Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Ishtar's Gift
Normally the competing screeches and squawks of the exotic bird exhibit would excite Julie, but today was turning into a very bad day, and the cacophony was giving her a headache.
By Nicholas Beishline5 years ago in Families
Words I Never Said
Daisy's Diary: Entry One So today, for Christmas, my parents decided to get me a diary. Real girly-like - pink, fuzzy, a lock and key. They think I need to find a better way to "express my feelings". Those motherfuckers mfs really put it in the Christmas card. No "Merry Christmas and thank you for doing your chores all year and getting home by curfew all year and having an amazing first semester at the university we never let you forget we are paying for". So with a smile and the fakest "aww thanks" I could muster up, I thought there was no better way to kick off my newfound expression than to dedicate this first entry to you guys.
By Daisy Lane5 years ago in Families
The Squirrel Nest
“Don’t just stand there. Up you go. It’s yours!” Sherrie stood at the wooden steps in front of her new house, both excited and fearful of the next chapter in her life. “I’m afraid it’ll come crashing down. It’s too surreal.”
By Johnny Walker5 years ago in Families
An Unexpected Trip
An Unexpected Trip by L.L. Beck It was a haunted and rainy evening in October on All Hollow’s Eve in Scotland. She has just landed in Edinburgh after a long arduous flight from Seattle. This was not a pleasure trip, although she had always had a deep desire to return to her family roots. She had received a phone call a few days earlier from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital that her long-lost father was dying from a terminal illness- Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, an illness which he had chosen not to share with a soul until now. These hours and minutes were precious and more so as she would never have had a close relationship with him after he left her in the States. After landing in at the airport, she hailed a cab to take her to the Hospital. Her journey to see her estranged Faither was met with anxiety and mixed emotions, would he accept her visit, could he ever forgive her for being so angry with him? Angry for leaving her behind in Seattle.
By Lisa Beck5 years ago in Families
From My Youth
I did not think that I would dare see something this spectacular, but I did! I remember a lot from my youth, but one of them was a special event that stays in my heart. It was a light show event at a theme park, found in “Six Flags Fiesta Texas.” My family and I were there watching all the fireworks displays, and I remember that I saw the event with many families. They were enjoying the fireworks with their family's like us. Who knew? That Texas was full of flowers, places, rivers, and many, many, many friendly people. It was a great time and place to raise a family. It was the nineteen-nineties, and I was from the home state of Texas. I came from a humble background, a Hispanic family, who grew up, in the heart of Texas. I am fourth generation, I am the youngest in the family, who has a very imaginative, creative, and artistic mind, and has a lot of energy to run around and jump. I was labeled the Mexican jumping bean. You’d never think I was going anywhere in life though. I was painfully very average kid. All I knew about at the time was the Alamo, and my very favorite band, “Selena y Los Dinos.” I tried my hand at acting, as an extra in the movie “Selena” the movie. Although, I couldn’t let it go to my head. Well, let’s get back to my story of “from my youth.” I will start by saying, I was sound asleep in my bed when a passing train outside, making some really loud noises, was getting on my nerves, and then eventually wakes me up! I realize that the sun was not out yet. So, I thought, back to bed I go, or so I thought. When I hear from a distance someone yelling at me. It was my mother yelling at me, “food is ready!” So, I immediately jump up out of my bed and I think to myself, I better get up or, I wouldn’t hear the end of it. I hear my mom yelling at me, “get it while it’s hot!” I personally preferred to be by myself most of the time. Being the youngest in the family, and with no one to play with. I would sit in my seat, there at the table eating my food full of boredom while the adults would talk about gossip, and they’d ask “how the weather was like?” Finally, after awhile of gossip my cousin, who is much older than me, comes to my house. She has no siblings, and so looking for company she comes by to my house and asks my parents if I can go out with her. I immediately jumped at that idea, and say “yes!” My parents tell me “come back home before midnight.” I tell them, “ok”. Although really, I do not want to come back home. My cousin and I start to head out to the downtown area, and we go to see “The battle of flowers parade.” My cousin asks me, “Have you seen a parade like this before?” I tell her loudly because of the commotion “No, I have not.” Then, as I was eating my big bowl of nachos with cheese and drinking my coca-cola soda “I spot a very colorful float from a distance with some young women showing off their shoes. They are young, beautiful, and very attractive women with big tiaras and beautiful long dresses. My cousin thought it would be fun to scream at them, to get their attention. It just made me jumpy! They then turned to us and they then picked up their dresses to show off their very stylish shoes. I saw their beautiful shoes! I had really had a good time and it was such a blast. By the end of the parade I headed back to my house. I shared with my parents how happy I was, having so much fun with my cousin. The memories of that day is something I treasure to this day.
By Debra 5 years ago in Families
A Father's Gift
Rain poured down on the roof of the car as she sat behind the wheel, head in her hands as tears flowed down her cheeks. She grabbed her wallet to find she had only $10 left to her name and her last job interview had not gone so well. Sara Parsons was broke. Having just graduated from a top school, she had spent all her time and effort into getting good grades. Now she was left with a pile of student loans and no job prospects. Grabbing a tissue, she wiped her tears as she heard her phone ring.
By Jessica Wetter5 years ago in Families
The Wayfaring Stranger
Joe moved in in the first week of August, less than two weeks after Anna’s father had quietly gathered his things in the early hours of the morning, and left. Her mother didn’t cry over him (at least not that Anna saw), and after a couple of days she borrowed markers from the neighbor, and she and Anna sat at the kitchen table drawing up flyers advertising room and board, for the little box room that overlooked the untidy communal yard.
By Beki Kennard5 years ago in Families
The Book of Little Wishes
The Book of Little Wishes by Arabez D Smith 'Helloooo!' I call out, dropping my overnight bag at the bottom of the stairs, and kicking off my sneakers by the door.
By Arabez D Smith5 years ago in Families
Stay Low, Stay Quiet, and for Heaven’s Sake, Don’t Get Caught
“Hey – hey you.” The two big brown eyes peeking around the door of room 203 widened. Not more than 4 feet off the ground in a sea of adults, Ayla saw only waist-high.
By Keane Neal-Riquier5 years ago in Families
Dear Jonathan
Dear Jonathan I know there is no way to forgive me after what I have done to you and many many others but I hope to explain myself to you soon. As I currently stand I just want to inform you of where I am and why I am here and why I may never return. With how much Miss Godwill hates me, I doubt it will be long before I am gone. And no one gonna believe that a 88 year old is capable of murder. But trust me there is evil in those eyes and 0 smile lines. I don't think she knows how to smile.
By Charlie-Grace Underwood5 years ago in Families
After Noon
It’s just after noon. Summer is starting to thin into September, the trees are noisier, their dry leaves are scratching at the air, impatient. You leave in ten minutes, the world waiting to turn beneath your feet. It feels strange to think of you gone, to listen to an empty house, to hear the vacant air groan, to feel stillness. You’re leaving. Things are at an end. Life will need adjusting, I might move my bed to the window, or turn the living room around, plant a garden, something to trick myself out of missing you.
By Thomas Oliver5 years ago in Families
Black Alchemy
(Newsroom theme music playing) Male voice: And that about wraps it up for today, I’m Tom Mellencamp! Female voice: I’m Carolina Witherspoon, and this is Tiger Eagle News 117! Thank you for joining us, we look forward to being with you again tomorrow morning!
By Aaron Jones5 years ago in Families