Stories tagged “kids”
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Benjamin Kola in 25 years
I trust you with this information, Miss. Please don’t tell anyone. Me in 25 years? Well, that’s fairly easy, I’m going to be with Randy. Oh, you mean as a job? I guess I’m going to be a author or whatever. I love writing, and Ra...
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The Preacher's Son Comes Through
“Comin’ up.” The voice from the ground belonged to Charlie, the preacher’s kid, who was younger than the rest of us, but still cool. I dropped the rope down for him to climb up; it was the only way to get into the tree house in ...
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The Box Cart on Suicide Hill
The discarded soap box in the back of the alley wasn’t big enough to fit any of us, and the bottom looked pretty rotted out, but we all knew that it had been sitting there long enough, and it was time to put it to good use. We scoured the neighbo...
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Bedtime
“Anna? Anna, wake up!” “Ugh… what?” “I can’t sleep. Can I sleep with you? Please please pretty please with a cherry on to-” “Alright, come on and lie down.” “Oh, you’re the best bi...
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For the kids
On a very warm summer day, I was sitting in a very cramped van with tinted windows about ready to step out not as my self but as a 6 foot costumed dog named K.C. I remember it was very hot, and the costume didn’t have a working fan to allow me an...
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1 Cerulean Hill Road
Looking up from the bottom of Cerulean Hill, one might have mistaken it for a nice place. The pale blue paint seemed innocent enough. The clean, white picket fence surrounded the yard with the promise of keeping bad guys out. In reality, it was too lat...
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Why I love reading
Growing up I loved books. I loved them so much that my family dentist, whom I only saw once a year when I was a kid, would always ask me “What books are you reading?” I remember days when my mom would call out from the kitchen while my brot...
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Good Intentions and Difficult Lessons
Ronald tried to be invisible because today was important and that had to stay a secret. Today was his birthday and he didn’t want anyone to know. It wasn’t because he was a shy, though that was true. It was because of Ty and Joey. They were...
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Waiting, Waiting, Summer!
Two slabs of rubber hang suspended by chains, empty and hot under the early summer sun. A rut is worn beneath the swings and clay filled mud colors the puddles a golden hue. Time here holds still like it is waiting for something; the weeds peaking from...
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for the love of Bear
Her parents couldn’t afford much, so the bear was all she got that Christmas. Her eyes lit brightly, she loved him instantly, and took him everywhere. She sang his song, and hummed it when at school. As always, she ran to her room and grabbed bea...
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True Adventures in Parenting, Part 1
From within Sam’s room came a panicked yelp. My first instinct was, sadly, “Oh great, more hysterics.” She’d just spent half an hour processing the impending first day of school with my wife, and I’d really hoped she’...
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True Adventures in Parenting, Part 2
Before leaving to get my doctor bag I decided to give her something to do. I instructed her to plug one nostril and blow out the other. She plugged the left and went to work. I returned. Sadly, due to disuse, my otoscope was not working. My small but v...
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I Want To Hurt You
You have rendered us impotent. I see the smiling faces on the young of your kind. They point at us. Some make faces that are intended to scare us. Right. I beat against the solid air and you jump back. Afraid. You recognize my power. Then I see it dawn...
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The Best of the Worst
It’s funny that when I look back on my childhood, I remember very little on my own. But, the simple waft of a freshly baked apple donut or the seductively simmering smell of apple cider creates short, film like flashes of memories in my mind. Whe...
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Ruby's Day
The wheels of the day began to rotate but Ruby felt like stepping off the ride. Her innocent children would latch onto someone else just as easily. They are like saints at this age— there’s nothing special about receiving love from saints&#...
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End of the Beginning
With little more than a sigh Miranda tugged on her sneakers. As usual she’d been sleeping in her jeans, done up, belt in place. Garret’s cough reminded her to put the towel at the base of the door. “Wake up, dipstick,” she said ...
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An Angel Lights the Dark Path of Their Dreams
Someone told me You had caroled solely But that you weren’t lonely Only that you went undoubtedly Without a one and only who wholly Understands your soul’s song and story Under drifts of snow you stand A candle held with both hands on the ...
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Tyson's Trouble with Meat
Along with quickly passing time and endless, circular thoughts of the upcoming days, Tyson paced forward and back in the waiting room full of Redbook and Parenthood from days gone by. Her chunky heeled mary janes clicked on the polished concrete floor ...
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Hard Choices in a Hard World
Rae’s eyes darted between the kids gathering at the buses and the now vacant school yard. On the far side of the yard lay the drainage ditch, trash-strewn path to freedom. Even through the metallic tang of her mech voice the hesitancy came throug...
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Pull to Leap
I can make him do it. “No one can do that. It’s too far,” her own voice cooed, a melodious echo. I can make him do anything. Ripples of heat lapped up from the blacktop, the first warning signs of another long, hot Carolina Summer. Sw...
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Experiment in English
“You can’t reach it!” Aubrey yells in the living room. Slowly, Margaret’s siren of dismay winds up to a piercing scream. “Moooooommmm,” Aubrey continues yelling, “Tell Margo she’s not tall enough to get t...
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Engulfed
“What’s the worst way to die?” Jacob asked me. He was sitting indian style on my bed with his elbows hunkered over crossed legs— leaning over me with sick wonder stretched in his smile. “Probably being burned alive.”...
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The Blue Racer
In the dawn hours of “Lizard Day” at YMCA summer camp, I woke up so psyched I could barely lie still in my bunk. It was three days until my birthday – I would turn 13 on the 4th of July. Lizard Day was a camp tradition. We kids spent ...
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A Mother’s Suffering Never Ends
“I’m tired of you sitting on your butt all day plugged into virtual reality. I want you to go outside and experience some real reality.” “Do I have to?” “Yes you have to. But stay within sight of the habitat.” “Okay. Where’s my spaces...
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Play Well
It was almost perfect. Simon surveyed his masterpiece while walking around it. A 360 degree perspective would reveal any flaws in the structure. Just need one more skinny white piece that is three prongs long. He scrambled through the large bin in sear...
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