Mash Assadollah was the grocer at our corner store. Standing behind his glass display case, he tore out a page from a book. He twisted the page into a cone-shaped envelope and then filled it with tobacco. He then weighed the tobacco. He folded the envelope of tobacco closed and handed it to me. I was also buying sugar cubes and tea. Mash Assadollah calculated the amounts on an abacus (算盘). I paid him and left.

When I got home, Grandmother took the goods I had purchased, emptied the envelopes of their ingredients, handed me the wrappers, and asked me to throw them away.

It was summer vacation, and I didn’t have much to do. To keep myself busy, I sat down in a corner of the room and started to read the wrappers, which had once been eight consecutive (连续的) pages of a book. How well written and attractive the words were! It was a good story. I sat there until I had read all eight pages. Honestly, I had never read a book before, except for my textbooks. But when I read those eight pages, I realized that I now loved reading! The only problem was that the story stopped right at the best part, right at the end of Page 22, which was the most important and exciting point in the story.

It was about a boy who wanted to run away from home and escape his father who was always spanking (打屁股) him, but the boy was afraid. He finally left home but didn’t know where to go. I was excited to find out where he would go and what would happen to him.

I decided to go back and get the rest of the book from Mash Assadollah.

Mash Assadollah didn’t know what I was talking about.

Standing in the craft (工艺) store, I looked at the painting supplies in awe (敬畏). There were so many items that I had no idea where to start. I saw various tools for painting and several things I had no idea what to do with.

I held gift cards and coupons (优惠券) in my hand. My friends and family had asked what I wanted, and I was very clear this year. I had thought over the idea for months, but I would need supplies. Instead of replying modestly with“I’ll be happy with whatever you choose”, I said pointedly, “Gift cards for the craft store.”

“Are you sure this is what you want for your birthday?” my husband asked hesitantly.

“I’m very sure. I really want to give it a go,” I replied. I was smiling with anticipation (期盼). “I’ve never painted before, and I think it’s time to expand myself.”

He looked at me doubtfully and shook his head.

Truth must be told—this was a secret I’d kept for a while. Every day, he packed up for work and left. I would take care of my son and get him off to school, clean the house, go to the grocery shop and prepare dinner before they both walked in the door at the same time.

It had been a decade since I took any time to follow my own pursuits. I used to love to read; now my books collected dust from lack of time. I used to love to hike; now my boots sat neglected in the back of my closet. I used to love to sew, but my machine was in a state of disrepair for longer than I owned it.

I missed doing all those things, but somehow I never found my way back to them. I had become a drudge (苦工). I wanted excitement and creative expression, but mostly I wanted color.

I selected the most interesting supplies. “Are you really sure about this? I have a feeling you’re going to store all these in the back of a closet and never touch it again.” I almost listened to him. For a split moment, I doubted my commitment.

Squaring up my shoulders, I marched myself to the checkout.

My hand rested on the handle of the vacuum (吸尘器), but I’d been staring at my painting tools far longer than I realized.

3 . To those normal kids, it’s not unusual to hear “Goodnight” when you kiss them, saying “Goodnight” to them. For most parents, it’s just a storm in a teacup. However, for me it’s opposite.

My son James, suffered from the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas James is an exception.

Pre-diagnosis, I’d give James a big kiss and whisper goodnight when putting James to bed. Post-diagnosis, the silence that I received in return was deafening. It had never occurred to me before to be concerned that when I said “Goodnight, James. I love you”, my toddler said nothing in response.

I needed to hear him say something. My husband and I began to promote James to say goodnight back to us. “Say goodnight, Mommy.” For over a year, “Say goodnight, Mommy” was the parting routine of the day. Every night, it made me cry. I never got used to it. But I never gave up hope.

With more efforts, one night, I’d hear something more organic come out of James’s mouth. He dropped the “say”— and his response became “goodnight, Mommy” when James turned four. It was fantastic — but it was still prompted. At six, I got my first unprompted, “Goodnight, Mommy. I love you.” Next to my wedding, and births of my children, this was the most exciting night of my life.

James, now eight, routinely kisses us goodnight and tells us he loves us. The other evening, after giving me a big hug and kiss, James told me, “You’re a great mom! You’re not a mom with feathers, or a mom with colors and markers. I’m glad you’re a... a person!” I don’t know if he had the book Are You My Mother? on his mind, or if this was just one of the many random thoughts that crossed my son’s brain on a daily basis. I do know it was music to my ears.

6 . As we get older and advance in our education, the more teachers we have come into our lives. At some point, it becomes _______ to remember every single one that we’ve had. _______ as it might be, there are some teachers who have a very _______ impact on their students’ lives. Retired kindergarten teacher Jane Pearson is a great _______.

Jane was recently relaxing in a chair outside of her home when suddenly a group of high schoolers _______ to her in graduation gowns. All of them _______ to her as they stood behind her white fence. At first, she seemed confused, but upon closer inspection she _______ that those teenagers used to be her students. _______, they weren’t just any students.

These particular kids hold a very unusual place in her heart: They were her students from the _______ kindergarten class 13 years ago when she retired! As soon as she ________ those faces, she rushed to hug them all.

“Oh my gosh, I love you all!” Jane was touched with the ________. All of them were excited to share their pleasant ________, laughing and crying now and then.

Jane taught in the same kindergarten classroom for over 38 years and after seeing her sweet reaction to her students’ ________ , we’re sure these aren’t the only students she ________! No matter how much time passes, there are just some ________ people that leave a mark in our lives forever, just as Jane did with these students.

10 . Woody Williams of Charlotte, North Carolina is simply Woody Williams, a retired graphic artist and musician who plays in local clubs and bars. But online, the 72-year-old is known as Funky Geezer (时髦老头), and he’s got more than 3 million followers on TikTok alone!

In December 2020, Woody was staying in his home to avoid catching the COVID-19, just like everybody else. He found himself with more free time than usual, and since he couldn’t go to perform in a club or jam with any bands, he decided to check out what was happening online. He downloaded TikTok and uploaded a short video of himself doing a little dance. The likes and comments started pouring in, and before he knew it, his video had been viewed millions of times!

Encouraged, Woody leaned in to his Funky Geezer persona (人设), uploading more videos to his channel. He enjoys connecting with people again, and always loves putting on a show to make others smile.

Funky Geezer has now gone viral more than once, and he’s got a large following across all of his social channels. He’s even getting requests to bring his dance moves to foreign lands, although he’s not sure he’ll be traveling much beyond his usual circles.

“I was asked to do shows in Canada, England and Micronesia,” he said. “I don’t even know where Micronesia is.”

Woody says he doesn’t run his “Funky Geezer Show” for fame or fortune; he simply wants to put a smile on someone’s face! “My motto is to inspire until you die,” he said, adding, “I am just encouraging the newbies to come up, grab their guitar, and get involved, express themselves.”