Mary realized she had forgotten her wallet while trying to pay for some groceries, but a kind boy, Mark, paid for her things. Sometime later, Mary and her daughter learned that Mark’s grandmother needed expensive surgery, so they decided to act, shocking the poor kid.
“Oh, geez. I must have forgotten my wallet in John’s car. I’m so sorry. I’ll have to come back for these things later,” Mary said to the cashier, who started picking up the items and putting them back. Meanwhile, Mary closed her purse, prepared to walk away when the boy behind her in line spoke up.
“Wait, ma’am. You don’t have many things anyway. I’ll pay for them,” he said. He couldn’t be older than 12, and Mary noticed that he didn’t look particularly well-off.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Oh, no. I couldn’t put you out like that,” Mary countered.
“I insist, ma’am. Sometimes, we have to do good things, and karma will reward us later, right? That’s what my grandmother says all the time,” the boy said, placing his few things on the belt and paying for everything that Mary had picked out. Luckily, it was only a few essentials.
Mary’s daughter, Anastacia, was sick with the flu. She needed someone to watch the kids because her husband was in Europe on a business trip, so Mary decided to go to Santa Ana from San Diego, California. But her friend, John, had driven her up, and it seems she left her wallet in his car.
Once they got their groceries ready, Mary and the kid went outside. “Hey, I’m Mary Cummings. What’s your name?” she said conversationally.
“I’m Mark.”
“Thank you so much for what you did, Mark. It saved me a trip to the store. Listen, how about you give me your phone number so I can pay you back as soon as I get my wallet,” Mary suggested, and the kid wrote down his number on the receipt.
“Here, but don’t worry about it. There’s no rush. I live nearby anyway,” Mark said offhandedly.
“Although I also believe in paying it forward like you and your grandma, we have to pay off our debts,” Mary added, and they said goodbye.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
She got home and told Anastacia about leaving her wallet in John’s car and the kid at the store who paid for her things. Mary only went there to buy a few things for chicken noodle soup, so it wasn’t anything important. “Still, it was nice to see a young man being so kind,” Mary finished her story while storing things and getting ready to make the soup.
“I agree. Although kids today are all so progressive, some of them can be pretty self-centered,” Anastacia.
“I don’t think this kid comes from a rich family, though. Maybe that’s why he’s so nice. But anyway, I’m worried that he might need that money urgently,” the older woman continued. Luckily, she called John, who agreed to come up to Santa Ana the following day and return her wallet.
***
Mary and Anastacia rang the bell at the address Mark had given them. Earlier, John came up, gave Mary her wallet, and Mary called the kid to return the money. He told her where he lived, and now they were right in front of his home.
The house was small and old. But it looked clean, and the garden was maintained. It was clear that these people didn’t have a lot of money, but they took pride in keeping it pretty. Mark answered the door.
“Hello, Mrs. Cummings,” Mark said upon opening the front door.
“Hey, Mark! This is my daughter, Anastacia. Here’s your money. Again, thank you so much for everything,” Mary told him with a kind smile.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Thank you. You didn’t have to hurry,” the boy replied and looked behind him for a second. “Listen, I would invite you in, but I’m not supposed to have anyone over. My grandma would be mad.”
“Oh, where is she? Maybe, we can come later to meet her. Does she like pecan pie? Because we’re going to the bakery right now,” Anastacia added happily.
“Well, she’s actually at the hospital and won’t get out for a while,” Mark explained with a frown. Mary and Anastacia wanted to know more, so he continued. “She needs a huge surgery, and I started a GoFundMe, but I’ve been trying to promote it. It’s not that popular. For now, the hospital has understood, and they are keeping her in observation while I raise the money.”
“Oh, sweetie. You shouldn’t have to do that on your own,” Anastacia said, concerned.
“We don’t have anyone else. It’s only us,” Mark shrugged. Mary and Anastacia looked at each other and came to a wordless decision.
“Give me the link to the GoFundMe, and your grandmother’s name. Also, come with us to the bakery. We’ll go visit her and see if the doctor lets her eat some pie,” Mary offered, although it was more of a demand.
“Are you sure? You don’t have to.”
“We have to,” Anastacia insisted, and Mark went with them.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
After buying some pies, they went to the hospital to meet Mark’s grandmother, Mrs. Julie Strada. They talked to her for a while, and Mark decided to stay with her that night, so Mary and Anastacia left.
When they got home, Anastacia shared the GoFundMe link with anyone she could think of, and she also donated a few hundred dollars. But Mary felt so hopeless. “They need so much money for this surgery. I don’t know if sharing the link is enough,” she breathed sadly.
“Let’s think,” Anastacia said, looking at her computer. “How about we share the story of the boy? I mean how he helped you, although they need the money so much. I mean, he couldn’t know you were going to pay it back. Maybe it could go viral? Let’s try Reddit.”
“That’s a one-in-a-million thing, Anastacia,” Mary replied skeptically.
“We’ll see,” the younger woman said with a smile and started writing everything that happened on Reddit. She posted it on several subreddits and her Twitter.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
At first, there were only a few commenters, but thousands of people had read the story and donated to the cause after a few days. They still needed a lot more donations to reach the goal of $230,000, which was the cost of Mrs. Strada’s entire treatment.
But surprisingly, a famous new outlet picked up the story, shared it, and even interviewed Mary and Mark for their article. The GoFundMe project reached way beyond their goal, and they were ecstatic. Mark couldn’t believe it. He had only paid around $20 for what Mrs. Cummings needed at the store, and she somehow found a way to pay it back and more.
