1867, when three colonies joined together to became Canada. (194)

A Shout-out to Mary

In the 5 July 2012 issue of the _Democrat and Chronicle_ (Rochester, New York), Jeremy Bennett of Greece, New York, thanked a Good Samaritan: "I want to give a shout-out and my sincerest thanks to Mary, who was driving along Edgemere Drive and noticed me walking my damaged bike along the side of the road. She was kind enough to give me a lift home. It was nice to have met a Good Samaritan." (195)

" **Come Over Now!"**

Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom, founder of the Megaupload file-sharing site, lives well in Auckland, New Zealand. As you may expect, he often posts on Twitter. One thing he posted in June 2012 was a photo of himself and three friends and some golf buggies and a Segway. New Zealand software developer Ben Gracewood replied to the Twitter post, "I could live like that." He quickly got a reply in return: "Come over now!" Mr. Gracewood and a friend did go over, and they were treated to a swim and some cupcakes. By the way, Mr. Dotcom lives in New Zealand's most expensive house: He rents a mansion worth $24 million (New Zealand dollars) or $19 million (US dollars). (196)

" **Excuse Me, Princess, Can I have Your Autograph?"**

An Imgur user snapped a photograph of a man who loves his job. A security guard at Disney's Magic Kingdom asked a little girl who was dressed as a princess, "Excuse me, Princess, can I have your autograph?" He then handed her an autograph book that was filled with the childish scribblings of other "princesses." The Imgur user wrote in a caption for the photograph, "The little girl could not get over the fact that the guard thought she was a real princess." (197)

" **Leave an Awesome Tip (and I Don't Mean 25%. I Mean $500 on a F***ing Pizza) for a Waiter or Waitress"**

Aaron Collins died on 7 July 2012. He was young—he died three weeks after his 30th birthday—and he left a will. In it, he wanted his parents repaid with the money he left behind. Among other requests, he wrote, "Third, leave an awesome tip (and I don't mean 25%. I mean $500 on a f***ing pizza) for a waiter or waitress." A sibling wrote about him, "Aaron was the type of person that took great joy in unexpected kindness. Once after receiving exceptionally bad service at dinner, from a rude waitress, he left her a $50 tip. Things like this, given or received, were what he thought left a mark on a person's life." His family carried out his wish and left a $500 tip to the waitress who brought them a pizza. Of course, she was surprised and happy and posed for photos with Aaron's mother, and said that the whole experience made her think of the movie _Pay It Forward_ (which is also a book). She also said that she would share the money with the kitchen staff and "I'm going to be telling this story for the rest of my life." (198)

Rebels with Trash Bags

In 2011, Anne Castellon got tired of the mess—lots of litter and lots of dead birds in the pond—in Lucchesi Park in Petaluma, California, and so she decided to clean it up. Calling herself "a rebel with a trash bag," she put on a protective suit and gloves, and she waded across the pond, filling up trash bags with litter and dead birds. Litterers disgust her. She said, "What? You can't walk 10 feet to throw your stuff away?" She had help in her crusade. Albert Castellon (her husband) and Walt Bagley (her brother) also filled several trash bags in a couple of hours of work. With budget cuts and layoffs in these hard economic times, the city of Petaluma can't clean the park as often as it would like to. It welcomes the help of volunteers. (199)

Not Your Usual Fisherman

Wilbur Galli is not an ordinary fisherman, not when he fishes with a rake attached to a pruner pole. Almost every morning, he is on his dinghy in the Petaluma River in California. Mr. Galli, age 72 in 2010, said, "I go trash-fishing." The litter in the river disgusted him, and so he started fishing it out. He said, "It's mostly pretty mundane stuff." Stuff such as plastic bags, candy wrappers, and fast-food cups. However, once he found something out of the ordinary. He said, "I found a woman's purse that had been stolen in Santa Rosa [California]. I managed to get that back to her." Mr. Galli expects no reward for the good he does. He said, "It's exercise, basically, and fun, too." (200)
CHAPTER 5: STORIES 201-250

Fred the Litter-Picker-Upper

Paul Culpan and Sasha Brownlie, of Te Atatu Peninsula, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, have a six-year-old blue heeler cross named Fred that they have taught to pick up litter and put it in a trash bin. As of July 2012, Fred had picked nearly 1,000 pieces of litter. Mr. Culpan and Ms. Brownlie found Fred—his hair matted—scavenging for food on Te Arai Beach near Mangawhai. They gave Fred a home and started training him to be obedient with the help of Akarana Dog Training Club member Bridget Carr, who said, "These are probably the best results I've seen with a dog like that." Mr. Culpan said about finding Fred, "We were concerned for his welfare. Being the only ones at this remote spot, we decided to take him home and try to find his owner from there." They did not find an owner, so they adopted him. In 2011, they started to train him to pick up and properly dispose of litter. Fred has help from Mopar, an English bull terrier cross. However, Mopar has arthritis so he does not deposit the litter in a bin; instead, he gives the litter to his owners to deposit in a bin. (201)

" **There's a Silver Box Over There. Is That Yours?"**

On 3 August 2012 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Liliana Glen, age 44, and her family had finished a day of barbequing in the stifling heat to raise money for breast cancer research. They nearly lost the money raised, but a Good Samaritan did an act of kindness to help them. Ms. Glen and her children and her boyfriend had packed up their car except for one item, and they were ready to drive away. A man pulled up next to them and spoke to Ms. Glen, who said, "This guy just literally pulls up right next to my window and he says, 'Are you leaving?' and I said, 'Yeah, we're all packed up and going.' Then he said, 'Well, there's a silver box over there. Is that yours?' And then I was in tears, literally in tears because I was so exhausted. Then I said, 'You're my angel.'" The silver box was the moneybox. Ms. Glen is very appreciative of the Good Samaritan, who appeared to be in his 50s. She had raised $246 that day, and the money will go toward meeting her fundraising goal of $2,300. She said about the Good Samaritan, whose name she did not get, "He did it like it was nothing to him... like it's something he would do no matter what." (202)

When You're Very Drunk, Maybe You Shouldn't Withdraw $800 from an ATM

In the early hours of 6 August 2012, Cromwell, New Zealand, resident Taylor Wyllie found $800. He said, "I was just going to the ATM to get some money out, and there was $800 sitting there." He showed the money to a friend, and the two of them thought it best to hand it in to the police. Mr. Wyllie said, "We both agreed it was the right thing to do." The police station was locked, and Mr. Wyllie had to knock on the window to get the attention of a female police officer inside. He said, "She couldn't really believe it. She told me I had done the right thing." The money belonged to an Irish tourist who said that he had been "very drunk and wasn't sure what he was thinking withdrawing $800." (203)

" **Right in the Middle of the Street I See a Bank Pouch. I was Surprised at What I Found—$2,500!"**

In July 2012 on Highway 22 in Mandeville, Louisiana, developer John Crosby found something interesting. He said, "It was Sunday morning, I was leaving to go for a bike ride to Abita Springs. It was 6:00 a.m. and I'm driving out here. Right in the middle of the street I see a bank pouch. I was surprised at what I found—$2,500!" The exact figure was $2,536.65. He immediately called the police—he did not want someone to lose their job. The money came from Bear's Restaurant. On 22 July 2012, a night manager had made a mistake. Mr. Crosby said, "She gathered all her stuff and put it up on top of her car with the money pouch that had checks in it and drove off. It fell out on the road." He found it the next day. Restaurant owner Matt Watson said, "We didn't lose anything—we were very fortunate." (204)

" **Hey, Joseph"**

In early 2012, a man named Joseph lost his Colorado ID card. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan found it and returned it to him—Joseph's Denver address was on the ID card—with this note: "Hey, Joseph, I was walking home and I found this in the street, so I thought maybe I should go & pick it up. Well, I did and it belonged to you so I thought I should return it. 3/1/2K12 was your lucky day. I hope you don't lose it again. Sincerely, Unknown Name." (205)

" **I was Saddened by My Lost Treasure, But in the End Grateful that I Did a Good Deed"**

In January 2012, Chun Chou wrote in a Wopular blog post about finding a $100 bill in the elevator of a tall glass corporate office building where she used to work. She wrote, "If you've never noticed, Benjamin Franklin seemed to have the biggest head shot of all the bills." She was happy at first, but then she felt guilty so she posted a note by the elevators on the ground floor asking for people to contact her if they had lost anything in an elevator. About a dozen people called her, but none had lost a $100 bill. The next morning, however, a middle-aged gentleman approached her and said that he had gone to an ATM, taken out two $100 bills and lost one. She gave him the $100 bill, accepted his thanks, declined to accept a $20 reward, and wrote in her blog, "I was saddened by my lost treasure, but in the end grateful that I did a good deed. If I were in his shoes, I'd want someone to return my money, too." (206)

" **I Stopped and Saw an Envelope Wet with Rain. I Went Over, Picked It Up and Saw a Few Hundred-Dollar Bills"**

In July 2012 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, Nathan Merrithew found an envelope containing $1,000 in $100 bills. Mr. Merrithew said, "I stopped and saw an envelope wet with rain. I went over, picked it up and saw a few hundred-dollar bills. I didn't count them right then. I looked up and down the street; there was no one around. When I got to my friends' house, I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to tell them. I kind of threw them the envelope and, you know as a joke, said, 'Look what I just found.'" The money's rightful owner was Steve Webster, a salesman at a Fredericton car dealership, who said, "It was a lot for this month, I had to pay a damage deposit and first month's rent at two places. So, I really needed that money." Fortunately, he had done something that was out of the ordinary for him: "That night I put a pay stub in the envelope, which didn't really make sense at the time, but obviously everything happens for a reason." The pay stub enabled Mr. Merrithew to track down the money's rightful owner. Mr. Merrithew said, "I noticed it had his phone number on it, his address where he worked, so I didn't do anything that night. The next morning I started calling the dealership and asking for Steve and he wasn't in that day, then they gave me his cell number." Mr. Webster said, "I got the call from Nathan saying that he found my money." Mr. Webster rewarded Mr. Merrithew with a $100 bill. Mr. Webster said, "Late at night, most people wouldn't have done that. I needed that money. I appreciate it." (207)

Cloi Gets to See Her Grandparents

In October 2011, Jenna Cook and her four-year-old daughter, Cloi, attended the Kidsfest in Scottsdale, Arizona. Unfortunately, Ms. Cook lost her wallet that contained $300 that she had saved for a trip so Cloi could see her grandparents in Payson, Arizona. Ms. Cook said, "I put my wallet on top of the stroller, and when I put the stroller in the car, it must have fallen out." She searched for her wallet both in Scottsdale and in her hometown of Gilbert, Arizona, as well as the area in between, but she could not find it. She said, "At that point I figured it was gone. I had already canceled my credit cards; my daughter's bawling in the back seat because I told her we weren't going to Payson." Fortunately, a Good Samaritan found her wallet. Javier Del Carpio, who had also attended Kidsfest, said, "Suddenly I saw a thing there and I pulled the car nearby and I pick it up and there's a wallet." He thought about how best to return the wallet to its rightful owner. He said, "Part of me was thinking I could mail it tomorrow, and my wife said, 'You know, if I was in that situation, I would be relieved if I could get it today.'" So he drove 36 miles from Scottsdale to Ms. Cook's home in Gilbert. Ms. Cook was still out looking for her wallet, so Mr. Del Carpio taped a business card with a note to her garage door and also talked to her neighbors to tell them to let Ms. Cook know that her wallet had been found. About 30 minutes later, she returned home. Ms. Cook said, "I went over and I pulled it [the business card] down and I couldn't believe what I was reading." Mr. Del Carpio had stayed in the area, and he returned her wallet to her. Ms. Cook said, "I was really starting to think that there weren't any nice people left and it restored my faith. All the money was still inside, all $300, all my gift cards, credit cards—nothing had been touched." Cloi went to Payson. She said, "I went fishing with my grandpa." Ms. Cook emailed CBS 5 to nominate Mr. Del Carpio for its Pay It Forward segment, and CBS 5 gave Mr. Del Carpio a $500 reward—and Cloi gave Mr. Del Carpio a picture she had made for him. (208)

Two Honest People

On 27 July 2012 in Bern, Switzerland, a man left a borrowed Stradivarius violin—which is worth a huge amount of money—on a train. Someone found it and turned it in to the lost-property office at Bern station. In a comment on this story, rtj1211 wrote that "really, it's not hard to return property which is not yours. I was told, repeatedly and in fact occasionally forcefully, by a young Swiss employee 22 years ago that she was charging the right amount for about 40 ski passes. I knew from the amount left that she was undercharging me as I was due a 10% commission and it looked more like 25% left over. After [I refused] to leave with money I knew was not mine, in the end she realised she hadn't charged me for the children's passes. It was somewhere in the region of £500 we are talking about. Half a season's cash in hand for a ski company operator. I have to say that if she hadn't found out, I'd have gone to her boss next morning to insist that he redo the sums." (209)

" **Miss Morgan: My Daughter Savannah Found Your Wallet at Bass Pro Shop in Hampton, Va. She was Sad that You Lost It, So We Mailed It to You. We Know You Missed It"**

In March 2008, Morgan Armstrong, age four and a half, got her first official ID card at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Suffolk, Virginia. It even had her photograph and full name on it. Her brother, Sterling, age six, also got a new ID, which he put in a wallet. He loaned Morgan a Spider-Man wallet to put her new ID in. They visited some other places and all was well until Morgan discovered that she had lost her new ID and the Spider-Man wallet. Her mother, Chrissy Armstrong, said, "Morgan had been holding on to that thing so tight, it was amazing she was able to lose it." But at one point she tucked her coat under her arm, and she may have lost the wallet then. The family thought that the wallet was gone forever, but three weeks later a package arrived for Morgan. The package had a Newport News, Virginia, return address. Inside was the Spider-Man wallet, the new ID, and all the money that Morgan had put in the wallet: one penny. Also inside was this note: "Miss Morgan: My daughter Savannah found your wallet at Bass Pro shop in Hampton, Va. She was sad that you lost it, so we mailed it to you. We know you missed it." The note was signed Erica Press. Chrissy said, "Everything was just how she had left it. We were all just so amazed. These days, most people would have found it and said, 'Oh, a new wallet for me.'" The Armstrong adults sent a thank-you note. She added, "My little girl is just learning how to write. My little boy is in kindergarten. But they both sat down and wrote thank-yous too." In addition, the Armstrong family got Savannah gifts. Chrissy said, "We got her a little wallet with hearts on it and a purse with little princesses on it." Morgan got one, too, so she can put her ID in it. Chrissy also said that the children's father, Jason Armstrong, talked to them: "He explained... that she was extremely lucky, that this is not something she should expect if she loses anything else." He also told them that should return to its rightful owner a wallet or other possession should they ever find one. Chrissy said, "I really do feel like it is something they will do." (210)

" **The Teddy Bear is Back!"**

On 19 June 2012, Tyra, the one-year-old daughter of Kristin Blomkvist, lost her beloved teddy bear in Stockholm, Sweden. Kristin searched for it, did not find it, and put up "Missing" posters in the neighborhood. Kristin said, "The teddy bear really means a lot to her. She can't sleep properly at night without it, and she searches for it when she wakes in the morning." The "Missing" posters say this: "Have you seen my teddy bear? I dropped it somewhere on Hantverksgatan on June 19th." A local police officer saw one of the posters, took a photo of it, and uploaded it to the official Södermalm (a neighborhood in Stockholm) police Facebook page, along with a note asking people to look for the teddy bear: "Together, through 'liking' this picture, spreading the link, and keeping our eyes open, we can together make it so Tyra gets her beloved teddy bear back. Be sure to leave the bear at the nearest police station so Tyra can see her friend again!" One person posted a comment about police priorities, and the police posted this reply: "The article above [about the teddy bear] was written by an off-duty policeman, so the cost to us was zero. If we, through two minutes' work, can help her get her friend back, we'd say it's good prioritizing, don't you think?" When it seemed as if the teddy bear would not be found, Södermalm police gave Tyra a replacement teddy bear. Kristin said about Tyra, "She was quite happy indeed; she really likes the new bear." But then, more good news! The teddy bear was found. The Facebook page displayed these notes: "The teddy bear is back!!!" and "Tyra's beloved teddy was found by someone engaged in the search party. The bear was found on a wall near Kungsholm Church, not far from the [place] where he disappeared, just like in many other cases" and "When we care and help out, we make a difference—that's you, us, and everyone else." The police wrote one final note in which they wished everyone "a really lovely summer!" (211)

" **She is the Most Kind Lady I have Ever Met"**

On 28 July 2012, an Indonesian visitor to Kapit, a city on the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo, cried when a Good Samaritan returned her purse and all of its contents. Susi Susanti from Singkawang, Kalimatan, had lost her purse, which contained her passport and ID card, as well as her bankcard and mobile phone. It also contained Taiwanese dollars and a gold necklace. Ms. Susanti had lost her purse in a clothing store. She said, "I was talking to the owner of the clothing shop. While I was talking, I left the handbag on the table beside me. By the time I realised it, the bag was missing. I tried in vain to search for it. I was so helpless and didn't know what to do." Food stall operator Madam Thiam, known to locals as Omo Soh, found the bag next to a drain behind the Gelanggang Kenyalang market. Apparently, a thief had thrown it there. Madam Thiam said, "There wasn't any credit in the prepaid phone, so I used my phone to call the dialled numbers in a bid to inform her that I had found the bag and to claim it back from me. None of them responded, so I decided to call _The Borneo Post_ reporter James Ling for help. Somehow he managed to locate the owner who was in town, near the Town Square, this morning [28 July] around 10am. So, he brought her over to claim back the items. Upon checking through the documents, all were found." Ms. Susanti said, "Thank God. I am so grateful to Omo Soh. Indeed she is the most kind lady I have ever met. I am so thankful." Madam Thiam declined a monetary reward. Apparently, the thief could not use the foreign currency or the older-model mobile phone and did not see the necklace, which was wrapped in paper and concealed in a compartment in the purse. (212)

" **I Told 40 People What Happened, and They All Said I'd Never See It [A Wallet with $963 Inside] Again"**

On 18 July 2012, David Magraw left Harrah's Casino in Kansas City, Missouri, with a week's worth of winnings in his wallet: $963. Casinos are cold; the outside was hot. He took off his long shirt and his sweat pants before he got in his car. Mr. Magraw said, "It's really cold in casinos." He was in a good mood until he was 15 miles down the road, and then he realized that his wallet was missing. He said, "I knew immediately what had happened. I couldn't believe it. I have never lost my wallet in my life. Never." He went back to the casino. Employees checked security footage, and yes, his wallet had been on top of his car as he drove off. He said, "It had more than just the money in it, too. It had everything, a lot of personal stuff." Fortunately, Gary and Sharon Shenk of Blue Springs, Missouri, noticed a wallet in the middle of the road. So did a bunch of teenagers in a car. Sharon said, "No way they were going to get it. I did a sharp u-turn and stopped the car, got out and picked it up." Gary said about the teenagers, "They were yelling at us. He wouldn't have gotten it back if they'd gotten it." The Shenks checked the wallet. Gary said, "I knew there was a lot of money inside, but I didn't count it. It wasn't mine." They tracked down Mr. Magraw and left a note in his mailbox. He found it the next afternoon and visited the Shenks, and they gave him his wallet and the money. He offered them a $100 reward, but they declined to take it. Gary said, "I didn't earn the money. That kind of money isn't going to make or break me. I feel better giving it back." Mr. Magraw said, "I told 40 people what happened, and they all said I'd never see it again." (213)

Melanie Thurston, Kristie Jobe, and a Punch Bowl Filled with Silver Dollars

In August 1983 in Bryant, Arkansas, Odell Witham, the operator of the Chief Gas Station, made a mistake. He put a moneybag containing $1,080 on top of his car and drove off. Fortunately, two honest teenagers found the money: Melanie Thurston and Kristie Jobe. Both were 16 years old and both were juniors at Bryant High School. They found the moneybag in the parking lot of the gas station. Ms. Thurston said, "There was all this money in there." They gave the money to their parents, who found a deposit slip inside. The bank was then able to locate Mr. Witham, who came up with a creative way to reward the girls. He filled a punch bowl with silver dollars and invited the girls to dip their hands in it and get as many silver dollars as they could. One girl got 46 silver dollars, and the other girl got 50 silver dollars, and so he gave each girl $50. The girls planned to use the money to buy school clothes and supplies. (214)

" **I Said, 'Gidday, Mate, I Hear You've Lost Your Wallet,' and He Starts Ranting and Raving. I Said, 'Mate, I'm Really Pleased. Here It Is. I've Got It with All the Money in It'"**

