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.'
The Journey Home
On a cold blistery night when Samantha got the phone call that her mother was being rushed to the hospital, she was hours away and had a million regrets running through her mind. Why did she agree to put her in a home she thought to herself, why wasn't she with her? Why did she get married?Her guilt was just overwhelming. Only one person was allowed at the hospital and her sister Jamie was in town so she made it there first. Overwhelmed by it all it, not long after did the second phone call come. Sam was too late, she made a short stop to grab a bottle and a bag to kill the pain . Again with so many regrets flashing before her eyes Sam was a complete mess, battling drug addiction since sixteen, her father a recovering alcoholic when he passed. He and Sam were alot alike but Sam was very young when he passed. Sam started on her journey home not realizing that for the first time she was going on the journey of her life. She drank, smoked and drove, drank, smoked and drove until eventually the car died and she finally gave up and peacefully laid her head down. Waking up suddenly she thought to herself everything must've been a dream . Sam started the car and to her surprise it started right up. She felt a sense of calm and protection so she drove to the nearest town to get her car looked at. The shop was busy and couldn't get the car in till the next day. Sam went to the nearest motel to unwind her mind and soul. Laying in bed crying her heart out all the sudden Sam had an intuition to look under the mattress, to her surprise there was one single dime. She was always told growing up dimes is a loved on looking over you. Growing up was no treat dad drank but eventually got sober and she knew then it was a sign from him. Sam had a brief bout of sobriety and during this time she found dimes which to her felt like her dad was close but she couldn't figure out what it was although it soothed her and gave sense of peace she never felt before. Sam's childhood was no bed of roses. Her mom worked and Sam always competed with her older sister Maggie. Jamie was the oldest sister that married her highschool sweet heart and had the happy life. so Maggie helped raise Sam but with only a year apart Sam resented Maggie because she was always referred to as Maggie's little sister and got all Maggie's hand me downs and Maggie resented Sam because she always had to take Sam with her. Maggie married soon after and went off to live the happy life too and eventually they grew further apart. Sam lived with her mom Grace up until she married shortly only a year before Grace passed away. Sam slept like a baby that night and woke feeling refreshed and with a sense of self she never felt before. She cleaned up got dressed and handed in her key to the front desk. It was a short walk to the garage and the sun was shining the birds were chirping and Sam even stopped in the park to smell the flowers. She entered the garage to pick up her car which was ready. The mechanic handed her her keys and said enjoy your journey she thought it was weird but answered I plan too which she thought was weird too. On the road again driving for which felt like hours but only one hour away she didn't even turn the radio on she just drove by herself and for once was okay by herself which she knew was now more a reality than ever now that her mom her best friend Grace had passed. She felt somewhat grounded it was a calm she had never felt before . She finally pulled up to the gates of her childhood home .She drove up the drive and took a deep breathe before stepping out of the car. Her feet hit the pavement and she felt a sense of being grounded , the darkness she always felt returning home was gone. She finally didn't have to live up to anyone's expectations but her own . She had choices and a sense of self. She walked up the steps opened the door with her key and to her surprise the house was empty. Sam was so relieved. Sam raced up the stairs to her moms room where she laid on the bed talking to her angel now in heaven when again her intuition told her to look under the mattress and there it was a dime and 20,ooo in an envelope and a small black notebook .Wrote on the first page it said, You were meant to find this recipe book and the envelope .This is god giving you what you cannot understand , you are not different, you are special, follow your intuition, tap into the spiritual world with your ancestors and take what you have learned and share it with the world. On the second page it said learn from your lessons Divine timing is everything and sometimes you are meant to keep somethings to yourself because you are special . So go live your life but always remember the lessons you have learned . On the rest of the pages were family recipes handed down from generation to generation. Sam took her 20,000 from her mom's mattress and her family recipes and bought a restaurant and has never looked back. She helps today to feed the less fortunate and that's by the grace of god. Sam found her calling in life she is in recovery giving back what lessons she has learned in life trying to make the world a better place.
By Cheryl Doan5 years ago in Families
Dear Beloved
A Thursday night service at Church. I sat in the back pew. I didn’t want anyone noticing me or coming over to talk to me. I’ve never been here before. I wasn’t dressed anything fancy. I was just looking for a place to rest for a bit on my way home. People were singing and clapping. I didn’t feel like doing either. The Pastor was singing beautifully I thought. I tried my best to concentrate but it was hard. All I could think about was the lady I ran into on the way over here. She seemed a little strange, but she told me she was in a hurry to visit a special friend. She wore a red coat and her hair was like a white or silver color that came down her back. I’ve never seen anyone that looked like her. She dropped a gray bag she was holding while walking fast to catch the bus. When I saw it, I ran after her to give it back and almost missed her. The bus door had closed, but I was able to knock on the door and luckily the bus driver opened it. I called the lady over to hand her the bag that she had dropped. She thanked me kindly and I told her to slow down and hold on tight to her belongings. She told me there’s plenty more where it all came from.
