1 . An Indiana man ordered a Sausage McMuffin at his local McDonald’s and got much more than he expected.

On January 6, TikTok user Josiah Vargas, aka @ dookiedoeboy, shared a video detailing his trip to a McDonald’s drive-through in Elkhart, Indiana that resulted in him receiving much more than he ordered. In the video, which has attracted over 2.3 million views, Vargas is shocked by what he finds in his to-go bag instead of breakfast: thousands of dollars.

“Why? There’s a couple thousand dollars here,” Vargas says, holding up a baggie full of $20bills. “Like, why would they do this? Why would they give this to me?”

Vargas took to TikTok to share his shocking discovery, knowing that he could easily take the money and leave the McDonald’s workers in quite a bind. But, ultimately, he says he knows what he needs to do.

“Now I have to return it because I’m a good person, I guess,” Vargas says, putting the money back in the bag. “How interesting!”

After he walks into the store, he gives the bag to a worker at the register. The worker realizes he’s returning the cash they had been looking for. Amid all the relieved reactions from staff that can be heard from McDonald’s staff, one employee asks if they could give him a hug — which he accepts.

Back in the car, Vargas reflects on his good deed. “They were just all hugging me and thanking me,” he says. “When I was driving away, they called me back in. They gave me $200as well as free McDonald’s for a month.”

The TikTok ends with Vargas sharing what he believes to be the moral of the story. “Do good, people. Returned $5,000, got $200 and free McDonald’s for a month,” he says. “Good trade value and maybe a viral TikTok.”

3 . The post office is not my favorite place. However, that was the day I went through the door with a huge smile. My story had been accepted for publication. I had read the e-mail three times before I actually believed it.

Grasped in my hand was the form giving permission to print my story. No faxing for me — I decided to send it back through the mail just to be sure it reached its destination. Filled with excitement, I told the clerk about my good news. “Wow, look at you go!” she said. “That will be ten dollars.” I reached for my credit card. “Our system doesn’t work today, so we can only accept cash,” said the clerk. I searched through my purse. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I carried cash. But now, I rarely did. Then a deep voice behind me said, “I’ll take care of it.” I hadn’t noticed the man behind me. I turned to meet him as he held out a ten-dollar bill.

“Congratulations on your story,” he said. “Just pay it forward.” I thanked him. Then I drove to the seaside restaurant to meet Tina. As we walked back toward our cars, I noticed something on the sidewalk, shining in the sun. I picked up a credit card.

“How are we going to find the person who dropped this?” Tina asked. “First, let’s try to spot someone who seems to be searching anxiously,” I said. A moment later, Tina said excitedly, “I’ll bet that’s her!” A young mother had a baby on her back as she dug through some bags.

I approached the woman. “Are you Jessica Slate?” I asked.

Her eyes grew round. “Yes!”

“I believe this is yours,” I said, handing her the card.

“Thank you! During normal times, I’d give you a hug,” she said. We laughed and bumped elbows instead.

I realized being on both the receiving and the giving end of kind gestures felt equally good. I had experienced an interpretation of paying it forward-first with cash, then with credit.

4 . On that particular morning, we were in Kansas, midway through a project to photograph the storm that sweeps across the middle of the United States every spring. Nick Moir, our team leader, sat on the edge of the bed, checking apps and online radars in search of a good storm cell (云泡) for us to pursue.

“This is it,” he said, waving his phone at the rest of the crew—photographer Krystle, videographer Armstrong, and me. “Let’s roll out.”

We loaded the car with our equipment and off we went, driving under cloudless blue skies for hundreds of miles. We left that quiet day behind when we reached the outer edge of our targeted storm and entered a dark scene of clouds, distant lightning, and continual rain. As we neared the heart of the cell, we found ourselves braving high winds, very heavy rain, and merciless hail (冰雹). Kryestle, at the wheel, sped up to get in front of the storm, but it was moving too fast. We could barely keep pace with it.

