I was in the middle of making dinner, the soft hum of the stove and the scent of garlic filling the kitchen, when the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and a brief flicker of curiosity ran through me. Peering through the peephole, I saw a young man in a Chipotle uniform, standing there with a shy but earnest smile. In his hands was a small envelope.
“I… uh… I think this belongs to you,” he said, holding it out. Inside was a check for $2,000 — cash — my husband had used to pay a supplier. My heart skipped a beat. “You found this?” I asked, incredulous.
“Yeah, on the ground,” he replied simply. “I saw your address and figured I should return it.” There was no hesitation, no thought of keeping it, just honesty and kindness shining from his eyes. It could have been so easy for him to slip it into his wallet and walk away, but instead, this stranger went out of his way to do the right thing.
I invited him in briefly, insisting on thanking him properly, but he only shrugged and said, “Just doing what I think anyone would do.” There was a quiet humility in him, a gentle reminder of the goodness that still exists in the world. I learned later that his name is Rools, a cashier at Chipotle, and that evening, he didn’t just return a check; he restored my faith in humanity.
As I watched him leave, I couldn’t help but reflect on how rare this kind of honesty is, especially from someone so young. In a world where shortcuts and selfishness often feel more common, here was someone who embodied integrity, courage, and decency without fanfare. That night, dinner felt a little warmer, and my heart a little lighter. Chipotle, you should be proud — Rools doesn’t just rock at work; he rocks at life.
Credit: Cristiane Reis
