Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
A.I.T.A. blackish edition.
Okay, this is one of those threads where I’ve got to ask a simple question: Am I the asshole? I’ll admit at the beginning that yes, I may have been the asshole, because maybe I should have found a different solution to my problem in this scenario.
By Anthony Anthem5 years ago in Families
Full Circle
His wails pierced through the Saturday morning hum of chattering nanas, modish hipsters and babbling young mums that bustled around them. Norah loved the medley of market goers since they merged the farmers and collectors markets at Bridge Street. She looked at the small boy in front of her with bouncing blonde curls and cherry red cheeks. She wondered if Finn had ever been that small. ‘He certainly was never that vocal’ she thought to herself.
By Jessica Hooper 5 years ago in Families
More than Manifestation
After my mother died, the responsibility of cleaning out her belongings was left to me, her only child. Digging through the disarray that she called a closet, I found a little black notebook with a note that read, "My dearest daughter, Elizabeth. You're ready". I had no idea what exactly I was "ready" for, but I trusted my mother. I took the little black notebook in my hands. It was thin and small but sturdy to the touch. I unwrapped the twine that was so neatly tied in a bow that you would have thought my mother re-tied it a million times to get it so perfect. Maybe she did. I looked into the journal and flipped through pages and pages of the same sentences and phrases repeated over and over again. I had heard of manifestation, but this had to be more than that. It had to. It was too specific. In the notebook was the phrase, "Lizzie will be promoted at her job in 2 weeks". I checked the date, and sure enough, it was dated two weeks before I received my big promotion. Every sentence my mother had repeatedly written in this tiny notebook of hers, had come true in less than a month's time from the date that it was written. About halfway through the notebook, the writing stopped. There was a note addressed to me. It read, "Lizzie, use the second half of this notebook wisely and carefully. I love you," followed by a page filled with the sentence, "My daughter has everything she needs". Little did I know, by giving me that notebook, she gave me just that: everything I need. The day after I found the notebook, I was running some errands and saw a billboard advertising a $20,000 lottery ticket. I decided to pick up a ticket for myself, and now the wait began. I continued to write the sentence, "I have everything I need" in the notebook. I wrote until my hand felt like it was going to disintegrate. I wrote for what felt like hours on end. The following week the winners were announced. I rushed to turn on the news. My hands trembled as I fumbled with the remote trying to change the channel. As soon as I had gotten to the right channel, I heard a man exclaim, "And the winner of the grand prize of 20,000 dollars is...". My heart was pounding. My nerves were shot. Then, I heard the man once more, "Elizabeth Beckam! Please call the number on your screen to confirm your prize!". My heart raced with excitement. I called the number and did exactly as the man said, secured my prize. I was so thankful to my mother. She really did hand me everything I needed when she left me that tiny black notebook. She handed me control over my own life, something I had never had before. Don't get me wrong, my mother made sure we never struggled. My father left when I was a child, and she had always done an exceptional job of taking care of me. A few days after I had called in to claim my winnings, I went through all of the tedious paperwork, which seemed to never end. Then, they wrote me a check for $18,000. They took taxes and fees out, wrote me the check, and let me be on my way. I stopped by the bank on my way home, explained to the teller that I had been fortunate enough to win this money, cashed out my check, and went home. I checked the online banking app that I have on my phone. The numbers I saw were just astounding. I was not even home from the bank for an hour when I decided to go shopping. I went and bought myself new clothes. I replaced my phone that was about 4 years outdated. I finally was able to do for myself without being overwhelmed with guilt. When I got home, I looked into stock investments. I bought stock in over 10 different companies. Over the course of the next ten years, I made 3 million dollars from the stocks I had purchased. I saved the remainder of the money to contribute to buying a modest house for my future family and put money towards my future childrens' education, only spending what was necessary over the course of the next ten years. In that time, I met an amazing man. He was tall, toned but not too buff, and he had the kindest eyes I had ever seen. I refrained from telling him about my winnings in fear that he would stay with me only for the money, but he proposed to me before I had even mentioned it. I gained a fiance and I gained his daughter from his previous marriage. She had twinkling blue eyes, only four years old. When she smiled at me, I melted. I had a happy family and more than enough money to support us all. When I had finally told my fiance about the money I had come into ten years ago, he pulled me in tight for a hug and said, "Baby, I love you whether you have $2 to your name or $200 million to your name. I'm not going anywhere, and I'm especially not here for your money. I'm here for you". I fell in love all over again that day. I realized I was going to have a beautiful life with a family I adored. My mother was right, I had everything I needed.
