Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
After You Catch Me
Chapter 1 Leah "She's Gone" High school isn't the same without Laura. I keep seeing the empty seat next to mine in Biology class. I miss running into her in the halls. Rolling our eyes at yet another ninth grader throwing spitballs. I miss her texts to meet up for lunch in the cafeteria or planning another sleepover.
By Carrie Marston5 years ago in Families
An unsung song
Abigail peered around at the seemingly endless task that was set before her. It had been two weeks since she had received the news that her father had died, and as his only heir, she stood in his house as the one who was responsible for removing his possessions so that the owner could replace him with a new tenant. This was the last chore that she had to do, since the funeral was already over and she had closed his one bank account and collected the nearly ten dollars that it contained.
By Vince Coliam5 years ago in Families
Mama's words
Lockdown made it hard to see Mama every day like I had been at the beginning of the pandemic. She had only been in the nursing home a few months before the pandemic hit, I was a construction worker, and the workload went up for us because there were less people on the roads and in buildings. Mama insisted on being put in the home saying she didn't want me taking care of her and working full time. Mama and I still talked on the phone everyday, we were growing closer then we had ever been before. She seemed to have a new story everyday about her youth and times with my dad, I would just listen.
By Nicolas Moore5 years ago in Families
Uncle Bill
The land wasn't worth much. Sixty acres just west of Weatherford, Texas. It was nice and peaceful, with sparsely wooded rolling hills and a small creek running through the Southern edge. It belonged to his Uncle Bill, and James had spent a month there when he was only eleven. The memories crossed his mind occasionally, remembering a happy period of his turbulent young life.
By Laron Street5 years ago in Families
The Carer & His Client
Jim had been a carer for over 10 years. He had worked with many clients that required different types of care. After a few years of experience, Jim decided that he wanted to do respite care. That is when you take those with care needs out and about. Usually to do shopping, or visit a community group or just set out on an adventure to see the countryside.
By Hugh Hatrick5 years ago in Families
The Fantastic Expungement of Henly York
I’ve heard whispers of a place named Pinnikle. It is a wonderful place - unlike the land you and I are familiar with - where there are sights much more splendid than those we know. There are many differences between that land and this. I did not go for the wanderlust, though. My reason for visiting: to erase a few things from the very ledger with which time records all the things that exist. My "crime": I had swindled when I could have been giving, to say the least.
By C.K. Douglas5 years ago in Families
Mom Shaming
Imagine being so excited to be a mom. You're pregnant, you're glowing. You're ready to have the amazing little human you're growing in your arms and with you to love and cherish forever. (If yours went this well. My pregnancy sucked and other people also ruined it for me).
By Nikki Pond5 years ago in Families
Handle With Care
Sometimes when I can't sleep at night, instead of counting sheep, I count all the different places I've lived. When I was a kid, the Tippet and Richardson truck was a regular sight in our driveway. By the time I was 11, I'd already moved seven times. All our things shoved into boxes would be piled into the belly of a van by men in coveralls who made a sport out of how far they could throw the furniture. I can't remember a single move where something didn't arrive broken or scratched. "A bad omen," my mother would say as she unwrapped chipped porcelain Capodimonte. The truth was that I'd chipped a few of those ugly flowers myself playing Barbies, and only now did she notice. Best to go with the flow.
By Lezlie Wade5 years ago in Families
Good Fences, Good Neighbors.
Good fences make good neighbors. Miss Cindy (I never knew her last name), was working in her carefully-tended garden one day when she felt as though somebody was watching her. Looking up, she saw that one of the slats on her fence had fallen. In its place were three little heads, one on top of the other. Me, my brother, and my sister.
