humanity
Humanity begins at home.
Be Someone's Betsy
It had been several months since the funeral of her best friend Betsy. Theresa sat in the living room of Betsy’s house alone in awkward silence. She sighed heavily as she sank deeply into the worn leather couch and stared blankly into the flickering flames in the fireplace. She couldn’t help but replay the lifetime of memories the two of them made in this room. All the laughs and tears were just not supposed to turn to memories this soon. She wondered if she would ever find a way to fill the gaping hole left in her life.
By Amie C. Clark5 years ago in Families
The Layover
Olive saw the stocky young teenager just before he ran into her, bumping her shoulder and knocking her handbag to the ground. He slowed to look behind him, but he did not apologize or even look at her. Instead, he looked past her and he laughed at something behind her, a laugh that filled Olive with a sudden urge to knock him to the ground like he did her handbag. But he was running again, up the stairs of a waiting city bus.
By Cherilyn Rowley5 years ago in Families
The Promise
Another day, another trip to the same old run-down convenience store for scratch-offs and hoping for a big win. I sit in my car for a bit, and give myself the usual pep talk before going in. Again, I tell myself that today’s the day I finally win big, like I do every time. Just trying to get in the mindset of winning.
By Jaye Ruggiero-Cash5 years ago in Families
Lil Book
Lil Book It all started on the worst but best day ever! LOL I had just finished buying myself the best breakfast from a lil café I like in Downtown when I tripped and dropped everything! Those lattes aren’t cheap! I was cursing my bad luck and trying to clean up the best I could when in the trash I noticed a lil black book. A very tattered and worn down book with nothing special about it I almost would have missed it… the small glint of gold ribbon hidden underneath. I opened the book only to find numbers scribbled across the front page. I was just about to throw it back when I see a convenience store with the Mega Lottery flashing across the front. I laugh out loud and say here is my sign from the universe I been waiting for all my life A LOTTERY TICKET! Being in such a great fantastic mood I drop in bet on the numbers written and tell the store owner if I win I’d split it with him. I head back home hungry dirty and day dreaming of that latte.
By Adrian Flores5 years ago in Families
Different Yet the Same
Sara drove up to the mailboxes and stopped. At 26, she was always busy between work and fun. She quickly jumped out of her white Jeep and opened her box. She grabbed the pile of letters and put them in the passenger seat. She made the quick drive back to her house and parked on the corner, the same as always. Picking up the letters she shuffled through them, coupons for pizza, an excellently disguised offer to renew her car’s extended warranty, voter registration reminder, and the letter from mom. She stared at the letter from mom, she already knew what it was. She turned it over and opened it carefully making sure not to rip the smiley face sticker mom always put on letters. Yes, it seemed corny and at the same time, that’s what made mom special. Opening the letter she read “Dear Sara, I hope you loved the smiley face, I knew you would! I know it’s going to be hard but it's a job that has to be done and you’re the perfect person. Your grandmother’s house is a nice drive from your house. It will give you plenty of time to think about her and she’ll be so appreciative. We all wish she could be here but life has plans of its own. She wired the $20,000.00 to your account so please check to see that it’s there and let me know. The house key is included here, it’s for the front door. Please do a good job, I know you will. You’ll find everything you need inside the house. When you finish, send the key back. The money is yours to keep, she insisted. Keep me posted! Lots of love and hugs, Mom”. Not many things slowed Sara down, but the thought of this did. Grandma’s house needed to be organized and “put on hold” whatever that meant. Not exactly Sara’s strongest area, and she knew it. Speaking out loud to herself she sighed, " Life sure does have a way of handing out challenges to the least likely to get them right, no instructions included, of course”. Staring at the smiley face on mom’s letter she had to smile. “I’ll give it my best, no promises on the results”. Grandma knew that Sara was challenged in the organizing area so why she chose her is a mystery. Some questions seem to never get answers. At least the three-hour drive would be nice, Sara loved the trees in that part of the state.
By Elida Deluna5 years ago in Families
The Inheritance
The Inheritance by Rob Rhoades Madison woke up that morning and proceeded to start her day like every other day. She got up, started the coffee, got dressed, made breakfast, and then would sit and watch the news while eating her breakfast. She was unemployed currently due to Covid-19 and its impact on the economy. She had checked for jobs, but there were none to be had or at least ones she would consider. The highlight of her day was waiting for the postal worker to drop off her mail. She had been expecting her much needed unemployment check, which had yet to arrive. Today's mail brought something unexpected. There was a large brown envelope. She could not recall ever receiving an envelope like that unless it was from the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes promising you could be a winner.
By Rob Rhoades5 years ago in Families
Stolen Moments
I’ll never forget the moment I heard the news… the vivid technicolor tone of the bright blue outdoor sky faded and the clear edges of life became hazy and subdued. And those normally sweet sounds, the audible evidence of life being lived, seemed somehow twisted and distorted before disappearing into the fading background. My chest suddenly heavy and hollow; my breath inhaling waves of sadness and sorrow, my heart fracturing with the deepest agony of feeling utterly and completely alone.
By Sara West-Gibbs5 years ago in Families
Little Black Book
My legs were sticking to the patchy leather seats of our rusty, beat up Buick. We must have picked the hottest day of the year to move everything we owned across the country. My mom and dad split up, I was moving far away from my hometown, and everything I knew in my nine years was changing. Mom kept saying how wonderful our new life would be. I was not so sure.
By Emily Feldner5 years ago in Families
