Callous, caring, lots of humans in between

Sometimes our fellow human beings just have us at a loss. Two recent stories had us shaking our heads, trying to figure out our fellow travelers for very different reasons.

Maurice Richards was only 11 when a car hit him and ended his life about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Post Place and State Street in East St. Louis. The accident became something worse when the driver sped off, not caring what happened to Maurice’s young life.

Then it became so much uglier when cars drove around the youngster’s body. Finally someone called police, stopped and shielded him from the traffic.

Who is so self-involved, or where the heck do those people need to be, that you leave a little boy bleeding in the street, swerve and continue on your way? Unbelievable, yet too believable.

Then there was the story of a Texas stranger coming to town, Ron Mariani, who was shot in November while moving in to his new home in Mascoutah.

Folks from the area stepped up to help his family unpack as he was in the hospital. Then strangers came together to ensure the family had meals for a month.

Ron Mariani returned the favor on Saturday, opening his house and cooking for all those strangers who helped him without really knowing him.

People can be wonderful. People can be terrible. Here’s hoping for more of the wonderfuls.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Callous, caring, lots of humans in between."