This is Michael Goodman. Thirty four years ago he stole Claude Soffel's bus pass on the steps of The Museum of Natural History to prove he was in a gang.
This is Claude Soffel.
It turns out Goodman still feels really, really bad about this crime.
Earlier this month, Goodman was perusing his Facebook when he stumbled upon a story about his favorite New York City bagel store that was closing.
Claude Soffel had left a comment on the thread.
Somehow Goodman recognized Claude, even though they both looked a lot different 34 years ago!
Goodman took the opportunity to finally seek forgiveness from Soffel, telling him in a Facebook comment that he has "never forgotten the incident or your name" and that it has "sort of haunted me a bit throughout my life."
"Here I am on fb. reading about my favorite bagel store in the world closing down, & who's name do I see but yours & your quote about 2 salt bagels & the Dublin house (which I used to go to all the time, & get 1 onion & 1 salt bagel & eat it at the Dublin back in the day!) & my brain was blown! Finally I can say ~ I"M VERY SORRY that you had to go through that crap that day long ago, I wish it had never happened but it did."
Claude responded quickly, calling Goodman a "bigger man" and accepting his apology.
Then today, Goodman wrote back.
Soffle hasn't responded yet, but it seems like the two men have made up, even if it took a very long time.