Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
I Will Stand on the Moon and Watch You Circle the Globe
Ms. Eleanor lived down the hall. The first time I saw her it was Halloween. I’d just had two cavities filled, and I was not in the mood for candy collecting, but Mr. and Mrs. Smith asked me to take David and Lily. They were okay kids. They never hassled me about being black in a white family. They had parents. I had someone to remind me about homework, to care about when I went to bed, and to take me to the dentist. I was a foster kid. I knew I wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t a Smith, but that was okay.
By Olivia Lee Stogner5 years ago in Families
The Jump
So cold and clinical, the feel almost devoid of life. Can’t believe this will be the last place I ever see him—my papa—his mind sharp as a tack but his body too tired to go on. Well, that’s what he told me when they took him away in the ambulance last week… Waiting for my turn to say goodbye…
By Trisha Olsen5 years ago in Families
Positive Parenting After Divorce
After adults divorce or separate, they often engage in 'get even' tactics against each other with children becoming objects of manipulation and revenge. Little thought is given to the effect of their behavior on a child's emotions or what their son(s) or daughter(s) are being deprived of. The sense of betrayal and anger spills over with the desire to strike back becoming paramount. Parent's reactions become driven by raw emotion rather than rational thought and children are caught in the crossfire. Acts of revenge have become increasingly volatile in the last decade and it has become commonplace to see or read about a murder or murder/suicide of the custodial parent or the children they had together.
By Jerrie DeRose5 years ago in Families
The Black Book
Jeff opened the door to find Miranda standing there. Her face was blotchy and wet with tears and snot. She looked like a child again; his little girl who had fallen and scraped her knee. She did not move or look at his face. He did not need to see her eyes. He knew them too well. Emerald green with a gold ring at their center. Even when she cried, they were still beautiful, an exact replica of her mother’s eyes. Just a quick glance at them and he would be hooked again. He was relieved that she was looking down, it made closing the door easier.
By Jessica Swearingen5 years ago in Families
A Mother's Love
I know you're not going to believe this although sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. It was a cold day in February and Mom wasn't feeling well. She has been on oxygen for the last few years, as she has been suffering from COPD. Mom asked if I could come by because she had something for me. I hopped in my car and drove the 10 blocks to mom's house. When I got there she didn't get up from her spot at the table, she just yelled for me to come in and by the way she yelled I could tell she wasn't getting the oxygen she needed. I quickly went inside and asked if she was OK.
By Corena Dixon5 years ago in Families
Thank You Aunt Bea
My name is Jemma and I am a 23-year-old recent graduate from university. First, let me tell you that graduating during a pandemic and trying to find a job has not been fun, however, that is not the story I want tell. I am going to tell you a story about my Aunt Beatrice, who was enduringly called Bea. My Aunt was a vivacious, beautiful woman. She was the type of person that people say is beautiful inside and out. Everywhere she went people wanted to get to know her because she brought such positivity, fun and happiness. I remember as a young girl walking down the street and she floated. The sun envied her radiance as she was so bright and shined. My mother once told me that she wished she could bottle the beauty that was my Aunt and sprinkle it when needed in life, especially when life got hard.
By Jacqeline Jodoin5 years ago in Families
Book 1 - Chapter 6
DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL Michael always looks forward to making baby girl laugh when he returned back from his field training exercises. However, this isn't one of those happy moments. The next morning the commanding sergeant major would be addressing the 187th while the brigade is in formation. 3 months of black cycle meant longer work days to include a 25-35 day away from somewhere in the tree lines of Tennessee. All this is scheduled to start in a few days.
By R. L. LASTER5 years ago in Families
Book 1 - Chapter 2
MEET MICHAEL This particular weekend (several weeks later), Anuhea' finished helping her aunt at the swap meet early. She heads in the direction of her favorite produce lot. After she made her selections (satisfied and pondering new recipes), she heads for home content. It hadn't begun to dawn yet, so the town is still bright and the weather is savory. As she began to hum to herself, she`s approached by a semi-confident young man-- about her same age. He offers Anuhea' a smile while making an obvious attempt not to crowd her. He speaks softly.
By R. L. LASTER5 years ago in Families
Bad Girl House
Years ago, I found something strange in a book that belonged to my mom. It sent me searching for answers that I still don’t feel I’ve conclusively found. When I was in the eighth grade I needed to find a book to read for my Language Arts class, so I could ultimately write the dreaded book report. My mom had been both a math and English major when she attended college to become a teacher. That meant that there was no shortage of books at our house. There were boxes and boxes of books in our basement to go through. There was just about anything you could want. I eventually found one that sounded good to me.
By Kathy Sees5 years ago in Families
Book 1 - Chapter 1
MEET ANUHEA’ [pronounced: ah-nu-way-uh'] 1997 is a great year to vast in the ALOHA city of Honolulu. Hawaiian culture is at its peak of intermingling ripeness. The scene is saturated with a wide variety of fast-food chains where celebrity concerts are periodically held at the nationally recognized American football stadium. Although there`s a mixture of mingling cultures cohabitating here, the sound of ukulele struts sound across beach sands louder than any portable radio. The air is crisp and gives host to constant traffic of passenger planes. The tourist-filled behemoths seem to fly unreasonably low and oddly close enough for the logos on their tails to be easily identified. Small and big motor vehicle types frequent [both] the newly paved streets and daintily paved pathways. Most of the vehicles in this area host engines that putt-putt along slightly louder than when they rolled off their mainland assembly lines. KALUA PORK is the process of pork that has been slow roasted under by banana leaves and underground. Although it contends with CHICKEN KATSU to be paired with sticky rice, both are among the most desired entrée’s on most dining tables here. We begin amidst a utopia of aloha sea breezes, plush vegetation and tall coconut trees that sway at free will. Geckos are everywhere and have long proven to be a welcomed nuisance. The local residents seem to invite them onto any indoor/outdoor surface they could cling to. Young children enjoy the harmless little lizards because they'd figured out a way to anger them just enough to cause them to bite and clamp down on their earlobes. They’ve found that this causes the geckos to dangle –heroically-- from pinched earlobes as green jewelry.
By R. L. LASTER5 years ago in Families
