grandparents
Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.
London to Glasgow Central
My fingers twitch, once, twice, above the button. It glows red, like Christmas lights. It’s been a good journey so far. There were sheep on the line at Carlisle, but they moved quickly. Normally it takes hours - the bloody animals never know when to stop - but they’d cleared by the time we got to Coventry.
By Maria Clark5 years ago in Families
Annie
Roxanne sat on her luggage in her empty townhouse. She fiddled nervously with her phone. She’d checked her ride share app a dozen times. Nothing could distract her from her extreme impatience to leave this life behind her. She had lived here briefly, only two years. However, to her, it may as well have been 200. Just a few short years ago, yet lifetimes ago, Roxanne lived in a suburban mansion with her husband, Gordon. She lived comfortably, her marriage was happy, her grandmother, her beloved grandmother, Mary, was alive and healthy. Soon after, she spent most of her time caring for Mary while neglecting her husband. She then took a leave of absence from the hospital where she worked as a nurse. She watched as her grandmother and her marriage both died, along with her desire to ever be a caregiver again. No memory of the past 15 years sparked any kind of emotion, positive or otherwise. Nothing she had known as security or accomplishment remained. She felt completely empty.
By Daniel Christopher Thomas5 years ago in Families
Jimmy and Miss Muffet
In many ways, the weather yesterday was just perfect, perfect for a public holiday that is. Rainy, not really cold, but cool enough that no air conditioners were needed, and all the doors and windows could be thrown open in order to invite fresh air to enter and to swirl through the house, expelling the hot air caught up in the house over the previous few weeks when temperatures hovered around 38 degrees Celsius.
By Colleen Rip-Botha5 years ago in Families
"Little Black Book Story"
"The Little Black Book Story Number One Recruit” The white chalk blew ever so slightly outside the perfect ninety-foot line between third base and home plate. Manny dusted off home plate and admired his handy work. The patchwork design of the outfield rivaled any major league ballpark and the fine clay of the infield had been meticulously raked. The only remaining detail was to strap down the bases. Manny strolled to his Gator to grab the bases when heard a loud whistle.
By Kari Riegle5 years ago in Families
The Cottage
Shut up! Quinn thought, squeezing her eyes closed against the bright morning light as if that action could drown out the infuriating twitter of the happy birds flitting around her window. Today was not a bright happy day. Gulping down the threat of tears, Quinn flopped over in her bed. Eyes on the ceiling, she drew deep breaths. Today was going to be one of the worst days of her life.
By Cassie Mead5 years ago in Families
Secrets of the Chest
Shawna struggled to move her old Bombay chest up the walkway to her new home. It became almost comical to watch this tiny woman support the weight of this colossus dresser, pivoting the back legs forward inch by inch. She momentarily regretted investing in a property set so far back from the street and further back from its own driveway. But she persisted. Once safely behind closed doors, Shawna slowly collapsed down the chest. As she slid over its voluptuous curves, her fingers absentmindedly tracked what was left of the golden, vine-like inlay. They wrapped around the body, coddling the drawers in a natural embrace, falling over what was once a shimmering black lacquer. Though age had tarnished the finish, glimpses of elegance still peeked through.
By Melissa Carey5 years ago in Families
A Tribute to My Grandad
It was an overcast Saturday morning, the immediate scenery coloured in black, the atmosphere heavy as everyone was looking solemnly at the casket of my grandad that was lowered into the ground. There was an old Chinese folk song, which was one of my grandad’s favourite, playing in the background as I hear my parents saying goodbye for the final time between their sobs.
By Rowan Zhang5 years ago in Families
My Future
I sat across from Mr. Cheaves in a worn-out leather chair that he pulled up to his desk. I think you are going to like this he said. I respond with a short smile. I do not like surprises of any type. I do not like phone calls that disrupt the flow of my day and I especially do not like Mr. Cheaves.
By Renita Shadwick5 years ago in Families