Then we caught sight of a rain-wrapped tornado (龙卷风) half a mile to our right. The horrible conditions made it difficult for us to keep the monster in sight. We lost our cellphone reception. We couldn’t see beyond 20 feet, and the hail was so loud we had to shout to communicate. Our road was on a crossing path with the tornado.

That’s when Nick called it. “We have to quit,” he shouted. Krystle suddenly changed direction, driving the car north onto a country road. For the next hour, we were struck by large hail as we escaped the madness of that dangerous chase.

Disappointed and defeated, we knew it was right to give up. We pulled over and watched until the lightning-filled cloud rolled away, lighting up the dark sky. Nick located another super cell not far from where we were.

5 . Occasionally, misfortune will happen in our life and no one can avoid it. If you choose only to complain and escape from the misfortune, it will constantly follow you no matter where you go.     1    

A girl, called Selina, lost her arms in a traffic accident that caused her father’s death — who was the main source of support for the whole family.     2     For the sake of caring for her, her elder brother became her shadow , never leaving her alone for years. Except for writing with her toes, she was totally unable to do anything in her life. Then one day, her elder brother wanted to live his own normal life, and they had no choice but to separate. So she was almost desperate and didn’t know what to do next.

    3     When he tried to prepare dinner for his parents, he overturned the kerosene light on the stove, resulting in a fire that took his hands away. Though his younger brother that was studying in another city, showed his willingness to take care of him, he was determined to be totally independent. At school, he always studied hard. Most of what he learned was to be independent. Once he wrote the following in his composition: “I am lucky. Though I lost my arms, I still have legs; I am lucky. Though my wings are broken, my heart can still fly. ”

One day, the girl and the boy were both interviewed on a television program. The girl complained to the TV host about her uncertain future at being left on her own, but the boy was full of enthusiasm for his life.     4     The girl wrote: My elder brother’s arms are my arms. However, the boy wrote: Broken wings, flying heart.

    5     It is true that life is unpredictable. Disasters can strike at any time. How you deal with misfortune when faced with it is the true test of your character. If you choose only to complain and escape from the ordeal, it will always follow you wherever you go. But if you decide to face it bravely, the hardship will turn out to be a fortune on which new hopes will arise.

6 . My biggest problem is that I’m too busy. When I was young, I used to have so much time, but these days I get up early and stay in school all day. Then I go right home and eat dinner before I started high school, I used to spend a lot of time playing games with my friends, but I just don’t have the time anymore.In the evening, I used to watch TV or chat with my grandmother, but now I have to study. I love music, and my father used to take me to concerts. These days, I hardly ever have time for concerts. I do my homework and go to bed. I really miss the old days.

7 . Maria and her parents moved to the US from Brazil one year before the pandemic (流行病). Better education opportunities lay ahead, and they were excited to get Maria into an American high school to prepare for college.

Each parent got a job, and Maria started studying. She also signed up for a service club because she wanted to meet people, practice her English and be a part of the community. “I love to serve,” Maria says. “I think it is my thank-you for the opportunities I have.”

She worked at the local food bank with other kids of her age, organizing bags for families who were having a hard time making ends meet. But when the pandemic hit, she found herself at the food bank for another reason: to bring home groceries to her parents. “We were all shocked when my mother lost her job. My friends at the food bank got me through it,” Maria said.

Luckily, her father kept his job. And with classes moving online, Maria was able to secure a full-time job and do her class work at night. Three of her courses were college prep classes that demanded a lot of work. During her senior year, Maria worked 40-hour weeks and studied even more. Yet, in her spare time, she packed food bags for others before taking hers home.

Just before graduation, Maria came into the food bank. One of the volunteers started getting a bag ready for her. “I don’t need one today,” Maria said. “My mother got a job. I’m here to help.”

Maria supported her family for eight months. She graduated on time and got scholarship offers from three different colleges. She moved to part-time work and has completed her first semester of college.

8 . I wanted to share the story of someone in my community. Alex and I have been pretty good friends for years. He was raised in a pretty abusive home, and grew up with major depression and anxiety. He talks about his story all the time to help other teens. Alex has truly changed his life around to help other people and we are all so glad for that.

