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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Culture / Heritage / Lifestyles
- Published: 11/04/2021
Love
Born 2009, M, from Beaverton OR, United StatesMy family’s history in Appalachia goes back to the 1800’s. My Pap used to tell me stories of how as a child his parents would send him and his sister out to pick wild plums. Everything they ate was grown or hunted from the area. Mamaw used to harvest the garden and can the fruits and vegetables that would last them all winter.
The soft breeze brushes my curly brown hair. “Dinner!” shouts Pap, the best cook in the family. Excited for a delicious meal, I trip over a fallen tree and immediately I feel a pain in my knee. I look down and see a trickle of blood.
As I enter the kitchen and sit down on the tree carved stool next to the table, Pap sets a plate of cornbread and a bowl of vegetable stew in front of me. I pick up the wooden spoon and start slurping my stew. I dip my cornbread into my stew while Pap and Mamaw sit down. The cornbread is so sweet and savory and tastes like the fresh picked corn from the weekend.
When we finish, Pap asks me if I want to accompany him to the garden to pick vegetables. Together, we head to the back of the house and unlatch the gate that fences in the garden. Last summer we noticed some critters had helped themselves to our harvest so Pap built a fence.
In the garden I pluck some beans and tomatoes and carefully place them inside the straw basket. I have been helping Pap in the garden for as long as I can remember. After my mom left, he thought it would help me cope with the loss of her by getting to experience nature and the goods of the land. Mamaw and Pap never talk about my mom and whenever I used to ask about her they would change the subject. They would always say “Billy, you have a good head on your shoulders and will make something of yourself.”
As I carefully dug up a carrot I asked, “Hey Pap, do you remember the last time you saw Mom?” “Do you know what you want to do tonight? We could play some chess.” replied Pap. “No, I want answers about Mom.” I said sternly. “Fine,” said Pap. “Your mother was a nice lady and all, but she did drugs like the other people up here, but hopely she can get the help she needs to recover.” “Like Mr. Sullivan?” I asked, referring to our old neighbor who had died the year before from an overdose. “Yep” replied Pap. “Now go take these carrots back inside for your Mamaw” “Ok,” I replied and ran inside, tripping again on the fallen tree. ‘Hey Pap!” I called. “Yes Billy?” replied Pap. “Could you do something with this log?” “I’m afraid not Billy. It’s too heavy to carry, just watch your step.” “Ok, fine,” I replied and went back into our shed and set the carrots on the table. “One basket of fresh food for you Mam!” I exclaimed. “Thank you Billy,” Mamaw said. That night we ate carrot soup with some salad with tomatoes and lettuce in it. As I was eating, I was thinking about my mom and where she was. Did she ever think about me, I wondered.
As the weeks passed, the air grew colder, I continued with my schoolwork and was praised by my teacher for my study habits. Last Friday, as I was walking home, I saw a dented Black Toyota Camry parked on the side of the path leading to our house. When I walked into the house I called out “Hey Pap! Whose car is that?” Then I turned to the couch and saw a strange woman sitting on the couch with my Mamaw. “Ummm Mamaw? Who’s this?” I asked “This Billy, is your mom” replied Mamaw. “My M-mom?” I stammered. “Yes,” My mom replied. “Mom!” I shouted as I threw myself into her open arms. I let go of her and realized she had different clothes on than the rest of us. She wasn’t wearing wool clothes like us. She was wearing clothes that looked very worn out and almost too small for her. Her t-shirt, I noticed, had a dark stain, looking like dried blood.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I am here to take you back to live with me.” she said calmly. These words stunned me as I wanted to go with my mom but I didn't want to leave my grandparents. “I have a new boyfriend and a nice apartment, but it’s your choice if you want to stay or come with me.” she said, breaking my thoughts. “I-I’m not sure.” I stammered, as I hated being pressured by situations like this. “The choice is yours.” she said.
