Kid accidentally scratched stranger’s car with bike. Then left $5 and a note that meant more than the money

Honesty is one of those values that tends to stick with people. It shows up in how we treat others, how we admit to mistakes, and how we choose to act when it matters. Even small choices can leave a lasting impression on someone else. That value is depicted in this story shared by u/myself_diff on Reddit. They shared a photo of a note left on a car after a young cyclist accidentally scratched it. The caption read, "I’m sure that this kid’s honesty and kind heart truly made an impact on her." 

The folded paper, held against the bumper, included a crumpled 5-dollar bill and a short message, "I'm very sorry. I was riding my bike and lost balance, scratching your car. Please take this as an apology. I know it’s not much." Though the money was not much, the gesture meant everything. The comments reflected how rare and meaningful the act felt to others. u/grumble_beeee23 wrote, "The kid's parents should be lauded as well. Sure, he was raised well."

u/Pineapplecider90 commented, "Good job, kid! He’ll grow up to be one of the good ones. We need more of those in this world." u/Carbon-Base said, "There are many adults that would not be bothered by something like this and continue on their way. This kiddo took the time to write a note to apologize and even left some cash behind! The kid has great morals and was raised right!" Some shared their own story. u/cMdM89 wrote, "While my car was parked, a young kid backed his car into my back door. He drove home (about 15 miles away), told his father, and they drove back and put a note on my car. This all happened late at night. That’s a good parent!"

u/Affectionate_Scene95 added, "One time, I backed into a parked car (I was distracted looking at a dog walking out of Petco) and got out, all upset. The owners came out and laughed and said, 'I think you undid some damage! But thank you for staying and waiting until we came out!'" u/blkcrws shared, "Same thing happened to me, didn’t do a lot of damage to the other vehicle, just a ding in the fender. I found the guy playing soccer in the park and told him what happened; he seemed irritated. Then he saw the ding and was clearly irritated! He said, 'This is nothing!' And went back to his game. Clearly, he did not want to be interrupted! But it taught my daughter to do the right thing and fess up."

Stories like these reflect that any gesture, no matter how small, never goes unnoticed. A similar moment was shared in another story on X by @EliMcCann. His husband had ordered food when the delivery driver accidentally knocked over a flower pot on their porch. The driver, Jordan, called to apologize and offered to pay for the damage. McCann’s husband responded kindly, telling him not to worry about it. A few days later, Jordan returned with a replacement pot and a handwritten note. It read, "Hello, it’s your Uber Eats driver Jordan. I wanted to give you the pot as a replacement for the one I knocked over on Sunday evening. I hope it was not a gift or had sentimental value to you. Also, thank you for being so kind about it. I know this one is probably not as nice, but I hope you can find a use for it."