By Laura Beth Ramsay5 years ago in Families
The Journalist
My head was still spinning from hitting the back of the seat so hard and the driver was holding my hand with a very uncomfortable grip and had been shouting at me in a mix of Portuguese and English. As bad as my head felt all I could think was, i had to get out of there fast. All I had in my favour was that I was sweating and so was he, if I could wriggle my wrist from his grasp I could make a break for it. I did it I was free, I then throw myself against the door and ran like I had never run before. I didn’t turn around but I knew he would be chasing me all I could do was run. Before he even touched me I knew I was caught he had thrown himself at my legs and knocked me down before I could even catch my breath he was on top of me. I was struggling hard and punching nothing but air and he was sitting on my stomach making hard for me to breathe. “Stop”he kept on saying “stop struggling lady”, “Get off me” I screamed back “Lady I don’t want to hurt you”. “Get off me then, get off, help somebody help!”. Suddenly out of nowhere there was a loud gun shot and the driver took off with lighting bolt speed. I on the other hand was too scared and tired to move, I heard footsteps approaching “Are you okay?” Said a male voice in Portuguese “I think so” I answered as he helped me to my feet “Where were you going, can I help you get there?” He said “How do I know I can trust you” I asked not wanting to trust anyone at this point “ Well you can’t but I’m all you’ve got, plus I did kinda save you just now, didn’t I?” I’m not sure what happened but I think I must have passed out cause the next thing I had known I was in a very comfortable bed in a dim lit room. “Where am I?” I thought I asked no one “Heaven” a voice said then laughed. “How are you feeling little lady?”. I suddenly realised I wasn’t wearing anything oh my gosh I was naked in a room with a man and I had been passed out the whole time. My whole body shuddered with thoughts of what could have happened. I could hear him approaching as he got closer he was asking “Hey little lady won’t you answer me, Are you okay?” I stayed silent and waited as soon as I felt him touch my shoulder I went into self-defence mode and rolled him up onto the floor “Woah, woah Senhora hold up”. “Where are my clothes?” I asked trying to sound intimidating more than scared he pointed to a nearby chair. I slowly got off him and walked towards the chair while I was still looking at him “Don't move” I said trying to stop my voice from shaking. Suddenly the door opened and a young lady walked in “ Hey, your up on your feet I see, how are you feeling?” she asked me “Who are you guys? What do you want with me?” I retorted. “All we have done is help you and.... I didn’t let her even finish “I don’t need your help anymore I’m fine I just want my clothes and my bum bag then I’ll go if you don’t mind?” I said “Yeah of course everything is over there” she told me pointing at the dressing table “But it’s all pretty dirty I was going to wash it, you know what I have some clothes that will probably fit you let me get it for you” Before I could say anything she left the room “I’ll leave you then” said the man I had just pinned to the ground moments before “Your the one who saved me from the driver, right?” I asked him “Yes, that was me,Luis” he said smiling “Thank you Luis, and sorry for pinning you down like that” i said apologetically “It’s ok I understand, I’ll leave now” as he left the girl came back with a shirt and shorts for me “it’s pretty hot out there, you should be okay in this” “Erm Thank you... I paused “Marcella!!” ...Marcella”. “Will you eat before you go, my Grandma and I have made food you should eat I'll fix you a plate, you get dressed and come and eat, Ok?” once again before I could answer she left. I quickly freshened up and got changed then checked my bum bag if anything had been taken luckily everything was intact but I had dropped my phone in the taxi so that sucked and even worse all my notebooks and pads and all my luggage was all still in the taxi. All I had that was actually mine was the money in my bum bag and my emergency credit card. What the hell am I going to do? I questioned myself. I was screwed before I had even started. “Alex, Are you coming to eat, hurry it's still nice and warm!” I heard Marcella shouting up “I'm coming” wait how did she know my name I thought to myself, went down ready to question her but there were so many people sitting around a big table with so much food on it “Come and sit next to me, Alex ,come and meet my family while you eat!. The food was amazing everything tasted so good and everyone was so relaxed and accepting of me and was treating me like I was family. Then there was a knock at the door “Luis, go and see who that is” Marcella instructed. “Hey, amigo how are you? I heard Luis asking the new arrival. “I should go now Marcella, I've overstayed my welcome” I whispered “ Ok, but you can come back anytime you want, your always welcome”. I thanked her and try to let her accept some money but she refused and hugged me and told me to be careful “You know what let me get Luis to take you wherever your going” once again before I could answer she went to Luis and his friend to make arrangements. “Alex, come and meet Ricardo he's going into town he'll drop you off where you want.” Ricardo was incredibly good looking with dark hair and eye, but I couldn't help feeling I had seen somewhere before but where?.
By Siya A. Jay5 years ago in Families
