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.'
She's Just a Girl
“I’m sorry, mom”, these words seem to come out often. I don’t know if it was me being a horrible daughter, or her wanting someone perfect. I was a first-born, and it has been hard. I have three younger brothers, and they seem perfect enough for her. Nothing i did was ever good enough, or up to her standards. I had good grades, I was smart. I did everything she asked. I was polite, unlike my brothers, "please" and "thank you" were a huge part of my vocabulary. I never spoke out of respect. I just never understood. My brothers were rude to everyone, did what they wanted, maybe...just maybe if I was more like them, she would like me.
By Paula Horgash5 years ago in Families
The Maiden Voyage
You’ve gotta be careful. My mother says there are a lot of ways to make someone come out a Bad Egg. For example: giving birth on a bed. You have to be squatting, she says. And the head has to come out first. Josef Mengele was born feet first and instead of pushing him around the other way they just yanked him out by his feet, which made him have a deformed arm and then he became a Nazi. That’s what my mother says. Now that I am having a baby I am very grateful to have my mother around again. She has had six other babies not including me so she knows what to do. She helps all of the other women in the house with their deliveries. Sometimes I get to help too. I get to stand by the women while they are in labor. I wipe their foreheads with hot towels and hold their hands when the contractions come. Some of these women have quite a grip, my mother says. You’ve gotta be careful. They can almost break a finger. Today I learned to cut the umbilical cord. Today is when my baby brother was born. I used a pair of shiny silver scissors bigger than both of my hands.
By Leah Folpe5 years ago in Families
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 Blaize6 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. Moore6 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-rashael6 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
