Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Jessica’s Journals
As soon as Jessica could write more than a few sentences, her father started giving her journals and told her the best thing she could do for herself was to write things down that she couldn’t tell him in person. He tried to be there for her through everything: every sports event, every performance with school, her birthday parties and slumber parties. Her father was the one who came when she was sick and when she was in need of a friend. He did try to be the father she needed, but sometimes life got in the way. Well so did death really. She was seventeen when he died and she was left with a mother who thought being seen was far more important than anything. Her mother just had to be at the right parties and shows and on vacations and well you get the idea. Jessica continued with her journals, because it helped her miss her father a little less. It felt like she was writing directly to him.
By Gina Solomon5 years ago in Families
Love Promised in a Little Black Notebook
My mother told me a story once. I thought it was just a story anyways…. Once upon a time, there was a young woman that went by the name Patricia. Born in a poor little Irish family, Patricia longed for the beautiful things in life.
By Alexandria Hypatia5 years ago in Families
My family are trying to kill me
Dear Diary, They are trying to kill me. I know it. Today, we were sat at dinner and my granddaughter had made a lasagne. I tucked into my food, minding my own business when my daughter Claudia, shoved my chair. And when I say shoved, she damn well kicked the leg expecting it to just collapse beneath me. Fortunately, my guard was already up and I grabbed onto the table with both hands. ‘Oops, sorry! Tripped!’ She just said before continuing back to her seat. The bitch. My family are supposed to love me and yet here I am fighting for my life every day in this damned house. At least I have you. My little black book.
By Bibi Lucille5 years ago in Families
Small Miracles
The girl woke to the sound of men shouting. When she opened her eyes, she realized three men were arguing in the alleyway. Shae looked at her watch tiredly, realizing it was 3 pm. She must have fallen asleep reading her book. She grabbed her backpack, put her book in it and her blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and started walking towards the main street. Shae had been homeless for 6 months. At only 15, she made the mistake of getting pregnant by her boyfriend on her 15th birthday, and her father had kicked her out. The day Shae told her father she had just gotten home from school, all she had was her backpack with some books in it and her iPod. So here she was, now 15, 6 months pregnant, and living on the streets. She had tried to talk to her boyfriend, but he denied the baby and then broke up with her. She was left alone and scared.
By Shanondoa Dardenne5 years ago in Families
Unassisted Birth — A Fathers Perspective
As an intro to this article, I want to honour all Mothers, no matter how they have birthed their children. This is a different perspective, which is the subjective opinion of the parents of a beautiful baby who made the conscious choice to birth in a non medicalised way.
By Luke Miller5 years ago in Families
The Old Man and the Bridge
He stirred to consciousness, covered in cold sweat again. Taking a minute to steady his racing heart with deep breaths, he tried to block out the familiar intrusive thoughts. One last breath, in for eight and out for - oh forget it, this never works anyway. He let the last bit of air out in one loud cough and rolled over onto his left side, trying to blink the memory of his dream from his mind. He was wide awake now.
By Felicity Bartho5 years ago in Families
Real Life
The car’s suspension groaned as he sat down in the passenger seat. “Hi Grandpa, how did it go?” He grumbled without trying to form words. The little black book was tucked into the tight fist of his left hand. He kept his eyes fixed forward, but could feel Julia’s gaze resting on the notebook. A question was forming in her mouth, he could tell, but it would be unlike her to simply come out and ask; so, to keep the secret safe, he offered nothing.
By Francesca Devon Heward5 years ago in Families
The Boy on the Swing
Beep… beep… beep, sounded the heart rate monitor, as the old man lay resting on his warm and snug mattress. This constant beeping noise irritated him to no end, despite understanding its purpose full well. His half-open eyes gazed at the slim space between the closed curtains through which the sunlight still faintly gleamed. He heard the quiet footsteps of the nurse as she entered to remove the bowl of soup which was still sitting in his lap.
By Ryan Jamison5 years ago in Families
Chasing Chad
Slivers of light sneak through the blinds and catch my eyes. My arms drift above my head as a stretch tackles my body. I pull myself from the couch and realize the time. 2:18am. A smile slips across my face; I forgot about the time change. I forgot about the flight. I forgot how I got here, why I’m here, all of it.
By Melynda Kloc5 years ago in Families