In June 2012, Tony Anderson, who is the director of Maddren Homes in Kumeu, New Zealand, found a wallet containing $1,200 cash but no formal ID. Nevertheless, he was able to track down the wallet's owner. Inside the wallet were two informal IDs: a Whitcoulls gift voucher and a boat club membership card for a man named Barry Kearney, a Te Atatu businessman who had dropped his wallet in the car park [parking lot] at Westfield West City, Henderson, Auckland. Mr. Anderson believes that he took Mr. Kearney's recently vacated space and so found the wallet. Of course, Mr. Kearney was devastated to learn that he had lost his wallet, which contained relatives' holiday spending money. He did get some teasing calls from family members about losing his wallet, and at first he thought that Mr. Anderson's phone call was another teasing call. Mr. Anderson said about the phone call, "I said, 'Gidday, mate, I hear you've lost your wallet,' and he starts ranting and raving. I said, 'Mate, I'm really pleased. Here it is. I've got it with all the money in it.' This guy's so excited. He didn't even put the phone down—he starts yelling to his wife, 'This guy's got my flipping wallet.'" Mr. Kearny wanted to buy Mr. Anderson a drink immediately, but Mr. Anderson was working. Mr. Kearny did offer a substantial reward, but Mr. Anderson accepted only $50 and said, "I didn't feel right taking the reward. So I used the money to shout [give] my staff some beers one night." Mr. Anderson said about his good deed, "I've always been honest and straight up with people and why not?" Mr. Kearney believes in karma: "I like to think I give people a fair deal in my business and really, what goes around comes around." He added, "I was the trusted family banker, but they'll never let me do it again." (215)

" **It Blows My Mind that There are Still Honest People like This"**

On 19 July 2011, two teenagers—an 18-year old-male and a 16-year-old female—from the Municipality of West Perth, Ontario, Canada, found a wallet and its contents, which were scattered on a road and sidewalk. The contents included bills of large denominations, which they gathered up. The two teenagers took the wallet, money, and other contents to the Ontario Provincial Police Detachment in Mitchell, Ontario. Because the day was windy and the teenagers wondered if they could have missed finding some of the money, an OPP officer went with the two teenagers to the scene, searched it, and found another $100 bill. The wallet contained ID, and the owner of the wallet, contractor Jeff Horan said that he was surprised that the money—$1,200—and the wallet's other contents were all accounted for. Mr. Horan said, "It blows my mind that there are still honest people like this." He said, "I must have left the wallet on my tailgate or somewhere on the vehicle. I wasn't even aware I'd lost it until I got a call from the officer." He added, "I'm honestly still in shock. I just can't believe that it all was returned." (216)

" **I Drove Away from Greens Fork Alignment & Service [in Centerville, Indiana] with a Smile on My Face. Knowing that There are Such Caring and Considerate People in the World Made My Day"**

In 2012, Winnie Budden of Parker, Colorado, made a road trip from Denver, Colorado, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In doing so, she passed through Centerville, Indiana, where she stopped in front of the Greens Fork Alignment & Service. Unfortunately, she forgot her purse and left it behind. Two hours later, she received a telephone call from her dentist informing her that she had left her purse at Greens Fork Alignment & Service. She explained in a 21 July 2012 letter to the editor of the _Palladium-Item_ in Richmond, Indiana, "The wonderful employees at the Greens Fork Alignment & Service had found my purse and proceeded to track me down. An employee by the name of Dave Bond had picked up my purse outside. They then searched through my purse, found my credit cards and called the credit card company but of course the credit card company would not release any personal information. So taking things a step further, they dug a little deeper and found a business card for my dentist. They then called my dentist in Denver, explained the situation and had the dentist call me to tell me to return and get my purse." She returned to Greens Fork Alignment & Service and got her purse. Although she offered the employees a reward, they declined to take it, saying that it was a pleasure to help her. Ms. Budden added in her letter, "I drove away from Greens Fork Alignment & Service with a smile on my face. Knowing that there are such caring and considerate people in the world made my day. I want these people to know how huge they made my heart that day and that their kind actions will definitely be paid forward." (217)

" **I had the Angels and Devils on My Arms, with the Devil Saying 'Keep It' and the Angel Saying 'Don't Listen to That Weirdo'"**

During Memorial Day weekend of 2010, Travis Smallegan, age eight, got an opportunity to do a good deed after he found $89 outside the Bloom Grocery on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His nana, Suzanne Sofield, let him make the decision of whether to keep the money or to turn it in. Travis said, "I had the angels and devils on my arms, with the devil saying 'Keep it' and the angel saying 'Don't listen to that weirdo.'" He made the ethical decision, and he and his nana went inside the grocery store and handed the money to the Bloom Grocery manager. Witnessing the good deed was Navy Lieutenant Commander Tony Monell, who is the presidential airlift coordinator for the White House. Mr. Monell said, "A lot of kids today wouldn't have done the same thing. And I was fortunate to be in a position to help reinforce the important life lesson Travis had just made." He invited Travis and his family to enjoy a special treat: a VIP tour of the White House. Ms. Sofield said, "I thought he was just trying to be nice and making a kind gesture, but after I saw his business card, I was astounded that Travis had made an impression on this man." Travis, his nana, and his sister Kiley went to Washington, D.C. for the tour. So his nana would not have to walk far to the White House, they stayed at Willard Intercontinental Hotel, whose staff knew about Travis' good deed and who had upgraded his family's regular room to a 1,600-square-foot suite. Travis said, "It was awesome. They had two flat screen TVs. And they made us these white chocolate, White House-shaped candies that were filled with bon-bons." Unfortunately, Travis did not get to meet President Barack Obama. Travis said, "Right when we got there, he was leaving in his helicopter. But we did get to see the offices and the kitchens and the Blue, Green, and Red rooms." By the way, no one claimed the $89, so it was given to Travis. (218)

" **I Happened to Look Over, Right Over There, and I Said, 'There's a Money Bag'"**

On 18 July 2012, Vicki Nettleton was outside her office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, when she saw something. She said, "I happened to look over, right over there, and I said, 'There's a money bag.'" Inside was $3,000 and some documents with the names of people that she recognized because years ago she had done business with them. Sandy and John Cotie, who own Sandy's Snack Shack in Richer, Manitoba, Canada, were the rightful owners of the money. Sandy had gone to Winnipeg to buy supplies, and she had thought that the moneybag was under the supplies in her vehicle. Sandy received a phone call from Vicki while driving home. Sandy said, "It wasn't registering with me at first. Then when she said, 'I found this deposit bag,' and I'm like, 'Oh, my God. I did lose that money.'" Vicki drove to Richer and gave the Coties their money. She said that she was briefly tempted to keep the money; however, "We were actually always brought up that you always do the right thing and it comes back to you." (219)

Wee Aik Boon: An Honest Taxi Driver in Singapore

On 15 April 2012, a man named Larry (no last name given) boarded a taxi in Singapore. Unfortunately, when he departed the taxi at Changi Airport, he left his cell phone behind. Fortunately, his taxi driver was honest and returned it to him. This is the letter that Larry wrote to the editor of _The New Paper_ , an English-language newspaper in Singapore: "I would like to share about my experience regarding with my lost iphone and comfort cab driver. My name is Larry and I am from Myanmar and working in IT Field here. On 15 April 2012, I boarded a blue comfort taxi from YWCA Fort Canning Lodge together with my Aunt and Uncle and directed the taxi driver, a male Chinese, age about 60-70 years old to proceed to Changi Airport. On the Same day, at about 1100hours, we arrived at Terminal 1 of Changi airport. After we alighted from taxi, I then remembered that my White Iphone 4S was placed inside the taxi. I worried and sad so much about Iphone 4S. Unfortunately, I did not keep any receipt and Taxi Number. On the next day, at about 10am, the driver made a contact to my friend's hand phone. So My friend, Tin Tin, she gave my office phone number. After that, he called me and came to my office and gave my phone. I was so happy and thank him. I knew that he is a honest, straight, reliable staff of Comfort City Cab. So I would like to post on newspaper about him. His name is Mr. Wee Aik Boon." (220)

" **It's Amazing, Because We Thought It [the Money] was Totally Gone"**

In September 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a member of the Paws 2 Dance dog club made a serious error. On the roof of her car, she put $2,700 of cheques in envelopes to be deposited in a bank, and then she forgot they were on the roof and drove away, scattering the envelopes on the ground. Hours later, she realized what she had done. Horrified, she put up posters, hoping for the return of the envelopes. She also began making telephone calls to the members of the club to tell them about the mishap. Club president Gail Walsh said, "Some of them told her that their cheques had already been cashed." Fortunately, a Good Samaritan had found the envelopes and taken them to the bank. Every cent had been deposited into the club's bank account. Ms. Walsh said, "It's amazing, because we thought it [the money] was totally gone." The money was used to put on a show in Surrey, Canada. Ms. Walsh said, "Fittingly, the [show] title 'Escape the Darkness' refers to the darkness in our hearts that can be escaped when people reach out to others. Thank you, whoever you are, for reaching out for us. We hope you will contact us." The money raised by the show was donated to the Critter Care wildlife rescue organization in Langley, Canada. (221)

" **Thank You So Much to the Person Who Found My Mother's Purse"**

This letter to the editor of the _Chico Enterprise-Record_ (California) by Jeff Cripe of Chico appeared on 17 July 2012: "Thank you so much to the person who found my mother's purse at the Butte County Library on July 6. The purse including the wallet with cash and a credit card was turned in to the front desk in its entirety that afternoon. It is comforting to know that someone did the right thing. Unfortunately they did not leave their name or any contact information so this letter is the only way I can find to express gratitude. Again, thank you." (222)

Lost, Found, and Returned: A Wallet Containing $1,000

On 14 December 2011, a man lost his wallet containing $1,000 while getting gas at a Mobil gas station in Waterford Township, Michigan. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan—a 49-year-old Waterford man—found the wallet and turned it in to police. A Waterford Township police dispatcher called it "a Christmas miracle." Police Sergeant Scott Good said that the rightful owner of the wallet—a 34-year-old Waterford man—"promptly came to the station and picked it up." He added, "The man was elated to get his wallet back with all of its contents." (233)

" **My Mother Taught Me that I Should Not Steal and if I See Someone Stealing Then I Should Call the Police"**

On 9 July 2012, a homeless couple in Sao Paulo, Brazil, found a bag containing 20,000 Brazilian Reais ($9,831 US American). Rejaniel de Jesus Silva Santos, age 36, and his wife, Sandra Regina Domingues, who had been sleeping under an overpass for four months, did the right thing. They saw a security guard on a bicycle and asked him to call the police. Mr. Santos said, "The first thing that came to mind when I saw all that money was to contact the police." He added, "My mother taught me that I should not steal and if I see someone stealing then I should call the police." He said that he hopes that his mother will see a TV news report about him turning in the money because then she "will see that her son is still one of the honest people of this world." The money had been stolen from a Japanese restaurant. (224)

" **It was Just a Wonderful Thing He Did"**

On 9 July 2012 on the side of Route 64 in Bloomfield, New York, Nick Optis found a bag of money—$8,000 plus checks. The checks were made out to White's Farm Market, which was very close, and Mr. Optis did the right thing and returned the money. Farm market owner Chip White said about Mr. Optis, "He won't talk to the media. He's too humble." An employee had lost the money while taking it to the bank. A door of the employee's vehicle was not closed properly, and when the employee opened and closed the door, the bag of money, which was in his pocket, fell out. Mr. White did not name and did not fire the employee, merely saying, "It was a learning mistake." He did have praise for Mr. Optis, "It was just a wonderful thing he did." (225)

" **I Couldn't Believe It When I Found All That Money"**

In 2012 in Frankston, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, Jan Hansch's sister bought some $3 placemats at an RSPCA thrift store. When Jan unfolded one of them, $500 and a Target employee's pay envelope fell to the floor. The pay envelope was almost two decades old, and it was addressed to M.D. Fife. Jan said, "I couldn't believe it when I found all that money. I was even more surprised to find it had been rolled up for almost 20 years." Jan knew that she could not keep the money: "I just couldn't because that's obviously someone's pay. It's their money, not mine." She added, "I definitely wanted to return it to its rightful owner and never once thought about hanging on to it." Jan and her sister, Clare Fisher, started going through the Victoria telephone book, calling every Fife, and eventually they found the money's rightful owner. Margaret Fife, now a retiree, had hidden the money and her pay envelope way back in 2003 and had forgotten the hiding place. Much later, she donated some unused items to the thrift shop where Clare had bought the placemats. Margaret gave each sister $50 as a reward and used the remaining money to fix a broken heater. She said, "I'm so grateful for their honesty. It's a rarity these days." By the way, in a 9 July 2012 comment to an article about this good deed that was published in the _Frankston Leader_ , Peter Edhouse wrote, "Great story and it's fantastic to find there are so many Honest folks around—I lost my wallet containing over $500 a few weeks ago at the Safeway supermarket Carpark in Hastings and after some frantic searching found it had been handed in to the Police station—enabling me to pay my Rent—and take this opportunity to Thank the Honesty of the Finder." (226)

Lost, Found, and Returned: 15 $100 U.S. Savings Bonds

On 2 July 2012, Nick Miranda found a red, white, and blue envelope in the basement of a house that he had just rented in Buffalo, New York. The envelope was underneath the cover of an old ironing board in the basement, and on the envelope was written this note: "From Mom, to Michael." Inside the envelope were 15 $100 U.S. savings bonds that had been bought in May 1984, Mr. Miranda, age 29, said, "I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I should throw them out or try to give them back to the people they belonged to." He made an Internet search of Lucille Rinaldo and Michael Ortalano: the two names on the savings bonds. After two hours and approximately 50 telephone calls, he reached Thomas Ortalano, who is Michael's brother and one of Lucille's sons. Mr. Ortalano, age 57, said, "He's a very, very honorable young man. I won't ever forget him. Not because of the monetary value, just for the honesty of it, just for doing the right thing. Anyone else could have torn them up and thrown them out." Ms. Rinaldo, who died in 2011 at age 80, and her family used to live in the house that Mr. Miranda just started renting. In 2005, her son Michael died of a heart attack. Thomas Ortalano said, "Lucy was the best. My mother would never turn a person away. If someone was hungry, she fed them. She was Sicilian and she could cook. Her sauce—oh, my God—her sauce was amazing, and she never followed a recipe in her life." Mr. Miranda gave Mr. Ortalano the savings bonds. Mr. Miranda said, "I didn't have the intention of keeping them. I just wanted to do something good. I know they were probably valuable to the person they were meant for." Mr. Miranda said of Mr. Ortalano, "He's a good guy. He told me he's going through a tough time right now, so hopefully that will make a difference." Mr. Ortalano is on disability. The savings bonds are worth perhaps about $3,000, and it will take some work to cash them in. McKayla Braden, a spokesperson at the Bureau of the Public Debt, which is part of the Treasury Department, said, "It's a long process to prove that you're the rightful owner unless your name is on the bond. But I think he can, if he can prove he's the next of kin. He's going to have to come up with death certificates, and it takes a little bit of time." Mr. Miranda went through the basement one more time. He said, "I found a safe and opened it, but it was empty." (227)

" **It's Nice to Know There are Still Honest People Around"**

In June 2008, Jack Hart of Albany, Ohio, sent this letter to the editor of _The Athens News_ (Ohio): "I would like to thank the honest person who returned my ID and money last week. I was surprised when I received it in the mail. I figured it was long gone when I realized I had dropped it in Athens. It's nice to know there are still honest people around. Thanks so much!" (228)

Another Example of Ted being Ted

On 13 December 2011, Ted Beede, the owner with his wife, Tammy, of the Two Friends Consignment Shop in Dutzow, Missouri, went to an estate auction in Lyon, Missouri, and bought a chair for $5. He looked at it closely and found $4,000 hidden in it. Mr. Beede said, "I look for furniture and my wife looks for the small items. I wanted to see the name brand of the chair, and I lifted the cushion and found all the dead presidents." He did not count the money. He said, "I just knew it was a lot of money." A Good Samaritan, he returned all of the money. His family and friends say that they were not surprised—this is simply another example of Ted being Ted. Other people were shocked that someone could be that honest in a bad economy. Mr. Beede said that one "lady was shocked and said she was glad to see that not everybody is in it for themselves, but I'm sure a lot of others in the crowd would have done the same." He added, "A few people said it was pretty cool. It was just the right thing to do." He received a $200 reward. (229)

" **I Hooked Them Up with Some Free Ice Cream"**

On 22 June 2012 in Great Falls, Montana, 18-year-old Chance Cleveland lost his wallet, which was filled with ID cards and over $700 from a paycheck that he had just cashed. Fortunately, some teenagers found his wallet and gave it to the police. Police officer Steve O'Brien returned Chance's wallet to him. Chance said, "I was wondering what was going on. He gave me my wallet, and every dime was there." The teens who had found the wallet in a park were Alison Taylor, age 13; Korey Thompson, age 14; Kaylee Olson, age 14; and Sean Morris, age 14. Kaylee said, "We decided if we'd lost our wallet, we would want somebody to return it. We were pretty glad he got it back." Korey said, "We just decided to do a good deed." When Chance learned who had found his wallet, he did a good deed of his own. He said, "I hooked them up with some free ice cream." (230)

" **Other Kids were Like, 'Why Didn't You Keep the Money?' and 'You're Crazy,' But I Knew It was Important to Somebody"**

In 2012, an eighth-grade girl named Dakota Edwards, age 14, found a wallet with six $100 bills, credit cards, driver's license, and ATM cards while waiting for a school bus. She said, "Like any curious person, I picked it up and looked inside, and yeah, there were some money in there. But I thought the person who lost it would probably be more worried about losing the cards and license and stuff than the money." She handed in the wallet to Everett Bennett, the principal of Inter-Lakes Middle School in Meredith, New Hampshire, who looked in the wallet and found a receipt with the cell phone of the owner: Mark Polito, of North Reading, Massachusetts, who had lost the wallet while riding his motorcycle. Mr. Polito, a plumbing contractor who had taken money out of the bank to pay bills, said, "He [Principal Bennett] said someone had found my wallet, and I said, 'Awesome!' I don't have a lot of work, so I really needed that money to pay bills that morning, but honestly, I never expected to get the money back. I was just glad someone had my stuff." Dakota Edwards said, "Other kids were like, 'Why didn't you keep the money?' and 'You're crazy,' but I knew it was important to somebody; it would be important to me. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself knowing somebody was looking for that money." Mr. Polito arrived at the middle school later that day to pick up the wallet. He said that Principal Bennett "said the money was there, but I still didn't expect to find all of it. For a kid to find money and return it nowadays, you just don't expect it." Principal Bennett said, "So often we hear about kids who do bad things these days. Dakota is just a special kind of person; when she told me all of the money was still in the wallet, I had no doubt, she is always thinking of other people." Dakota said about the $100 reward, "I'm just enjoying having [the $100 bill]. I don't know what to do with it." (231)

" **To Ben Perks of Northfield—and to All The Anonymous Good Samaritans Who Do Good Deeds Every Day—You are Truly Appreciated"**

In July 2012, newspaper columnist Christine Wolf visited Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Illinois. Thirty minutes after she returned home, her dog began barking because someone was at the door. She opened it. Standing there was a man dressed in a suit who handed her a wallet and asked, "Were you missing this?" Ms. Wolf was stunned; she had not even known her wallet was missing. He explained, "You backed over it in the parking lot. I tried to chase you down, but you must have been in a hurry, and I couldn't catch you at the light." She stammered, "Thank you." He said, "I figured you'd probably need it," adding, "I didn't take anything!" Ms. Wolf said, "Oh, of course not!" Then she said, "Can I at least ask your name?... Please." Embarrassed, the man replied, "It's Ben Perks." She found out that he lived in Northfield and had driven 30 minutes in rush-hour traffic to return her wallet to her in Evanston! In her column, Ms. Wolf wrote, "And so, to Ben Perks of Northfield—and to all the anonymous Good Samaritans who do good deeds every day—you are truly appreciated." (232)

" **I Wanted to See the Look on Her Face When She Got the Rings Back"**

In December 2009, an English tourist visited Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. She took off her rings—an eternity ring and an engagement ring—to put sunscreen on her children; unfortunately, she forgot to put her rings back on and left them behind. Hoping that someone had found them, she called some resorts on Fraser Island. Jay Harney and two of his friends, Zoe Reghenzani and Brian Harding, heard about the lost rings and decided to find them for her. Mr. Harding said that the reward the woman offered was "a fair bit—but there were plenty of diamonds on those rings. We didn't care about that—it was the right thing to do." The three friends found the rings, and at first they planned to return them to the woman in the morning. However, Mr. Harding grew worried that the woman might be lying awake worrying about the rings, so he called her at 2 a.m. He said, "She was really stoked—she was over the moon. They were really nice rings and she was really stoked to get them back—and I felt good about it, too." She wanted the three friends to send the rings to Sydney, but he was afraid that the package would not reach her in time, so he drove to Kingfisher Bay Resort, where she was staying, and she got them before she left Fraser Island. Mr. Harney said, "I wanted to see the look on her face when she got the rings back, too." (233)

Giving Bagels to Picketers

Elise Thompson, a writer for _LAist_ , supported the Writers Guide of America (WGA) picketers (film, television, and radio writers) when they went on strike in 2007-2008. On 15 January 2008, early on a still-dark morning, she was running errands. Suddenly, she realized two things: 1) she was only a block away from the Warner Brothers movie studio, and 2) she was by a bagel shop, which was open. She knew what to do. She wrote, "When I pulled up in front of Warner Brothers, there was one lone striker, awaiting his comrades in the pre-dawn darkness. I quickly jumped out, unsure of how long I could block the entrance before security came. I handed the striker the bag of bagels, and he looked up at me and asked, 'What's your name' like people do when an angel rescues them from the snow. He acted as if I had just given him the shirt off of my back." She recommended that other people buy bagels or donuts and give them to WGA picketers: "It is not going to break the bank." She added, "It is just too much of a cliché for me to say anything is 'priceless.' But it really is. A hug from a total stranger this morning has made my entire day. I feel conflicted advertising my good deed; I believe good deeds should be kept secret. But the writers need you now and I believe you need them." (234)

