What is wrong with me

How did the guy express his appreciation for you returning his wallet? Did he give you a reward?
Not that we should be rewarded for doing the right thing, but you saved him hours of aggravation and expense. To me, that’s worth something and it would have been decent of him to show you appreciation for making the effort. That may have contributed to your feeling of being deflated.
I have an even better story of gross lack of appreciation: This past mother’s day, I was strolling around a local park. It was full of families having picnics, kids playing etc. In the midst of the dense number of people, I happened to notice a toddler –approx. 18 mos. old–staggering around and crying. Not unusual except that I noticed the child was detached from any adult.
I asked adults that were a few strides ahead or behind the child if she were theirs. Each replied no. I took the child by the hand, spoke very calmly and gently asking who did you come with? Where is your family, mama, papa, etc.? She didn’t reply but took my hand. We canvassed the entire park asking every person if this child belonged to them or if they’d seen any adults, anybody at all calling or searching for a child. Not a one had. Finally, I went to the an office and an announcement was made over the loudspeaker. Within 10 mins. a man and an girl a little older appeared. It was obvious that the child knew and belonged to these people as they reached for each other.
The man–I presume the father–couldn’t have given a damn and offered no words of appreciation, thanks or gratitude for locating and protecting his child. I didn’t expect a reward but some expression of joy or even an explanation of how they became separated, or some exclamation that he had been searching for her. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He took her by the hand, she willing followed and he turned on his heel and just walked away. Pretty astonishing, huh?