Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Ancestral Gifts
Ancestral Gifts I grew up with little in the way of family. My mother grew up in foster care, and my paternal grandmother passed before I was born. While I knew my paternal grandfather, he lived far away; I only saw him once or twice a year. The only child of only children, I was often alone and became self-reliant. I knew there would be no one else I could depend upon in life, so I looked to myself for answers.
By Tracey Heisler5 years ago in Families
In Case I’m Not Here
From a moment I thought we would be together forever. As I thought maybe in matrimony that from anybody being sick would survive anything. I mean when my mom was married to my father and she got cancer she survived. They both survived in fact. When he had that heart attack a few years ago she strengthened them back to health. They were still together even after I left college. I didnt realize that I , me, would be burying my best friend, my lover, my cherish tree ( because he was tall and can touch the tree ) Out of all people... why him? I suppose to be dead . Not him. I’m the one who had cancer and he got me my strength back and was working to the bone to keep us all in order. I dont understand nor I cannot fathom this situation.
By Erica Williams5 years ago in Families
Two More
Touch every ocean The landing gear hit the ground, jerking Lane Bishop awake. Immediately his neck began to ache from his in-flight nap. He considered maybe he should have moved around a bit while in the air for circulation, then dismissed it a moment later with a chuckle, causing the young woman next to him to cast a puzzled side eye glance his way. The irony of trying to prevent death at this point did not fail to amuse him. With the plane approaching the gate, Lane grabbed his carry on from under the seat in front of him and turned his phone back on. As it started up, he pulled out his small black notebook from the front pocket, already opened to the page he needed. He did not need to look at the writing, he had had it memorized for the last two years, but it gave him comfort still.
By Heather Harter5 years ago in Families
How the Foster System Uses Children
Probably one of the most notorious examples that you may find stands prominently amongst the rest, in firm testament of just how negatively the system could impact a child, to the point where this was normalized. The child we are talking about is no doubt, successful in her endeavors today and whom many hope continues writing; her name- Cupcake Brown. Author of A Piece of Cake she was seemingly just another case in the California Foster system, but a beautiful and vibrant character in the book, you'd think it was a novel. An uncovered truth with a strong voice; too wild to be fiction! Her character grew up in LA under her mother and known to be father who had cared and assisted financial in every way a father should. When her mother died, things truly took a turn for the worst. She knew immediately what death was, and the foster system is no place for a smart child-to witness it's shortcomings. She left weeks after being place, following her rape by an employee of the foster mother Diane, skipped on telling her prior absentee biological father and never looked back. The rest is equally tragic, several home changes, electricity stealing, drug dealing and coping behaviors resulted in a couple of incidences resulting in jail, prostitution and addiction; not to mention a couple of trips to the clinic for terminations of pregnancy. She was also, a 'lucky one' who found her calling in family law.
By Dawn Dillon 5 years ago in Families
The Speakeasy
Me and mom took on the daunting task of going through my great, great grandmother's stuff. She had recently passed and because it was so sudden she didn't leave a will. We honestly thought she was going to outlive us all, she was a very sturdy and heathy woman despite being over 100. Me and mom had to go through her stuff because our family didn't want to pitch in unless there was money involved. She wasn't a very rich woman but spoiled us with love and affection.
By Alexandra McCormick5 years ago in Families
The House on Lucy Lane
The house on Lucy Lane had stood silent and empty for as long as Rachel could remember; a testament to a family long scarred by secrets and regrets. Coming back to the upstate New York burg where home seemed light years away had been a means of resolving the past, an attempt to find a real home, not one that existed as a dream – that place where families loved and enjoyed each other’s company instead of stagnating each other with anger, abuse, and neglect.
By Stefanie August5 years ago in Families