" **We All Need a Good Samaritan from Time to Time. And Who Better Than One Who Brings Cake?"**

In April 2011, Cath Webb, a teacher and mother-of-three from Hale, Cheshire, England, set herself the goal of baking a Victoria sponge cake—two plain, sweet cakes with jam between the layers—a day for a year and giving it away to family, friends, or strangers. Her purpose is to bring smiles and happiness into the world. She got started after a friend had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Cath said, "I didn't know what to say to her, so I made her a Victoria sponge, left it on her porch, and drove off. On the way home, I got a text saying, 'You can feed people with love.' It was so moving." She added, "I felt really good. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to do that every day?' I couldn't do it for the rest of my life, but what's one year in the grand scheme of things?" She has baked cakes for a supermarket checkout operator, nurses, and firefighters working on Christmas Day, among many, many more people. She said, "There have been days where I've thought, 'God, this is ridiculous,' and wondered what on earth I'm doing—but it's incredible how happy baking makes people. I just have to think of the person I'm making the cake for, and that makes it all worth it. My children must be sick of cake, and my husband has done all the washing-up for 280 days [as of January 2012], but I will be so sad when I'm done." _Telegraph_ (UK) journalist Sarah Rainey wrote, "Now, from one baker to another, I have some advice for Cath: whatever you do, don't give up. You may cry over forgotten ingredients, sulk over sunken middles, and shout at cake tins for supergluing themselves to your sponge. But you have tapped into something rare and inspiring: one person doing a selfless act for others. We all need a Good Samaritan from time to time. And who better than one who brings cake?" (235)

" **One Man Jumped for Joy when He Got Baked Chicken and Roast Beef"**

In 2003, Joan Sinclair of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, witnessed employees of Sandals Dunn's River, a luxury resort, doing the good deed of feeding Ocho Rios' street people. In a letter to the editor of the J _amaica Gleaner_ , she wrote, "They did not just go to one central spot but drove around the market and all over searching to find them. Regardless of their condition they went to them and gave them lunch in Styrofoam plates with forks and a bottle of soda. One man jumped for joy when he got baked chicken and roast beef. Those persons sleeping were awakened and given their meal; by just watching how quickly they devoured the meal tells how much it was appreciated." (236)

Jimbo Says, "No Child Should Ever be Without a Bike in the Summer"

The son of Mary Hicks of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, was without a bicycle because it had been stolen, so while the two were shopping, he asked her if he could have a new bike. Unfortunately, she was forced to tell him that they could not afford it. Fortunately, a man named Jimbo was nearby, playing hockey in an aisle with a boy. Jimbo, a big man with tattoos, gave her $350 and said, "No child should ever be without a bike in the summer." He then high-fived her son. Ms. Hicks wrote in a 31 July 2012 letter to the editor of _The Chronicle-Journal_ (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada), "I am astonished at the kind-hearted, selfless action of this individual. It brings a tear to my eye. Our community is quickly sliding downhill with crime and, to be honest, when I saw this man approach I was nervous. It just goes to show you cannot judge a book by its cover and that there are still good people in this community. He genuinely seemed happy to see the smile and excitement he placed on my son's face. His thoughtfulness of his country and city will not go unnoticed. I will be taking my son to a local bicycle shop and buying him a bike that was made in Canada. So to this mystery, kind citizen: from the bottom of our hearts we thank you." (237)

" **It was My Pride and Joy. Well, Actually, My Legs. I Did Everything on It"**

On 30 April 2007, someone stole the mobility scooter of Kuini Stewart, a grandmother in Panmure, Auckland City, New Zealand. The scooter was a gift from an elderly friend who had recently died. Ms. Stewart had the scooter for only a month before the thief stole it from outside a cottage, where she had left it—locked and covered—twice before. Ms. Stewart said, "It was a case of third time unlucky. It was my pride and joy. Well, actually, my legs. I did everything on it." Fortunately, Good Samaritan Garry Hemara gave her a scooter that had belonged to his partner's mother. Ms. Stewart said, "I've lost one and gained one. I couldn't believe my eyes." (238)

" **I Want to Help Her Out by Giving Her a Car"**

In July 2006, Kelly Hatton of Greerton, Tauranga, New Zealand, spent 40 minutes in waist-deep water holding up a person's head so the person could breathe. The person was a trapped motorist who had crashed and landed upside-down in a water-filled ditch. Unfortunately, she lost her uninsured car when another motorist crashed into it and totaled it. When she returned to her car the next morning, thieves had stolen her personal belongings and stripped her car. The mother of four spent a few days walking her children to school, but fortunately Francis Sydenham of the Sydenham Motor Group gave her a 1993 Suzuki Cultus Esteem valued at $3,500. When Ms. Hatton heard the good news, she said, "Oh, my God, you're kidding me. This is so cool. I can't believe it. It is awesome. You don't think there are people out there like that. It means I can get back to work." Mr. Sydenham said, "She's there trying to save someone's life, the two guys who flagged her down have taken off, and she's left holding the can. Then her car's destroyed and vandalised. I want to help her out by giving her a car. The main thing is, we're doing something for her." (239)

" **This Guy was an Angel Who Not Only Helped Me Out, He Made My Day"**

On 1 August 2012, Janet Hartell of Wanganui, New Zealand, was about $8 short when she tried to check out at a PAK'nSAVE supermarket. A man who was a stranger to her saw that she was short of money and handed a PAK'nSAVE employee $10 to cover the shortage. Ms. Hartell tried to return the money to him, but he walked away. On the Facebook page of the _Wanganui Chronicle_ , she thanked the man and wrote, "I have had a stressful two weeks. Last week I nearly lost my father and had to find money to get down to Wellington Hospital, and this week my mother-in-law is very ill in hospital. So this guy was an angel who not only helped me out, he made my day." She also offered to give him free-range eggs from her chickens. Foodstuffs, which owns PAK'nSAVE, contacted the man, but he did not want to be identified. Spokeswoman Antoinette Shallue said, "He just likes the idea of doing something good, and it possibly coming back to him one day." She added, "It doesn't happen every day, but I think Kiwis are pretty generous and if they see someone in strife they'll help them out." (240)

Knights Don't Always Ride Around on Horses

In July 2012, a person from Ireland who uses the name "Jess_lyons04" while posting online at Helpothers.org told a story about being in another country for a gig. Jess' handbag was stolen, and inside it was the money that Jess and a friend needed to pay for their accommodations and to get back home. Jess writes, "It left us in an awful predicament! While looking for the Bed and Breakfast place we were staying in, I stopped at a Taxi rank to ask for directions. On hearing about what had happened, one of the drivers offered to take us there for free. Seeing us safely to the B&B, he drove off—then returned and dropped €100 out the taxi window for us. At first, we refused to take it. He insisted, and told us he had been in a similar situation once and someone had helped him. When he asked for a phone number or a forwarding address so he could return the money, the other person simply replied, 'Don't pay it back—pay it forward!' So, he did!" (241)

" **I Like Donating Way More than I Like Presents, So It will be Totally Fine"**

In January 2012 in McKinney, Texas, three eight-year-old second-graders—Mackinlee Frame, Nicole Morris, and Sydney Vest—celebrated their birthdays together and turned the party into a fundraiser for charities. Instead of presents, the three girls are asking for charity donations. Mackinlee said, "It feels good to give back to people." The party, to which 150 friends were invited, included a candy buffet and cake and pizza. Sydney's charity is an orphanage in Uganda, Africa, called Village of Hope. Sydney said, "It is going to feel good because I like donating way more than I like presents, so it will be totally fine." Mackinlee's charity is the Love Life Foundation, which supports North Texas charities. Nicole's charity is Birthday Blessings, which was founded by her mother, Patricia Morris, and which provides birthday parties to less fortunate and homeless children. Nicole said, "We are so blessed, so I just want to help other kids around the world." She added, "I have seen the children's faces at these parties and how happy we have made them." Karen Vest, Sydney's mother, said, "You don't have to be a famous celebrity, you can be an average eight-year old girl, and you can make a difference." Karen Vest added, "I hope these girls always dream big, Go Big or Go Home is what I have always told my daughter. Set your goals high and don't stop until you reach them. These girls are the next generation." (242)

" **I Read on a Sign the Other Day that If We All Did One Act of Kindness Every Day that It Might Set the World in the Right Direction"**

Someone decided to do 32 random acts of kindness to celebrate his or her 32nd birthday. For one random act of kindness, he or she sent a Subway gift-card to a stranger chosen at random. Along with the gift-card came this letter: "Hi, I'm sure you are already wondering why you have received an anonymous letter with a Subway gift-card in it. Well, let me explain... John 13:34 says that we should all love one another. I love my family and friends a lot but have never really considered loving a total stranger. For my 32nd birthday, I have decided to do 32 random acts of kindness—something that now I realize I should really be doing all year long. I have spent the past few weeks doing selfless acts in honor of my birthday. I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing feeling has washed over me. It is by far the best present I have ever received. So, as a random act of kindness, I let my 1-year-old daughter scribble on a phone book page and sent a gift-card to the address that her line ended on. My intentions are to spread God's love, brighten your day, and hope that you will be inspired to share an act of kindness as well. I read on a sign the other day that if we all did one act of kindness every day that it might set the world in the right direction." (243)

" **I Have a Home and a Car and a Job. Do You Need a Few Bucks for Some Coffee?"**

In July 2012, Doug Eaton celebrated his 65th birthday in a generous way in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He said, "I asked a bunch of my friends on Facebook what should I do on my sixty-fifth, and I got a whole long list of stuff and one of my friends said, 'Why don't you do 65 random acts of kindness?'" So for 65 minutes Mr. Eaton gave away money as he held a sign that said, "I have a home and a car and a job. Do you need a few bucks for some coffee?" He gave free $5 bills to people going by the corner of N.W. 39th St. and May Ave. A driver said, "I think this is the craziest guy I have ever seen in my life and it's fantastic! I am enjoying the moment out here." One of Mr. Eaton's friends said, "Doug doesn't need the money, so he is just having fun." Mr. Eaton said, "It's just been fantastic. Some people who don't take the money say, 'Man, I love what you are doing. I won't take it but [you] give it to someone who needs it.'" (244)

Paying It Forward

In June 2012, this letter to the editor by Jane Merrill of Syracuse, New York, appeared on the Readers' Page of Syracuse.com: "Many thanks to the kind lady who 'paid it forward' to me at the Sam's Club on Erie Boulevard East on May 29. I had arrived at the checkout with minimum cash, no checkbook and the wrong credit card. I am so appreciative of her lovely gesture and as I told her, will indeed 'pay it forward' in turn." (245)

Liew Chin Wah: Preventing Death and Injury in Singapore

One of Liew Chin Wah's friends died after falling into a drain. Therefore, when Mr. Wah, age 69 in 2012, saw some drain holes with their covers missing (the covers were replaced by rotting, unsafe pieces of wood) along Woodlands Industrial Park E7 in Singapore, Malaysia, he took action to make sure that no one would die or be injured. He went to a rubbish dump in Marsiling to look for materials. He found 15 wooden tabletops there and used his truck to transport them to the industrial park. The wooden tabletops made safe, sturdy covers for the drains until they could be replaced with permanent drain covers. (246)

" **I Won't Forget You"**

In June 2006, Paddy Keogh of Darwen Funeral Services in Darwen, England, stopped into a store to buy a Jim Reeves CD containing the songs "I Won't Forget You" and "You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened To Me)." Unfortunately, the CD was more expensive than he had thought it would be and he did not have enough money to pay for it. Also unfortunately, the funeral was starting very soon. Fortunately, a woman gave him the money to buy the CD. Mr. Krogh said, "I understood that the music we needed was going to be £6.99 so I only had a £10 note, but it turned out to be £16. The shop understandably didn't want to let the CD go without the correct money because they didn't know who I was. This lady just put the money into my hand and said she couldn't have lived with herself if she thought a family were having a funeral for their loved one and couldn't listen to that special piece of music. She had overheard the conversation and knew what a dilemma I was in with the funeral only being an hour away. It just shows that there are good people out there. I asked her name, but she wouldn't give it and said this was just her good deed for the day." (247)

" **A Lovely and Lasting Tribute"**

In 1995, Janet Howes, the beloved wife of Winston Howes, died of heart failure at age 50. In tribute to his wife, Mr. Howes made a lasting memorial to her on his 112-acre farm near Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, England. He planted 6,000 oak trees in a six-acre area, but in the middle he left a large heart shape. No one knew about the memorial until hot-air balloonist Andy Collett, age 42, floated over it in July 2012. Mr. Collett said, "I have my own balloon and am quite a regular flyer—but this was the most amazing sight I have ever seen from the sky. It was a perfect heart hidden away from view—you would not know it was there. You can just imagine the love story." Mr. Howes, age 70 in 2012, said, "I came up with the idea of creating a heart in the clearing of the field after Janet died. I thought it was a great idea—it was a flash of inspiration—and I planted several thousand oak trees. Once it was completed, we put a seat in the field, overlooking the hill near where she used to live. I sometimes go down there, just to sit and think about things. It is a lovely and lasting tribute to her which will be here for years." He added, "We got people in especially to do it—there are several thousand trees. We planted large oak trees around the edge of the heart then decided to put a hedge around it too. The heart points towards Wotton Hill, where Janet is from. We plant daffodils in the middle that come up in the spring—it looks great. I go out there from time to time and sit in the seat I created." (248)

" **Even Now He will be Saving Lives by Giving of Himself** **"**

In early August 2012, off-duty emergency-room nurse Christy Daae saved the life of an unconscious and unresponsive four-year-old boy after he was pulled from a Fort Worth, Texas, swimming pool. Ms. Daae, who works at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, performed CPR on the boy, who did not have a pulse. She said, "All that time spent in the emergency room, I know how to do CPR. [I'm] very well-versed at that kind of [thing. I] knew that's what I was supposed to do." She got the boy's heart beating again, and CareFlite flew him to Cook Children's Medical Center. Another child, a three-year-old girl, swallowed water. Ms. Daae helped load her on a stretcher and put an IV in her arm. An ambulance took the three-year-old girl to Cook Children's Medical Center. The four-year-old boy, Xander Vento, had saved the life of the struggling three-year-old girl by holding her above water so she could breathe. But when he grew exhausted, he went to the pool's bottom. Ms. Daae used CPR to get a pulse from him, but he was unable to breathe on his own. At Cook Children's Medical Center, he fell into a coma and was put on life support on 6 August 2012. His parents, Cris and Misty Vento, however, released this statement on 9 August 2012: "We've made the extremely difficult decision to remove our precious son Xander from life support. We send heartfelt thanks to all of you who kept our family in your thoughts and prayers; we're appreciative of your love and support. We in some way hope our son's life serves as an inspiration. He was the angel in the pool who sacrificed himself to save another. And now he continues to give as an organ donor. We were blessed to have such a kind and caring boy as Xander who set an example for all of us and even now he will be saving lives by giving of himself." (249)

Two-Year-Old Zach Gets His Angel Wings

On 30 December 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana, one of a set of twin boys, two years old, died suddenly of an illness. The boy's name was Zach, and his immediate family consisted of Michelle, Will, and Jake. His mother, Michelle, wrote, "Who could ever imagine how much your life could change in just 48 hours. Our beautiful little boy got his angel wings and gave life to another. We want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support in our time of need." On 28 December 2004, the twin boys had a medical checkup and were fine; unfortunately, late that night Zach was ill. He ended up in a hospital's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. On 30 December, he was declared brain dead. Michelle wrote, "I was able to give him a bath and dress him and we were all able to hold him to say our goodbyes. He was kept on a vent [ventilator, which keeps people breathing] until this morning as we decided to do organ donation and his organs needed to be kept alive. The whole staff and transplant team were WONDERFUL to us. Will, Jake and I came in very early this morning before surgery to say good-bye. The transplant team was able to recover his liver for a VERY sick 23 month old little girl in Cincinnati and his kidneys were waiting to be placed. Although his heart looked wonderful, they were only able to use the heart valves because he was on too much blood pressure medicine while he was there. They also were able to use his corneas. The transplant team bathed Zach and dressed him [in] yellow pajamas and swaddled him in a beautiful donated hand knit blanket and we were able to hold him without all of the tubes and give him lots of hugs and kisses. We hope to truly know what happened to him in the next few weeks. To those who knew him, Zach was such a special little boy who will forever hold a place in all of our hearts. Once again, thanks to all of you who have helped to get us through this incredibly difficult time in our life. We love you all!" (250)
APPENDIX A: SOME BOOKS BY DAVID BRUCE

Retellings of a Classic Work of Literature

Dante's Inferno: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Purgatory: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Paradise: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Divine Comedy: A Retelling in Prose

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William Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV, aka Henry IV, Part 1: A Retelling in Prose

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William Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing: A Retelling in Prose

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William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew: A Retelling in Prose

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Philosophy for the Masses: Ethics

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Free Discussion Guide Series

Dante's Inferno: A Discussion Guide

Dante's Paradise: A Discussion Guide

Dante's Purgatory: A Discussion Guide

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Homer's Iliad: A Discussion Guide

Homer's Odyssey: A Discussion Guide

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Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Discussion Guide

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William Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A Discussion Guide

William Sleator's Oddballs: A Discussion Guide

(Oddballs is an excellent source for teaching how to write autobiographical essays/personal narratives.)
**APPENDIX B: AN EXCERPT FROM** _HOMER'S_ **ILIAD: A RETELLING IN PROSE BY DAVID BRUCE**

CH. 1: The Rage of Achilles and the Quarrel by the Ships

Rage.

Goddess, use me to tell the story of the rage of Achilles, a Greek warrior who had the rage of a god. The rage of the son of Peleus made corpses of many men and sent their souls to the Land of the Dead. Dogs and birds feasted on warriors' flesh, all because of Achilles and the will of Zeus, king of gods and men.

Start telling the story, Muse, from the time when Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Greeks, and Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces against Troy, first quarreled by the Greek ships.

The actions of a god led them to quarrel. Apollo, Zeus' son, raged against Agamemnon and spread the plague throughout the Greek warriors. Many brave warriors died because Agamemnon had disrespected a priest of Apollo, the god of the plague.

Chryses, the priest of Apollo, loved his daughter, whom the Greeks had captured when they conquered the city of Thebe, which was allied with Troy. To get his daughter back, he gathered shining treasure with which to ransom her. He took his shining treasure to the Greek ships while carrying a golden staff on which Apollo's wreaths were tied, clearly identifying Chryses as a priest of Apollo.

He did everything as he ought to have done. He begged the Greek warriors, and especially Agamemnon and his brother, Menelaus, to accept the shining treasure and give him back his daughter, Chryseis.

He said, respectfully, "Agamemnon, Menelaus, and all you Greek warriors! May Zeus and all the other gods of Mount Olympus allow you to conquer the city of Troy and sail safely home again! But set my beloved daughter free. I love her so much. Take this shining treasure as fair ransom for my daughter! I am the priest of Apollo—respect the archer god who is also the god of the plague."

The ranks of the Greek warriors approved of the ransom; they shouted, "Respect the priest of Apollo! Respect the suppliant! Respect the old man! Accept the ransom!"

But Agamemnon would not.

He told the old father and priest, "Don't let me see you among the Greek ships. Leave immediately and don't come back. Even if you are a priest of Apollo, I will kill you. I won't give your daughter back to you. She will die of old age back in the city of Mycenae. She will die far from the land where she was born and raised. She will work as a slave weaving cloth, and I will force her to sleep with me. Leave immediately, or die!"

The old priest of Apollo was afraid and left. He turned and quietly went down to the shore. When he was a safe distance from Agamemnon, he prayed to Apollo, god of archery and of plague: "Hear me, Apollo. You are the god of the silver bow, and you walk in my city: Chryse. If I have ever built shrines for you, if I have ever sacrificed cattle to you and burned fat and bones on your altar, hear my prayer and answer it: Kill many Greek warriors. I have shed tears—now you shoot arrows!"

The prayer traveled in the air, and the archer god heard it on Mount Olympus. Gods have that power. Angry at how his priest had been treated, Apollo stormed from Olympus, traveling quickly to the Greek ships. His quiver was full of arrows. When he reached the Greek ships, he dropped to one knee and started shooting arrows. With each shot of an arrow, something or someone died.

First, Apollo shot at and killed mules and dogs, but then he started aiming at warriors, and they died of the plague. The Greeks burned the corpses of the dead warriors, and the corpse-fires stayed lit all day and all night.

Apollo was angry at Agamemnon, but other Greek warriors were the ones who died. Such is the anger of the gods.

For nine days, the plague killed many, many Greek warriors. On the tenth day, Achilles—the greatest warrior among the Greeks and the greatest warrior among all who fought at Troy—did what Agamemnon should have done and called a council to see how to stop the plague.

When everyone, including Agamemnon and Menelaus and the other kings of Greece who had come to wage war against Troy, had gathered, Achilles said, "Agamemnon, things are going badly. Unless we can figure out how to stop this plague, we might as well sail back home to Greece—or we will also die of the plague before we can set sail. The war and the plague are killing so many Greeks.

