immediate family

Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family.

LUCKY
The screams coming from the second floor window are blood-curdling, accusatory, and unmistakably my mother’s. From where Eric and I are sitting on the asphalt, we hear every word as we brace ourselves for the counter-point of angry, masculine barks. Now here comes Daddy, agitated, making his way out the front door and toward us. He’s got his keys in hand and is jerking his head toward the Toyota, so we know we are in this for the long haul. The last argument had ended with a call to the police when Daddy took us out of the house and did not return until close to midnight. On these impromptu outings, we endured hours in the car as our father jabbered on about going into business. He never mentioned the fights, but we knew that the culprit was always money. More specifically, the lack of money caused by our father’s reckless spending. But it was his dreams of big business that drove our mother insane.
By Nola Browning5 years ago in Families
A Day in the Life of an Octopus
The smell of semi burnt waffles fills my nostrils. I can hear my mother loudly whisper to the girls to open a window. Just 5 more minutes is all I need as I pull the blanket over my head. Too late. The smoke detector is blaring. I rush to open the door to find Cadence frantically waving a magazine towards the ceiling to clear the air. "Hey, Mommy! We're almost done with breakfast!" she excitedly squeals as she hops down from a stool. I look over at the DIY breakfast creations and crafts that cover the kitchen counter and give the nod of approval while displaying my best-tired smile. "Let me know when you're ready and I'll freshen up while I wait," I replied. I figured why not slip back into the bed for 10 more minutes.
By Brittany Fells5 years ago in Families
Savior in the Shadows
I hold the note out from my body like it’s a rattler getting ready to strike. This decision has to be a quick one. Torch it or don’t torch it? If I torch it, Sienna will never hear her father’s last words. If I don’t torch it, she could lose the innocence that’s shrouded her life since she was six years old. Life ain’t easy, huh?
By Donna Sparks5 years ago in Families
Gone before gone
She knew suddenly that it was over. Her father was gone. Well, not gone entirely as he was in the room on the bed next to her chair. Though the four grey walls contained them, there was a certain endless emptiness lingering in the room like an infinite moan. She breathed in the hospital air, salty and pungent in her nose. It was nothing like the cool Autumn air that loitered outside just beyond the plain hospital window. The rude smell forced the obvious into the reality she had tried to deny. Her father was sleeping now, his face pallid and his hands clammy. The doctors had said there was no end to the spiral of death so slow yet certain. She looked at the time piece on her left wrist, half past eleven. She grabbed his left hand and held it in both of hers. She kissed it gently and sealed her eyes for a split second. “Time, take me back to when he knew who I was,”she begged. “Daddy, I miss you. It’s your little girl, please” she yearned, “say my name.” She opened her eyes, gently lowering his hand back down.
By Jade Robey5 years ago in Families
Returning Home
Sabbia, a town so influenced by the ocean that the sea salt carries in every breath. The pasta is salted by it, the produce enriched by it and the wine has a distinct dryness that makes you crave just one more glass. It is not the most beautiful town on the Gulf of Naples but it is an honest place where people wear their grudges on their sleeves.
By Bianca Cardaci5 years ago in Families
Bound
In between my brother and I were boxes that we set down on the floor. It was all spread out in our tiny apartment and we couldn’t figure out which we would open first. The twenty thousand dollars was a surprise enough, but we wondered what the boxes had in store for us. Was it there? Did he leave it for us to find or did he take it with him? Would be it lost forever?
By Gabriel de Leon5 years ago in Families
Celebrate Family
I was reflecting today as I often do, and while doing so I realized it has been 25 years since my grandmother, Marcella Rush, (Da'Ma, as we affectionally called her) went home to be with the Lord. Upon this realization also came the awareness of how we often take life and all it holds for granted. Almost 30 years ago when I was shot and the doctors performed a surgery that miraculously saved my life I was newly married and awaiting the birth of my first child. Preparing to celebrate a new family. When I contracted the coronavirus I had recently returned from Kentucky and Ohio where I celebrated Thanksgiving with family. So, as one who is currently recovering from the effects of the coronavirus, I can tell you that death is standing right outside the door and can take you unawares. Making the celebration of family that much more important.
By Rodney L. Sutton, Sr.5 years ago in Families
The Remaining Balance
The sun slowly sank in her rearview mirror as Frances drove her tiny sedan to the bank. She felt the sunlight envelope her, even though it first passed through a glass rear window, reflected through a glass rearview mirror, and slipped through her dark sunglasses. The strip mall to her left was baked in an orange pre-dusk glow. A late afternoon in the summer always had this look and feel. An anticipatory calm coddled the town. The day, in a final sleepy motion, stripped down and sunk into a hammock, anticipating a summer’s evening of activities. A few people milled about. But Frances was the one lonely observer to bear witness to this strange time of day.
By Nicholas Zampa5 years ago in Families
Arthur Drive
Wilma slammed shut the door of her little beige Ford Focus, mentally checked-out walking up to her apartment door, being careful not to slip on the slick pavement from recently frozen over sidewalk. Fingering the correct little gold key into the lock with oversized mittens still on, sighing out a big breath closing the door behind her.
By Holly Cook5 years ago in Families
Keep Going
Money can’t buy happiness. Growing up on the West side of Eldrick View, I was always told to be grateful for what I have. I mean at least we weren’t living on the streets. This guy Jacob and his whole family got kicked out last week and are God knows where trying to survive. Money can solve so many issues. How could it not solve happiness?
By Meriam Santiago Alhajam5 years ago in Families
Check that again
I can definitely use twenty-thousand dollars. In fact, it’s exactly what I need, at exactly this moment in time. My phone rings morning to night from bill collectors. I’m living on a cash basis these days (and not much of it). And, as it happens, I’ve just negotiated a payment settlement with the IRS - for twenty-thousand dollars I do not have. It might as well be a million dollars.
By Phoenix A5 years ago in Families
Motherly
It’s been two months since she died, but the memory of Ash’s mother hangs around her like a wet, heavy wool cloth that won’t dry. Seeping and dripping into everything.
By fēnix grace5 years ago in Families