Jack had no idea that a normal morning would turn into a puzzle that would alter his life for good. Being the only dad to two girls, his daily life was always tiring, but that day, there was a surprise in the kitchen for him. Jane, 4, and Lily, 5, had only one father, Jack. After leaving to travel the world with her husband, he took over all of the housework and parenting duties. Despite how much he loved them no matter what, he was always tired. Like every morning, Jack got up early, called the girls, and helped them…
Author: World Wide
It’s strange how kindness can come back when you least expect it. For an old teacher, a small act of kindness on a cold winter day began a story that would continue for years. Soft snow fell on the city, making it a little quieter and covering the streets in white. An old teacher named Mr. Harrison sipped his hot coffee and read his worn-out copy of To Kill a Mockingbird in a small, cozy diner. He had kind eyes and gray hair that was starting to fall out. That place was nice to him. It felt safe, warm, and…
I had heard stories about mothers-in-law who were hard to get along with, but I thought mine would be different. I thought Daniel and I would have a respectful and understanding relationship when we got married. This was especially true since I loved her son and wanted to be a part of their family. However, the last few years have been harder than I thought they would be. It all began small. Some remarks here and there about how I set up the furniture in my home or how I decorated for the holidays. Things I ignored because they were…
While Shanize walked toward the altar, I felt a knot form in my stomach. Weddings are meant to be happy times. I couldn’t ignore the fact that something was wrong. When I finally moved to lift her dress, I was shocked by what I saw. Dave and I have been friends for more than 30 years. We had fun and laughed through the awkward parts of being teenagers together as we grew up. I was so happy for him when he told me he was getting married to Shanize, a beautiful woman he met a year ago. That being said,…
There was a small, quiet town with a pizza place called Tony’s Pizzeria. It was owned by a family and was famous for its delicious pies and friendly service. People would come from miles away to buy things because the streets would smell like fresh baked bread and melted cheese. The pizzeria had a guy named Mr. Benjamin Clark who was one of its most loyal customers. Mr. Clark had ordered the same thing every day for ten years: a big pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and garlic bread. The people who worked at Tony’s knew him well, but they…
While still grieving over the death of his family, a man takes in a girl with Down syndrome and makes her his own. After nine years, he gets a call from someone he doesn’t know. It’s from the girl he adopted, and she tells him she’s a millionaire. It was a lovely, sunny day, and birds were singing happily in the sky. Outside, there didn’t seem to be any harm. But Brian, who is 33 years old, had the worst day of his life. Lyra, Brian’s loving wife, and Amy, his only daughter, died in a car crash that morning.…
Audrey’s parents said they couldn’t afford to give her birthday gifts for three years, but every year they gave her younger sister $50. She brought a cake to a family get-together the day after her 17th birthday and found out a shocking secret that changed everything. I looked at my phone. The text from my mom was short and to the point: “We don’t have enough money to buy you a present this year.” “Sorry, honey.” I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t even surprised, to be honest. It’s been three years since it changed. No gifts or extra attention for me.…
A whole town was sad in St. Michael’s Church, but no one was ready for what came next… The church was filled with a heavy sadness that was almost too much to bear. Incense and melted wax gave off a sweet smell that mixed with the smell of old wood and the cold dampness of stone. The air was thick. Ana stood next to the casket where her husband Michael had been buried. With her broken heart, she wore all black and held their two-year-old daughter Sofia close. But the little girl wriggled in her arms. She was crying so…
I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. When we brought baby Liora home, my biggest worry wasn’t the feedings or the diapers—it was Ezra. My wild, loud, crash-into-everything toddler. He’d been our whole world for three years, and now we were asking him to share it with someone who couldn’t even sit up. At first, he mostly ignored her. No tantrums, no jealousy—just confusion. He’d peek into her bassinet like she was an alien and ask if she was going “back to the doctor store soon.” We didn’t push it. We let him find his way. Then one afternoon, I…