"But a prophet may know why the plague has come and what we can do to stop it. A prophet may know why Apollo has sent a plague to kill us. Perhaps we have not honored a vow we made to the god, or perhaps we need to make a sacrifice to him. Perhaps if we sacrifice lambs and goats to Apollo, the archer god may have mercy on us and take this plague away from us."

Achilles spoke sensible words.

Calchas, the Greeks' chief prophet, was a seer who can look at the flight of birds and interpret the will of the gods. A wise man, he knew the past, the present, and the future. He had let the Greeks know what they had to do in order to sail safely to Troy to make war. Apollo is also the god of prophecy, and Apollo had blessed Calchas with special sight.

Calchas wanted what was best for the Greek warriors. He said, "Achilles, the great god Zeus knows and respects you. You want me to say why this plague has come against us? You want me to explain why Apollo is angry at us? I can and will explain these things, but first swear to protect me.

"If I explain why Apollo is angry at us, I will make angry a powerful man among us. This powerful man gives orders that must be obeyed. This man is a powerful king. When a powerful man is angry at a man who is not powerful, the powerful man will win. Even if the powerful man is able to choke down his rage today, he will get his revenge later. Achilles, will you protect me against this powerful man?"

Achilles replied, "Yes. Have courage. Tell us why Apollo is angry at us. I swear by Apollo that I will protect you against anyone who becomes angry at you. No one will harm you. I swear that I will not allow even Agamemnon—who claims to be the best of all the Greeks—to harm you."

Reassured by Achilles' words, Calchas said, "Apollo is not angry at us because of a lack of sacrifice or a vow that we failed to fulfill. Instead, the god is angry because of the actions of Agamemnon. The priest of Apollo acted correctly when he tried to ransom his daughter, but Agamemnon disrespected the old priest. Agamemnon should have respected the old priest and the god—Apollo—he serves. Now, because of Agamemnon's disrespect to him, Apollo shoots his arrows at us and kills us with plague. The deaths will not stop until we give the old priest his daughter—without taking shining treasure as ransom. She must be given back to her father with no price paid for her freedom. Both she and a hundred bulls need to be sent to the city of Chryse; the bulls must be sacrificed to Apollo. Only then will Apollo be appeased and stop the killing."

Powerful Agamemnon, as Calchas had foreseen, was furious. He turned to Calchas and said, "You are a seer of misery. All you forecast is bad. With you, nothing is ever good news. Every prophecy is about disaster. This prophecy is more of the same. Why is Apollo angry at us? You say that it is because of me, because I refused to accept shining ransom for the priest's daughter.

"It is true that I much prefer having the girl to having the treasure. I want her to be a slave in my house in the city of Mycenae. I value her more than I value Clytemnestra, my own lawfully wedded wife. The girl's beauty, upbringing, mind, and skill in crafts are equal to Clytemnestra's.

"Still, I am willing to return the girl to her father. That will be the best for all of us. Better that than to have Greek warriors continue to die of the plague.

"She is the girl I won. Whenever we conquer a city, we gather the treasure, the cattle, and the women and children of the city, and we award them to the warriors who conquered the city. Each main warrior receives a prize of honor in recognition of that warrior's strength in battle and leadership.

"But now my prize of honor is taken from me! I need a prize of honor to take her place. So give me another prize of honor, or I alone of all the Greek warriors will be without a prize. That would disgrace me. All of you know that my prize of honor is being taken away from me."

Achilles replied to Agamemnon, "You are a great general, Agamemnon, but how can we give you a prize of honor now? If you were to cause that to happen, you would be the greediest man alive.

"We have no treasure, no cattle, no women, and no children to give as prizes of honor. All of those things have been awarded to warriors who deserve them. We have no prizes of honor that we can now award. Nothing is left to be awarded. For you to call back prizes of honor would be a deadly insult to your warriors.

"So give the girl back to her father, the old priest. We will pay you back for what you have lost. When we conquer Troy, we will give you three or four times what you lose today. Your loss of a prize of honor will be only temporary."

Such words were wise, but Agamemnon's response was not.

Agamemnon said to Achilles, "You are a brave man, and you are like a god, but I will not allow you to cheat me. You want to keep your own prize of honor while I go without one. Am I someone to be empty-handed? Am I someone to be without a prize of honor? No.

"If the Greek warriors will willingly give me a prize of honor, well and good. But if they won't, I will take one without their and your consent.

"Maybe I will take your prize of honor. You are the greatest Greek warrior.

"Maybe I will take Great Ajax' prize of honor. He is the second greatest Greek warrior.

"Maybe I will take Odysseus' prize of honor. He is a master of rhetoric and a man of action.

"I am greater than any of you, and I will NOT go without a prize of honor. Anyone whose prize of honor I take can choke with rage, but I will still take his prize of honor.

"But enough for now. We can talk about this later. Right now, we have business to take care of. Let's haul a ship from shore into the water, get oarsmen ready, and load the ship with cattle and with beautiful Chryseis, who was my prize of honor. A person of authority—Great Ajax, Idomeneus from Crete, Odysseus, or even you, Achilles—as violent as you are—can sail the ship to Chryses, give Chryseis to her father, perform the sacrifice, and appease Apollo."

But Achilles was angry—Agamemnon had threatened to take his prize of honor.

Achilles—a man without tact—said to Agamemnon, "You are both shameless and greedy. Why should a Greek warrior obey your orders? Why should a Greek warrior do your errands? Why should a Greek warrior fight for you? I should not and will not.

"We are here to fight the Trojans, but the Trojans have never done anything to _me_. The Trojans did not steal _my_ cattle. The Trojans did not steal _my_ horses. The Trojans did not harm the crops in _my_ fields.

"You and Menelaus—the sons of Atreus—have a quarrel with the Trojans. We other Greek warriors are fighting _your_ fight—you dog. Paris took Helen away from Menelaus, and we are fighting to get back the honor of the House of Atreus.

"But do you care that we are dying and fighting for you? This is not the way to show it. You lack intelligence. You lack prudence. You don't think ahead. You don't consider the consequences of your actions.

"You are planning an act of outrage. You are threatening to take from me my prize of honor. I fought hard, and I was awarded a prize of honor because I fought hard.

"A good leader should reward his men. I fight hard—harder than you—but your prizes are greater than mine. Whenever we sack a city allied to Troy, I fight harder than anyone and I wreak the most damage, but you get loaded down with prizes of honor and I get something small, exhausted as I am from fighting.

"I won't take it anymore! I will sail back home to my own country: Phthia. It is better to sail home than to stay here and be insulted by you despite all that I have done to make you richer."

Agamemnon was also angry. He said to Achilles, "If you want to go home, then go home. Be a deserter. I will not beg you to stay and fight. Other warriors are here to fight, and Zeus, the god of kings and men, will know that I am in the right. I hate you the most of all the Greek warriors battling before Troy.

"You love battles, and you love war. You are a great warrior, but so what? Did you earn it? No. It's simply a god's gift to you. So go back home to Phthia and take your Myrmidons—your soldiers—with you. I don't value you or respect your anger.

"But I will say this. I have lost my prize of honor—Apollo has taken her from me. To make up for my loss, I am going to take your prize of honor from you. Face-to-face with you at your tents, I will take your prize of honor—Briseis—from you. That way, you will know that I am more powerful than you are. And so will all Greek warriors who seek to challenge me."

Achilles was furious. Hanging at his side was a long sword in a scabbard. He put his hand on its grip and started to draw it from its scabbard.

But the gods were watching from Mount Olympus. Hera, the wife of Zeus, did not want Achilles to kill Agamemnon. Neither did Athena, the daughter of Zeus, but not by Hera. Hera and Athena wanted Troy to fall, and if Achilles were to kill Agamemnon, the war of Troy would end and the Greeks would sail back home. The Trojans would be triumphant.

Hera, who was watching the quarrel from Mount Olympus, sent Athena to appear before Achilles and order him not to kill Agamemnon. Athena sped down from Olympus and grabbed Achilles' hair. No mortal but Achilles saw or heard her. Gods have that power.

Achilles knew the fiery-eyed goddess Athena at once and said to her, "Why have you come to me now? Do you want to witness Agamemnon insulting me? I tell you now—he is going to pay for his insult to me!"

Athena replied, "I have come from Olympus to stop you from killing Agamemnon. Hera sent me. She cares for both you and Agamemnon—you are warriors who fight the Trojans. Don't draw your sword. Don't kill Agamemnon. Do tell him that he will suffer and pay for what he has done. I am a goddess, and I know the future. Soon, brilliant gifts will be brought to you—worth three times what you have lost today. The gifts will be the payment for Agamemnon's insult to you. Do not kill Agamemnon. Obey both Hera and me."

Achilles respected the two goddesses. He said to Athena, "I will obey. I must. When you two goddesses give commands, a mortal man must obey them no matter how angry he is. It is the best thing to do. Gods hear the prayers of a mortal man who obeys their commands."

Achilles pushed his sword back in its scabbard. Athena flew back to Mount Olympus. Gods have that power.

But Achilles spoke again to Agamemnon, "You drink until you stagger, you have the eyes of a dog, you have the heart of a fawn, you lack courage in battle. When it is time for the best Greek warriors to ambush the Trojans, you are not present because you know how dangerous it is. Rather than fight and earn a prize of honor at the risk of losing your life, you find it safer to stay in your well-guarded camp and take the prize of honor of a warrior who fought well and who earned it but who dares to criticize you. You feed on your own people, as worthless as they are. If they were not worthless, they would not let your outrage of today stand and would not allow you to commit any new outrages.

"I swear an oath upon the scepter I hold. It is wooden, and never again will leaves sprout from it. In councils, whoever holds the scepter can speak. I swear that someday you will regret what you have done today. I swear that soon you and your warriors will want me to fight again for you. For without me fighting on your side, Hector—the greatest warrior of the Trojans—will kill and kill again. Then you will regret what you have done today. Then you will regret having disgraced me—the greatest warrior of the Greeks!"

Achilles threw the scepter on the ground. Agamemnon glared at him.

Nestor, the king of Pylos, was an old man and the wisest of the Greeks. He knew how to use rhetoric; he could speak persuasively. He said, "No more quarreling. If you continue to quarrel, great misery for the Greeks will be the result. Think of how the Trojans would rejoice if they heard you two quarreling. Priam—the king of Troy—and his sons would rejoice, as would all the Trojans. You two are the best of the Greeks: the best in our councils, and the best on the fields of battle.

"Stop quarrelling. Please. Listen to me. I am older than you, and I have more experience than you. I have known better men than you, and they were my colleagues and respected me. They were excellent men: Pirithous, Dryas, Caeneus, Exadius, Polyphemus, and Theseus.

"These men were strong, and they fought the half-man, half-horse Centaurs, who were wild and lived in the mountains. These strong men hacked down the Centaurs. I was a young man then, far away from my home in Pylos. They had sought me and enlisted me in their team. I fought, and fought well. These strong men were fighters whom no man of today could beat, but they listened to my words when I spoke up in councils.

"Now you should also listen to me. Sometimes, compromise is the best course of action. Agamemnon, don't take Bryseis, Achilles' prize of honor. We warriors awarded her to Achilles, so let Achilles keep her. She belongs to him.

"Achilles, don't quarrel with Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces. He is the main Greek king before Troy, and he is the most powerful. Zeus, the king of gods and men, has given Agamemnon much glory. Achilles, you have a goddess for a mother, and you are the most physically strong of all the Greeks, but Agamemnon is more powerful than you are because he brought more warriors to Troy than you did and because he is the leader of the Greek forces against Troy.

"Agamemnon, stop being angry at Achilles. Listen to me—I am an old man. Achilles is the greatest Greek warrior. Don't disrespect a man who fights well for you!"

Nestor spoke wise words, but Agamemnon's words in reply were only partially wise.

Agamemnon said, "Everything that you say is wise, Nestor, but Achilles wants more respect than he deserves. He wishes to be the leader here. He wishes to give everyone orders and have his orders obeyed. But I will never allow that to happen. The gods have made him a great spearsman, but that does not entitle him to abuse me, although he may think that."

Achilles' words were not wise: "Yes, I do think that. If I submitted to your orders, I would be worthless and cowardly. Give other people orders, not me! I will never again yield to your orders.

"But I will not fight for Briseis. I will not fight you. The Greek warriors gave me Briseis, but now you, Agamemnon, are taking back my prize of honor. So be it. But everything else at my ship is mine. If you try to take any of it, Agamemnon, you will die. If you doubt me, just try to take something of mine. My spear will be in your body, and your blood will gush out!"

The quarrel of words ended, but the bad feelings continued. The council broke up, and Achilles returned to his camp and his best friend, Patroclus.

Meanwhile, Agamemnon prepared to send a ship to Chryses so the god Apollo would be appeased. He ordered men to drag a ship into the sea. He picked out twenty oarsmen to be the crew of the ship. He ordered one hundred bulls to be put on board the ship. He led Chryseis to the ship. Odysseus, ever competent, captained the ship. It sailed to the city of Chryse.

Agamemnon's men washed themselves in the sea to clean and purify themselves after being around the plague so long, and they sacrificed to the gods.

Agamemnon could have decided not to follow through on his threat to take Briseis away from Achilles. Agamemnon could have taken the advice of Nestor. Agamemnon could have restrained his anger.

But he did not.

Agamemnon called his two heralds, Talthybius and Eurybates, to him and said, "You two go to the camp of Achilles and get his prize of honor, Bryseis, and bring her to me. If Achilles will not give her up, I will go to the camp of Achilles myself—with an army of warriors—and take her."

Reluctantly, the two heralds obeyed. They reached the camp of Achilles and found him. He was grim, but he was not murderous. He looked at the two heralds, and they were afraid and said nothing, but just stood in his camp.

But Achilles was courteous to them, saying, "Welcome! I am angry at Agamemnon, not at you, so come closer. You have not treated me badly, as Agamemnon has.

"Agamemnon sent you to get Bryseis, and you shall have her. Patroclus, my friend, bring out Bryseis, and give her to these two heralds.

"But, heralds, listen to my words. Agamemnon shall need me one day to keep death away from his men. Agamemnon is a man who forgets what I have done in the past and what I can do in the future. He does not know what he needs to do to keep his warriors safe."

Patroclus obeyed his friend's request. He brought out Briseis and handed her over to the two heralds, who led her to Agamemnon. She followed them, reluctantly. She wanted to stay with Achilles.

Achilles left his friends and went to the beach. Raising his arms, he prayed to his mother: the sea-goddess Thetis.

He prayed, "Mother, you gave me life. My life will be short, and so Zeus should give me honor as recompense, but he does not. I lack honor. Agamemnon has taken my prize of honor away from me!"

He wept.

Thetis, sitting by her father, the Old Man of the Sea, heard her son's prayer. She swam to him and rose up out of the surf and sat by him on the shore. She stroked him gently and said, "Achilles, you are my child. Tell me why you are crying. Tell me what is wrong. Share your pain with me."

Achilles said to his mother, "You already know what is wrong. We Greeks attacked Thebe, the city of King Eetion. We conquered the city, and we carried away its treasure, cattle, women, and children.

"Agamemnon was awarded Chryseis, a beauty. But her father, a priest of Apollo, tried to ransom her with shining treasure. He carried the staff and wreaths that identified him as a priest of Apollo and approached Agamemnon and the Greek warriors. The Greek warriors wanted Agamemnon to respect the old priest and accept the shining ransom, but Agamemnon disrespected the old priest and ordered him to leave.

"The old priest prayed to Apollo, who—angered by the bad treatment given to his priest—answered his prayer by shooting arrows at the Greek warriors, killing them with plague. Our aged seer, Calchas, revealed the cause of the plague: the anger of Apollo.

"I wanted the anger of Apollo to be appeased. I was the first one to advocate appeasing his anger. But this made Agamemnon angry. Agamemnon made a threat to me, and he carried out his threat. His prize of honor, Chryseis, was returned to her father with sacrifices for Apollo. My prize of honor, Briseis, was taken from me and given to Agamemnon.

"Mother, help me to regain my honor! Go to Mount Olympus and plead with Zeus. Convince him to help me regain my honor.

"Zeus has never been conquered, although on occasion he has had to put down rebellions. On one occasion, he needed your help. Three gods—Hera, his wife; Poseidon, his brother who is the god of the sea; and Athena, his daughter—had succeeded in chaining him. But you were loyal to Zeus. You, alone of all the many gods, rushed to Zeus and broke the chains that bound him. In addition, you ordered the giant with a hundred hands to go to Zeus and protect him. The gods call the giant Briareus, and the mortals call him Aegaeon. Hera, Poseidon, and Athena saw the giant with the hundred hands. Terrified, they stopped their rebellion against Zeus.

"Remind Zeus of what you did for him. Sit by Zeus. Clasp his knees. Supplicate him. Convince him to allow the Trojans to be victorious for a while—to push the Greek warriors back to their ships and to kill and kill again. That way, the Greek warriors will understand—and Agamemnon will understand—how much they need me and how much they ought to respect me!"

Thetis wept, and she said, "Achilles, my son. You will die soon, and I do and shall grieve for you. You are doomed to have a short life. And now, you have both a short and an unhappy life. I want you to be happy in the life that remains to you. I will do as you ask, I will go to Mount Olympus, supplicate Zeus, and try to persuade him to allow the Trojans to kill and kill again.

"Achilles, stay here in your camp. Don't fight in the battles against the Trojans.

"Zeus is not now on Mount Olympus. Yesterday, he went to Ethiopia to take part in a feast. All of the other Olympian gods went with him. But he shall return to Mount Olympus in twelve days, and I shall see him then. I think I can persuade him to do as you wish."

Thetis left Achilles, who mourned in his camp for Briseis and for his lost honor.

Odysseus and the ship he captained reached the city of Chryse. The sail sailed into the harbor, docked, and unloaded the sacrificial animals for Apollo. Chryseis stepped on shore. Odysseus led Chryseis to her father, who was at the altar of Apollo. The old priest of Apollo hugged his daughter, and Odysseus said to him, "Chryses, Agamemnon sent me here. He wants you to have your daughter, and he wishes to sacrifice to Apollo, who has killed so many Greek warriors with plague. By doing these things, Agamemnon hopes to appease Apollo's wrath."

Odysseus left Chryses, and Chryses rejoiced with his daughter. Odysseus and his men prepared the cattle for sacrifice. They brought the cattle and barley to the altar. They rinsed their hands. Chryses raised his hands to the sky and prayed, "Apollo, earlier you heard and answered my prayer. You brought plague to the Greek warriors and killed many of them. Now I pray to you again. Stop the plague. Stop killing the Greek warriors."

Odysseus' men scattered grains of barley. They cut the throats of the cattle and killed them. Then they skinned the cattle and carved away the meat from the thighbones. They wrapped the thighbones in fat—two layers—and put some strips of meat on top. Chryses burned these offerings to the god Apollo, and poured out some wine for the god.

They then roasted the meat on spits, and each man ate. Next they poured out wine for each man, who spilled a few drops for the god and then drank.

All day, they sang songs that pleased Apollo who brings plague and who drives away plague. Apollo was happy.

Odysseus and the men slept on the island that night. At dawn, they sailed away back to the Greek camps. Apollo sent them favorable winds. The sails filled out, and the ship sped as the water foamed up at its bow. Once they had returned to the Greek camps, they hauled the ship high up on the beach and then each man returned to his camp.

Achilles stayed away from the other Greeks. He no longer attended councils. He no longer fought in battles. Still angry, he stayed in his own camp. But although he was angry, he yearned to fight again.

Twelve days passed since Achilles had spoken with Thetis, and now Zeus and the other gods returned to Mount Olympus. Thetis rose up out of the ocean and flew to Mount Olympus. She found Zeus sitting alone, away from the gods, at the top of the mountain. He was looking down at the world.

Thetis supplicated him. She knelt at his feet, grasped his knees with her left hand, and held him under his chin with her right hand. Zeus had to pay attention to her.

She said to him, "Zeus, if I have ever been of service to you and have ever helped you when you needed help, answer my prayer now. Honor my son—Achilles. He is mortal, and his life will be short. And now Agamemnon has disgraced Achilles by taking away his prize of honor that he fought so hard to earn. But you, Zeus, can bring my son honor. You are the king of gods and men, and you have the power to bring honor to my son by allowing the Trojans to kill and kill again until Agamemnon realizes just whom he has dishonored and gives him the honor he deserves!"

Zeus did not immediately respond. He thought. Yes, he owed Thetis, and yes, if he agreed to honor Thetis' request, his wife, Hera, who favored the Greeks, would try to make trouble for him and would probably succeed to some extent. He thought for a long time.

Thetis said to him, "Grant my prayer now, Father Zeus, and nod in assent. Swear an oath that is impossible for you to take back.

"Or, if you prefer, deny my prayer and let me know that you don't value me at all—that you dishonor me more than any other goddess."

Zeus replied, "If I agree to answer your prayer, it will be a disaster for me. Hera will be impossible. She and I will fight with each other. She will make me angry, and she will insult me. I have much experience with this. Even now, Hera accuses me of siding with the Trojans, of always taking their side. Leave now, before Hera sees you and guesses what you are asking me to do. But yes, I will answer your prayer. I will nod my head and make an inviolable vow to do what you are asking me to do. This is a vow that I _must_ fulfill."

He nodded his head, and earthquakes shook Mount Olympus.

