Holiday
The Dinner Party
He held the rumpled box of fruit cake in his trembling hands, and told himself it was only the cold that made him shiver, but he knew in truth it was the nerves. Having gotten himself just a few paces from the entrance, his feet felt like cinderblocks when he thought of taking those last few steps to the door. The warm glow of light from the window spread onto the snow, the muffled sound of voices laughing inside. He didn't deserve this reward.
By Ellen Stedfeldabout a year ago in Families
Silver and Snow. Runner-Up in Tales of Hearth Challenge.
On the first snow of the season, our village gathers beneath the great evergreen. Breath rises in ghostly wisps as we prepare for the ceremony of light, a tradition passed down since our ancestors, the Icelers founded Icelyn. Banished from their homeland, the Icelers followed the stars deep into the Glaciershade Mountains. Here, under the glow of the northern lights, they built a home rooted in love and magic.
By Emmie Falboabout a year ago in Families
How Angels Get Their Wings
“Great,” I muttered, pulling off the side of the road as the snow drifted down around us. The gas gauge showed half a tank. From the sputtering of the engine and a quick calculation of miles driven since the last trip to the station, I was fairly certain the gauge was lying.
By Mary K Brackettabout a year ago in Families
The Ghosts of Christmas Past. Runner-Up in Tales of Hearth Challenge.
We used our fireplace once a year. It was a rare treat in a city where acrid killer smogs had led to bans on open fires in private homes. The fireplace was in our drawing room, a well-appointed salon, off limits to children most of the time. It was there my parents received their guests. The place where my mother would usher my sister and me to look people directly in the eye. Give them a firm handshake. And ask, “How do you do?”
By Pitt Griffinabout a year ago in Families
I'll be home for Christmas.
On any other day Lara would have enjoyed watching the snowflakes fall from the sky. Especially since it meant a white Christmas. But today was the absolute worst day for it. It wasn’t even suppose to snow today, but she should have known better than to try driving the mountain pass on Christmas Eve.
By Lane Burnsabout a year ago in Families
Jeffrey Koistinen's Journey Through Grief: Finding Strength After Losing His Beloved Son Liam. AI-Generated.
Watertown, SD — In a heartbreaking turn of events, Jeffrey Koistinen & his family mourn the loss of their beloved Liam Jeffrey Koistinen, a vibrant and joyful 17-month-old, who passed away on July 14, 2021, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. A bright light extinguished too soon, Liam's passing has left an indelible mark on his family and community, stirring a wave of grief and calls for justice.
By Jeffrey Koistinenabout a year ago in Families
