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.'
Short Story
Not everyone is meant for you, not everything is for you and sometimes even if you are not for yourself. Not when you feel the world on your shoulders. I knew who you were, but even at five I couldn’t touch you, I couldn’t be with you like I wanted. Unaware of the reasons why, oblivious of what you were to me. I was filled with ecstasy when you rang the house phone, I told her that you were trapped inside, and we needed to rescue you. How naïve was I? You laughed and said you missed me, I didn’t understand. And why would I when I was so young? When all my questions were greeted with the words “Your brain won’t understand adult stuff” and with that I was silenced.
By Rosaria Mulenga5 years ago in Families
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
BELIEVE IT OR NOT I have 1/3 Spanish, 1/3 Chinese and ½ Malay in my blood and I grew up in a household riddled with superstitions and ancient beliefs. As it is very well known, the Philippines had been occupied by the Spanish Conquistadores for almost 350 years and merchant trading brought Chinese into the islands of the Philippines. These migrations have enriched our customs and traditions and no matter what colour or ethnicity one may belong to, I have observed that there will always be some sort of interknitting of customs, beliefs and traditions of these cultures,….. superstitions, no exception. For example, if one broke a glass or anything breakable, one needed to break another piece of breakable item meaning that the breakage had been paired,(it was believed that bad luck come in twos) if this was not done, it is bad luck and the next breakage would be an accident of the one who broke it or someone close might encounter an accident or bad luck. Another one is the building of stairs in an Asian especially a Filipino home. I have to mention this because Feng Shui is the norm in Chinese home and is beginning to be adapted by Filipinos with Chinese ancestry. Oro, Plata, Mata which are Spanish words, translated to Gold, Silver, Death. The builder must ensure that the last step of the staircase wouldn’t be mata or death. If it ends in oro or Plata, which is gold or silver, this will attract wealth. Still another popular belief is the spilling of salt which is an omen of evil misfortune and this action can be counteracted by taking a pinch and throwing over your left shoulder where evil is standing behind waiting for open entry to come in. The thrown salt will blind the devil and will be powerless. I have to emphasize that I have consider these beliefs funny and never really affected by it and just ignored it.
By Nilda Juliana Johnston5 years ago in Families
Diary of a broken girl
Dear Diary, Today seemed so normal for the most part. I didn’t wake up sad or angry which was odd but oh well. I got dressed ate breakfast and went to school. Oh by the way if you’re reading this my name is... We’ll leave my name out for a while until I’m ready to truly introduce myself.
By Crystal Straker5 years ago in Families
The original corpse bride
Chinese bachelors and bachelorettes face immense societal pressure to get married and have children. Chinese parents play a central role in selecting their children’s new spouse. Unwed’s are often labelled as “bare branches” or “leftover women”, and the parents are going to extreme lengths to marry them off.
By Amber Blaize5 years ago in Families
Love In A Cup By G. A. Moore
If the night couldn't get any worse, five thoughts of stories were whirling in my head, like I needed more to think about. I just wanted to get a good-night sleep, for once. The bags under my eyes were starting to look as if they could house another set of eyes. I just wanted the storylines to shut the heck up and begin again tomorrow. I could hear my mother, the want to be philosopher herself, saying, "don't put off 'til tomorrow, what you can do today." She was a hard woman. When I was a kid, she would never let me catch a break or chill when I was just out of it. Right now, I am totally out of it.
By G.A. Moore5 years ago in Families
Emma and Riley
“It’s so goddam hot, Christ, we need an air con.” Riley reached down onto the floor by the accelerator where she’d dropped her shirt. She had taken it off back in Westonia and needed to use it as a makeshift sweat towel on her clammy chest. It was a summer’s evening in late February, and the scorching sun on the Nullarbor hadn’t shown any signs of retreating. They had been driving for almost eight hours straight. Driving no faster than a hundred kilometers an hour, slow enough to be sure the car didn’t over heat, but fast enough to reach the roadhouse before sundown.
By sarah-rashael5 years ago in Families
First Impressions
The bickering from the couple at the neighboring table didn't help her anxiety level. She wasn't usually the type to get sweaty palms, but today was different. She lifted her hand to reach for her coffee and the moist outline of her fingers were still visible on the diner table. Hardly a quality you would see in an attorney, but then again, this was a personal, not the courtroom.
By Rachel Kimbrell6 years ago in Families
Aroma
These dark, gloomy, rainy days have always been the best. A veil of the red, illuminating glow of the open sign, coats every reflective surface of the diner. I sit here, at the end of this 24/7 diner, drinking in the mood and atmosphere. Retro and vintage decorum surrounds each wooden booth and sitting area. Old-looking records and black and white photos are hanged or displayed on the walls. Adding to the retro style is the black and white checkered flooring throughout the entire diner.
By J.X. Leiva6 years ago in Families
Thanksgiving weekend
Thanksgiving weekend, three sisters with their kids and husbands head out of town . They rented a beautiful farm house for the festivities And have all the food needed for an amazing feast. Once they arrive , they pass through a small town .All the streets are decorated as if they were in a hallmark movie. The pumpkins , sunflower bouquets and a beautiful smell of fresh baked apple pie filled the streets .They pull up to the house and it’s breath taking , the beautiful maple trees dressed in their best fall colours are dancing in the light crisp autumn wind. The men unpack the car whilst the kids are playing in the leafs , the sisters head into the house and crack open a bottle of wine . They prepare the turkey and stuffing and put it in the oven and start the timer . Sitting on the porch swing, the sisters admire their kids and husbands in a distance playing and laughing . They decide to visit a pumpkin patch nearby and grab a couple for the kids to carve . Once they finish the carving they put little lights inside the pumpkins that will light up once the sun goes down .
By Tiffany Barba6 years ago in Families
Storytime: The Day We Realized Our Housegirl Was Mami Water.
This all happened when I was around 11/12 years old. My mother had just given birth to my little sister Anointing. She didn’t have the same energy to deal with all the stress of a new baby the way she did with me and even though Anointing was a rather quiet and peaceful child, my mother was still struggling so she needed help.
By Jide Okonjo6 years ago in Families