Thetis left Zeus and returned to the sea. Zeus returned to his halls on Mount Olympus, and the other gods stood up to show respect to him.

Hera, however, had seen Thetis supplicate Zeus. She had seen him bow his head. She knew of the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon, and she could guess to what Zeus had agreed.

Hera taunted Zeus, "So, my treacherous husband, with which god have you been plotting now? Whenever my back is turned, you make grand plans and never let me know about them."

Zeus replied, "Hera, don't bother me. You do not need to know everything I do. If you ever have a need to know my plans, I will tell them to you. But if I choose to make plans with another god and you do not need to know what we are planning, don't expect me to tell you about our plans. So do not question me now."

Hera widened her eyes and said, "Are you accusing me of probing and prying? I have not and am not doing any such thing! You can make whatever plans you wish, but right now I am worried that Thetis, the daughter of the Old Man of the Sea, has convinced you to honor her mortal son, Achilles. I am afraid that she has convinced you to allow the Trojans to kill and kill again and drive the Greek warriors back against their ships."

Zeus replied, "And what if I have decided to allow the Trojans to be triumphant for a while? What can you do about it? Nothing. So sit down and be quiet. Even if all the gods on Olympus were to try to rescue you, I am powerful enough that I could still choke you with my strong hands."

Hera was terrified. Zeus was physically and mentally capable of doing exactly what he said he could do. Hera did not speak.

The other Olympian gods were also terrified. Zeus was that powerful and that strong.

Hephaestus, the blacksmith god with the strong shoulders and the lame legs, wanted to lighten the mood. He said, "Zeus and Hera, don't quarrel. Why fight over the doings of mortal men? Are they worth it? When you two quarrel, we gods are unable to enjoy the good life here on Mount Olympus.

"Mother, give in to the will of Zeus, my father. You two are my parents, and I want you to get along. Zeus is strong and powerful, and he can blast us gods with his lightning bolts. Better for you, Mother, to make Father happy. That way, he will be kind to us gods."

Hephaestus held out a two-handed cup filled with nectar to his mother, Hera, so she could drink.

He said to her, "Give in to the will of Zeus. I do not want to see him beat you, as he is very capable of doing. I would not be able to help you. Once, I ran to help you, and he grabbed my foot and threw me from Mount Olympus. I fell for twenty-four hours. Finally, I fell on the island called Lemnos. I am immortal, but I was injured. The mortals on Lemnos took care of me and made me healthy again."

Hera smiled and took the two-handed cup.

Hephaestus then poured out nectar to all of the other gods, exaggerating his limp and making jokes. The gods laughed and were happy again. They feasted on ambrosia and nectar and listened to Apollo's lyre and the Muses' singing until the sun went down.

The gods went to their own homes to sleep. Hephaestus had built their homes for them. Zeus slept, and Hera lay beside him.

Hera thought, _The cause of the Trojan War happened long ago. Thetis is a sea-goddess with whom Zeus, my husband, would normally want to sleep. He has many affairs with goddesses and with mortal women, and this drives me crazy. I am a jealous wife._

But Thetis is a special case because of a prophecy. The prophecy about Thetis' male offspring is that he will be a greater man than his father. This is something that would make most human fathers happy, but it would not make Zeus happy. Zeus was greater than his own father, and he overthrew his own father and became the king of gods and men. Zeus did not want to sleep with Thetis because if did that, Thetis would give birth to a male who would be more powerful than he is and who would overthrow him.

Therefore, Zeus, my husband, wanted to get Thetis married off to someone else. A marriage to a human being for Thetis suited Zeus just fine. A human son may be greater than his father, but a mortal is still not going to be as great as a god, and so Zeus knew that he would be safe if Thetis gave birth to a human son.

Zeus got Thetis to marry the mortal man named Peleus. After Peleus married Thetis, he fathered Achilles. The marriage did not last. Peleus is now an old man, and Thetis has not lived with him for a long time.

When Peleus married Thetis, they invited many gods and many mortals to the wedding. One goddess whom they did not invite was Eris, Goddess of Discord. But even though Eris was not invited to the wedding feast, she showed up anyway.

Eris, Goddess of Discord, threw an apple on a table at the wedding feast. Inscribed on the apple was the phrase 'For the most beautiful female.'

Obviously, this apple was meant for me, and I claimed it. But Athena, who is my husband's daughter, and Aphrodite, who is the goddess of sexual passion, also claimed the apple—bitches! Each of them thinks that she is more beautiful than me.

Someone had to judge the beauty pageant of the goddesses and decide who is the most beautiful. This should have been an easy task, since I am the most beautiful by far!

Zeus would seem to be the perfect choice to judge the beauty pageant, but he was smart enough not to.

He knew that I would make his life miserable—as a simple matter of justice—if he did not choose me as the most beautiful.

He knew that he would make Athena—his favorite child—unhappy if he did not choose her as the most beautiful.

He knew that Aphrodite could make his life miserable by making him think with his penis rather than his brain—something he does a lot of anyway—if he did not choose her as the most beautiful.

Zeus is not a fool. He knew that if he judged the beauty contest, he would make two enemies. The two goddesses whom Zeus did not choose as the most beautiful would hate him and likely make trouble for him. I have to give my husband some credit here.

So Zeus found a mortal sap to judge the beauty contest. Paris is a prince of Troy, and Zeus allowed him to judge the divine beauty contest. Paris was not as intelligent as Zeus, or he would have tried to find a way out of judging the beauty contest. Plus, he chose the wrong goddess as the winner.

Each of us goddesses offered Paris a bribe if he would choose her.

I offered Paris political power: several cities he can rule. I did this because I knew that Athena and Aphrodite would offer Paris bribes—cheaters!

Athena offered Paris prowess in battle. Paris would become a mighty and feared warrior.

Aphrodite offered Paris the most beautiful woman in the world to be his wife.

Paris chose Aphrodite as the winner of the beauty contest.

Why? Her bribe was the poorest!

A person such as Achilles would choose to be an even greater warrior, if that is possible.

A person such as Agamemnon would likely choose more cities to rule.

To chose the most beautiful woman in the world to be his wife is to choose the worst of the three choices!

The most beautiful woman is Helen, who is legally married to Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Paris visited Menelaus, and he ran away with lots of Menelaus' treasure and with his wife. Paris treated his host abominably.

Did Helen run away with Paris willingly? I don't know. Helen is tricky and hard to figure out.

Running away with Helen was and is a terrible insult to Menelaus and to Menelaus' entire family. Menelaus and Agamemnon are the sons of Atreus. Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, is the older brother and the brother who rules a greater land, as seen by the number of ships the two kings brought to the Trojan War. Menelaus brought sixty ships, while Agamemnon brought one hundred ships.

Because Agamemnon is the older brother, he is the leader of the Greek troops in the Trojan War.

Agamemnon and Menelaus gathered many Greek ships and warriors to sail to Troy and make war against the Trojans.

When the Greek ships were gathered together and were ready to set sail against Troy, a wind blew in the wrong direction for them to sail. The goddess Artemis was angry at the Greeks because she knew that the result of the Trojan War would be lots of deaths, not just of warriors, but also of women and children. This is true of all wars, and it is a lesson that human beings forget after each war and relearn in the next war.

Artemis knew that Agamemnon's warriors will cause much death of children, so she made him sacrifice one of his own daughters so that he will suffer what he will make other parents suffer.

Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigeneia. This was a religious sacrifice of a human life to appease the goddess Artemis.

On the day that he quarreled with Achilles, Agamemnon told the prophet Calchas that he always brings bad news to Agamemnon. This is true. Calchas is the prophet who told Agamemnon that he had to sacrifice his daughter in order to get favorable winds that would sail the ships to Troy.

After the sacrifice of Iphigenia, Agamemnon and Menelaus set sail with all the Greek ships for Troy. They landed, and then the Trojan War started.

Aphrodite supports the Trojans during the war, while Hera and Athena support the Greeks.

Hera and Athena are happy for many Trojans to die during the Trojan War—all because of a beauty contest.

Such is the anger of the gods.
APPENDIX C: ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a cry rang out, and on a hot summer night in 1954, Josephine, wife of Carl Bruce, gave birth to a boy — me. Unfortunately, this young married couple allowed Reuben Saturday, Josephine's brother, to name their first-born. Reuben, aka "The Joker," decided that Bruce was a nice name, so he decided to name me Bruce Bruce. I have gone by my middle name — David — ever since.

Being named Bruce David Bruce hasn't been all bad. Bank tellers remember me very quickly, so I don't often have to show an ID. It can be fun in charades, also. When I was a counselor as a teenager at Camp Echoing Hills in Warsaw, Ohio, a fellow counselor gave the signs for "sounds like" and "two words," then she pointed to a bruise on her leg twice. Bruise Bruise? Oh yeah, Bruce Bruce is the answer!

Uncle Reuben, by the way, gave me a haircut when I was in kindergarten. He cut my hair short and shaved a small bald spot on the back of my head. My mother wouldn't let me go to school until the bald spot grew out again.

Of all my brothers and sisters (six in all), I am the only transplant to Athens, Ohio. I was born in Newark, Ohio, and have lived all around Southeastern Ohio. However, I moved to Athens to go to Ohio University and have never left.

At Ohio U, I never could make up my mind whether to major in English or Philosophy, so I got a bachelor's degree with a double major in both areas, then I added a master's degree in English and a master's degree in Philosophy. Currently, and for a long time to come, I publish a weekly humorous column titled "Wise Up!" for _The Athens News_ and I am a retired English instructor at Ohio U.

If all goes well, I will publish one or two books a year for the rest of my life. (On the other hand, a good way to make God laugh is to tell Her your plans.)
APPENDIX D: FAIR USE

This communication uses information that I have downloaded and adapted from the WWW. I will not make a dime from it. The use of this information is consistent with fair use:

§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use

Release date: 2004-04-30

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include —

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

Source of Fair Use information: <http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html>.
APPENDIX E: BOOK BIBLIOGRAPHY

Franklin V, Benjamin. _Recollections of Anaïs Nin_. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 1996.

González-Balado, José Luis, compiler. _Mother Teresa: In My Own Words_. New York: Gramercy Books, 1996.

Guernsey, JoAnn Bren. _Hillary Rodham Clinton: A New Kind of First Lady_. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Company, 1993.

Himelstein, Shmuel. _A Touch of Wisdom, A Touch of Wit_. Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Limited, 1991.

Himelstein, Shmuel. _Words of Wisdom, Words of Wit_. Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Ltd., 1993.

Salzberg, Sharon. _Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness_. Boston, MA: Shambala Publications, Inc., 1995.

Sessions, William H., collector. _Laughter in Quaker Grey_. York, England: William Sessions, Limited, 1966.

Telushkin, Rabbi Joseph. _Jewish Wisdom: Ethical, Spiritual, and Historical Lessons from the Great Works and Thinkers_. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1994.
APPENDIX F: ENDNOTES

(1) Source: Jillian Eugenios, "Two for the road: Trooper delivers twins on highway." TODAY. 19 July 2012 <<http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48240923/ns/today-good_news/#.UBF2fq5bivl>>.

(2) Source: Bill Plaschke, "Saudi Arabian girl an unlikely Olympic hero." _Los Angeles Times_ (California). Printed in _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 3 August 2012 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2018844263_olympicsplaschke.html?syndication=rss>>. Also: Robert Deutsch, "Sarah Attar makes Olympic track debut for Saudi women." _USA Today_. 8 August 2012 <<http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/track/story/2012-08-08/sarah-attar-makes-track-debut-for-saudi-women/56869212/1>>.

(3) Source: "Australian fake Olympics ticket couple helped by donor." BBC (UK). 30 July 2010 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19047221>>.

(4) Source: Eddie Pells, "Manteo Mitchell Broken Leg: U.S. 4x400M Runner Finishes Olympic Relay After Breaking Leg." Huffington Post. 9 August 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/manteo-mitchell-broke-leg-injury-us-relay_n_1760905.html>>. Also: Krystal Bonner, "American Sprinter Manteo Mitchell Broke His Leg and Kept on Running. How Is That Possible?" _Slate_. 9 August 2012 <<http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/08/09/manteo_mitchell_olympics_broken_leg_an_american_sprinter_broke_his_fibula_in_the_4_by_400_relay_how_could_he_keep_running_.html>>.

(5) Source: "Zofia Noceti-Klepacka, Olympic windsurfer, will auction bronze medal to help girl with Cystic Fibrosis." _San Francisco Gate_ (California). 11 August 2012 <<http://blog.sfgate.com/olympics/2012/08/11/zofia-noceti-klepacka-olympic-windsurfer-will-auction-bronze-medal-to-help-girl-with-cystic-fibrosis/>>.

(6) Source: Stacy Conradt, "5 Olympians Who Sold Their Gold Medals." Mental Floss. 4 August 2012 <<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/136386#ixzz233PJUG1k>>.

(7) Source: Dave Deibert, "UFC middleweight Nick Ring meets fan he saved from muggers." Postmedia News. _National Post_ (Canada). 12 July 2012 <<http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/07/21/ufc-middleweight-nick-ring-meets-fan-he-saved-from-muggers/>>. Also: "Nick Ring aids two victims in swarm attack." Fightnews.com. 7 June 2012 <http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/nick-ring-aids-two-victims-in-swarm-attack-117680>.

(8) Source: Jorge Sedano, "Davone Bess Good Samaritan!" _Miami Herald_ (Florida). 1 June 2010 <<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sedano-says/2010/06/davone-bess-good-samaritan.html>>. Also: Mike Florio, "Davone Bess cuts off radio interview after witnessing accident." Pro Football talk. NBC Sports. 1 June 2010 <<http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/01/davone-bess-cuts-off-radio-interview-after-witnessing-accident/>>.

(9) Source: Ben Fox, "Dan Roundfield Dead: Former NBA All-Star Drowns In Aruba." Huffington Post. 7 August 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/07/dan-roundfield-dead-drowns-nba-aruba_n_1752769.html>>.

(10) Source: "Oswego roller derby team doesn't horse around doing good deed." _Post-Standard_ (Syracuse, New York). 19 July 2012 <<http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/oswego_roller_derby_team_doesn.html>>.

(11) Source: "Cayden Long, Boy With Cerebral Palsy, Competes In New England Triathlon With Older Brother." Huffington Post. 25 July 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/brothers-inspire_n_1703034.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news>>. Also: "Brotherly Bond." ESPN 8 November 2011 <<http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7208128>>. Also: Bryan Ellis, "Brothers inspire, amaze at New England Kids Triathlon." _Examiner_. 22 July 2012 <<http://www.examiner.com/article/brothers-inspire-amaze-at-new-england-kids-triathlon>>.

(12) Source: Benjamin Franklin V, _Recollections of Anaïs Nin_ , p. 154.

(13) Source: David Weir, "Jonathan Maberry On The Convergence of Indie and Traditional Publishing." Smashwords Blog. 13 July 2012 <<http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/07/jonathan-maberry-witnesses-convergence.html>>.

(14) Source: Jeff Patterson, "This is how you protect your brand." Jeff Patterson Design. 22 July 2012 <<http://jeffpatterson.tv/this-is-how-you-protect-your-brand/>>. Also: Jim Romebesko, "PUBLISHER AGREES TO CHANGE BOOK COVER THAT LOOKS LIKE A JACK DANIELS BOTTLE." Jimromebesko.com. 23 July 2012 <http://jimromenesko.com/2012/07/23/publisher-agrees-to-change-book-cover-that-looks-like-a-jack-daniels-bottle/>. Also: Patrick Wensink, "The Whiskey Rebellion." Brokenpianoforpresident.com. 19 July 2012 <<http://brokenpianoforpresident.com/2012/07/19/jack-daniels-lawsuit-the-full-scoop/>>.

(15) Source: Benjamin Franklin V, _Recollections of Anaïs Nin_ , p. 35.

(16) Source: Nicole Eggenberger, "The Wanted Rescue Female Fan After Fainting, Seizure Scare." _US Magazine_. 11 July 2012 <<http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/the-wanted-rescue-female-fan-after-fainting-seizure-scare-2012117>>. Also: Gordon Smart, "The kiss of life's Wanted." _The Sun_ (UK). 10 July 2012 <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/4420354/Boyband-The-Wanted-help-injured-fan-with-first-aid.html>>.

(17) Source: "Strangers Help Disabled Man See His Hero." Fox (Kansas City, Missouri). 2 July 2012; updated 3 July 2012 <<http://fox4kc.com/2012/07/02/strangers-help-disabled-man-see-his-hero/>>.

(18) Source: Greg Thomas, "Alto sax master Phil Woods' influence reaches far beyond the music." _New York Daily News_. 22 July 2012 <http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/alto-sax-master-phil-woods-influence-reaches-music-article-1.1117873?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Flatino+%28Latino%29>.

(19) Source: "Sarah Harding rescues drunken reveler. Monsters and Critics. 11 July 2012 <<http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1700646.php/Sarah-Harding-rescues-drunken-reveller>>.

(20) Source: Matt Soergel, "AT THE MOVIES: Society's good deeds are no acts of fiction." _Florida Times-Union_ (Jacksonville, Florida). 18 March 2005 <<http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/031805/ens_18236030.shtml>>. Also: "Amelie Poulain Society." <<http://plaza.ufl.edu/theiliad/apshome.html>>. Accessed 20 July 2012.

(21) Source: Spectral Motion, "Make a Wish day with Zachary." Facebook. 6 July 2012 <http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.302834343145044.66502.145844752177338&type=1>. Also: Seth Abramovitch, "Ron Perlman Visits Child in Full Hellboy Makeup for Make-A-Wish." _The Hollywood Reporter_. 6 July 2012 <<http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ron-perlman-make-wish-hellboy-346196>>.

(22) Source: "Jennifer's good deed." _Hindustan Times_ (New Delhi, India). 6 July 2010 <<http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Entertainment/Jennifer-s-good-deed/Article1-568314.aspx>>.

(23) Source: Jillian Benfield, "Area good Samaritans rushed to help." Letter to the Editor. _Augusta Chronicle_ (Georgia). 15 August 2011 <http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/letters/2011-08-15/area-good-samaritans-rushed-help>.

(24) Source: Megan O'Rourke, "Teacher helps get kids 'Snuggled Up.'" WDTN (Dayton, Ohio). 21 December 2011; 23 December 2011 <<http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/local/montgomery/teacher-helps-get-kids-snuggled-up?hpt=us_bn6>>. Also: Snuggled Up Inc." <<http://www.snuggledupinc.com/>> Accessed 22 July 2012.

(25) Source: Dan Feldner, "'Christmas angels' — Area couple pays $1,000 in layaway bills for families in need." _Minot Daily News_ (Minot, North Dakota). 12 December 2011 <<http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/561190/-Christmas-angels----Area-couple-pays--1-000-in-layaway-bills-for-families-in-need.html>>.

(26) Source: Darren Cunningham, "Anonymous Man Gives $2,000 to Strangers." FOX17.com. 8 December 2011 <<http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-anonymous-man-gives-2000-to-strangers-20111207,0,7322767.story>>.

(27) Source: Dennis Hoey, "Santa gives away money." _Portland Press Herald_ (Maine). 22 December 2011 <<http://www.pressherald.com/news/Secret-Santa-drops-100-bills-at-food-pantry.html?searchterm=good+samaritan>>.

(28) Source: Ted Siefer, "Good samaritan delivers replacement baby Jesus to Manchester home." _New Hampshire Union Leader_ (Manchester, New Hampshire). 26 December 2011 <<http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111227/NEWS03/712279993/0/SEARCH>>.

(29) Source: Throwawaybisquit, "My incredibly generous landlord keeps pretending he 'can't make it' to collect this month's rent, because he knows I don't really have it yet - What act of generosity has someone done for you?" 19 July 2012 <<http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/wtrch/my_incredibly_generous_landlord_keeps_pretending/>>. Plus comments.

(30) Source: "The ordinary heroes who stood up." _The Age_ (Australia). 24 July 2012 <<http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/the-ordinary-heroes-who-stood-up-20120723-22kbc.html>>.

(31) Source: Dominique Mosbergen, "Heroes Of Genocide: Australian Exhibit Celebrates Ordinary People Who Stood Up To Evil (PHOTOS)." Huffington Post. 26 July 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/genocide-heroes_n_1705708.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news>>.

(32) Source: Shmuel Himelstein, _Words of Wisdom, Words of Wit_ , pp. 65, 104.

(33) Source: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, _Jewish Wisdom_ , pp. 248-249.

(34) Source: Shmuel Himelstein, _A Touch of Wisdom, A Touch of Wit_ , p. 286.

(35) Source: Alastair Lawson, "NYC hails Muslim 'Good Samaritan.'" BBC News (UK). 18 December 2007 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7149916.stm>>.

(36) Source: José Luis González-Balado, compiler, _Mother Teresa: In My Own Words_ , pp. 39, 98.

(37) Source: William H. Sessions, collector, _Laughter in Quaker Grey_ , pp. 74, 76.

(38) Source: "Parable of the Good Samaritan." Luke 10:25-37. King James Version (KJV).  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=KJV . Accessed on 28 July 2012.

(39) Source: Signboard. Rose City Park United Methodist Church (Portland, Oregon). Tom Tate, Pastor. 28 March 2012 <<http://www.rcpumc.org/>>.

