fact or fiction

Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about our family dynamics, traditions, and if there's such thing as a 'perfect family.'

Our favorite callbacks in A Christmas Story Christmas — and the stories behind them
Writer-Bethel Ikeh Our favourite call-backs in A Christmas Story Christmas — and the stories behind them Warning: This article contains spoilers about A Christmas Story Christmas.
By Bethel Ikeh4 years ago in Families
Fields Ablaze
The bonfire blazed as we roasted our hot dogs over the hot flames. Our dogs wagged their tails excitedly as they ran from one Fourth of July reveler to the next, and the fireworks exploded overhead in a myriad of colors. Across the road, on the other side of the barbed wire fence, one wayward rocket burst, instantly igniting the dry Texas grass in the pasture beyond.
By Laura Pruett4 years ago in Families
The Forgotten One
As everyone went to bed I walked over to the oak dresser and blew out the kerosense lamp that was casting a soft glow across the plain living room that my sister and her husband called home with their one week old son. A handmade wooden rocking chair sat in the corner still slightly rocking from just having soothed my one week old nephew to sleep. Dark green blinds graced the windows that looked out across fields of corn, now pulled down to provide privacy from the darkness of the night.
By Ecstasy4 years ago in Families
Summer of '99
Not being able to keep myself from staring, I pretended to be busy as I watched this picture perfect family walk through the doors of the gift shop, a boy, a girl and two happy loving parents. I saw families come and go from here all of the time, yet none of them reminded me of mine as much as this one did, that is, before the accident.
By hayley4 years ago in Families
Disappeared
I wasn't supposed to be anywhere near that aquarium, the one my sister had disappeared from, yet there I was, standing by the shark exhibit, not sure if I should leave or not. Walking past this place every day to and from school for the past two years, I finally gave up and went in. Mom's most important rule was to not step foot in the aquarium but maybe I thought it would help me feel better if I could remember our last day together yet all I wanted to do was scream into the hot, muggy aquarium air.
By hayley4 years ago in Families
My Mysterious Package
A Mysterious Package On Saturday, December 23rd a mysterious package showed up at our door. I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and came home to find this huge box on my front doorstep. It had my name on the package with no return address on the label. It was in a beautiful shiny wrapping with a huge red and gold bow at the top. I was curious about the package but couldn’t open it up because it goes against our Christmas tradition. So, I placed the present under my tree along with all the other presents. It was not a usual Christmas for us because we were recovering from a house fire the year before. There were not as many presents under our tree this year, so I tried to make the best out of a bad situation.
By Amy James4 years ago in Families
Finally Coming Home
Monday, I hated that day. Especially, a snowy, freezing, miserable December day in Michigan. As I made my way to our break room, I heard the usual. “Morning LT, Morning Lieutenant Flynn, nice day, isn’t it LT?” My people loved to aggravate me. All of them knew until I had my first cup of coffee, I hated to talk. I went into our breakroom, grabbed a coffee mug, and poured a cup of the Elixir of the Gods. Just as I took my first sip, Detective Ellen Johnson interrupted me.
By Richard Frohm4 years ago in Families
Danny and the Dragon
DANNY AND THE DRAGON Argon, the dragon was snoring softly and dreaming of ice cream cones filled with piles of chocolate and strawberry flavors with sprinkles on top. He smiled in his sleep and in his dream he was about to devour the whole cone when he heard something that woke him up.
By Anne Maria Bradford4 years ago in Families
Healing Amauart
There seemed to be no hope for the Valley, unless they found a way out. Prince Patrick found the cave full of relics, but in order for those to work he needed help. The Amauart sickness still plagued many people and dragons roamed the land more than ever before, but not all of them possessed evil in their soul.
By Zelda Foxx4 years ago in Families
Speechless
Speechless What’d you say? Our son, who lives three hours away from us had become ill and after one week in the hospital, was for the better part of a month, was bedridden. While his wife worked, his teenage daughter, when she wasn’t in school, took over the household chores. The thirteen-year-old grew up in a heartbeat.
By Margaret Brennan4 years ago in Families
Magical Halloween Memories From an 80s Kid
’Tis almost the witching hour and we’re in full swing for Halloween 2022. I have seen so many awesome, clever, and adorable costumes on social media all day. That’s the most fun aspect of Halloween for me, here in my middle age years.
By The Mouthy Renegade Writer4 years ago in Families
My husband and I keep trying for a son but we always got daughters, Is there something wrong with me?
The reason why our society lags behing in various economic sectors is because our women are trapped inside a bubble of social equality where men do not allow them to come forward and prove their worth on equal footing.
By Awa Nyassi4 years ago in Families