literature
Families and literature go hand in hand; fictional families to entertain, reflect and inspire.
Drawing Not to Scale
Some people have friends. Others have imaginary friends. I have the people in the book. Three people live in a small black notebook Mom gave me. I had been drawing comics since second grade. When she found someone’s discarded sketchbook at a second-hand shop, she thought their work might inspire me.
Kevin EmmonsPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesPossibilities
Everyone always grows up either knowing A, exactly what they want to do in life, or B, taking years to figure out what they finally want to do. Growing up, I never really thought about what I wanted to do when I got older; I just knew I was destined for great things. The question of “what do you want to be when you get older?” from when I was a kid has changed to “what do you want to do with your life?”. This is something I am continuously asked by so many people in my life. Now the problem isn't that I don't know what to do, it's that there are so many things I could do that I know I would be successful at; I simply can't just choose one. When I tell people I am a third-year communications major attending the University of Arizona the question of “what are you going to do with that?” always comes up! I know you're probably wondering how I reply.
Tiaja MckayPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesYou’re [w]RI(GH)T[e] -Ing
There once was a boy who wanted to know everything. He would learn about science and technology, the mathematics and physics of stars and the experiences of love and loss. He hoped to someday feel the weightlessness of space and the joy of teaching in front of crowds, the delicate breathing of patients under his stethoscope, the pride of designing architecture.
The Purpose
Complete dread and devastation is the only way to capture the way I felt the day I had to leave my children in Rhode Island. It was totally out of anything completely normal or rational. I didn't even care at that point of time how other people would see me because I knew how hard I tried and the lengths I took to take care of my children with all my power. If others thought I was a "dead-beat" mom then so be it because I knew as well as God or the universe - the totality of the way things played out were only meant to happen so I could get to the point I am at now. The reality of the situation is I left my children's father two years prior to almost becoming homeless, and having no other choice but to rely on the support of my family miles away (primarily my father). I had no choice but to move back to Missouri where I was born and raised but I was inevitably without my children. I could not physically move my children out of the state of Rhode Island without the permission of a judge or - my children's father. The only way to explain how I felt is that it was some kind of gut wrenching obstacle I just could not defeat without a miracle. The even better realization was none of that mattered.
Holly DeShaPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesWhat We Hide
In most families, it is the daughters that remain who care for their aging parents. A husband is a son until he takes a wife and so on. For us, it was different. Maybe because my father had taken a wife, and also a couple of girlfriends too… Anyway, he sure did take them but could not keep them because of that he forever remained my grandmother's son. My mom would probably roll her eyes and say that he was always a son first. Yet, right until the end of her life, my Abuela had her son, my dad, by her side. She had him and he had me, his only daughter. My brothers had not taken any wives but none were up for the task of helping my dad clean out all that our grandmother had left behind either. Her dying was generous in that it was slow enough for everyone to know it was coming. It was a gentle descending glide. First, the doctor's visits became more frequent, then more medication added to the already hard to keep track of daily doses. Next, more rushes to the emergency room and longer stays in the hospital after. Her illnesses were nothing dramatic, just old age.
Venus A CastroPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesFamily Tradition.
Ever since she could remember, Marina struggled with vulnerability and openness. So much so, that merely thinking about sharing her thoughts or feelings openly, terrified her. She was great at listening, but talking? Not so much. How was it possible that something so common and that came so naturally and effortlessly to other people, could so deeply unsettle her? She always wondered.
monse corderoPublished 3 years ago in Families$20,000
Sam held the cold phone to his ear as it continued to ring. It was pointless call, and he knew it. Nevertheless, he sat on the couch and waited. Eventually the phone stopped ringing and he waited to leave a message.
Caitlyn NashPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Brothers
“Positive!!? Oh god, how am I gonna tell Jack that I’m pregnant. There’s no way he’ll be happy” says Delilah. She patiently waits, frantically staring at the wall clock. “10 minutes until your dad gets to know your existence” she says with her hand on her stomach. Soon enough her fiancé comes home.
Holly UnderwoodPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesYou Don't Have Much Time
“With a name like Mateo, I was expecting him to be droolworthy, you know?” Talia groaned as she weaved in and out of traffic like a racecar driver.
Natalia St. JamesPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Gift of Giving
“Hello Mr. Kringle!” I said as I walked thru the door. Something I feel like I’ve done a million times before. Mr. Kringle is the owner of this small little used book store named Twice in a Lifetime. Never really asked where the name came from, but I guess that’s something I can ask him another time. Right now, let me catch you up on what exactly happened to make today a bit more peculiar. It all began two days ago as I walked and greeted Mr. Kringle as I normally do. I’ve worked for him for what seems like years, but in reality, it’s only been six months. He is a kind old man. His shop doesn’t generate to much money, but I’ve learned he does this for the sheer joy he brings to his customers. I asked him a few times to go modern his services up and get online to reach more people, but he is content with the ways things are currently. Things around here are pretty quiet most days. Nothing to much happens, so I have time to study. I am working towards my law degree, and this is the perfect place for an evening job. I’ve been working my way thru law classes at the community college for the last two years. Well, back to my story.
Richard RiveraPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesBones' Ring
From an early age my brother Curtis and I, separately, concluded that, as adults, we didn’t want to be like our mother, Teresa. When Curtis in the 4th grade he wrote a letter to his teacher describing his disdain for Teresa. “Lazy, country, bitch” were some of the words he used. Yikes, right? That letter destroyed an already deteriorating relationship between the two of them. My dad said it was the catalyst of her hatred for my brother and on some level, I get it. Although, I had some empathy for that teacher. She probably assumed she was doing the right thing. She probably hoped it would start a healthy discussion between parent and child. She never knew she was handing Teresa gasoline and a match to burn down an already dilapidated structure. She wasted no time in lighting the match and watching it burn.
Chennea RussellPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesBetween the Sun and the Stars
Between The Sun and The Stars H J James “...ninety-eight, ninety-nine, ONE HUNDRED!” Bella’s voice echoed through the forest.
heather jane-jamesPublished 3 years ago in Families