By Sisceley Banks5 years ago in Families
The Musician and The Beast
The sun shown bright above the sky that day, its long golden rays warming up the ground below. The great city stood, buildings stretching up towards the sky, the light reflecting off the windows creating a shimmering glare. People walked around the sidewalks, oblivious of anyone else, running into them and shouting whenever it happened. Some went to work; some walked dogs, others rode bikes while others chose to jog instead, listening to music to drown out the sounds of honking cars from the dreadful amount of traffic.
By Shirley Blancas5 years ago in Families
Angelica Gains Her Wings
When you finally learn how to read and write, the feeling is exhilarating…no matter the age. There are people who are able to become successful while being illiterate. Those same people may finally learn at the ages of 50, 25, 37, or even 68, or never at all. But this account is not about them. It is about a little girl Angelica, who at the age of 7, gained confidence in her literacy skills. Her mom recommended becoming a pen pal to practice and strengthen her skills. She further suggested the nursing home Angelica’s grandmother used to live in. She had passed no less than a year ago and Angelica never got the opportunity to be her grandmother’s pen pal the way her mom had been with her grandmother. So the suggestion was welcomed with open writing fingers.
By Christina DeFeo5 years ago in Families
Where Rex Roosts
Claude shook the egg gently. He didn't hear anything. He shook again, this time a little harder, but still didn’t hear anything. Maybe it’s just suspended in the yoke and not hitting the walls, he thought. He grabbed the rest of the eggs, put them in the basket, and headed back to the house.In the kitchen, his mother was emptying the dishwasher.
By Spike Stone5 years ago in Families
Dad's Little Black Book
9:30, still haven't heard anything; he knew that he was supposed to call or text no later than 9:30. He'd been doing so good but today was his first day at work after our holiday, I imagine he’s very busy getting signed in. He would call or he would text, I'd give him till 10:30. 9:45 the phone rang. “This is Sam how can I help you? Oh, hey Phillip what's up?” I asked. “It’s dad, he’s had a heart attack and he's in the hospital. We need to get there as soon as possible. They are putting him in ICU. Do you want us to pick you up?” he got all this in quickly. I replied “No I need to pick up your sister. She is going to want to go with me, so I'll go get her and meet you up there. Be safe, love you.“
By Stephanie Osteen5 years ago in Families
A Friendly Stranger
The pitter-patter of the rain against the windows created a calm atmosphere in the almost empty café. Bethany was the only waitress working tonight and since there were no customers, she was sitting at an empty table. Dominic, the chef, was in the kitchen and Alex, the cashier, was scrolling on his phone behind the counter. Bethany looked out at the rain and gave a quiet sigh. It had been weeks since she had been feeling sad and numb. Looking out at the gloomy rain and dark sky, she felt more hopeless than ever. She tried to shake the thought.
By Bayan Kareem5 years ago in Families
In Search of Honesty
I shut the door with care, listening for the soft click of the latch. Stepping quietly off the stoop, I crept to the side of the house, tugging my bike from its mess of ivy. I closed the garden gate behind me and set off into the moonlight.
By Rachel MacLean5 years ago in Families
Tilly's Trove
Matilda the Cat, known as Tilly, was on her daily patrol, checking out what was new in the garden. Lots of smells and sounds. Resting in a deck chair I was watching her progress. A while ago we had some field mice around, they had even ventured into the house, so I was curious if they came back after we had politely removed them to the neighbourhood fields. Tilly was visiting all the nooks of the garden. She kept returning to one place by the wall by an apple tree. I got up to get some drink and I stopped by her. I noticed something black lying on the grass. Had to fetch my glasses from the lounge and when I put them on I saw a little black book. I used my gardening gloves to pick it up, just in case, and placed it on the garden table. It did look familiar, I had to see it somewhere. After opening the cover I recognised where I knew it from. Not long ago I was browsing through the bookshop to find a birthday gift for my friend and there it was. A Moleskine notebook. I finally chose something else, but had a good look at the notebook first.
By Kasia Tomaszewska5 years ago in Families
