grandparents

Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.

Writer's Block
I was sitting on my couch watching the rain cling to the windows. The little beads sounded like pebbles against the glass. I was afraid the window would break. The heavy blue curtains let only a streak of light from the outside world in. I tried not to let my gaze wander across the dark living room. I didn’t want to see the pale yellow wallpaper peeling away at the edges or the ugliness of the cluttered papers, bills, and junk.
By Emily Wohlstadter5 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
Cafe's Lost Boys
Daisy rolled the cigarette filter between her forefinger and thumb as she exhaled the strange mix of smoke and mint. The unfamiliarity of smoking after so long made her knees feel like jelly and her mouth water with nausea. She watched the mourners return to their cars with their hearts sore but bellies full. “You should go back in, your mum’s looking for you. Who are you kidding on with that- think you’re Lana Del Rey?” Callum, her cousin, interrupted her, taking the menthol off her taking a long draw before exhaling quickly in distaste and stamping the offending item out on top of the bin. Daisy scoffed a laugh and responded “It’s what grieving people do right? Weird stuff” she answered by way of defence. Callum raised a hesitant eyebrow. “Maybe, but what would Café say if she saw you now?” he responded. The cousins almost in unison said “I’ll take that and drop it down your knickers!”. They laughed at the memory of the repeated warning they received from childhood while watching their grandmother chain smoke her way through her golden years. Callum smiled and gave her hand a quick squeeze before going back inside. Such an intimate gesture would have made her balk 2 weeks ago but it seemed so much had changed. She and Callum had become much closer, like they had been as children, only now, they had become entangled in a mission Indiana Jones may have politely declined. Daisy was still trying to make sense of it but for now, needed to help her mother tidy up.
By Lisa 5 years ago in Families
Winds of Change
There is a stiff breeze blowing today, and for the first time in years I think it’s a washing day wind. I used to always peg my washing out on a line, but in recent years, when it’s just been Andrew and me, I’ve made do with a drying rack in the kitchen. More convenient, really, especially since I work during the day. Even before the boys left home Andrew surprised me with a tumble dryer--not the most romantic of presents, perhaps, but I was ecstatic at the time, even if I don’t use it much anymore. We hardly ever have a full load between the two of us.
By Kate Hewitt5 years ago in Families
One Page of the Adventure Book
The sound of my tent unzipping caused my neighbors to stir in theirs. We have a rule out here, keep to yourself and stay quiet. None of us want any problems with each other or anyone else for that matter. I peered out of the small opening to see what the weather conditions were this morning. Snow. Just what I was afraid of. I slowly zipped up my tent trying to be as quiet as possible. On nights like last night it's hard to fa
By Nichole Ailshire5 years ago in Families
Road To Freedom
Wind howled over the Rocky Mountains, biting at Sarah's ears. It felt like a thousand pins stabbing her all at once. "Christ, it's cold here," Sarah, muttered, hugging herself as her grandfather's casket was lowered into the earth.
By Jenna Heartgrove5 years ago in Families
A World Away
‘If you listen to the wind, she knows the way.’ The words of my grandfather were persistently lingering in my mind as i get ready to cross the jagged path across the river. My name is Samuel Jacobs, i've been tracking a spot my grandfather believed to be a native american trading ground just south of Talladega, Alabama. Abihka, It is the believed main trading post of the coosa chiefdom.
By Aaron Ogle5 years ago in Families
Value
It is a normal summer morning; Miranda is dropping the girls off to grandma’s at 5:00 a.m. while she goes to work. Mom, Marissa said, “why can’t I babysit I am old enough to watch them I am 16 and I can take care of them.” “Marissa” said mom, “I know you are, but this gives you girls time to spend with your grandmother, she loves spending time with you girls, so try and understand.” “We know mom,” said Sara “you say this all the time, but grandma always buy so much stuff and we are always going to all these so-called antique stores.” “Yes,” said Miranda, “your grandmother has an eye for these things, “Marissa and Sara snicker and laugh, both girls say, “antiques yes right.” Marsha the youngest of the girl's yells “yes! Grandma say they are worth a lot.” Be good love you girls,” Miranda blows a goodbye kiss at the girls and waves at grandma who is standing in the door waiting for the girls. Marsha grabs her backpack full of snacks and say, “oh mom I almost forgot it is grandma’s,” but before she could finish speaking, Miranda puts her finger over her lips and says "shhhh," then she drives off.
By Sylvia Galmore Stagg5 years ago in Families
Grandma's Legacy
The worst thing about the attic wasn't the smell: it was the oppressive heat. Jakob had been prepared for the stench of old, rotting things in his grandmother's attic; but not the heat.
By Robin Forslund5 years ago in Families
Gamble Like There’s No Tomorrow
“Why can’t we just pitch everything? Do we really need fifty years of Mama’s study club programs? What did they study anyway?”
By Rana K. Williamson5 years ago in Families
Grandma's Surprise
I always loved visiting my grandmother’s house. It was a farmhouse, nestled in the Virginia countryside. It had a large wrap-around porch, and on this visit as it came into view, I remembered many a summer evening spent sitting there with her. She always told such grand stories.
By Millie_W5 years ago in Families
Hannah's Attic
Hannah finished clearing her plate from lunch and remembered that she still hadn’t found that old family photo album she was looking for. She went back to her bedroom and looked one last time in the back of her closet, behind all the shoeboxes and backpacks. She knew it wouldn’t be there but she thought she’d check once more just to be sure. Now that she had looked everywhere it could be, she became overwhelmed by the idea of taking the stairs up to the dark and dusty attic. She knew that it must be up there. She grabbed a flashlight off the hall table and headed toward the attic stairs. She climbed the long staircase with the stream of light from her flashlight guiding her. She reached the attic landing and turned on the Victorian pink shaded glass lamp. A pinkish hue was cast across to the corners of the large attic room. She saw stacked towers of boxes of all sizes all across the back wall of the attic. Next to them in the corner was an antique mahogany wooden coat hanger with some dusty old coats hanging on it. She saw the shadows the coats cast on the wall in the pink dusty light. In the shadows it looked as if someone was standing in the corner.
By Mary McDonald5 years ago in Families