Holiday
How Bob Saved Christmas. Runner-Up in Tales of Hearth Challenge.
There was a lot about Christmas that was different that year. I was going through a break up with my wife that was really hard on my two children, 12 and 15. She’d been their step-mother for seven years, and they were very attached. Well, we all were. Christmas was her favorite time of year, so with all of this happening during the holidays, it made it especially heavy.
By Julie Bernsteinabout a year ago in Families
Cyclone Chido's Devastation in Mayotte | Tragic Impact of Mayotte Cyclone Hundreds to Thousands Feared Dead | Mayotte Cyclone Chido Taco
The video footage of Mayotte's most catastrophic natural disaster shows the brutal reality of Cyclone Chido. Heart-wrenching images reveal neighborhoods turned to rubble. The destructive path of the cyclone has left hundreds dead and many more missing.
By Bilal Hameedabout a year ago in Families
The Hearth of Winter
Winter had descended upon Venice, Italy, casting the city in a silvery glow. The canals, though never frozen, seemed to move slower beneath the heavy sky. The world felt hushed, as though holding its breath. In the Doge Palace, a place where history seeped from every corner, Tina worked in a small café nestled within its shadow. The café, aptly named Il Focolare—"The Hearth"—was a haven for weary travelers and locals alike.
By Jason “Jay” Benskinabout a year ago in Families
The Last Christmas Together
Snow fell softly on the little town of Pine Ridge, blanketing rooftops, sidewalks, and roads in glistening white. For the Thompson family, the world outside seemed calm and serene, but inside their cozy little house, there was a weight in the air no amount of carols or twinkling lights could lift.
By samuel dadaabout a year ago in Families
Cranberries
Fresh cranberries are not easy to find on island. Canned cranberries can be found by the pallet full in the back of any grocery store, but fresh cranberries take diligence and persistence to find. When I enter this latest store my mind is so focused on my quest that I don't notice the Christmas tree decorated with purchasable ornaments, or the stockings decorated with gingerbread men and candy canes. I head toward the produce department, this is my third attempt to find cranberries and my persistence has paid off. There on the far side, tucked away in a corner, I find fresh cranberries.
By Courtney Elsnerabout a year ago in Families
A Place Called Home
They had slowly crept out of the city. Soaked roads, sleet pounding down around the car. They had just filled up the tank; after all, they needed to get there. He loved the smell of gasoline; it promised power and speed ahead. And yet, it was fleeting.
By Henrik Hagelandabout a year ago in Families
The Illusion of Relationships: Not Everything is as It Seems
The Illusion of Relationships: Not Everything is as It Seems It is rightly said, "Not everything is as it seems, and that is why the world gets deceived." This observation holds particularly true in the context of relationships. Relationships, by their very nature, evoke expectations of trust, support, and love. However, the reality is often far from what we believe. Many relationships, especially those we hold dear, can turn out to be superficial, deceptive, and, at times, downright harmful.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Families
Igloo
¶ It's dark by the time I finally get off of work, and blistering cold to boot. The snow is coming down in sheets, and of course, I'd forgotten to put the windshield cover on my car. I open the door, brush off the snow that the door deluged onto my seat, and hop in, teeth chattering.
By Malcolm Roachabout a year ago in Families