(40) Source: Jon Acuff, "I wish every church said what this church says in their bulletin..." Stuff Christians Like. 25 July 2012 <<http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2012/07/how-to-welcome-people-to-your-church/>>. Also: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Daytona Beach, Florida). <<http://ourladyoflourdesdaytona.com/>>. Accessed 28 July 2012.

(41) Source: David Plotz, "Abraham Lincoln Scrawled This Astonishing Note To Save a Soldier's Life." _Slate_. 2 August 2012 <<http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/08/02/abraham_lincoln_scrawled_this_astonishing_note_to_save_a_union_soldier_s_life.html>>.

(42) Source: "Good Samaritan Ensures War Medals Get to Family." The Denver Channel (Colorado). 11 October 2011 <<http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29447534/detail.html>>. Also: Ken de la Bastide, "Woman buys man's WWII medals, returns them." _Kokomo Tribune_ (Kokomo, Indiana). 9 October 2011 <<http://kokomotribune.com/local/x1402472162/Woman-buys-man-s-WWII-medals-returns-them/print>>.

(43) Source: A Gold Star Mother. "A Drink From Lt. Michael Murphy, Honoring A Hero." Knottie's Niche. 17 March 2012 <http://knottiesniche.com/2012/03/17/a-drink-from-lt-michael-murphy-honoring-a-hero/>.

(44) Source: JoAnn Bren Guernsey, _Hillary Rodham Clinton: A New Kind of First Lady_ , pp. 12, 17, 56.

(45) Source: "Charles plays good Samaritan." _Sun_ (UK). 16 October 2007 <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/348164/Charles-plays-good-samaritan.html>>.

(46) Source: Michael Zennie, "Amazing video shows black waiter in 1960s Mississippi explaining the pain of working in white-only restaurant... as his decedents ask whether the footage led to his murder." Daily Mail (UK). 15 July 2012; updated 16 July 2012 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2173906/Booker-Wright-spoke-working-white-restaurant-1960s-Mississippi.html?ito=feeds-newsxml>>.

(47) Source: Michelle Dupler, "Walla Walla Rep. Walsh's floor speech on gay marriage goes viral." _Tri-City Herald_ (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, Washington). _News Tribune_ (Tacoma, Washington). 10 February 2012 <<http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/10/2020204/walla-walla-rep-walshs-floor-speech.html>>. Also: "Republican Chokes Up At Gay Marriage Debate In Washington." YouTube. 9 February 2012 <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbmbdWK6338>>.

(48) Source: "Eagle Scout Returns His Badge To Protest Boy Scouts' Gay Ban." Instinct Magazine. 20 July 2012  http://instinctmagazine.com/blogs/blog/eagle-scout-returns-his-badge-to-protest-boy-scouts-gay-ban?directory=100011>. Also: "Straight Eagle Scout Returns Badge in Protest of Boy Scouts' Anti-Gay Policies." Towleroad. 20 July 2012 <<http://www.towleroad.com/2012/07/straight-eagle-scout-returns-badge-in-protest-of-anti-gay-boy-scouts.html>>. Also: "Boy Scouts' wrong path." Los Angeles Times (California). 19 July 2012 <<http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-0119-scouts-gay-ban-20120719,0,5210542.story>>.

(49) Source: Maggie Koerth-Baker, "Eagle Scouts stand up to the Boy Scouts of America: *UPDATED*." Boing Boing. 23 July 2012 <<http://boingboing.net/2012/07/23/eagle-scouts-stand-up-to-the-b.html>>.

(50) Source: Chris Hurn, "Stuffed Giraffe Shows What Customer Service Is All About." Huffington Post. 17 May 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-hurn/stuffed-giraffe-shows-wha_b_1524038.html>>.

(51) Source: Eric D. Lawrence, "'You're a blessing to me,' Detroit woman tells Good Samaritan." _Detroit Free Press_ (Michigan). 14 July 2012 <<http://www.freep.com/article/20120714/NEWS01/207140381/1001/RSS01>>.

(52) Source: John Oyler, "Oyler: Keep those cards, letters coming." _Pittsburg Tribune-Review_ (Pennsylvania). 29 May 2012; updated 30 May 2012 <<http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourcarlynton/yourcarlyntonmore/1878759-87/column-elias-1940-david-tin-bridgeville-census-reported-cemetery-chabala>>.

(53) Source: Maggie Koerth-Baker, "Nobel laureate occasionally hangs out on street corners, answering physics questions." Boing Boing. 12 July 2012 <<http://boingboing.net/2012/07/12/nobel-laureate-occasionally-ha.html>>. Also: "Leon M. Lederman." Wikipedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_M._Lederman>. Accessed 13 July 2012.

(54) Source: "Magic Arms: Adorable Toddler's Tiny Exoskeleton Helps Her Move." Huffington Post. 3 August 2012 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/wrex-3d-printed-exoskeleton-girl-move-arms_n_1739419.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news&ir=Good%20News>.

(55) Source: Martin Robinson, "Money well spent: Teenager who fell over while carrying Olympic torch is bought a new prosthetic limb by Britain's biggest Euromillions winners." _Daily Mail_ (UK). <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2181522/Teenager-lost-leg-cancer-bought-new-prosthetic-limb-Britain-s-biggest-Euromillions-winners-scooped-161million.html#ixzz22J4OhWhi>>.

(56) Source: Vonnie Callaway, "Good Deeds: Caring dentist goes the extra mile when the power went out." Letter to the Editor. _Capital Gazette_ (Annapolis, Maryland). 5 August 2012 <http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/local/good_deeds/good-deeds-caring-dentist-goes-the-extra-mile-when-the/article_a24d3321-9104-5f55-a034-23f896ee1594.html>.

(57) Source: "Searching for 'Good Samaritan.'" _Times Series_ (UK). 26 September 2006 <<http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/picture_gallery/2006/09/26/NEWS+Bexley/938468.Searching_for____Good_Samaritan___/>>.

(58) Source: "Indian origin minister plays good Samaritan mid-air." Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). 29 September 2009 <<http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/indian-origin-minister-plays-good-samaritan-mid-air_100253510.html>>.

(59) Source: Elizabeth Chuck, "Hiker awaiting help for broken leg ends up rescuing his rescuer." Msnbc.com. 10 July 2012 <<http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/10/12660504-hiker-awaiting-help-for-broken-leg-ends-up-rescuing-his-rescuer?lite>>. Also: Eric Kurhi, "Hiking trip turns into rescue mission for Sunnyvale man and friend," San Jose Mercury News (California). 9 July 2012; updated 10 July 2012 <http://www.mercurynews.com/sunnyvale/ci_21040522/hiking-trip-turns-into-rescue-mission-sunnyvale-man>. Also: "Correction: Rescue-CHP Officer." KLTV (East Texas). 10 July 2012 <http://www.kltv.com/story/18995637/correction-rescue-chp-officer>.

(60) Source: "TYCOON'S £21K GIFT TO SICK TOT." _Daily Star_ (UK). 6 April 2012 <<http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/244383/Tycoon-s-21k-gift-to-sick-tot/>>.

(61) Source: Megan Pope, "Good Samaritan keeps Brett moving." _Fraser Coast Chronicle_ (Queensland, Australia). 25 July 2012 <<http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2012/07/25/good-samaritan-keeps-brett-jones-moving-scooter/>>.

(62) Source: Rebecca Seales, "Racing legend turned BBC TV pundit Richard Pitman donates kidney to a sick stranger 'to do a good deed.'" _Daily Mail_ (UK). 7 February 2012 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097610/Richard-Pitman-donates-kidney-Racing-legend-turned-BBC-TV-pundit-helps-sick-stranger.html>>.

(63) Source: Valerie Cavazos, "Successful surgery: A Tucson teen donates her kidney to a toddler." KGUN (Tucson, Arizona). 19 June 2012 <<http://kguntv.m.mlnwap.com/Features/Health%20Watch/4?fl=1>>. Also: Valerie Cavazos, "Tucson teen donates a kidney to a toddler." KGUN (Tucson, Arizona). 20 May 2012 <<http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/152244735.html>>. Also: "Tucson teen donates kidney to toddler." KGUN (Tucson, Arizona). 19 June 2012 <<http://www.kgun9.com/multimedia/videos/?bctid=1697653418001>>.

(64) Source: Molly Shen, "Make A Wish program helps 'secret agent' foil villain's plan." KATU (Portland, Oregon). 18 July 2012 <<http://www.katu.com/news/local/Make-A-Wish-program-helps-secret-agent-foil-villain-Colby-Seahawks-162864376.html>>. Also: Marni Hughes, "Make-A-Wish gives 12-year-old boy a chance to be a secret agent." KCPQ (Seattle/Tacoma, Washington). 16 July 2012 <<http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-makeawish-gives-12yearold-boy-a-chance-to-be-a-secret-agent-20120716,0,2559851.story>>.

(65) Source: Lin Ferguson, "Passing stranger saves man from dogs." _Wanganui Chronicle_ (New Zealand). 2 July 2009 <<http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/passing-stranger-saves-man-from-dogs/1006412/>>.

(66) Source: "Bystanders saved shark bite Briton." _Independent_ (Ireland). 28 September 2011 <<http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/bystanders-saved-shark-bite-briton-2891158.html>>. Also: Chris Nomad, "Photo: The Moment Two Heroes Save The Life Of A British Man Who Just Had His Life Bitten Off By A Shark." Surftweeters. 1 October 2011 <<http://surftweeters.com/photo-the-moment-two-heroes-save-the-life-of-a-british-man-who-just-had-his-leg-bitten-off-by-a-shark/>>.

(67) Source: "How a boy with anxiety disorder which stops him saying 'I love you' was taught to show emotion... by his cat." _Daily Mail_ (UK). 18 July 2012 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2175416/Boy-say-I-love-disorder-taught-emotions--pet-cat.html?ITO=1490>>.

(68) Source: "Pint-Sized Pooch Rescues 2 Lost Girls: Chihuahua Bell Credited With Finding Friends In Woods." The Denver Channel (Colorado). 3 August 2012 <<http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31329296/detail.html>>.

(69) Source: Deidra Dukes, "Humane Society honors Lawrenceville dog for heroism." Fox (Atlanta, Georgia). 24 July 2012 <http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/19097399/humane-society-honors-lawrenceville-dog-for-heroism?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7538298>.

(70) Source: Patricia A. Miller, "Pit Bull Leads Good Samaritan To Stricken Owner In Double Trouble State Park." _Berkeley Patch_ (New Jersey). 6 June 2012 <<http://berkeley-nj.patch.com/articles/pit-bull-leads-good-samaritan-to-stricken-owner-in-double-trouble-state-park?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D166584>>. Also: Patricia A. Miller, "Owner Rescued By Beloved Pit Bull Mix Passes Away." _Bloomfield Patch_ (New Jersey). 17 June 2012 <<http://bloomfield.patch.com/articles/around-the-state-owner-rescued-by-beloved-pit-bull-mix-passes-away-fff46730>>.

(71) Source: Claire Osborn, "Barbecue business donates rib bones to dogs at shelter." _Austin American-Statesman_ (Austin, Texas). 2 August 2012 <<http://www.statesman.com/news/local/barbecue-business-donates-rib-bones-to-dogs-at-2427108.html>>.

(72) Source: Kbear0330, "Ruidoso Bear Rescue Mission." YouTube. 20 July 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZ60sEvX1Y&feature=player_embedded>.

(73) Source: Renuka Rayasam, "Teddy Bear TLC Keeps Sloth Baby Alive." _Spiegel_ (Hamburg, Germany). 19 July 2012 <<http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/dutch-zoo-feeds-sloth-baby-with-teddy-bear-surrogate-a-845270.html>>.

(74) Source: Vanesa Vennard, "FDNY hero saves beloved puppy from burning Bronx building." _New York Daily News_. 22 July 22 2012 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/fdny-hero-saves-beloved-puppy-burning-bronx-building-article-1.1119653#ixzz21Zm64P62>>.

(75) Source: Teresa Baldas, "'Quiet hero' took in abused, abandoned kids and raised them to be successful." _Detroit Free Press_ (Michigan). 15 July 2012 <<http://www.freep.com/article/20120715/NEWS01/207150516>>.

(76) Source: "Unidentified Good Samaritan helps family in need." WBBH (Fort Myers, Florida). 4 December 2010 <<http://www.nbc-2.com/story/13616143/unknown-good-samaritan-helps-family-in-need>>.

(77) Source: Sharon Salzberg, _Lovingkindness_ , pp. 27-28.

(78) Source: "12 Year Old Takes the Wheel After Grandfather Dies During Drive." KSEE (Fresno, California). 30 July 2012 <<http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/12-Year-Old-Takes-the-Wheel-After-Grandfather-Dies-During-Drive-164272596.html>>.

(79) Source: Tina Detelj, "Boy saves bus driver's life." WTNH (Connecticut). 20 February 2012 <<http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_london_cty/boy-saves-bus-drivers-life?hpt=us_bn4>>.

(80) Source: Alan Collins, "Four-year-old recognized as hero by Jefferson County." WBRC (Birmingham, Alabama). 22 June 2010 <http://www.myfoxal.com/story/12690291/four-year-old-recognized-as-hero-by-jefferson-county>.

(81) Source: Sarah Kehoe, "Hero: Tenino woman says she would have died if 6-year-old hadn't acted." _The Olympian_ (Olympia, Washington) 18 May 2009 <<http://www.theolympian.com/2009/05/18/853996/boy-saves-mom-with-911-call.html>>.

(82) Source: "Granddaughter speaks about life-saving call." WSVN (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Florida). 15 July 2011 <<http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21004846542766/>>.

(83) Source: "Samaritan's route change, awareness save 81-year-old: Michael Rowland gets help for Veronica Bagwell." WYFF (Greenville, South Carolina). 24 April 2012 <http://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/oconee-pickens-news/Samaritan-s-route-change-awareness-save-81-year-old/-/9654906/11779716/-/nx1ss0z/-/index.html>.

(84) Source: Rick Bella, "19-year-old spots man collapsed on Gladstone-area lawn, races to save his life." _Oregonian_ (Portland, Oregon). 30 July 2012 <<http://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2012/07/gladstone-area_19-year-old_spo.html>>.

(85) Source: Sarah Bloom, "Glen Allen girl lifts car, does CPR, saves father's life." WWBT (Richmond, Virginia). 30 July 2012; updated 31 July 2012 <<http://www.nbc12.com/story/19152108/glen-allen-girl-lifts-car-does-cpr-saves-fathers-life>>.

(86) Source: "Man Thanks People Who Helped Save His Life." The Denver Channel (Colorado). 16 May 2012 <<http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31070205/detail.html>>.

(87) Source: "Life-saving Samaritan: I'm not a hero." WBBH (Fort Myers, Florida). 27 September 2010 <<http://www.nbc-2.com/story/13225384/2010/09/27/life-saving-samaritan-im-not-a-hero>>.

(88) Source: Nadine Bells, "Vancouver heart attack survivor wants to thank the good Samaritans who saved him." Yahoo News Canada. 20 July 2012 <<http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/vancouver-heart-attack-survivor-wants-thank-good-samaritans-160656391.html>>. Also: Elaine Bougie Gilligan, "Good samaritans thanked for saving man." Letter to the Editor. _Vancouver Courier_ (British Columbia, Canada). 13 July 2012 <<http://www.vancourier.com/health/Good+smaritans+thanked+saving/6927878/story.html>>. Also: Will McDonald, "Vancouver heart attack survivor looking for Samaritans who saved him." _Vancouver Courier_ (British Columbia, Canada). 18 July 2012 <<http://www.vancourier.com/Vancouver+heart+attack+survivor+looking+Samaritans+saved/6948042/story.html>>.

(89) Source: Jessica Layton, "Colonie boy awarded for heroics." WNYT (Albany, NY). 3 July 2012; updated 4 July 2012 <<http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s2677947.shtml?cat=300>>.

(90) Source: Kenneth C. Crowe II, "Troy hero welcomed back: Burned while saving baby, woman receives praise from her grateful city, neighbors." _Times Union_ (Albany, New York). 3 August 2012 <<http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Troy-hero-welcomed-back-3761670.php>>.

(91) Source: Bianca Cain Johnson, "Teen neighbor helps save life of child in house fire; father dies." _Augusta Chronicle_ (Georgia). 6 August 2012; updated 7 August 2012 <<http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2012-08-06/morning-fire-kills-one-hero-saves-another?v=1344249850>>. Also: Christie Ethridge, "Neighbor saves 4-year-old from deadly fire." WRDW (Augusta, Georgia). 6 August 2012; updated 7 August 2012 <<http://www.wrdw.com/news/headlines/Neighbor-saves-4-year-old-from-deadly-fire-165184616.html>>.

(92) Source: "Hero Caught Children Dropped During Bond Hill Fire." WKRC (Cincinnati, Ohio). 16 July 2012; updated 17 July 2012 <<http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Hero-Caught-Children-Dropped-During-Bond-Hill-Fire/86ZfIkmPbU2Wa5EMZuRWbg.cspx?rss=30>>.

(93) Source: "Neighbor Saves Family After Possible Home Explosion In DeForest." Channel 3000 (Madison, Wisconsin). 30 March 2012; updated 2 April 2012 <<http://www.channel3000.com/news/Neighbor-Saves-Family-After-Possible-Home-Explosion-In-DeForest/-/1648/10369302/-/15b5ea2z/-/index.html>>.

(94) Source: Adam Mertz, "Neighbor helps save family in house fire." KFOR (Lincoln, Nebraska). 6 February 2012; updated 20 February 2012 <<http://kfor.com/2012/02/06/neighbor-helps-save-family-in-house-fire/>>.

(95) Source: "Cops rescue family from fire." Good News Blog. 2 August 2005 <http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/08/02/cops-rescue-family-from-fire>.

(96) Source: "Husband of 'hero' killed in fire remains in ICU." WAFF (Huntsville, Alabama). 11 July 2012; updated 12 July 2012 <<http://www.myfoxal.com/story/18998847/anderson-fire-leaves-1-dead>>.

(97) Source: "Good Samaritan rescues children from burning home." _Green Bay Press-Gazette_ (Wisconsin). 1 April 2012 <http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:NBQELlnb-dIJ:m.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20120401/CWS04/204010345/-1/WOF07%26template%3Dprintart+Bill+Young+was+driving+on+Highway+13+in+Abbotsford&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari>. Also: "Good Samaritan Hero: William Young." WAOW (Wausau, Wisconsin). 2 April 2012 <<http://www.waow.com/story/17313769/good-samaritan-hero>>.

(98) Source: "Teen saves woman trapped in burning car." KLTV (Tyler, Texas). 7 August 2012 <<http://www.kltv.com/story/19213908/teen-saves-woman-trapped-in-burning-car>>.

(99) Source: "'He spared my life'; Crash victim shares heroic tale of water rescue." KLTV (Tyler, Texas). 9 July 2012; updated 23 July 2012 <<http://www.kltv.com/story/18980204/he-spared-my-life-crash-victim-shares-heroic-tale-of-water-rescue>>.

(100) Source: "Teen hero hailed for stopping runaway car." _Shropshire Star_ (UK). 27 July 2012 <<http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/07/27/teen-hero-hailed-for-stopping-runaway-car/>>.

(101) Source: "Good Samaritan's deed saves tourists' holiday." _Hawkes Bay Today_ (New Zealand). 31 December 2004 <<http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/good-samaritans-deed-saves-tourists-holiday/939125/>>

(102) Source: Tony Lopez, "Sacramento Man Searches For Woman Who Pulled Him Form Freeway Car Wreck." CBS Sacramento (California). 27 July 2012 <<http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/07/27/sacramento-man-searches-for-woman-who-pulled-him-form-freeway-car-wreck/>>.

(103) Source: "Good Samaritan saves veteran on the interstate." WYFF (Greenville, South Carolina). 27 July 2012 <<http://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/greenville-news/Good-Samaritan-saves-veteran-on-the-interstate/-/9654794/15740038/-/9px3nw/-/index.html>>.

(104) Source: "Rutland Mom Thanks Hero Police Officer Who Saved Her Life After Crash." WBZ (Boston, Massachusetts).13 July 2012 <http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/07/13/rutland-mom-thanks-hero-police-officer-who-saved-her-life-after-crash/>. Also: Worcester Police Department, "A Local Woman Thanks WPD Officer for Saving Her Life." YouTube. 12 July 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMNNPunBPcQ&feature=youtube_gdata>.

(105) Source: "Good Samaritans Shield Injured Motorcyclist on Central Expressway with Vehicles; Racing Biker Survives." KDAF (Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas). 7 May 2010 <<http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-good-samaritans-block-motorcyclist-central-ex,0,7920076.story>>. Also: "DPD Lt. Jimmy Vaughan Explains Racing Motorcyclist/Good Samaritan Crashes." KDAF (Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas). <<http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/?watchId=100c73a7-ff81-40a2-b45e-731a626a1190>>. Accessed 15 July 2012.

(106) Source: "Eyewitness rushes child to hospital, offers gold chain for treatment." NDTV (New Delhi, India). 12 July 2012 <<http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/eyewitness-rushes-child-to-hospital-offers-gold-chain-for-treatment-242609>>.

(107) Source: Shelby Croft, "Man Stops Runaway Bus in Wisconsin And Saves Driver." WISN (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). 21 September 2011 <http://www.emsworld.com/news/10364853/man-stops-runaway-bus-in-wisconsin-and-saves-driver>. Posted at EMS World.

