Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
End of the Rainbow
Raya walks along the beach with her dog, Kona. From time to time, she bends down to inspect an object: a cool shell, a smooth lava rock or stunning sea glass. Raya and Kona spend countless hours at the beach scavenging for things the sea has washed onto the beach.
By Jami Schmottlach5 years ago in Families
Figuring it Out
Camryn was exhausted. Her brain was overwhelmed with an abundance of worries. Surely what she had needed was some money. A sense of security. I mean... in the state of this world? Who didn’t. Hell, no matter what the state of the world is in... we all must admit that we absolutely adore it and rabidly hunger for it. A big huge wad of cash to fan ourselves with. A splendid dream. Especially after finding out there's a baby on its way.
By mariah rose5 years ago in Families
I'll Find You in the Stars
Rain droplets pounded the roof, creating a soft white noise in my ears. A stern man sits behind a metal desk, he’s going on about the details of the crash. The single-car crash that killed my twin sister. My mind is a thousand, no, a trillion miles away from here. I feel queasy. My vision is blurry. Am I going to faint? I’m stopping my feet from moving to the nearest window and throwing myself from it. I should be dead too. Why didn’t I go with her? I can’t remember the last words I said to my sister before she left on her let's-try-to-save-another-animal gig. Or was it saving the trees? The ocean? I’m not sure. My sister, Eudora, was a popular activist, completing over two dozen missions to protect and save the vulnerable animal population and environment. Now I will never be able to speak to her again.
By Emma Hendrix5 years ago in Families
The Accident
I woke up to a view of the highway, but we weren't moving. I immediately knew something wasn't right by the lack of glass missing from the windshield. I look around, still not very sure of what's going on. To my left, there's an empty driver seat but as I look right I see something that knocked me out of my sleepy haze. Blood streaming down her face I couldn't help but scream, "Mom!" I knew she could hear me because she started moving her head. I wanted to help her but what could a twelve year old do in the middle of a busy highway? I tried to get out of the car because somehow the other six passengers were nowhere to be found. I realized that there was something heavy on my lap. Looking down I see the reason behind the accident. A deer strewn across the front street, dead from the impact he's just laid upon our car, now just dead weight. Too much for me to move I began to panic and I finally managed to knock him off of me. I can barely hear my mom whispering my name through the crying and hysterics I'm producing. I know she needs help, she can't open her eyes. That stupid deer knocked glass into her eyes slashing her eyelids. I knew all she was seeing was red and I knew she was scared. I got out the car but I tell her I'll be back. Looking to my right at the immense traffic approaching I find a chance as I run to the shoulder of the highway. Three lanes later and I make it to the other six passengers all consisting of family. They were all screaming and crying and for the longest I thought it was because of my mom. And it was until I turned to the right, exposing my left cheek to them. The hysterics grew worse not just from me but from them too. My cousin grabbed my arm and took me to a van that had pulled over to help us. He was at the car talking to my mom; I guess those were the instructions from the dispatcher. She told me to look into the glass and I can't figure out why until I see white. Apparently, that stupid deer had kicked me in the face leaving a deep gash across my left cheek. There was no blood it was just white which freaked me out even more. There was no pain, I touched it to see if it would hurt and it didn't. My cousin told me to sit down as the guy came back over and said the paramedics would be here soon. As if they had heard him, approaching us with their sirens and lights were the paramedics. I didn't want to go with them, I hated hospitals. But, they made me lay down on one of the stretchers and they wheeled me into the back, then they wheeled my mom in too. I was asking if she was okay but she didn't respond and I started crying again. It seemed like forever by the time we got to the hospital. They took me to one room and took my mom somewhere else that really made me mad. I needed to see her so she'd know I was okay and she’d know the same about me. The doctors were cutting my clothes off, my favorite ones that I wouldn't be able to wear anymore even though there was blood all over it I still wanted to keep them.
By IntrovertedExrovert5 years ago in Families
Shoe Box Money
The bell rang, calling for a dismissal of classes for the day. Mark gathered up his books and headed to the school’s computer room to check for updates on his college applications and to submit his final assessment for High School. The computer room, at this hour, was often empty as most students had access to a computer at home. This wasn’t the case for Mark, he had never even owned a cell phone which didn’t do much for his social experience being a child of the digital age. His online presence and much of his social life was limited to the hours spent at school and as much as his friends tried to keep him updated and involved, he still felt left behind.
By Julia Alfred5 years ago in Families
Cara, My Darling
There I was, ten minutes away from selling my car and makeup online so I could make rent next month when the phone rings and a paralegal was asking me if I was my mom’s daughter and setting a day to meet with his boss. The next thing I knew I was walking out of a lawyer’s office with an old black notebook and, more importantly, a check for $20,000.
By MWM Pomodoros5 years ago in Families
Nana's Wish
Ginny anxiously stood at the door, waiting for someone to answer. She took in a deep breath and silently counted to 10 while alternating her glance between the small black notebook in her hand and the door. Softly she said to herself, "I'll knock one more time, and if no one answers, I'll leave. Maybe this was a mistake." Ginny repeated the pattern of knocking, counting, and nervously shuffling her feet three times. Just as she turned and started to walk away, Ginny heard the door open and a quizzical "hello."
By Natasha Carter5 years ago in Families
What is my name?
What is my name? By John. D. Kennedy The dark and numbing years from this pandemic, unraveled to a wheezing, imperceptible end. A strange sense of returned normality to a life that lived and died before COVID19, began to spin its unrelenting gears. Compressed and widespread glittering booms, of mask-less commuters in a broken chaos of words and honks, polluted the airline filled skies.
By John Kennedy5 years ago in Families
A Father's Love
Shane Jones had been “the boy”. Good looking, athletic, great smile, with a dimple that made girls go weak in the knees. It is one thing to be good looking and humble, it was completely different to be good looking and know it- Shane was the latter. He graduated high school with big dreams and big plans, none of which concerned anyone but himself.
By Noelani Jones5 years ago in Families
Patena
As she looked in the glass the liquid shimmered, all the sounds of the room faded as she stared at the water. It mesmerized her, it always had. So elusive and yet so real, so commonplace and yet so magical. No one else seemed to give something so simple so much thought, certainly no other girls her age. No adults either for that matter, at least no one she knew, except maybe her grandmother Patena. They didn’t give much notice to circles either. Like the fact that all glasses seemed to be circular. There was also the idea of the glass itself, or chalice to be exact. So many questions and so few answers, always the same. As she took a sip of the cool liquid the noises and colors of the room returned. She remembered to smile and nod, as her grandmother had reminded her while hiding her thoughts. Hiding thoughts had become a habit, it was much easier to hide the thoughts than to actually try to mention them. “Yes! It’s delicious, the most refreshing water is always here”, Ena replied as she handed the chalice back to the priest. She was truly appreciative, the water has always been special to her. She really believed in its magical properties. No one ever really explained from where the water came. It was as if it came from the protected rock, but that really seemed illogical. Rocks don’t produce water, she knew. It was another thought and question to “saved” for a later time. She would ask grandmother later. Practicing for the Transformation Ceremony with the actual water of the mountain was exciting. She couldn’t wait to tell grandmother Patena.
By Elida Deluna5 years ago in Families
