humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Worthy
Slowly, as if his shaking, wrinkled hand would cause a clamor, my grandfather, Adil, pressed his index finger to his lips to indicate I stay quiet. I nodded just as carefully to show that I understood the seriousness of our situation. We were hiding in a narrow closet, the door masked by faded Syrian draperies hanging from the ceiling. I could hear the men, two of them, I think. They were looking for us. My grandfather’s shop was dark, except for the flashlights used to scour the store and our small upstairs apartment.
By Mansura Ghaffar5 years ago in Humans
A Man, a Job, and Dignity
I’ve been homeless for the past year. I miss the times when I tasted delicious food that melted on the tip of my tongue, when I had a place to call home, and when I had a job I enjoyed. But that all changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I vividly remember the day I was fired.
By Paige Anderson5 years ago in Humans
Hometown Feature
Hometown Feature When I think back to my hometown I think of simpler times. It’s almost like a Mayberry type of town; we had a small police station with just a couple of officers, a fire station, furniture store, grocery store, ice cream parlor, bowling alley, multiple gas stations (the old man hang out spots), bars, American Legions, churches, an old hardware store (with the hardwood floors that crackle with every move), and everyone knew one another. This was sometimes good and sometimes bad. We were just a bleep on the map. There were only stop signs at the end of side roads and no need for any stop lights. A few unique, historical things to this old town includes the old salt mines at the park they keep a keep about a ton piece from one of the mines. There is a rich history of one of wars, we dig up old stuff from that era in the yard frequently and there is some chatter of the Underground Railroad.
By Lori Davis5 years ago in Humans
Chicken Pluckers
Joe Otis Jackson is the pastor of the African Methodist church, and most of the time Joe Otis only needed to ask a favor from the pulpit and any member of his congregation would gladly fill his request. But Joe Otis was in a quandary because he could not think of a polite way to circumvent his congregation and ask Bobber Tinkerkeller for help.
By Jay Michael Jones5 years ago in Humans
The Key
Same Ol Dream…… Reluctantly Katie rolled over and turned off the buzzing alarm clock. Saddened and confused, she laid there thinking about the dream she was having. It was always the same, never changing…. Childhood memories of her grandmother's garden. So real to her she could taste the sweet peas that she stole off the vine as she snuck off to her secret fort that lay hidden in the Lilac bushes.
By Jupiter Rain5 years ago in Humans
The Choices We Make
The Choices We Make: 20,000 Reasons to Bend The past year of my life was, by far, the most difficult to date. The small business that I had worked so hard to build had fallen victim to the pandemic. I had taken up part time driving for Uber, and it had sufficed to pay the bills. It wasn’t great work, but it did have it’s perks. Since the bars were closed down, there were far less late night calls from people who had over indulged. Though the conversation was all but predictable, it was nice to hear people’s perspectives on how 2020 had affected them. Good and bad.
By Tom kerins5 years ago in Humans
For Whom the Pebble has Value
The mansion had gone to Roger’s widowed mother, Dolorous, and the ranch to his uncle Jim. His oldest brother, Robert, was bequeathed the house in the Keys and the cabin cruiser tethered at the dock. And his middle brother Terry got the thoroughbred farm in Kentucky. Old friends, employees and others had also received smaller items from Jules McWorth, who had thoughtfully allocated his possessions to those important in his life. Everyone gathered around the magnificent granite table in the Manhattan conference room smiled with satisfaction having gotten what they felt was their due. Everyone but Jules’ youngest son, Roger.
By Banning Lary5 years ago in Humans
The Unexpected Gift
It was a day just like any other as Kinley rolled over and pulled the covers up over her head. She was not excited to be another year older. She kept saying to herself, “birthdays are overrated.” Why should she celebrate the day she was born when no one else did? Little did she know, this birthday would change her life forever.
By Michelle Kay5 years ago in Humans
The Experiment
The night sky was becoming different each night. Ever since she got home, the moon seemed to speak to her. Strange as it was, on nights with no moon it didn’t seem to speak so much as beckon for her attention. Tonight, with the moon absent from the sky, the pulling sensation felt as though a thick rope was tied around her belly and the other end drawing her toward something entirely unknown. Yet the weight of its purpose inexorably bringing her closer all the same.
By Kevin pettit-scantling5 years ago in Humans
The little black book
The little black book: It was a hot and sunny day in New Jersey. Malcolm was 26 years old, 6 feet tall. He was slim and always wore blue jeans with a black leather jacket. He had green eyes, and short blonde hair which was often kept hidden under a plain black ball cap.
By Mystery Writer5 years ago in Humans
