humanity

Humanity begins at home.

Scratch
Dermot helped his mother onto the bus by her elbow. She was small now, sharp and firm like a porcelain doll. In her old age, she had shrunk to the size of a child, her back hunching over; the talon of a bird of prey.
By R Reid5 years ago in Families
Gods and Games
"You hit me in the head on purpose Carlton!" Bryant yells out, holding his palm to his head. "It truly was an accident Bryant." Carlton scuffs, rolling his eyes.
By Jamie J5 years ago in Families
Knock
Johnathan stares blankly at the hospital bill, his eyes red with exhaustion. He can hear his wife putting their son to bed. She reads him a tale about a brave knight who took on a fearsome dragon, saving the kingdom from destruction and ruin. The knight was showered with praise and a fortune beyond imagination.
By Brittany Hancock5 years ago in Families
Life Abridged
The Peters family was a typical middle-class working family, with normal dreams and achievable aspirations. But the new pandemic had terrorized millions of families and had plagued itself into this one as well.
By Daniel Silva5 years ago in Families
Not Falling
Chapter 1 It didn't matter how much money I had inherited from Grandma, I still do not know who I am. All I have from her personal belongings is a little black book. She left it wrapped up on her bedside table ribbon-tied to a card with my name on it. I have been carrying that card around with me all morning. I finally thought that if I sat outside, in the quiet of nature, I may be able to read her letter.
By Caren5 years ago in Families
A YOUNG MAN AND A FORD BECOMES KING OF THE ROAD
Jerry Earnest Leroy Overman was his given name, but people who knew Jerry called him Jell-O because of his initials, and he liked that name better. But that's not important here is what you need to know about him.
By Steve A Richardson5 years ago in Families
Never Is Too Late
I always believed my great grandfather was a proud man, devoted to family and country, and who stood against the vile Nazi army, and the evil that was sweeping across Eastern Europe.
By Jason-Matory Bailey5 years ago in Families
The Wall
I consider myself a good handyman, a Jack of all trades. My ex-wives would argue that saying I never did anything right.... oh well, that’s a whole other story.
By Narmoni5 years ago in Families
Apple Communion
My daughter walks over to me. I'm still lying in our hammock. When she reaches me, I slide over and sit in the hammock sideways, gesture with a head nod, wordlessly asking her if she wants to join me. She doesn't of course. This is how it starts. It's always the same. She walks over, no words, I ask her to sit (with no words), she declines. Then she pulls the scarf from her head; her red hair falls around her neck and shoulders. She gestures like some vaudeville magician, carefully showing me both sides of her navy-blue silk scarf. Next, she dangles the scarf with two fingers while she uses two fingers from her other hand to grasp at the silk and pull it slowly through her fingers. She repeats this gesture. The subtext here is 'look, there's nothing contained within the folds of my scarf.' Still part of the ritual; always the same. Next, with impeccable timing, she again grasps the silk by two corners, quickly shows me the front and back several times. Finally, she extends one hand under the silk and lets the material parachute, slowly settling over her little palm, her little fingers discernible through the silk. The other hand emerges and she shows me both sides of this hand too while cheekily grinning at me. That hand then grasps one corner of the silk and I feel my chest tighten as my eyes go wide. This is rapture for me. She quickly pulls the silk aside and in the center of her little palm, where it has no logical reason or right for being, is a red delicious apple; a big juicy one. A little bigger than the one she produced last time if my memory serves.
By Shawn Ingram5 years ago in Families
And So It Shall Be...
Walking down 9th street towards his mother's house a few blocks further on, Deshawn comes upon what looks to be a large pile of clothes off to the side. As he starts to step around it a man's shaggy head lift's from where he was laying and he peers up at Deshawn.
By Maiye Waller & Dorian Dillard5 years ago in Families
Sundays Are For Redemption
The sun always seems to shine brighter on Sundays. Go figure. I guess the day is named for it after all. I really wish it wouldn’t be so damn bright and joyful. The denim overalls I’m wearing are trapping in the heat like Mama’s old oven, and I can already feel sweat dampening my thighs so the material chafes my skin. Jean is the worst for chafing. If it gets real bad, you end up with little traces of blue fabric stuck in the open sores. Not easy to get out. I awkwardly hop around trying to tug at the overalls and shift them into a more comfortable position. It doesn’t help that they are about two sizes too small and I should’ve gotten a new pair over a year ago.
By Samantha Kaszas5 years ago in Families
We Don't Ride Horses in the Army Anymore
“Dad, this car really stinks!” Lucy pinched her nose shut. “Put on your mask. Open a window. Breathe through your mouth. Do all three,” answered her father.
By David Louis Stanley5 years ago in Families