He started an organization to help homeless people. He has teens from across the world mail him stories of hope or funny pictures that they drew and he goes around and gives homeless people those things along with food or something. They love receiving drawings and letters because they feel great knowing that someone took time to do that for them.

Alex also wrote a book to inspire teens. He wants other teenagers to see what he’s gone through so they feel inspired to make a change in their lives. Alex is an extremely inspirational person and this book will help teens in similar situations as Alex was in.

Alex has won three awards for everything he did. He won an inspirational people’s award through a local organization; he won the Youth Service America’s everyday hero award and he won a Canadian awesome award. He’s changing lives and he really deserves these awards. Alex’s latest accomplishment is the start of the National Youth Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying Task Force. I can’t believe how many families he’s affected. It’s so much work just to help people he doesn’t know but Alex loves it.

I believe that young stars are not just singers and actors. I believe they are also the youth changing our world. There are not many teens that choose to change the world around, but Alex is definitely one of them.

9 . Around the World in 80 Days! —By Jules Verne

"We set out for Dover and Calais in ten minutes," Fogg announced. A puzzled grin appeared in Passepartout's round face: clearly he had not understood. "Monsieur is going to leave home?" "Yes," replied Phileas Fogg. "We are going around the world." Passepartout's eyes widened, he raised his eyebrows, held up his hands and seemed about to collapse. "Round the world!" he murmured. "In eighty days," responded Mr. Fogg. "So we don't have a moment to lose," "But the cases?" gasped Passepartout. "We won't have any cases," Fogg replied. "Only a bag with two shirts and three pairs of stockings for me in it, and the same for you. We'll buy our clothes on the way. Bring down my raincoat and traveling cloak, and some strong shoes, although we will do little walking. Hurry up!"

Passepartout tried to reply, but he could not. He mechanically began to make the preparations for departure. Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. Was this a joke, then? They were going to Dover; good! To Calais; good again! After all, Passepartout, who had been away from France for five years, wouldn't be sorry to set foot in his own country again. Perhaps they would go as far as Paris, and it would do his eyes good to see Paris once again.

By eight o'clock Passepartout had packed the bag. Then, still feeling troubled, he went down to see

Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg was completely ready. Under his arm was a book containing timetables showing the arrival and departure of steam boats and trains. He took the bag, opened it, and slipped into it a roll of notes. "You haven't forgotten anything?" Fogg asked. "Nothing, monsieur." "My raincoat and cloak?" "Here they are." "Good!"

"Take this bag," Fogg said, handing it to Passepartout. "Take good care of it because there are twenty thousand pounds in it." Passepartout nearly dropped the bag, as if the twenty thousand pounds were in gold, and weighed him down. Passepartout and his master then left the house and at the end of Saville Row they took a taxi and drove rapidly to Charing Cross.

10 . Bryan and Tamera Wong of Clovis, California, once had a very different plan for their life together. They imagined having two children and Tamera driving a convertible (敞篷车). But there seemed a different plan waiting for them, they say, and it’s far better.

The couple has 12 children.     1     Tamera drives a van that can seat 15 people, and she couldn’t be happier.

Their eldest biological daughter, Breanna, 20, had a hand in the adoptions. At age 6, she asked her parents a big question as they collected items to send to an orphanage (孤儿院) in Mexico, “Mom, I know we are gathering all these clothes and toys for orphans.     2     ”

They thought over her question, and it led them to adopt a healthy baby girl, Brooklyn, from an orphanage in China in 2004.

    3     That led to the adoption of Blythe, 17, Bethany, 10, Braxton, 10, Bayley, 8, Bella, 7, Beka-Joy, 4, and Bennett, 4. Four are missing limbs, and two have a birth defect where the spinal chord（脊髓） doesn’t develop properly. Blythe has a neurological disorder.

“We think we are saving these kids and we are helping them out, but really they truly blessed (护佑) us,” Bryan says. “     4     ”

Bryce, 16, one of the Wongs’ four biological children, loves his big family. “We should love the orphans of the world, and I feel like we are pretty much doing that,” Bryce says.     5     “I think they are definitely taking action. Not just listening, but doing.”