My Prince and Ivy returned from downtown this morning. When they entered my office, he was very furious. Approaching to my Fran’s desk, he told him sharply:

- If you ever say “People are generally good” again, I will smack you in the face so hard that you will pass out for days! (He wouldn’t. It was only one of his empty threats which works on my Fran).

Then he turned to me, kissed me, and went to his office. We asked my Ivy what happened and she told us:

- When we finished the job in the city council, I asked him to take a short break and take me to a nearby café for a cappuccino. He did and we watched the people and talked. Then he spotted an old man heavily breathing and walking slowly up the hill on the other side of the street always letting the others pass by standing in between parked cars. In one moment, Prince said, "I wonder if any pedestrian that walks down the hill will let him pass first.” But none did it. Young, old, male and female, nobody stopped to let him pass although they saw him heavy breathing and slowly walking. Then we saw a group of girls that were coming down the hill and none of them stopped either. Seeing it, Prince ran toward them. When he stopped them, he started to yell at them and call them names. Then he made them turn back and wait behind the cars so the old man could pass. The man thanked him. I paid for our cappuccinos and joined them. The old man said he had no money for a bus ticket or a taxi and he was hurrying home to surprise his wife because he was released from hospital earlier and because they were celebrating their 40th anniversary today. When we offered our help to drive him home, he thanked us and accepted. On our way to the old man’s home, we stopped by the flower shop and bought a big bouquet and a nice vase for his wife. We also put 50 Euros in an envelope and gave it to the man so he could buy something nice for his wife or to spend it on whatever they needed. The man didn’t want to take it at first, but seeing our determination, he capitulated and took it. Then we dropped him home. Prince said he wanted to help this old couple somehow and I supported his desire.

I agreed too. That’s my Prince, the man I love with all my heart. He’s always willing to help and he does it because he loves people. When I commended his deeds to my Fran, he told me:

- So, he is a good man. Why did he say then, that there are no good people? Why did he exclude himself?

Me: Because he doesn’t think for himself, he is a good person.

Fran: Nah, Princess, I don’t believe you.

Me: Why don’t you ask him?

Fran: You, know. I am going to ask him that, at this very moment.

Entering to his office, my Fran said to him:

- May I ask you something, Prince?

Prince: Sure.

Fran: Do you consider yourself as a good man?

Prince: If you came here to provoke, me, Fran, you better return to your office …

Fran: No, Prince, I am serious. I honestly ask you if you consider yourself a good man.

Prince: No, I am not good at all. Nobody is good ... we are selfish, evil, and rotten. Doing rare and occasional good deeds doesn't make us good people.

Fran: Why are you helping people then?

Prince: I am doing only what everyone is supposed to do by default and all the time: to care for others. If animals do it for their species, we should double our efforts since we are reasonable beings and on the top of the food chain … Unfortunately, we constantly fail.

My Fran was satisfied with his answer and he returned to me:

- You were right, Princess, my apologies for doubting your words.

I smiled and said it was OK. My Prince is a very humble and modest person who doesn’t see himself as a good person just because he is doing what each one of us should: to love and care for our neighbor, as the Bible says.