By Maura Crowne 5 years ago in Families
The Storycatcher
There was nothing much else I could do at that point. I’d already done it all, and done it badly, firing the bridges behind me the minute I’d been clear of them. So when the call came, I went. My 28 days were up, and it was all I knew to do. That or the street, and even a farm 900 miles south sounded better than the street. At least it would be warm and dry, food to eat and a roof over me. And the street would always be there waiting when I burned this bridge, too, as I already assumed I would. If the old man was too much trouble to take care of, I’d just leave. It was six months. I could do anything for six months.
By Janet Carter5 years ago in Families
Old Fashioned
"Shirley Temple on ice with ginger ale, please." Ally whispered loudly to the waitress as she looked around. She didn't want her sister to know she quit drinking, again. The facade of her look alike old fashioned bourbon was comforting. Quarantine day drinking had finally gotten to her. Without alcohol, she was a dry drunk. Twelve step emotional sobriety was too much work. If not for anger and resentments, she wouldn't have fuel to get through the day. After losing her job there was no one left to be mad at but herself. She had a strong urge for a drink and to be out of the house.
By Ellen M. Holtzman, DTM5 years ago in Families
Grandma's Treasures
Sitting looking out at the waves crashing against the beach from my deck, feeling a bit chilly even with the sun on my face, I start thinking about my grandma. Gladys. She has been gone a few years now, but has not left my heart. Her gift changed my life.
By Cheryl Keller5 years ago in Families
Which oil is best for Hair Growth?
The idea of applying oil to your hair twice a week might seem old school. But, it turns out our mom was right to slather oil on the hair regularly. Oiling is also the best way to pamper the hair. It gives the hair all the essential nutrients and proteins which are needed to become stronger and shinier. Oiling is an amazing way to pamper your hair. It gives the hair all the essential nutrients as well as proteins it needs to become stronger and shinier. One of the best ways to get healthy, long, and thick hair is just to sit back and enjoy a nice hot oil massage. Hair oil with high-quality ingredients promotes healthy hair growth, relieves the scalp of bacterial infections, and prevents premature graying.
By Kajal iyar5 years ago in Families
The Black Butterfly
Living My Truth was beginning to become my daily norm, despite all the backlash I've gotten from my family. Was I the cause of the mix-up the filled drama and constant arguments? I couldn't figure out what to do with the fact that I'm going to finally come face to face with my enemy someone I've never seen before but constantly kept putting images together. See I was adopted and I didn’t find out the truth until this year when my mother suddenly passed away it put a real damper on the family especially me. The hurt I experienced was a hurt I’ve never felt so deep as if I was running through a rose bush full of thorns dark and cold , rough & fierce. As the saltwater tears of sadness streamed down my cold cheeks I whimpered in silence wishing I could hold her and feel the warmth of her body next to my young motherless body. Yes motherless I didn't have a mother anymore and even though I had my father I really didn't have him, we found out three years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and it was beginning to eat at his brain cells. Sometimes he knows me and sometimes he doesn't it was a hit and miss but he's all I have now. Between me and my siblings we didn't have the best relationship, everyone grieves different and do I mean differently. Me being the youngest and also the black sheep is what's gotten me to let out my untold truth the mystery, the guilt and sadness behind “The Black Butterfly”
By Sheree Harris-Brown5 years ago in Families
A French Education
A small cloud of dust appeared when the small, black notebook hit the floor. The young girl looked quickly around to see if anyone, especially her mother, had noticed her carelessness. Her mother was in the other end of the antique shop, examining other dust-covered items.
By Rosemary O'Brien5 years ago in Families
The Gypsy and the Fortune
As Florence settled into her seat, for the onward flight to Rome, tears welled up in her eyes. Only moments earlier she had farewelled her much loved cousins, with a smile on her face, but now the extraordinary sadness emerged, as it had before in the same scenario, played out two years earlier. It amazed her, after having grown up on the other side of the world, how her heart-strings pulled. She let the tears fall, until her beloved Croatia, the shoreline of Split, and the islands below, could no longer be seen from the window.
By Tania Maree Herbert5 years ago in Families
