Random acts of kindness are always amazing but this one especially made me smile.

Sunday afternoon I was walking through downtown Belleville, looking at the Gingerbread Walk with my family.

As we were strolling along, checking out the creativity, a woman came running, kind of, hollering for someone to stop the horse-drawn trolley giving rides in downtown.

Anyone running in downtown Belleville attracts attention, of course, unless they're in the Belleville Running Club. The woman was putting forth an incredible effort just to try to return someone's car keys after he had parked and left them in his trunk lock.

The man had gotten on the horse-drawn holiday trolley with his kids near the Veteran's Memorial Fountain and it began driving eastward down East Main Street.

The woman made it about three blocks before stopping to explain, between huge gasps of air, that she had seen a man open his car trunk, close it and leave his keys in it. She was afraid the car would be stolen so she grabbed the keys and began to chase him.

Several people yelled at the trolley as it rolled about a block ahead but it didn't stop.

After getting the explanation and a description of the man, my son-in-law took the keys and ran after the trolley, catching it quickly and giving the man back his keys.

The woman was so relieved. She had made an amazing effort to help and she was successful.

There are several lessons here, it seems.

One, there still are a lot of nice people in the world who want to help.

Two, I react slowly to everything. My immediate reaction was to utter the phrase, "What?" Then, still amazed that someone had gone to so much effort, I forgot to ask her name.

Three. Unlike in the movies, no matter how much you yell at the trolley, it doesn't necessarily mean anyone will hear you and stop.

Anyway, whoever you are, Good Samaritan, thanks for caring.

Have a column idea? Call Wally at 239-2506 or 800-642-3878; or email: wspiers@bnd.com