What can we learn from this story?
- Helping others can change your life. Mark helped an older woman at the store, not knowing how hard she would work to pay him back for his gesture.
- There are still good people around the world. Tons of viral stories have gotten people enough donations to pay for their family members and even their pets’ treatments, which proves how good people can be.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who had to put his baby up for adoption when he was a teenager.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
BRAD PITT’S NEW GIRLFRIEND CHANNELS JENNIFER ANISTON: FANS ARE STUNNED BY THIS JAW-DROPPING COMPARISON
Brad Pitt’s new girlfriend surprised fans with a recent public appearance that made people compare her to his ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston. This resemblance has created a buzz on social media, with fans sharing their reactions.
Brad Pitt’s new relationship has been in the spotlight for a while, but a recent event took things up a notch. The couple’s appearances at big events have generated a lot of talk, and one outfit choice has especially caught fans’ attention.
What began as a simple curiosity about Brad Pitt’s new romance has turned into a major topic of discussion. Many people are now questioning if Pitt’s girlfriend is mimicking Jennifer Aniston’s style. This ongoing debate shows how Pitt’s past relationship with Aniston is still influencing how people view his new girlfriend.
A Look Back at Brad and Jennifer’s Iconic Relationship
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were once one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples. They met on a blind dinner date in 1998, and for months, their relationship was kept private before they eventually went public.
In July 2000, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had a spectacular wedding in Malibu, with 200 guests, 50,000 flowers, several bands, and fireworks. It seemed like a true Hollywood fairytale. However, by 2005, their storybook romance came to an end.
After seven years together, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced their separation. They issued a joint statement saying that their split was due to “much thoughtful consideration” and not because of tabloid rumors.
Even after their divorce, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston remained good friends. Aniston publicly praised Pitt years later, and their continued friendship has kept fans interested. Their reunion at the 2020 SAG Awards especially captured the public’s attention.
After their split, Brad Pitt’s love life quickly became a major topic again. His next relationship soon attracted even more attention and public interest.
After his split from Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt started a highly publicized relationship with Angelina Jolie. The couple, known as “Brangelina,” quickly became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about duos.
After being together for nine years and raising six children, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married in a private ceremony at their French estate in 2014. However, their marriage was short-lived, as Jolie filed for divorce in 2016.
The divorce between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie became a highly publicized affair, with both parties emphasizing the importance of their children’s well-being. Their separation was marked by a series of legal battles and custody disputes that kept the media buzzing.
The divorce between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie became a highly publicized affair, with both parties emphasizing the importance of their children’s well-being. Their separation was marked by a series of legal battles and custody disputes that kept the media buzzing.
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon started keeping a low profile when they first got together, but they’ve recently attracted attention with their public appearances. Nearly two years ago, Pitt was first seen with de Ramon, marking the beginning of their new romance.
In December 2022, Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon attended the premiere of Pitt’s film *Babylon* in Los Angeles. They seemed very at ease, sharing some affectionate moments in public.
By early 2023, the couple was spotted on vacation in Cabo, Mexico. They were photographed relaxing by the pool, with Pitt shirtless and de Ramon sunbathing without her bikini top, which quickly caught the media’s attention.
In February 2023, Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon were seen dining at the famous Fouquet’s restaurant on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. A news outlet even captured their outing on video, further fueling public interest in their relationship.
In November 2023, Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon made a splash at LACMA’s 12th Annual Art+Film Gala in Los Angeles, where they were reportedly “super loving” and enjoyed each other’s company. Their relationship seemed to deepen as they celebrated Pitt’s 60th birthday with a romantic stay at the luxurious Bulgari Hotel in Paris. As they continued to make public appearances, it was clear that de Ramon was becoming an important part of Pitt’s life.
In September 2024, Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon attended the Venice International Film Festival, where their relationship was once again in the spotlight. This time, it was de Ramon’s outfit that grabbed attention. She wore a sleek white one-shoulder dress that many fans thought looked a lot like the dress Jennifer Aniston wore at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Aniston’s gown from the SAG Awards was a stunning white satin dress that highlighted her style. Fans noticed the similarity between Aniston’s dress and de Ramon’s, sparking a lot of discussions and comparisons.
After Ines de Ramon’s appearance at the Venice International Film Festival, social media was buzzing with comments about her dress. Many people pointed out how similar it was to Jennifer Aniston’s gown from the 2020 SAG Awards.
One Instagram user commented, “She’s cute but she’s no Jennifer Aniston.” Another added, “Her dress looks like Jennifer Aniston’s dress,” and a third said, “She’s just copying Jennifer Aniston.”
Some users even speculated about Brad Pitt’s feelings, with one saying, “Brad is NOT happy with his girlfriend! He was happy with Jennifer Aniston!” Others preferred Aniston, stating, “Jennifer Aniston was the most beautiful of his wives/girlfriends.” Another Facebook user noted, “Ines de Ramon is copying Jennifer Aniston’s style, look at the dress.”
Before dating Pitt, de Ramon was married to actor Paul Wesley from “The Vampire Diaries.” They started dating in 2018, got married in 2019, but separated by September 2022. Their split was confirmed by a representative, who said they had been living apart for a few months before the official separation. Despite the end of their marriage, de Ramon remained low-profile during this time.
For many fans, Jennifer Aniston continues to hold a special place as the woman most closely linked to Brad Pitt’s golden years in Hollywood. The comments on social media reflect a lingering nostalgia for their early 2000s romance, showing how much people still remember and admire their past relationship.
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