Mother Asks People Online If Her Son Is Right For Keeping Money Found In Book He Thrifted

Nov 12, 2021 by apost team

There’s no better feeling than having a nice, cozy night in and cuddling up with a good book. It’s so relaxing to spend some time alone with just the words on the pages and get lost in a new adventure, whether it be a fictional world or a nonfiction memoir full of plot-twisting moments. Whatever genre is your favorite, you’re bound to find that one special book that truly resonates with you and gives you a sense of comfort.

For many book lovers, going book shopping can be just as thrilling yet relaxing as reading itself. There’s a sense of wonder as you scan the store for the perfect story or book of poetry. However, this hobby can get expensive at times, especially if you enjoy purchasing all of the latest best-sellers. Fortunately, there are several used book stores and thrift stores that not only have a great selection but a great number of deals. These places typically offer some of the classics along with some lesser-known gems.

A 30-year-old man struck gold when he found a copy of “A Clockwork Orange” at a thrift store. He was met with yet another surprise when he got home and cracked the novel open. Amongst the pages, the man found an astonishing amount of cash that totaled to much more than he had spent on the literary work. His mother doesn’t think he should keep the money, but he wants to. Turning to the internet for advice, his mother tweeted in October 2021, asking people what they would do in this situation.

A mother went to Twitter on Oct. 28, 2021, to ask people what they would do if they were in her son’s situation. She goes by the username @bebe1969 and has garnered close to 31,000 followers. She posted a tweet that said:

“My son bought a book at the Goodwill store for 50 cents. When he got home he discovered $500 tucked into the pages. Of course he’s excited and wants to keep it. (He’s 30, I have no say) What would you do?”

The mother later clarified that the book her son purchased was a copy of “A Clockwork Orange.” The book itself was a pretty great find with or without the added $500. Originally published in 1962, “A Clockwork Orange” has gone on to truly make its mark in the literary world, resonating with readers and critics alike. To this day, the novel is still considered to be one of the most influential dystopian books.

The original tweet has since gone viral, with several people chiming in with their own thoughts on the matter. It has received close to 61,000 likes and more than 8,000 retweets. In order to get the conversation going, @bebe1969 asked, “The question is, what would you do if you discovered money in a book that you bought?”

The question has sparked a debate amongst Twitter users. On the one hand, it’s not like the son knew about the money beforehand. On the other hand, it could be possible that the book’s previous owner didn’t realize they left so much money in between the pages in the first place.

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Some Twitter users were on the son’s side. One user said, “I think the person that donated the book intended for the buyer to find it. So he should keep it.” Another person tweeted, “The guy can do whatever he wants with it — it’s his. If he wants to donate it, it’s up to him. No guilt if he decides to spend it on vinyl records or a good time.”

One Twitter user gave the mother some advice on what could be a good idea toward finding a solution to this problem. The person wrote, “Call Goodwill and ask if anyone had contacted them about money left in a book. Don’t say which book or the amount. If they have the specific information, return it. If not, perhaps wait a couple of months to see if anyone does. After that, your conscience should be free and clear.”

Other people took the mother’s side and agreed that her 30-year-old son should return the money or put it to good use. One user replied, “A sorry comment on the state of our public ethics. The purchase was a contract. I’ll give you a book not plus 500 cash. Clearly a mistake. Don’t take advantage of other people’s mistakes. Not a hard concept.”

Another person said:

“I’m pretty sure Goodwill has no way to track the owner. Maybe it was intended to help out the person that bought the book. If your son doesn’t need it, he should donate it to a charity of his choice.”

People have continued to be divided about this problem but ultimately agreed that it was the son’s decision.

What would you do with the money if you were in this son’s situation? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends to find out what they would do in this scenario, too.