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.'
Tour de Parfum
“Wow," I moan, “I’m not feeling so great." "I feel like I have the worst hangover ever.” I pull myself up and adjust the reclining position in my seat so I’m sitting up straight. I rub my temples, hoping to feel some relief from the pounding headache ripping through me. As my blurry eyes adjust, I turn to see a bearded gentleman watching me. “Welcome back,"he says, “You had me worried!” “I’ve been monitoring your chest movements for the last few hours to make sure you were still breathing.” “I’m glad there was no need for me to use my rusty CPR techniques.” “You may not have fared so well.” “I’m a little embarrassed.” I whisper.” “Should I know you?” He smiles and answers, “No, not really.” “Last evening when I chose the seat next to you, I was being anti-social”. “You were sleeping so soundly.” “ I figured you wouldn’t be one of those annoying passengers that would talk my ear off.“ “So, I locked up my luggage and plopped myself down.” “But when I woke up and you were still passed out, I started to worry." “You still don’t look so great if I must say so!” “Are you feeling alright?" I respond weakly. “My head feels like it weighs 200 pounds and I’m a bit queasy.” “Not to mention, I don’t even have the faintest idea how I ended up here on this…. train is it?” “Seems the last thing I remember, I was in my boss’s office and he was shaking my hand.” “ He was congratulating me on my promotion.” “How’s that for a mind boggler?” He laughs. “Hmm, I have to agree with you.” “That is a very distressing situation.” “ Unfortunately, I believe I can top it.” “I’ve noticed that in the last few hours, as I was sweating it out wondering if you were ever going to wake up, our train has not stopped at one of it’s designated stops.” “Passengers are becoming irate and there is not a crew member in sight.” “The entire staff seem to have disappeared and our train has run amuck.” “Oh, yeah, and our phones have no service.” “So we are unable to contact anyone to find out what is going on.” “Now that, my friend is a mind boggler!” I yell at him. “You’re kidding me!” “I finally get my big break and I’m stuck on a disappearing train!” “Unbelievable!” “So, what do we do now?” He says, “Maybe some investigating is in order.” He stands up and introduces himself. “I’m Chuck by the way.” “I just recently retired from the Post Office.” “This trip is my wife’s lovely idea.” “She purchased a surprise ticket for me to my favorite guitar center in Indiana.” “It’s a great idea, but I think her motive was to get some alone time.” “We’re still getting used to the retirement routine." As I laugh, I reply, “I’m Evan.” “The newly appointed CEO of “Brilliant Blends", the best distillers of essential oil fragrances in the USA.” “Impressive, huh?” “But I guess it doesn’t do me any good right now, does it?” “So, I’m all ears if you want to include me in on your “investigation plan.” Chuck is a big dude so he suggests that he be the one to head to the front of the train. He will try to find out who is in charge. He tells me to start asking the passengers if they have any idea of what is going on. He takes off and begins to stagger his way through each railcar in order to reach the operator of the train. When he arrives, he realizes the door is bolted shut. Peeking through the window, he sees what appears to be the engineer, the conductor and various crew members bound together. They are being held captive. The man who seems to be in charge has his back to the window. It is impossible to identify who he is. Slipping away quietly so he does not become the next hostage, Chuck fumbles his way back through the cars. With that he realizes that whoever is in control at the moment has no plans of aborting their mission any time soon. He fears we are all in real danger. Peeking through the window, he sees what appears to be the engineer, the conductor and various crew members bound together. They are being held captive. The man who seems to be in charge has his back to the window. It is impossible to identify who he is. Slipping away quietly so he does not become the next hostage, Chuck fumbles his way back through the cars. With that he realizes that whoever is in control at the moment has no plans of aborting their mission any time soon. He fears we are all in real danger.
By Theresa Yantz4 years ago in Families
Why tobacco is harmful to health
Tobacco is defined as any product containing tobacco leaves, stems, seeds, flowers, roots, and cured leaves. Tobacco, like marijuana, is called an herbaceous plant and belongs to the family Solanaceae. Its genus name is Nicotiana and its species name is Tabassum.
By Muhammad Abrar4 years ago in Families
Back to Normal
We were sitting back at the porch again once the big celebration of my wedding is done. We were having normal lives except for me this time. Everyone gets a turn, Everyone has their own time of celebration, gathering, spending time with new people, having dinners, parties. It was mine. I went to husbands place, i got my new family meet and greet, I was very happy. New life, new lifestyle, new people and most of all with my husband. All that matters was how well we would be and what happens next!!
By Harsha Upadhyaya4 years ago in Families
The story of my life
It all started when my father George and my aunt Cathy meet in first year of Highschool. They were both loners, outcasts, didn't speak unless asked to. They both knew they weren't gonna make it through 5 years of Highschool without at least one friend. After a few weeks, they started talking.
By Gabrielle Chamaillard4 years ago in Families
A Friendly Christmas Teenage Tale
There was a chill in the air for Marcia who was halfway through with first year high school study. Walking home knowing social interaction with the upper-class came to an abrupt disruption due to Christmas break and this frustrated feeling hampered the happy time.
By Marc OBrien4 years ago in Families
The who man
Once upon a time in a world full of weird things happening 24/7, There was this man that was named Bork. Barely anyone knew him because he wasn't born like everybody else. On march 23rd 1986 he was born in a random part of the world where nobody is. His parents had to hide their because there was a war going on at the time where people everywhere hated each other. Bork's parents couldn't have him in the middle of the war so they hid somewhere where nobody goes at all and then Bork was born. Bork's dad had to help fight in the war so Bork's mom had to take care of him. They had to stay there for a few days and then an police officer showed up and told them the worst news at that time. Bork's dad had got killed in the war and Bork's mom started breaking down crying and the police officer took them somewhere safe. The police tried to stop the war but it was too difficult but eventually everyone just got tired and stopped fighting and Bork and his mom were placed somewhere for a long time.
By blasting ashton4 years ago in Families
Last Call
It was my birthday. Not a huge celebration was planned. I think I was turning 25? Or 24? Really the age does not matter. It was getting to be time to quit the main desk at my University. I was in the process of obtaining my masters from there. I usually left work between 10-10:30pm. The main desk covered both emergency dispatch for the dorms and security phones scattered around campus.
By Zelda Foxx4 years ago in Families
The Cole Bros The Greatest Show on Earth
My family, the Renbargers, had always been cursed with bad memory. Almost to the point of feeling crazy, where me, my dad, or my grandpa would put something down and immediately look down and it wasn’t there. My grandpa said it used to happen to his dad and his grandpa. Dates, events, and facts would just completely vanish from memory. The men in the family were always faithful and kind to our significant others so the memory thing was tough for the ladies in the family but I guess bearable. Even my girlfriend gets upset at my terrible memory, and thinks me telling her that I’m cursed is dumb and that I just don’t want to take blame, which is understandable.
By Jeremy Renbarger4 years ago in Families
Midnight
“The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.” The fog surrounded the Vanish Estate where Hollow cabin still stood. Wet fingers of mist gently closed over and gripped the decaying wooded structure in a fist. Six-year-old Tabatha and her good friend Marsha had been playing in the nearby cemetery. They loved to play hide-n-seek at dusk because there were endless amounts of places that a person could hide behind. However, now they both stood with their mouths open as the light flickered ominously in the cracked panes of the window. Then, the howling started. It was an eerie whiny high-pitched long howl that struck their hearts with fear. They ran as fast as they could back to their homes.
By Tryna Weiss4 years ago in Families
