Brittany Shelby-Phillips
Stories (5/0)
Errors in Lessons
Most humans live their entire lives blissfully unaware of the many ways and tactics the universe works in their favor to teach them the lessons necessary to elevate their souls. These tactics are so inconspicuous that most humans simply assume these lessons are inconveniences or challenges, coworkers or passing strangers. However, the most effective method, in my humble opinion, is being assigned a dog.
By Brittany Shelby-Phillips2 years ago in Petlife
Baptized By Death
The call I’ve been expecting for more than a decade came on Saturday afternoon just after St. Patrick’s Day. Looking down at my phone buzzing on the bathroom vanity, I see ‘Aunt Theresa’ and our photo from twenty years ago displayed somehow more intensely on my screen and I know it is here. All awareness left my body as I stood in my apartment, staring blankly into the bathroom mirror as my aunt heralds the message that the time has come to say goodbye to my father. In the midst of the long-awaited news flooding my hazy awareness, I’m ashamed of myself; ashamed the news Daddy’s time has come to cross over Jordan is not enough to keep me from noticing how dirty the bathroom mirror is and I need to do better about cleaning it.
By Brittany Shelby-Phillips2 years ago in Families
The Battle of the Dawn
A new Saturday dawned as the sun rose over the Tennessee farmland until it reached Scattersville road and crept into the windows of our new townhome. I was fifteen going on grown, and waking up under the same roof as my two best friends, Brandy and Stephen, was the epitome of joy. Added to the absence of my younger brother, and this made for an ideal way to start the weekend. I loosened my waist-length, Pentecostal hair from its messy bun atop my head and swirled my locks into a fresh messy bun as I made my way down the stairs.
By Brittany Shelby-Phillips2 years ago in Humans
Hearts on the Wall
For the first time since we set up camp in North East, Tennessee two days ago, I washed my face. It was the smoke that eventually made my dirty face unbearable. Hours and hours of my husband, Shelby’s, prize-worthy campfires, filling my pores and sticking to the leftover sweat from yesterday’s hike. “I’m just admiring my fire,” Shelby said when I noticed his far off look and asked what was on his mind. It’s true he could construct a campfire to be admired, and for thousands of years, as long as men have ignited and contained fires, this was a skill to be boasted. I kissed his lips 3 times as is our custom and left him to his admiration for the nearby bathhouse.
By Brittany Shelby-Phillips4 years ago in Viva