family

Is blood thicker than water?
As she stared into the mirror, the cuts on her face seemed usual. They hurt but not as much as her soul. She could cover this with makeup. She was skilled in that art at least. No one would notice her anyways. As she walked through aisles of supermarkets, no one would glance at her twice anyways. She was a black woman, hidden behind a jacket in the heat of summer. They assumed she was invisible anyways. No one ever saw her unless they needed her. When was she ever really needed anyways? Except to wipe the tears of others as she absorbed the rations of love they coated in deceit. She was accustomed to these wounds because she watched her own mother cover them up. If her mother could, then what was her excuse. She was built to be strong. If not strong, then she was weak. She would be labeled as a victim, and no one had pity for a black woman victim.
By dr.verse5 years ago in Fiction
Oliver's Favorite Memory
My brother, Oliver, and I try not to talk about what happened to our parents. He was only six when it happened but he remembers everything that happened. Oliver didn’t want to talk to anyone after that except me. I always knew Oliver was a bit odd and shy compared to most of his classmates, but being in that car crash, seeing our mom get showered in glass, he became almost catatonic. Getting a whisper out of him was like pulling teeth, but I would do anything just to make sure he was at least somewhat okay. No social worker could get through to him, but at least if I was there, he would respond.
By Pseudo Nym5 years ago in Fiction
A Farm In The Country
“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. ‘Ol Red doesn’t take kindly to strangers.” Micheal was caught off guard by the voice coming from behind him. He hadn't been back to his hometown in just over 12 years. Not since both his parents were killed in a car accident but felt compelled to come back when he heard that Uncle Zack had suffered a stroke. He didn’t really want to leave the town that he grew up in but after his parents died, there were just too many ghosts for him to stay. Those same ghosts also kept him from coming back. At least until now.
By Albert Melissen5 years ago in Fiction
Pennificence
Penny knew that Ralph should be home with the kids by the time she got there. He had arranged his schedule so that all this school year he got done with work at three in the afternoon so he could pick them up. He also took them to school in the morning. He was pretty much kid-erific—strict, but also a lot of fun. He had boundaries to keep them safe, doing well in school, & playing nicely with others. But within those boundaries he allowed for a lot of wiggle-room. He rarely got rattled with them.
By Randy Wayne Jellison-Knock5 years ago in Fiction
Raging Bull
It was 2021, a pivotal time in the world. Travel restrictions had just been lifted. My three childhood friends coordinated a visit to our hometown. Philomena, the philosopher, Axel,the astronomer, Eddy, the economist and I, the writer, had worked to maintain our special bond with each other.
By Katherine D. Graham5 years ago in Fiction
A Somber Road Ahead
Marisa took the long way to her mother’s house. It was normally a two hour drive and Marisa had no qualms about making it a three hour drive. She had many issues and questions she didn’t want to think about at the moment. A beautiful respite through the countryside provided a calmness her conflicted mind needed for the coming weeks ahead.
By Nancy Gwillym5 years ago in Fiction
The Craziness of Love
Trent held Izzy close. The spring air nipped, and he tightened the circle of his arms around her shoulders. They stood on their new balcony overlooking the valley, the lake far below.
By Angie Allanby5 years ago in Fiction
Grandpa, Goats, and Me
“Wake up, Addie, It's five in the morning.” I slowly lifted my eyelids and allowed my retinas to adjust to the darkness of the living room where I had made my bed. The air mattress had deflated as a result of my restless sleep that night, and it hugged my body, tempting me to stay in the warm indent. But I had promised my grandpa the day before that I would go with him to learn how to milk and feed the goats, no matter how early I had to get up. So, I rubbed the exhaustion from my eyes, and took a deep breath before throwing the warm, inviting covers off of my legs, and exposing my skin to the biting cold of my grandparent’s cabin.
By Adriana Katriel Brown5 years ago in Fiction
The Big Find
I've got three things to do today, the first one being I've got to find my son. The lawyer didn't know if he still alive or not, but he did have the address to where he lived the last time they had contact with Matthew. The next thing was to go to the Flower shop up in Barsstown. Lawyer Marsh told me to go and see if everything was the way I'd like it ran. I could change it or keep it the way it was. The last thing was to come back and make my will .
By Nelly Black5 years ago in Fiction
The Bull on Wall Street
“I want to grab the bull by the horns! " “It’s just an expression” Mela said, wondering, first, where her cousin had heard it and second if she knew what the expression meant.
By Bella Blue5 years ago in Fiction
Bull Ring
"The damn bull has gotten out again!" Grandpa exclaimed as he slammed the door behind him and stomped over to the kitchen table. Slumping into a chair, he slammed his palm onto the table, rattling the dishes I had been setting out for lunch.
By Diana5 years ago in Fiction
Heirlooms
I didn't know what the animal on the vase was until we broke it. I didn't think Mom did either, but apparently it was some sort of family heirloom. She didn't deal too well with my retort that it would have been nice to know which items in our household are of major value.
By Bonnie Joy Sludikoff5 years ago in Fiction