Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Genie in a Little Black Book
All the feelings I had that day when I last saw Vanessa flooded through me as I saw her standing there. I hadn’t wanted to go to that cheesy five-year reunion, but my best friend insisted I be his wingman. How glad I am that I did. It had been a wish of mine to see her just one more time. Then I could die a happy man.
By Linda Armstrong5 years ago in Families
Lots of Love and the Little Black Book
Lots of Love and the Little Black Book “Well, this is as good as it’s going to get, for now,” Jill Martin sighed. She fluffed her platinum blonde pixie cut one more time and smirked at her reflection in the mirror. In all her forty-three years, this was the first time she could ever remember having short hair. Thanks to the chemotherapy and radiation over the last eighteen months, everything had changed. But at least her hair had grown back. Maybe it was short, but at least she had hair.
By Kristy Noel Gillinder5 years ago in Families
Uncle Zack
Ben and Nan sat at the side of their uncle’s casket, Uncle Zack’s casket. They had arrived early for the visitation and now were the only ones remaining. The room was silent, dead silent. Nearby, a candle on a small table burned with a steady flame and a single pink rose rested on the table. There were no other flowers.
By Judith Hankes5 years ago in Families
Triple G
Jesse shoved his hand into his cargo-pants pocket before he approached her. It was still there, small and comforting, her birthday gift to him. One year ago, today, Jesse and his great-great-great grandmother surprised each other with identical, small, black notebooks for their shared birthday. He’d been 17. She was still feisty at 97.
By Mary Brotherton5 years ago in Families
Roblox life
I figured this would be helpful for parents who have children that are always on this game and not know much about it. Even though a lot of parents are watching there children being sucked out of existence and into this game. Trust me I know it too as my own daughter is living the life of roblox and think its her entire universe. You will probably notice as well that the kids are obsessed with the over whelming amount of youtubers that use this game as their money maker. They seem to go hand in hand and together they are the ultimate power couple when it comes to the fans of roblox.
By Sophie larissa5 years ago in Families
The Black Notebook
Here it is, the day that I have been dreading for the last 365 days. Today marks the unbearable anniversary of my grandfather’s passing. My final goodbye keeps playing in my head and on repeat. Did I say enough? Did he hear me? I constantly wonder as the beginning of my day creeps in. My grandfather passed away from brain cancer, that terrible disease that has the ability to take your loved ones without a second glimpse. I am not one that is particularly spiritual, in fact I am an atheist. So when I say my final goodbye broke me in ways I’d never imagine possible- it definitely did.
By Kaylee Gilman5 years ago in Families
Unbreakable
“ A Hustla’s Love” Walking in the bathroom and seeing my best friend on the floor covered in blood I knew something was wrong. So as I sat down beside her I asked her what happened she started crying. I then knew something was seriously wrong. Beside her was a gun and a knife covered in blood. I knew it wasn't hers so I didn't even ask that question. I just held my friend as tight as I could.
By Tecoria Savage5 years ago in Families
Art and Soul
Grandpa passed when I was just five years old. I never knew him well, but Nana always used to tell me stories about his life and the places they would travel around the world. As an artist, grandpa got to live an eccentric life. He indulged frequently in the finer things, like fine wine or the $2 million dollar estate he bought in his 30s.
By Corey LeBlanc5 years ago in Families
By the Book
“Six months, nine at most,” said Dr. Shelley, as Claire sunk even further in her chair. “Not exactly what I expected to hear doc,” replied Claire, as she gathered her purse, along with the brochures Dr. Shelley had given her moments before. “I’m sorry Claire, but at this stage in the game I’d suggest considering hospice. I think it’s time to let your family know what is going on with you.” “Thanks doc,” replied Claire, as she walked out of the office door. Claire had known that her cancer had progressed, but she had no idea it was as advanced as she had just heard. As she drove away from the doctor’s office, she started to reflect on her life. All her life, she had lived by the book: completing college at 21, marrying her high school sweetheart, having two kids, and working in her community. She had lived an ordinary life and had not bent the rules in any way. She started to think about her husband, who had died two years earlier from Alzheimer’s. She started to think about the time they spent together, and how they had worked together in the medical field: he being a pediatric doctor, while she was a nurse. They had never spent more than a night apart from each other, and always sacrificed for their kids. They decided not to go on their honeymoon in order to save money for their daughter’s braces. They had never taken a vacation and had never traveled outside of their hometown. Claire started to think about all that she wished she had done over the course of her life and now that it was coming to an end, she felt a surge of regret and anger. As she pulled into her driveway, she could not help but to be upset; upset with herself for not living. Upset with the fact that she had lived an ordinary life. As she tossed her purse on the couch, the hospice brochures Dr. Shelley had given her spilled out. Seeing those brochures made her even angrier. What was she supposed to do? Curl up and die? Was she supposed to sit and wait for death to come to her? How would she tell her children that she had less than a year to live? As she started to question her next move, she looked over to the coffee table and stared at the picture of her husband. She thought to herself that if he were here, he would know what to do. He would know just how to calm her. He always tended to know exactly what she needed when she needed it. She decided to fix herself a cup of coffee and look through her husband’s old pictures and letters. She put on the coffee pot and went into the closet in the bedroom to retrieve his old belongings. She had always kept his belongings close to her because they gave her comfort. She felt like he was near when she would read his old letters. After fixing her cup of coffee, she brought the box of his letters into the living room. As she read each letter, she could hear him saying the words to her. One of her favorite letters to read were his wedding vows. He said to her “Till death do us part and even then, we won’t be apart, for I will always be with you.” As she stared at that sentence, she noticed something in the box. It was a small black notebook. “I’ve never seen this before,” she thought to herself as she picked up the notebook. Inside of the notebook were pictures of her; pictures when she was sleeping, cooking, reading, and laughing. She had never seen these picture before. She had no idea of when these could have been taken or by whom. She flipped through the notebook and noticed that each picture had a caption. “Eating her heart out,” read one, while she was eating spaghetti. “All fun and games” was another, capturing when she was laughing at a tv show. At the end of the notebook was a letter. She felt confused, as she thought she had read all her husband’s letters before. This was dated January 3rd, 2019, the day her husband entered hospice care.
By Cherronica Ormond 5 years ago in Families
My Dad is Magic
As a child, I remember my father always carrying around a red handkerchief, a small multi-use tool (which included a hammer, blade, wrench, and Phillips screw driver all in one), and a small black book with a pen. With these items in his possession, anything was possible. ANYTHING. According to our family, my father is considered a Gomez legend. Although I truly enjoy listening to all of their stories about him, it is not necessary for me to learn about his greatness because I had my own first-hand experiences.
By Summer Gomez5 years ago in Families
Ángeles entre nosotros
Twenty-two year old Reyza Garcia stood at the fence that surrounded his family’s 200-acre ranch in southeast Texas. All of this had been his father’s dream ever since their family had migrated to the Three Rivers area from Mexico in the late 1970s. His eyes caressed the gently rolling hills and lush pasturelands he had always called home. He thought of the man who had poured his sweat, blood, and tears into all that was before him as Reyza's own tears rolled down his cheeks to drop on this sacred ground.
By Carole Lisa Myers5 years ago in Families
Book Of Secrets
The cold Louisiana wind whipped at Elijah’s chiseled jawline like no other. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that this night would be even more brutal than the last. There was the option to call his unsympathetic mother and father up for a warm bed for tonight. Deep down he knew that Hell would have to freeze over several times for him to grovel at their feet.
By sherita norman5 years ago in Families
