Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Search
Casmin had only just turned eighteen the previous week and already her parents were hassling her to get a job and move out. There were daily arguments about everything and anything- this morning they had argued about the window being left open on the latch, which of course ended with Casmin crying again, a frequent result. She only wanted to listen to the thunderstorm that had begun in the early hours of the morning.
By Carmen Taylor5 years ago in Families
Cozy and Covid
Covid & Cozy .... So here we are all cozy in the thick of Covid! I mean as a collective we are all cozy working from home, zooming non-stop, finding ways to “party” virtually , and just exist! Now some folks may think that this is the worst thing ever, but for a lady like myself I love it!
By Christina Atterbury5 years ago in Families
DAD'S SURPRISE
It had been almost 11 months since Dad passed away and Treniah was feeling a little anxious and sad, knowing that she had to return to her childhood home town to get together with her siblings, mother, auntie and a few close cousins. She was excited and looking forward to seeing her cousins because they all grew up so close, closer than most siblings. Also when they got together they would tell old stories of growing up, singing and dancing and playing games at Treniah’s childhood home. Her dad was family driven, everything he did was strictly for family. He was the one that everyone turned to in times of trouble or a loan here and there, after his parents passed away years earlier. He stepped out on faith one day, walked off his job as a Foreman and started his own business. He helped to care for his aunts and uncles, sometimes taking long road trips to visit and see to their welfare. That was the type of person he was which is why his death left a great void in the lives of his family. Treniah wanted nothing more than to continue his legacy of a strong family bond. So it’s her hope and dreams to have a home big enough to host her family for the annual family reunion, just as her dad did for so many years. You see, her dad was ill during the time when last year’s reunion should have been and so, there hasn’t been a reunion in two years.
By Beverly P. Lindsey5 years ago in Families
The Fortune
When Lola told her parents she wanted to see a fortune teller, her father told her she was crazy. Her mother told her to be careful. Nevertheless, Lola went. She didn’t really think it was going to mean anything anyway. Just a distraction from her life. Maybe a faux sign that everything was going well or, at least, would be in the not-so-distant future.
By Morgan Galvez5 years ago in Families
The Incentive She Needed
A single teardrop rolled down Caroline's cheek as she looked at the envelope in her hand. She closed her eyes, wiped the tear away, and took a deep breath to steady herself. Jessie, a second cousin by marriage who was also Gran-momma’s lawyer, left a voicemail last week to tell Caroline that Gran-momma’s estate had been settled and her inheritance had been mailed. The small, padded manila envelope had been the only piece of mail that day, face down as she pulled it out of the box, so she didn’t see the sender until she was in the house.
By Nick Kritselis5 years ago in Families
Bad Girl House
During our first summer together, John and I went on a few small trips with his family. The first trip was to Mohican State Park. We were going to spend the day canoeing. The weather had certainly cooperated with our plans. The sun was out for the entire day, making the river shine and the overgrowth along the banks glow. I was in a canoe with John and his son. Jonathan sat in the center of the boat since he still didn’t have the strength to steer the narrow boat. John’s brother Tom, his sister Nina, and her boyfriend Joe shared another canoe. Nana and Papa were paddling along somewhere behind us. It was a typical canoe trip of trying to keep up with each other, avoiding the banks of the river, and attempting to tip each other over. John, who always seemed to be in a hurry, even on a day that was supposed to be relaxing, kept us moving down the river at a pretty good pace. We were so far ahead of everyone else, that we sat and watched for them to when we reach the end of the course. When everyone had finally arrived, and canoes were put away, we all stood along the shore for awhile before leaving. Catching me by surprise, Papa grabbed my shoulders from behind and pretended that he was going to toss me in the river. He was joking around since my canoe hadn’t gotten turned over at all that day. Everyone was laughing playfully as he let go right at the river’s edge. It made me feel good to be included like that. Unfortunately, that was the first and only time he would ever acted like that around me.
By Kathy Sees5 years ago in Families
A Change of Plans
Michael Brown rubs sleep from his eyes and dangles his legs over the side of the bed, his seven-year-old toes another day closer to the floor. He pulls off his Spiderman pajama top, stumbles from his room and opens the door to the bathroom where his grandfather and retired Philadelphia cop George Brown is sitting on the toilet reading the newspaper and smoking a cigar.
By Kevin Sparkman5 years ago in Families
Uncle Arthur
Until about 3 months ago, Uncle Arthur was a man who never feared his actions. It was as if his head bounced off the pillow at dawn, already knowing what the day entailed. When he went to the races, he always won. He never got a big win, but he made £10 here or there, and one time he even won £100. He always spoke about when my father was drafted for the war. Uncle Arthur was always certain he would come home. After a while, our family grew superstitious of what appeared to be luck. He invariably realized the outcome of his plans before they were finished. The rest of the family started asking him if he could help them “see their fate” but every request was faced with a stern no and for whatever reason we never opposed his refusal.
By Matthew Keogh5 years ago in Families
