[fireant911]

Recently we hired someone to make a ‘curvy’ sidewalk for us and he did a phenomenal job. I contacted him a short time later to inquire about building us a rock mailbox. He gave me a price and admitted that he had never built a ‘curvy’ sidewalk or a mailbox before… instead, he watches youtube. Well, back to the story – during this last visit he stated that he had received a ticket eight or nine years ago and never paid his fines. This had been causing him much grief but he was afraid to go because of his immigration status.

Sensing the fear he had I wanted to help… but how? I thought about this and wondered if the town where the incident occurred had an amnesty program. Rather than call, I drove an hour away to the town in question and spoke with the court clerk in person. I explained the situation and she looked into their computer system for this record and found nothing because it occurred so long ago. Next, she went through a stack of old, hard-copy tickets that existed before this town switched over computer records. There it was! Two warrants for his arrest… She looked at the amount and added the fines and it came to $531. In fact, she added these totals three times just to make sure it was correct (this is important later in the story).

She stated that he would have to be present and pay the fine. Next, I asked the question of “would he be arrested” or sent away if he appeared? She said no providing that this taken care of immediately. I knew that he did not have $531 in cash (nor did I) and asked if I could write a check for this amount? The town’s policy was ONLY cash is accepted but she asked me to raise my right hand and state an oath that the funds were indeed available. With this done, I left and called my friend and tried to explain the situation as best as I could (yes, a MAJOR language barrier existed).

He met me at McDonald’s and was extremely nervous. He handed me a piece of paper with his address so that I could tell his wife his whereabouts in the event that he was arrested. He said he had no money to pay the amount owed – I said no worries and that here is an advance of the mailbox project! I drove him to the town hall and we entered. The court clerk and I tried to explain what was happening and, after me writing the check for $531, his record was clear. The town clerk thanked me for what I had done though I thought that this was a small act of kindness – do not judge people / help them! My friend teared up once we left as this was finally behind him.

About ten days later I received a letter in the mail from the town hall of this small city in Alabama. Inside the envelope was a check for $333 from the city and a hand-written note from the clerk. I teared up when I read this note and immediately showed my wife what I had in my hands. This is Karma!!!

Using Google Translator, I contacted my friend and excitedly shared the story of the check and the note from the town clerk.