(108) Source: Charlotte Brehaut, "Pastor is car crash saviour as God takes the driving seat." _Sun_ (UK). 4 July 2012 <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article4410193.ece>>.

(109) Source: Taylor Kearns, "A Chance Encounter: A man meets his unknown hero." WISTV (Columbia, South Carolina). 10 July 2012; updated 11 July 2012 <<http://www.wistv.com/story/18996311/a-chance-encounter-a-man-meets-his-unknown-hero>>.

(110) Source: Peralte C. Paul, "Samaritans pull kids from smoke-filled bus." _Florida Times-Union_ (Jacksonville, Florida). 29 September 1998 <<http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092998/met_2b1heroe.html>>.

(111) Source: Cassandra Vinch, "Family thankful after passerby saves 3-year-old boy from crash." WAOW (Wausau, Wisconsin). 10 June 2012 <<http://www.waow.com/story/18750794/family-thankful-after-passerby-saves-3-year-old-boy-from-crash>>.

(112) Source: "Anchor treats 154 heroes in Beijing downpours." _China Daily_. 31 July 2012 <<http://english.sina.com/china/p/2012/0730/491379.html>>.

(113) Source: Dana Kinita, "Samaritans to rescue as man in wheelchair rolls into the lake." _Rotorua Daily Post_ (New Zealand)> 15 February 2012 <<http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/samaritans-to-rescue-as-man-in-wheelchair-rolls-in/1044173/>>.

(114) Source: "Dinghy boy, 10, rescues yacht pair off Brixham." BBC (UK). 2 August 2012 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-19090663>>.

(115) Source: Katie Brace, "Riverdale pizza delivery man saves teen from drowning." CBS Atlanta (Georgia). 27 July 2012 <<http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19126968/pizza-delivery-man-saves-teen-from-drowning?hpt=us_bn8>>.

(116) Source: "Good Samaritan Saves Hermosa Beach Boy from Drowning." KTLA News (California). 11 August 2012 <<http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-hermosa-beach-good-samaritan,0,5884878.story>>.

(117) Source: Audree Steinberg, "8-Year-Old Hero Pulls Another Boy From Pool." ABC News. 28 July 2012 <<http://abcnews.go.com/US/year-hero-pulls-boy-bottom-pool/story?id=16873817#.UBWO-a5bivk>>.

(118) Source: Susan Tordella, "A good Samaritan saves the day." Raising Able. 6 August 2012 <<http://raisingable.com/2012/08/06/a-good-samaritan-saves-the-day/>>.

(119) Source: "HUMBLE HERO PRAISED FOR SAVING BOY, 5, STEP MUM." Yahoo!7 (Australia). 19 July 2012 <<http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/latest/14274431/humble-hero-praised-for-saving-boy-5-step-mum/>>.

(120) Source: Tom Yerace, "Harrison Mom, neighbor rescue tot from backyard pool." Triblive.com. 13 July 2012; updated 14 July 2012 <http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourallekiskivalley/yourallekiskivalleymore/2203076-87/deiseroth-lucas-pool-backyard-najanick-call-daughter-drowning-family-ground?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pghlive_vnd+%28Valley+News+Dispatch%29>.

(121) Source: "Teen rescues child and grandmother from lake." WSVN (Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida). 11 July 2012 <<http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21007964851752/teen-rescues-child-and-grandmother-from-lake/>>.

(122) Source: Matt Dinger and Jim Beckel, "Man from Del City rescues grandson from sinking van." NewsOK (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma). 13 July 2012 <<http://newsok.com/man-from-del-city-rescues-grandson-from-sinking-van/article/3692113?custom_click=rss>>.

(123) Source: Kimball Bennion, "Boys prevent tragedy in Missouri River." _Great Falls Tribune_ (Montana). 10 July 2012 <http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120710/NEWS01/207100304/Boys-prevent-tragedy-Missouri-River?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage&nclick_check=1>.

(124) Source: Daniel Woolfolk, "Teen Rescues Girl Hours After Becoming Lifeguard." Camp Pendleton Patch. 30 June 2012 <<http://camppendleton.patch.com/articles/teen-saves-swimmer-hours-after-graduating-lifeguard-academy-graduate-jennifer-mahin-hero#photo-10518956>>.

(125) Source: "Off-Duty Lifesaver Rescues Drowning Brother and Sister at Monwabisi Beach." City Of Cape Town. 12 September 2005 <<http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/MediaReleases/Pages/Off-DutyLifeSaverRescueDrowningBrother.aspx>>. Also: "Lifeguard hailed for heroic rescue." Good News Blog. 12 September 2005 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/09/12/lifeguard-hailed-for-heroic-rescue>>.

(126) Source: "Heroes save teenage girl." Good News Blog. 14 September 2005 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/09/14/heroes-save-teenage-girl>>.

(127) Source: Jeannie Prescott, "Red Cross Good Samaritan Hero." WAOW (Wausau, Wisconsin). 31 March 2009 <<http://www.waow.com/story/10102498/red-cross-good-samaritan-hero>>.

(128) Source: Lee Tolliver, "Off the Hook: Good deed pays off for man seeking a tarpon." _Virginian-Pilot_ (Norfolk, Virginia). 20 July 2007 <<http://hamptonroads.com/node/302651>>.

(129) Source: Katy Tur, "Hero Bus Driver Catches Girl in 3-Story Brooklyn Plunge." NBC. 17 July 2012 <<http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Hero-MTA-Bus-Driver-Catches-Girl-Falling-Three-Stories-Brooklyn-Building-Coney-Island-162666676.html>>.

(130) Source: "Oregon woman catches free-falling 2-year-old." _The Spokesman-Review_ (Spokane, Washington). 3 July 2012 <<http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/03/woman-catches-free-falling-child/>>.

(131) Source: "Burning Mom Tosses Baby to Safety." KSEE (Fresno, California). 2 February 2012 <<http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Burning-Mom-Tosses-Baby-to-Safety-138535909.html>>. Also: Elisa Amigo, "Woman Saves Baby Dropped from Window." Fox 8 Cleveland (Ohio). 1 February 2012 <<http://fox8.com/2012/02/01/woman-saves-baby-tossed-from-window/>>.

(132) Source: Brian McGrory, "Banking on kindness at the MBTA." _The Boston Globe_ (Massachusetts). 1 August 2012 <<http://articles.boston.com/2012-08-01/metro/32959346_1_driver-bus-mattapan-square>>.

(133) Source: Dan Menhinnitt, "Good Samaritan saves girl from unwanted advances." _Times Series_ (UK). 10 July 2008 <<http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/picture_gallery/2008/07/10/zzzOLD+Brentford+News+%28BrentChisNews%29/2389734.Good_Samaritan_saves_girl_from_unwanted_advances_/>>.

(134) Source: John Coles, "Samaritan gives rape victim £10k." _Sun_ (UK). 9 October 2009 <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2675692/Samaritan-gives-rape-victim-10k.html>>.

(135) Source: Guy Kovner, "Faces of heroism: 11 honored in annual recognition for efforts in education, medicine, law enforcement, more." _Press Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, California). 24 April 2011 <<http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110424/ARTICLES/104241040>>. Also: "Real Hero, Michael and Geoff, Good Samaritan Adult." YouTube. 11 May 2011 <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwGFGekUxlU>>. Also: "Teen nearly kidnapped by man wearing mask." _Ukiah Daily Journal Staff_. Posted on Calguns.net. 4 October 2010 <<http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=350021>>. Also: "Man sentenced for attempted rape in Ukiah." _Press Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, California). 17 March 2011 <http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110317/ARTICLES/110319506>.

(136) Source: "Woman stabbed at Stockholm youth hostel." _The Local_ (Sweden). 2 July 2012 <<http://www.thelocal.se/41782/20120702/>>.

(137) Source: "Assault and Attempted Abduction in Burlington." WCAX (Burlington, Vermont). 10 September 2009 <<http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=11109440>>.

(138) Source: Clarence Williams, "D.C. police laud citizens who stop criminals." _Washington Post_. 26 May 2012 <<http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/dc-police-laud-citizens-who-stop-thugs-in-face-of-danger/2012/05/25/gJQAx4xNqU_story.html>>. Also: "Md. man charged in attempted abduction of Va. woman in D.C." WJLA (Washington, D.C.). 15 December 2011 <<http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/12/md-man-charged-in-attempted-abduction-of-va-woman-in-d-c--70366.html>>.

(139) Source: Dave Nethers, "Good Samaritans Help Canton Officer Fend Off Attack." Fox 8 Cleveland (Ohio). 13 December 2011 <<http://fox8.com/2011/12/13/good-samaritans-help-canton-officer-fend-off-attack/>>.

(140) Source: "Good Samaritan: 'I Wasn't Really Thinking About The Severity Of The Situation.'" KHQ (Spokane, Washington). 21 June 2012 <<http://www.khq.com/story/18841966/good-samaritan-i-wasnt-really-thinking-about-the-severity-of-the-situation>>. Also:  Nicholas K. Geranios, "2 deputies wounded in Spokane, Wash., shooting." _Seattle Times_ (Washington). Associated Press. 19 June 2012 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018473554_apwaspokaneofficersshot4thldwritethru.html>>.

(141) Source: Mark Hughes, "Sikh hero fought neo-Nazi Wisconsin gunman to lay down his own life for others." _Telegraph_ (UK). 7 August 2012 <<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9457904/Sikh-hero-fought-neo-Nazi-Wisconsin-gunman-to-lay-down-his-own-life-for-others.html>>.

(142) Source: Alex Perez, "Hero Kids Saved Lives at Sikh Temple Massacre." ABC News. 8 August 2012 <<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/08/hero-kids-saved-lives-at-sikh-temple-massacre/>>. Also: Mike Johnson, "Sikh group pledges $10,000 for injured officer." _Milwaukee Journal Sentinel_ (Wisconsin). 6 August 2012 <<http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/sikh-group-pledges-10000-for-injured-officer-856cqd7-165152886.html>>.

(143) Source: Caitlin Gibbons, Susan Edelman, and Michael Gartland, "THE VICTIMS: Real movie heroes saved their sweethearts during Colo. Ambush." _New York Post_. 21 July 2012; updated 22 July 2012 <<http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/the_victims_boyfriends_saved_their_lAZ3ZF4nbDsTyPkeAAkZsM#ixzz21Y2wSeSf>>.

(144) Source: Lisa Flam, "Hero amid the bullets: The power of female friendship." TODAY. 23 July 2012 <<http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/23/12907847-hero-amid-the-bullets-the-power-of-female-friendship?lite>>.

(145) Source: Jack Dunphy, "Aurora's Anonymous Hero." PJ Media. 22 July 2012 <http://pjmedia.com/blog/auroras-anonymous-hero/?singlepage=true>.

(146) Source: Jenny Deam, "Moviegoer comes face-to-face with gunman in Colorado theater." _Los Angeles Times_ (California). 20 July 2012 <<http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-colorado-shootings-witness-gunman-20120720,0,2586663.story>>. Source: Kevin Dolak, "'Dark Knight Rises' Shooting Victim Stopped to Help Young Mother." ABC News. 20 July 2012 <<http://abcnews.go.com/US/dark-knight-rises-shooting-victim-stopped-young-mom/story?id=16822336#.UAnOAWmXRpS>>.

(147) Source: "Good Samaritan talks about helping wounded teen." WAFB (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). 23 July 2012 <<http://www.wafb.com/story/19094299/good-samaritan-talks-about-saving-teen>>.

(148) Source: Sheila Marakar, "Christian Bale Visits Aurora, Colo. Shooting Victims." ABC News. 24 July 2012 <<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/07/christian-bale-visits-aurora-colo-shooting-victims/>>. Also: Kurtis Lee and Ryan Parker, "Batman actor Christian Bale visits victims, hospital personnel." _Denver Post_ (Colorado). 24 July 2012; updated 25 July 2012 <<http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21147699/christian-bale-town-visiting-victims-shooting>>.

(149) Source: "Aurora victim's donated organs save man's life?" RT (Russia). 23 July 2012 <<http://rt.com/usa/news/colorado-shooting-victim-lungs-save-life-808/>>. Also: Lucasmassey, "My Uncle Greg just got two new lungs from a victim of the Aurora shootings. Amazing that such a tragedy saves a mans life too." Imgur. 22 July 2012 <<http://imgur.com/a/L5zru>>.

(150) Source: Kacy Faulconer, "So Shines a Good Deed in a Weary World." Every Day I Write the Book. 24 July 2012 <http://www.kacyfaulconer.com/2012/07/so-shines-good-deed-in-weary-world.html>.

(151) Source: Cathy Sawchak, "Random Acts of Kindness: Holy popcorn hero, Batman!" Letter to the Editor. _Pittsburgh Post-Gazette_ (Pennsylvania). 2 August 2012 <http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12215/1251043-294.stm>.

(152) Source: Jessica Cooley, "Good Samaritans furnish wedding dress for woman whose own was stolen five days before her wedding." _The Lufkin Daily News_ (Lufkin, Texas). 18 August 2011 <<http://lufkindailynews.com/news/local/article_18b6831e-c957-11e0-99fe-001cc4c03286.html>>.

(153) Source: "Ontario thief returns stolen goods, leaves $50 for damages." CBC News (Canada). 1 August 2012 <<http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/08/01/guelph-thief-returns-stolen-goods.html>>.

(154) Source: Nita Lelyveld, "Gardena man's rescue of fellow bus rider's bike changes his life." _Los Angeles Times_ (California). 11 July 2012 <http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bicycle-buddies-20120711,0,1485509.story?track=rss>.

(155) Source: "VICTIM'S FAMILY HAIL GOOD SAMARITAN." _Daily Star_ (UK). 5 July 2008 <<http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/43087/Victim-s-family-hail-Good-Samaritan/>>.

(156) Source: Abbie Alford, "Good Samaritan captures hit & run, DUI suspect." Fox 23 (Tulsa, Oklahoma). 16 January 2012; updated 18 January 2012 <<http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Good-Samaritan-captures-hit-run-DUI-suspect/1uo097VaOU6MJyx1IsURBQ.cspx>>.

(157) Source: Deanna Durante, "Boy Hero Saves Family." NBC Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). 10 July 2012 <<http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Boy-Hero-Saves-Family-161872615.html>>. Also: Amy Buckman, "Hero boy, 13, stops Upper Darby home invasion." WPVI (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). 6 July 2012 <http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8727783>.

(158) Source: Kumi Tucker, "Good Samaritan." WNYT. KSEE (Fresno, California). 29 June 2012 <<http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Good-Samaritan-160778415.html>>.

(159) Source: "Pizza Hut Delivery Guy Surprises Customer On Her Birthday." Huffington Post. 10 August 2012 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/10/pizza-hut-delivery-birthday_n_1763938.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news&ir=Good%20News>.

(160) Source: Hasifa, "Helping a Young Blind Man." Helpothers.org. 9 August 2012 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=33715>>.

(161) Source: Russell T. Middleton, "A Good Deed Goes Unthanked." _New York Times_. 9 August 2012 <<http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/a-good-deed-goes-unthanked/>>.

(162) Source: Raul C. Pangalangan, "That video of a Good Samaritan on Edsa." _Philippine Daily Inquirer_ (Philippines). 2 August 2012 <<http://opinion.inquirer.net/33927/that-video-of-a-good-samaritan-on-edsa>>. Also: "That video of Good Samaritan on Edsa." YouTube. 2 August 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbQNVRd_Yio&feature=player_embedded>.

(163) Source: Charlotte Leary, "Good deed for the day." Twitter. 4 August 2012 <<http://twitter.com/clearyxxx/statuses/231751963560255488>>.

(164) Source: A.Seges, "I rode past a lady in the pourin rain...." Twitter. 1 August 2012 <<http://twitter.com/BaddJawn91/statuses/230693668368039936>>.

(165) Source: Steinar Knutsen. Tweet. Twitter. 27 July 2012 <<http://twitter.com/steinarknutsen/statuses/228855498701684737>>.

(166) Source: "Are you a Good Samaritan?" Open Thread. _Guardian_ (UK). 5 March 2012 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/05/good-samaritan-germany-altruism?INTCMP=SRCH>>.

(167) Source: Mike Donelson, "Good Samaritans walk among us." _Las Vegas Sun_ (Las Vegas, Nevada). 9 October 2008 <<http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/oct/09/good-samaritans-walk-among-us/>>.

(168) Source: Bruce Thain, "Actor gives stranded commuters lift home." _Times Series_ (UK). 1 June 2012 <<http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/picture_gallery/2012/06/01/News+%28news%29/9740881.Actor_gives_stranded_commuters_lift_home/>>.

(169) Source: Couscousmagoose, "A homeless man...." Reddit. 27 July 2012 <<http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/x88c8/a_homeless_man_chased_me_down_to_return_my/>>.

(170) Source: Matt Flener, "Diamond rings found in Golden sewer main." 9NEWS (Denver, Colorado). 8 August 2012 <http://www.9news.com/news/article/281992/188/Diamond-rings-found-in-Golden-sewer-main>.

(171) Source: "SWAG! Good Samaritan Helps Elderly Lady Cross The Street While Others Just Drive By Like They Don't See Her!" 17 July 2012 <<http://ilpvideo.com/video.php?v=MzY3NDY>>. Accessed 22 July 2012. Also: Grace B. Answer Expert. "Swag Stand for." Reference.com. <<http://www.reference.com/motif/reference/swag-stand-for>>. Accessed 22 July 2012. Source: Vera Culley, "Good Deed: Man Helps Elderly Woman Cross the Street." KTVI (St. Louis, Missouri). 24 July 2012 <<http://fox2now.com/2012/07/24/good-deed-man-helps-elderly-woman-cross-the-street/>>.

(172) Source: "Good deed gets woman real thanks." _Bradenton Herald_ (Florida). 13 August 2010 <<http://www.bradenton.com/2010/08/13/2503423/good-deed-gets-woman-real-thanks.html>>. Also: "Bicyclist finds, returns $1,500 found in NW Bradenton." 2 August 2011. _Bradenton Herald_ (Florida). <<http://www.bradenton.com/2011/08/02/3390229/bicyclist-finds-returns-1500-found.html>>.

(173) Source: Nora Hawkes, "Random acts of kindness." _Irish Times_ (Dublin, Ireland). 26 July 2012 <<http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2012/0726/1224320825789.html>>.

(174) Source: "CAFE OWNER HAILED HERO FOR SAVING ELDERLY CUSTOMER." Yahoo 7 (Australia). 11 July 2012 <<http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/newshome/14192775/cafe-owner-hailed-hero-for-saving-elderly-customer/>>. Also: Jessica Bennett, "Moorabbin cafe boss saves woman." _Moorabbin Leader_ (Melbourne, Australia). 11 July 2012 <<http://moorabbin-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/moorabbin-cafe-boss-saves-woman/>>.

(175) Source: "Woman dials wrong number, gets help." WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). 13 July 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/world/12007991165841/woman-dials-wrong-number-gets-help/>>.

(176) Source: "Rant & Rave: Sheriffs come to the rescue — without a snicker." _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 15 July 2012 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2018663466_rantrave15.html?syndication=rss>>.

(177) Source: Maren Longhurst, "Grateful for good Samaritan." Letter to the Editor. _Missoulian_ (Missoula, Montana). 26 July 2012 <<http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/grateful-for-good-samaritan/article_13c5b930-d72d-11e1-9661-001a4bcf887a.html>>. Also: Catherine O'Neill, "Helping stranger in a bind ." Letter to the Editor. _Missoulian_ (Missoula, Montana). 22 April 2012 <<http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/helping-stranger-in-a-bind/article_8510c962-8b07-11e1-ba9e-001a4bcf887a.html>>. Also: Kerin Young, "Good Samaritan helps retirees." Letter to the Editor. _Missoulian_ (Missoula, Montana). 26 January 2012 <<http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/good-samaritan-helps-retirees/article_bbf560c4-4830-11e1-9d9a-0019bb2963f4.html>>.

(178) Source: Whare Akuhata, "Good Samaritan act stuns 'blessed' Fred." _Rotorua Daily Post_ (New Zealand). 17 May 2012 <<http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/good-samaritan-act-stuns-blessed-fred/1383722/>>. Also: Cherie Taylor, "Man's grocery bill saviour dobbed in." _Rotorua Daily Post_ (New Zealand). 19 January 2012 <<http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/mans-grocery-bill-saviour-dobbed-in1/1242994/>>.

(179) Source: "Gordon's good deed." _The Westmorland Gazette_ (Kendal, England). 5 March 1996 <<http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/leisure/leisure_britawards/archive/1996/03/05/Lancashire+Archive/6210477.Gordon_s_good_deed/>>. Also: "Wanderers chip in with a good turn." _The Westmorland Gazette_ (Kendal, England). 5 October 1998 <<http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/leisure/leisure_britawards/archive/1998/10/05/Lancashire+Archive/6140700.Wanderers_chip_in_with_a_good_turn/>>. Also: "Good deed has restored my faith." _The Westmorland Gazette_ (Kendal, England). 30 October 2007 <<http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/leisure/leisure_britawards/archive/2007/10/30/You+Say+%28bolton_letters%29/1795557.Good_deed_has_restored_my_faith/>>. Also: "Young Samaritans rally to the rescue." _The Westmorland Gazette_ (Kendal, England). 10 November 2004 <<http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/leisure/leisure_britawards/archive/2004/11/10/Lancashire+Archive/5810182.Young_Samaritans_rally_to_the_rescue/>>.

