family

Àbíkú
I was a mother before she was born. The very few memories of my childhood I maintained are those of me looking at my sister, coated in sweet-smelling shea butter oil and baby powder, being cradled in my mother’s arms as she sang beautifully in her alto voice.
By Damilola5 years ago in Fiction
A Black Summertime
"To some not insignificant extent, who you are comes down to where you stand in relation to catastrophe. Perhaps it is that they have not been touched yet. Not yet been burnt." Danielle Celermajer ‘Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future’
By Miranda Weindling5 years ago in Fiction
The Brother Who Kept
I was to blame I thought as I looked around the weathered old barn. I was always to blame as I was the one who left. My father said so, the people in town said as much and my brothers would agree I was to blame for leaving and what might have been.
By C. H. Richard5 years ago in Fiction
Home
I always expected greatness from myself. I took pride in somehow always being better than those around me. I don’t really know what it is, but it’s almost as if I have to prove myself over and over again. A lot of people say I’m conceited, and maybe I am, but I don’t see it that way. I don’t care about materialistic things or anything like that, but for some reason I have to be better, to do better in every way. My mom says I have a perfectionist complex, who knows, maybe she’s right.
By Nadia5 years ago in Fiction
The Immortals
For generations they have guarded over our family. From the time of my great-great-great grandfather, they have kept us safe. All our lives, we were given a safe haven to eat, sleep, and be merry in. We were given purpose in serving them, and in return they made sure that our lives were as comfortable as possible. I had a giant heap of hay all to myself, piled on the ground, and the Tall One had even given me a blanket to put on top of it.
By Rohan5 years ago in Fiction
The box in the floor
There it was, the box. Wrapped in grandmas old silk scarf. The map led them straight to it! Let me rewind a little. About five days to be exact.
By Britt Dawson5 years ago in Fiction
The Box It Came In
Gemma raced around the house, snatching toys off the couch, ripping clothes off the backs of the kitchen chairs, and trying to pretend the sink would magically empty itself while she wasn’t looking. She’d spent all day yesterday cleaning. How did a house with just one mom and just one toddler manage to self-destruct overnight?
By Dane BH5 years ago in Fiction
My Mother's Calling
Every year, my mother entered the local hog calling contest. After 60 tireless attempts, she never won. For weeks leading up to the Iowa State Fair, she would practice in the barn, her voice somehow never giving out.
By MG5 years ago in Fiction
Unknown markings
It was long after the end of the war that I decided to go back to the old barn by the house in which I grew up, back in the days when it was still primarily occupied by hens and chicks, and one feisty rooster who would cry loudly throughout the day when I would least expect it. It used to scare the living daylight out of me, I was just a small child back in the day, and would only venture into the barn, terrified, to pick up the precious eggs from the hens' nests once I had deemed it a safe distance away, that would let me run back to the house before he could get to me.
By Laureline Landry5 years ago in Fiction
Mrs. Hinkle's Barn
Mrs. Hinkle’s Barn When I was growing up in a suburb north of Detroit, Mrs. Hinkle and her housemate lived next door to us. My definition of “old” has changed since then, but even by my present-day standards I am pretty sure they were very old.
By Martha Allen5 years ago in Fiction
Still Standing
Veronica wore an invisible veil that covered her excitement as she walked back from Mr. Rays appraisal shop. The news she would share with her family had been baking in her belly for years. But how? Should it be over dinner? Her mind raced with perfect scenerios on how to unfold the truth about her families heirloom.
By Oandhi Brown5 years ago in Fiction
Isolation
14 March 2020 I was standing at the kitchen island when I got the text. Vivian: So sorry but it's happening, the virus got me. You’re all gonna have to self isolate. See you on the other side guys. Xx
By Michaela5 years ago in Fiction