Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Of Cars and Fences
His daughter locks her keys in her car. She ponders this for a moment, coat hanger in hand, entirely unsure how to proceed. Who knew cars are so hard to break into? She can see the damn keys in the ignition, like a shining beacon screaming, “Steal me! You work in the worst area in Edmonton!” At least it’s summer; she’s not cold. Biting her lip, she tries to wiggle the coat hanger inside the window. Then she sighs and pulls out her cell phone.
By Edith (yesterday4)6 years ago in Families
The Notebook
People die. It’s just a fact. Nothing can stop it from happening. Nothing can really prepare you for it. And surprisingly nothing can prepare you for having to clean up someone‘s life mess. That is what I have been asked to do, clean up someone’s house that just passed. Not just any someone, but my uncle.
By Kathy Stephens6 years ago in Families
Treasure
Growing up in the 70’s meant camping in the summers with my family. And I mean real camping, not “glamping” as people call it these days. We didn’t drive around in an RV visiting RV campgrounds. We pitched an Army surplus tent and all 6 us bedded down.We slept in sleeping bags, not on air-mattresses, so we always prayed there weren’t little (or big rocks) under us. And we learned to never touch the side of the tent if it was raining, because you’d get wet, for sure. Sounds terrible? It wasn’t. There was always a pond to fish in, a pool to swim in, and forests to roam. We cooked s’mores around the campfire and told stories. Often we went with other families so we had friends or we made friends with other camping families. We went to farms and learned how to milk cows and ride horses and just about every time we’d come home with a new barn cat.
By Meg Lagares6 years ago in Families
Small Acts of Kindness
I woke up the day before Christmas, ready to move myself from one room to the other, bedroom to office. My jaw dropped when I saw the gorgeous snow-covered backyard and soft snowflakes gently touching the window before they landed on the ground. Even though I was sure my friend wouldn’t be awake yet, I decided to text her anyway “It’s snowing, I’m awake, let’s go for a walk!” Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang. I gave her a big grin and quickly got dressed into my warmest outfit, grabbing a big scarf and a pair of soft gloves to cover my already nearly frozen hands. Together we walked to the moor that was only a five minute walk away, carefully watching every step we took so we wouldn’t go flat on our faces due to the ice on the streets and the slippery snowflakes that were still falling.
By Laura Rosierse6 years ago in Families
After You Catch Me
Chapter 1 Leah "She's Gone" High school isn't the same without Laura. I keep seeing the empty seat next to mine in Biology class. I miss running into her in the halls. Rolling our eyes at yet another ninth grader throwing spitballs. I miss her texts to meet up for lunch in the cafeteria or planning another sleepover.
By Carrie Marston6 years ago in Families
An unsung song
Abigail peered around at the seemingly endless task that was set before her. It had been two weeks since she had received the news that her father had died, and as his only heir, she stood in his house as the one who was responsible for removing his possessions so that the owner could replace him with a new tenant. This was the last chore that she had to do, since the funeral was already over and she had closed his one bank account and collected the nearly ten dollars that it contained.
By Vince Coliam6 years ago in Families
Mama's words
Lockdown made it hard to see Mama every day like I had been at the beginning of the pandemic. She had only been in the nursing home a few months before the pandemic hit, I was a construction worker, and the workload went up for us because there were less people on the roads and in buildings. Mama insisted on being put in the home saying she didn't want me taking care of her and working full time. Mama and I still talked on the phone everyday, we were growing closer then we had ever been before. She seemed to have a new story everyday about her youth and times with my dad, I would just listen.
By Nicolas Moore6 years ago in Families
Uncle Bill
The land wasn't worth much. Sixty acres just west of Weatherford, Texas. It was nice and peaceful, with sparsely wooded rolling hills and a small creek running through the Southern edge. It belonged to his Uncle Bill, and James had spent a month there when he was only eleven. The memories crossed his mind occasionally, remembering a happy period of his turbulent young life.
By Laron Street6 years ago in Families