(180) Source: The Ashton Family and Baxter, "Good Deed: Neighbors, stranger come to the rescue." Letter to the Editor. _Chattanooga Times Free Press_ (Tennessee). 1 July 2012 <<http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/01/good-deed/>>. Also: Ronnie's Fan Club, "Good Deed." Letter to the Editor. _Chattanooga Times Free Press_ (Tennessee). 6 May 2012 <<http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/06/good-deed/>>. Also: Ken Boyd, "Good Deed: Generous deed gives peace of mind." Letter to the Editor. _Chattanooga Times Free Press_ (Tennessee). 15 July 2012 <http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/15/good-deed/>.

(181) Source: Kim Greer, "Good deed appreciated." Letter to the Editor. Homernews.com. 18 July 2012 <<http://homernews.com/stories/071812/letters_deed.shtml>>. Also: Kim Burrows, "Good deed will be paid forward." Letter to the Editor. Homernews.com. 26 January 2011 <<http://www.homernews.com/stories/012611/letters_gdwp.shtml>>. Also: Terri Mach, "Good Samaritan's deeds recognized." Letter to the Editor. Homernews.com. 7 July 2005 <<http://www.homernews.com/stories/070705/letters_20050707016.shtml>>.

(182) Source: Janet Berry, "Honest, caring folk." Letter to the Editor. Capitalgazette.com (Annapolis, Maryland). 11 March 2012 <<http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/good-deeds-there-are-still-good-people-in-this-world/article_a9a16997-8213-5a3f-8209-c188899ee949.html>>. Also: Theano P. Platt, "Good Deeds: Stranger's kind deed restores faith in people." Letter to the Editor. Capitalgazette.com (Annapolis, Maryland). 8 April 2012 <<http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/local/good_deeds/good-deeds-stranger-s-kind-deed-restores-faith-in-people/article_b76b73ac-ad3c-530c-b699-c5ea2d2e9e5a.html>>. Also: Lynda Tison, "Good Deeds: Caring teens comfort girl waiting for ride." Letter to the Editor. Capitalgazette.com (Annapolis, Maryland). 4 December 2012 <<http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/good-deeds-caring-teens-comfort-girl-waiting-for-ride/article_ce96c252-0108-5bd1-a708-b21099f16253.html>>. Also: Mark Mozier, "Good Deeds: Teens who comforted girl are identified." Letter to the Editor. Capitalgazette.com (Annapolis, Maryland). 11 December 2011 <<http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/good-deeds-teens-who-comforted-girl-are-identified/article_366e45b4-f40b-5784-895b-2ddd39a26802.html>>.

(183) Source: Greg Stephens, "Good Samaritans." Letter to the Editor. Southwesternontario.ca (Canada). 26 July 2012 <http://www.southwesternontario.ca/opinion/good-samaritans/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=good-samaritans>. Also: Rachel Slaney, "Cellphone good Samaritans." Letter to the Editor. Southwesternontario.ca (Canada). 18 January 2012 <http://www.southwesternontario.ca/opinion/cellphone-good-samaritans/>. Also: Jean Jenner, "A good Samaritan." Letter to the Editor. Southwesternontario.ca (Canada). 29 June 2011 <<http://www.southwesternontario.ca/opinion/editorial-opinion/a-good-samaritan/>>.

(184) Source: E. Menten, "Random acts of kindness." Letter to the Editor. _The Gazette_ (Montreal, Canada). 18 April 2009 <<http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/saturdayextra/story.html?id=9083fb9f-2f61-4279-85fd-1a8c7031b711>>.

(185) Source: Sandra Mikulich, "Thank you for a thoughtful good deed." Letter to the Editor. _Examiner_ (Independence, Missouri). 17 January 2012 <http://www.examiner.net/opinion/letters/x713194365/Thank-you-for-a-thoughtful-good-deed>. Also: Louise A. Grzincic, "Good deeds being done in our city." _Examiner_ (Independence, Missouri). 3 April 2012 <<http://www.examiner.net/opinion/letters/x586047616/Good-deeds-being-done-in-our-city>>. Also: Shirley Beasley, "A big thank you for good neighbors." Letter to the Editor. _Examiner_ (Independence, Missouri). 9 February 2012 <http://www.examiner.net/opinion/letters/x1055383679/A-big-thank-you-for-good-neighbors>.

(186) Source: "Wallet Found After 15 Years." KUTV (Salt Lake City, Utah). 20 July 2012 <<http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_1537.shtml>>. Also: "Reunion of a man and his wallet after 12+ years!" Imgur. <<http://imgur.com/a/UUl2c>>. Accessed 25 July 2012.

(187) Source: Sean Kirst, "Stories from the road I: A good deed." _Post-Standard_ (Syracuse, New York). 5 March 2008 <<http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2008/03/stories_from_the_road_i_a_good.html>>.

(188) Source: "RANTS & RAVES: Reader thanks man who changed her tire, likely saved her life." _Florida Times-Union_ (Jacksonville, Florida). 30 June 2009 <<http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-06-30/story/rants_raves_reader_thanks_man_who_changed_her_tire_likely_saved_her_life>>.

(189) Source: Marty Ross, "Good Samaritans -- State Troopers Deserve Thanks For Helping Over-The-Hill Driver." Letter to the Editor. _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 6 May 1995 <http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950506&slug=2119476>.

(190) Source: Patricia and Donald Lichtenthal, "Let's all make an effort to perform a good deed." Letter to the Editor. Buffalonews.com. 6 August 2012 <<http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/from-our-readers/letters-to-the-editor/article988375.ece>>.

(191) Source: Chery Faber, "Letter: Good Samaritan pays it forward." Florida Today. 3 August 2012 <<http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120804/OPINION/120803008/Letter-Good-Samaritan-pays-forward?nclick_check=1>>.

(192) Source: Jean Godden, "Long Trail To These Good Samaritans." _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 20 March 1995 <http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950320&slug=2111151>.

(193) Source: "Cheers: Happy day, Pine Castle." _Florida Times-Union_ (Jacksonville, Florida). 21 May 2012 <<http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2012-05-21/story/cheers-happy-day-pine-castle>>.

(194) Source: Frank Schindler, "Thanks to a stranger." _North Shore News_ (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). 8 July 2012 <<http://www.theprovince.com/life/Thanks+stranger/6901301/story.html>>.

(195) Source: Jeremy Bennett, "Glad to have met Mary, a Good Samaritan." Letter to the Editor. _Democrat and Chronicle_ (Rochester, New York). 5 July 2012 <<http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120705/OPINION03/307050009/Letters-bacon-sundae-union-workers-gas-prices>>.

(196) Source: Jonathan Hutchison, "Kim Dotcom's megamorphosis from 'master criminal' to cult hero." _Sydney Morning Herald_ (Australia). 5 July 2012 <<http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/kim-dotcoms-megamorphosis-from-master-criminal-to-cult-hero-20120704-21h75.html>>.

(197) Source: Photo. Imgur. <<http://i.imgur.com/YlR7d.jpg>>. Accessed 21 July 2012.

(198) Source: "Aaron's Last Wish - A $500 Tip For Pizza." YouTube. 11 July 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-TOI1mO0A&feature=player_embedded>. Also: "My Brother." Aaroncollins.org. 9 July 2012 <<http://aaroncollins.org/>>.

(199) Source: "PD Editorial: A good Samaritan for Petaluma." _Press Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, California). 7 October 2011 <<http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111007/OPINION/111009672>>.

(200) Source: Chris Smith, "Something's missing from the ol' river." _Press Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, California). 17 March 2010 <<http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100317/NEWS/100319506>>.

(201) Source: Nicola Murphy, "Rubbish dog becomes eco hero." _Auckland Now_ (New Zealand). Stuff (New Zealand). 10 July 2012 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/7247903/Rubbish-dog-becomes-eco-hero>>.

(202) Source: Kristie Pearce, "Good Samaritan saves day after long fundraising event." _Windsor Star_ (Windsor, Ontario, Canada). 9 August 2012 <<http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/08/09/good-samaritan/>>.

(203) Source: Brooke Gardiner, "Cashing in on good deeds." Stuff (New Zealand). 8 August 2012 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/7453495/Cashing-in-on-good-deeds>>.

(204) Source: Nancy Parker, "Good Samaritan returns thousands found in street." FOX8 (New Orleans, Louisiana). 8 August 2012 <<http://www.fox8live.com/story/19231502/good-samaritan-returns-thousands-found-in-street>>

(205) Source: "Good Samaritans Do Exist!" Imgur. <<http://imgur.com/QPSwb>>. Accessed on 7 August 2012.

(206) Source: Chun Chou, "Finders Keepers?" Wopular. 16 January 2012 <<http://www.wopular.com/blog/chun-chou/finders-keepers>>.

(207) Source: "Good samaritan receives praise for returning money." CBC News (Canada). 11 July 2012 <<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/07/11/nb-good-samaritan-money.html>>.

(208) Source: Peter Busch, "Pay It Forward: Scottsdale man goes extra mile to return lost wallet." KPHO (Phoenix, Arizona). 21 October 2011 <<http://www.americanownews.com/story/15767005/pay-it-forward-scottsdale-man-goes-extra-mile-to-return-lost-wallet?clienttype=printable>>.

(209) Source: "Stradivarius violin handed in at Swiss lost property office." _Telegraph_ (UK). 30 July 2012 <<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9439567/Stradivarius-violin-handed-in-at-Swiss-lost-property-office.html#disqus_thread>>.

(210) Source: Steve Stone, "Child's good deed brings joy to Chesapeake girl." _Virginian-Pilot_ (Norfork, Virginia). 23 March 2008 <<http://hamptonroads.com/2008/03/childs-good-deed-brings-joy-chesapeake-girl>>.

(211) Source: Oliver Gee, "'The teddy bear's back!': Stockholm police." _The Local_ (Sweden). 6 July 2012 <<http://www.thelocal.se/41868/20120706/>>. Also: "Police act to help find Swedish girl's lost teddy." _The Local_ (Sweden). 25 June 2012 <<http://www.thelocal.se/41632/20120625/>>. Also: Oliver Gee, "Tyra gets a new teddy from Swedish police." _The Local_ (Sweden). 28 June 2012 <<http://www.thelocal.se/41700/20120628/>>.

(212) Source: "Visitor moved to tears by good Samaritan _. Borneo Post_. 29 July 2012 <<http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/29/visitor-moved-to-tears-by-good-samaritan/>>.

(213) Source: Jeff Martin, "Good deed: Independence man grateful after Blue Springs couple rescues his lost wallet." _Examiner_ (Independence, Missouri). 23 July 2012 <<http://www.examiner.net/news/x269560736/Good-deed-Independence-man-grateful-after-Blue-Springs-couple-rescues-his-lost-wallet>>.

(214) Source: "Honest Teens Get Reward." _The Free Lance-Star_ (Fredericksburg, Virginia). 27 August 1983 <http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19830827&id=NP1NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3211,4047852>.

(215) Source: Caryn Wigmore, "Finder plays detective." Stuff (New Zealand). 21 June 2012 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/nor-west-news/7144764/Finder-plays-detective>>.

(216) Source: "Honest Teens Return Wallet With Large Sum Of Money." _Wingham Free Press_ (Wingham, Ontario, Canada). 21 July 2011 <http://www.thewinghamfreepress.com/story.shtml?story=1882&site=1>. Also: Nadine Bells, "Ontario teens return stranger's wallet with $1,200 cash inside." Ca.news.yahoo.com (Canada). 25 July 2012 <http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/ontario-teens-return-stranger-wallet-1-200-cash-163826720.html>.

(217) Source: Winnie Budden, "Wayne County Good Samaritans help traveler." Letter to the Editor. _Palladium-Item_ (Richmond, Indiana). 21 July 2012 <<http://www.pal-item.com/article/20120721/OPINION/307210005/Wayne-County-Good-Samaritans-help-traveler>>.

(218) Source: Clif Gustafson, "Beach 8-year-old awarded in D.C. for good deed." _Virginian-Pilot_ (Norfork, Virginia). 26 July 2010 <http://hamptonroads.com/2010/07/beach-8yearold-awarded-dc-good-deed>.

(219) Source: "$3K found on Winnipeg street returned to owners ." CBC News (Canada). 19 July 2012 <<http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/07/19/mb-bag-cash-returned-winnipeg.html>>.

(220) Source: Larry, "Thanks to honest taxi driver." Letter to the editor. _The New Paper_ (Singapore). 17 April 2012 <<http://www.tnp.sg/forum/thanks-honest-taxi-driver>>.

(221) Source: Tom Zillich, "Kind-hearted person deposits Surrey club's lost funds." Surrey Now. The Province. 27 September 2010 <http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/Kind+hearted+person+deposits+Surrey+club+lost+funds/3591281/story.html>.

(222) Source: Jeff Cripe, "Letter: Good Samaritan earns gratitude." Letter to the Editor. _Chico Enterprise-Record_ (California). 17 July 2012 <<http://www.orovillemr.com/opinion/ci_21091471/letter-good-samaritan-earns-gratitude>>.

(223) Source: "Good Samaritan hands in wallet with $1,000 cash in Waterford." Detroit Free Press (Michigan). 15 December 2011 <<http://waterford.localstew.com/news/good-samaritan-hands-in-wallet-with-$1-000-cash-in-waterford>>.

(224) Source: Martha Alves, "Homeless are about $ 20,000 and deliver to the PM in SP." _Folha de S.Paulo_ (Sao Paulo, Brazil). 11 July 2012 <http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.folha.uol.com.br%2Fcotidiano%2F1117302-moradores-de-rua-encontram-cerca-de-r-20-mil-e-entregam-a-pm-em-sp.shtml>.

(225) Source: Bennett J. Loudon, "Mendon man returns found $8,000: Farm market worker lost it on the way to the bank." _Democrat and Chronicle_ (Rochester, New York). 11 July 2012 <<http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120711/NEWS01/307110022/Mendon-White-s-Farm-Market?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome>>.

(226) Source: "PAY PACKET FOUND IN OP-SHOP PURCHASE." Yahoo!7. 9 July 2012 <<http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/latest/14171790/pay-packet-found-in-op-shop-purchase/>>. Also: Lisa Schefman, "Money on the menu for one lucky recipient." _Herald Sun_ (Melbourne, Australia). 9 July 2012 <http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/money-on-the-menu-for-one-lucky-recipient/story-e6frf7kx-1226420591452>. Also: Lisa Edgerton, "Pay packet found in Frankston op shop purchase." _Frankston Leader_ (Melbourne, Australia). 9 July 2012 <<http://frankston-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/500-surprise-finds-two-decade-old-pay-packet-in-frankston/>>.

(227) Source: Jay Rey, "Passing on the savings (bonds): Forgotten gift returned to recipient's brother." _Buffalo News_ (New York). 5 July 2012 <<http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/west-side/article935042.ece>>.

(228) Source: Jack Hart, "Letter: Thanks to the good Samaritan who returned wallet with ID, cash." _Athens News_ (Ohio). 30 June 2008 <<http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-22656-letter-thanks-to-the-good-samaritan-who-returned-wallet-with-id-cash.html>>.

(229) Source: "Good Samaritan Returns $4,000 Found In Chair Purchased At Auction." KTVI (St. Louis, Missouri). 11 December 2011 <<http://franklin.fox2now.com/news/news/76777-good-samaritan-returns-4000-found-chair-purchased-auction>>. Also: Paul Hackbarth, "Man Finds $4,000 in Chair at Estate Auction, Returns Money to Owner." _Missourian_ (Washington, Missouri). 17 December 2011 <<http://www.emissourian.com/news/top_stories/article_6f0a0194-d2f9-55fc-aafc-d01e91a7a5e8.html>>.

(230) Source: Kristen Cates, "Four teenagers turn in wallet with over $700." _Great Falls Tribune_ (Montana). 3 July 2012 <<http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120704/NEWS01/207040314?nclick_check=1>>.

(231) Source: "Teen Turns In Wallet Filled With Hundreds Of Dollars: Girl Rewarded For Turning In Wallet." WMUR (Manchester, New Hampshire). 6 April 2012 <<http://www.wmur.com/Teen-Turns-In-Wallet-Filled-With-Hundreds-Of-Dollars/-/9858568/11833976/-/g997he/-/index.html>>. Also: Dan Seufert, "Meredith student returns wallet with $600 to owner." _New Hampshire Union Leader_ (Manchester, New Hampshire). 7 April 2012 <<http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120407/NEWS/120409868>>.

(232) Source: Christine Wolf, "Lost Wallet, Found Good Samaritan." _Niles-Morton Grove Patch_ (Illinois). 17 July 2012 <<http://niles.patch.com/articles/lost-wallet-found-good-samaritan>>.

(233) Source: Carlie Walker, "Good Samaritans return jewellery." _Fraser Coast Chronicle_ (Queensland, Australia). 28 December 2009 <http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2009/12/28/good-samaritans-return-jewellery/>.

(234) Source: Elise Thompson, "The Strikers Need Your Support Now—and a Donut Wouldn't Hurt." _LAist_ (Los Angeles, California). 15 January 2008. <<http://laist.com/2008/01/15/the_strikers_ne.php>>.

(235) Source: Sarah Rainey, "The sponge cake Samaritan rises to the challenge of spreading joy: A big-hearted teacher is giving away a Victoria sponge a day for a whole year.." _Telegraph_ (UK). 11 January 2012 <<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/9005044/The-sponge-cake-Samaritan-rises-to-the-challenge-of-spreading-joy.html>>.

(236) Source: Joan Sinclair, "A good deed by Sandals." Letter to the Editor. _Jamaica Gleaner_. 6 April 2003 <<http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030406/letters/letters8.html>>.

(237) Source: Mary Hicks, "A kind gesture." Letter to the Editor. _The Chronicle-Journal_ (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada). 31 July 2012 <<http://www.chroniclejournal.com/editorial/letters/2012-07-31/kind-gesture>>.

(238) Source: Andrea Jutson, "Kuini's luck returns." _The Aucklander_ (New Zealand). 23 May 2007 <<http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/news/kuinis-luck-returns/978635/>>.

(239) Source: Paul Dykes, "Good samaritan gets a helping hand." _Bay of Plenty Times_ (New Zealand). 20 July 2006 <<http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/good-samaritan-gets-a-helping-hand/964164/>>.

(240) Source: Kathryn King, "An angel at the checkout." _Wanganui Chronicle_ (New Zealand). 3 August 2012 <<http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/an-angel-at-the-checkout/1491304/>>.

(241) Source: Jess_lyons04, "A Knight in a Shining Taxi Cab." Helpothers.org. 26 July 2012 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=31982>>.

(242) Source: Dawn Tongish. "Lessons from the Heart: McKinney girls' birthday bash for charity: Three elementary school girls turn their birthday party into a charity event." KDAF (Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas). 17 January 2012 <<http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-three-girls-donate-birthday-party-gifts-to-charity-story,0,7455420.story?hpt=us_bn5>>. Also: Posted by Karen Vest, "3 Girls with Giving Hearts." Neighborsgo.com. 23 January 2012 <<http://neighborsgo.com/stories/79187>>.

(243) Source: "Faith in humanity = Restored." Photo. Imgur. <http://imgur.com/LcxXd>. Accessed 21 July 2012.

(244) Source: Meg Alexander, "Man gives money instead of begging at intersection." KFOR (Lincoln, Nebraska). 11 July 2012 <<http://kfor.com/2012/07/11/man-gives-money-instead-of-begging-at-intersection/>>.

(245) Source: "Good deed at Sam's will lead to another one." Letter to the Editor. Readers' Page. Syracuse.com. 8 June 2012 <<http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2012/06/good_deed_at_sams_will_lead_to.html>>.

(246) Source: Pearly Tan, "I covered drains for people's safety." _The New Paper_ (Singapore). 19 March 2012 <http://www.tnp.sg/content/i-covered-drains-peoples-safety>.

(247) Source: Nicola Mott, "Stranger eases a family's pain." _The Westmorland Gazette_ (Kendal, England). 12 June 2006 <<http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/leisure/leisure_britawards/archive/2006/06/12/Darwen+%28darwen%29/791482.Stranger_eases_a_family___s_pain/>>.

(248) Source: "Farmer creates heart-shaped meadow in memory of wife." _Telegraph_ (UK). 13 July 2012 <<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9397478/Farmer-creates-heart-shaped-meadow-in-memory-of-wife.html>>.

(249) Source: Frank Heinz and Ray Villeda, "Child Nearly Drowns at Fort Worth Pool." NBCDFW (Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas). 6 August 2012 <<http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/EMS-Responds-to-Possible-Drowning-at-Fort-Worth-Pool-165177416.html>>. Also: "Hero boy, 4, dies after saving 3-year-old girl in pool." NBC News. 10 August 2012 <<http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/10/13217164-hero-boy-4-dies-after-saving-3-year-old-girl-in-pool?lite>>.

(250) Source: Jim Cota, "Our Beautiful Little Boy Got His Angel Wings..." The Cotas. 3 January 2005 <<http://www.thecotas.com/2005/01/our-beautiful-little-boy-got-his-angel-wings/>>.

