Hard Choice
This wasn't any normal day for them. It would be a hard talk about morals that they'd have to go through.
It's not like it was finding someone's wallet and asking to return it. This would be a life-changing decision that they would go through. It would make or break everything. One wrong move and the cops could show up and it all started with a sofa.
Spruce Up
It had been a long road for Reese Werkhoven, Lara Russo, and Cally Guasti. They were just about to graduate which meant they'd soon be at the start of adulthood.
They felt that the first step would be turning around their New York apartment to fit their new lives. They knew just how to do it.
Low Cost Options
They didn't have a lot of money so they knew they'd have to start small in The Salvation Army Thrift Store. It definitely wasn't the first place they would have liked to go but it was a start.
They measured the apartment and then went straight to the furniture section of the store. They needed a new sofa and they were adamant that they would leave with one.
Just Cover It
They couldn't help but look at each other with frowns. They were disappointed and there was no hiding it.
Even if it wasn't too pretty, at least it was a sofa and it would fit the apartment well. Same with the price being only $20. If only they knew that the real value was inside the fabric.
Too Bumpy
It took a month of trying to get used to the uncomfortable cushions before they tried something different.
They assumed that the inside must have been hard lumps of stuffing. Reese couldn't stand it anymore and hit the lump - which ended with a strange noise coming from the sofa.
What’s Inside?
Their routine of rented movies and cheap popcorn would all end after that.
They needed to know what was inside the couch and what had been making them so uncomfortable. It turned out to be bubble wrap - that turn out to be more once they tore some of it open.
Pay Day!
The bubble wrap was protecting quite the prize - stacks of bills. 100-dollar bills.
They kept pulling more and more money out of the sofa until they sat there bewildered at what they had found. It was more than $40,000 in cash! They couldn't believe their luck, it was as if they had won the lottery. But the last item to come out would change everything.
Big Hiccup
They wanted to split up the money equally. It was only fair, right?
They were already planning trips abroad, paying of student debt, and even giving some to charity. This was a life-changing experience alright. But then Cally found the bank slip, there was a name on it.
Change In Plans
Now they had to choose, it was going to be the hardest thing they had ever done.
They needed to know why someone would hide money like this? The bank confirmed that it belonged to the name on the slip. Was it hidden for less innocent reasons?
Sounded Unpleasant
They just needed the phone number, then they could take the next step toward finding out the truth.
He held the phone with shaking hands and waiting for someone to pick it up. The voice on the other end answered with a cranky “yes?” His question was simple, “Did you sell or give away a sofa recently?” The answer left the three of them with a bigger problem.
Give It Back!
“Yes, give it back now!” Whoever was on the other end of the phone clearly wasn’t a pleasant person.
Still, it wasn’t right to let the odd string of events end there. So, they got an address and made the long drive to Hudson Valley – having a long conversation about moral compasses and plans in case things went south.
Hard Times
When they pulled in, two women ran out of a tiny, rundown home to greet them.
It wasn’t at all what they had expected. The two of them smiled with joy and gave everyone big hugs. Apparently, it was the owner’s daughter and granddaughter. It turned out, they would have all the answers.
Last Of Savings
The daughter explained how her mom and dad knew he was going to pass soon, so the mom had hidden away money every month because she knew she would have to have savings when her husband passed away.
This is where the story turned, and the daughter started to cry. Her mom had gone into the hospital with heart problems.
Good Deed Backfired
She had wanted to give her mother a surprise by fixing up the living room.
So, without knowing the money was in there, she had gotten rid of the sofa and bought a new one. She was devastated – knowing she had literally thrown away the only money her mother had left. Another person joined the conversation.
Worth It
It was the grandmother herself.
She took one look at the pile of money and at the three guests sitting on the new sofa that had caused the entire debacle. The old woman rushed forward, burst into tears, and thanked them over and over. She even gave them $1000 from the pile as a thank you. It was at the moment, the three of them knew they had made the right decision.