After thinking for a while I finally came up with an answer. “I……..want to stay with Pap and Mamaw.” I said. Mom looked a little sad but she didn’t tell me. “Ok, then.” she said. “I’ll drop by twice a week,” she said and walked out the door, closing it behind her. I walked to the window and saw her Black car pullout from the road and drive off into the distance. I turned and saw mamaw and papa sitting there like they just witnessed an elephant lift a mountain. “Well that was dramatic,” said Papa. “No it wasn’t.” said mamaw as she lightly punched him on the shoulder. “Come on Billy, I'll make your favorite, cornbread and beans.” “Hooray!” I shouted and ran to the table.
That night we all ate happily at the table, slurping down mamaw’s delicious cornbread and beans. As I sat there, I was wondering why mom was let out of jail and how she got money to buy the apartment and get a new car. After dinner we played some board games and we settled ourselves lazily onto the couch. Soon, Mamaw nudged me signaling bedtime. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about how lucky I was to have Pap and Mamaw in my life, giving me the guidance I needed to make something of myself. I knew as long as they loved me, I would succeed.
Love(Nicholas)
My family’s history in Appalachia goes back to the 1800’s. My Pap used to tell me stories of how as a child his parents would send him and his sister out to pick wild plums. Everything they ate was grown or hunted from the area. Mamaw used to harvest the garden and can the fruits and vegetables that would last them all winter.
The soft breeze brushes my curly brown hair. “Dinner!” shouts Pap, the best cook in the family. Excited for a delicious meal, I trip over a fallen tree and immediately I feel a pain in my knee. I look down and see a trickle of blood.
As I enter the kitchen and sit down on the tree carved stool next to the table, Pap sets a plate of cornbread and a bowl of vegetable stew in front of me. I pick up the wooden spoon and start slurping my stew. I dip my cornbread into my stew while Pap and Mamaw sit down. The cornbread is so sweet and savory and tastes like the fresh picked corn from the weekend.
When we finish, Pap asks me if I want to accompany him to the garden to pick vegetables. Together, we head to the back of the house and unlatch the gate that fences in the garden. Last summer we noticed some critters had helped themselves to our harvest so Pap built a fence.
In the garden I pluck some beans and tomatoes and carefully place them inside the straw basket. I have been helping Pap in the garden for as long as I can remember. After my mom left, he thought it would help me cope with the loss of her by getting to experience nature and the goods of the land. Mamaw and Pap never talk about my mom and whenever I used to ask about her they would change the subject. They would always say “Billy, you have a good head on your shoulders and will make something of yourself.”
As I carefully dug up a carrot I asked, “Hey Pap, do you remember the last time you saw Mom?” “Do you know what you want to do tonight? We could play some chess.” replied Pap. “No, I want answers about Mom.” I said sternly. “Fine,” said Pap. “Your mother was a nice lady and all, but she did drugs like the other people up here, but hopely she can get the help she needs to recover.” “Like Mr. Sullivan?” I asked, referring to our old neighbor who had died the year before from an overdose. “Yep” replied Pap. “Now go take these carrots back inside for your Mamaw” “Ok,” I replied and ran inside, tripping again on the fallen tree. ‘Hey Pap!” I called. “Yes Billy?” replied Pap. “Could you do something with this log?” “I’m afraid not Billy. It’s too heavy to carry, just watch your step.” “Ok, fine,” I replied and went back into our shed and set the carrots on the table. “One basket of fresh food for you Mam!” I exclaimed. “Thank you Billy,” Mamaw said. That night we ate carrot soup with some salad with tomatoes and lettuce in it. As I was eating, I was thinking about my mom and where she was. Did she ever think about me, I wondered.
As the weeks passed, the air grew colder, I continued with my schoolwork and was praised by my teacher for my study habits. Last Friday, as I was walking home, I saw a dented Black Toyota Camry parked on the side of the path leading to our house. When I walked into the house I called out “Hey Pap! Whose car is that?” Then I turned to the couch and saw a strange woman sitting on the couch with my Mamaw. “Ummm Mamaw? Who’s this?” I asked “This Billy, is your mom” replied Mamaw. “My M-mom?” I stammered. “Yes,” My mom replied. “Mom!” I shouted as I threw myself into her open arms. I let go of her and realized she had different clothes on than the rest of us. She wasn’t wearing wool clothes like us. She was wearing clothes that looked very worn out and almost too small for her. Her t-shirt, I noticed, had a dark stain, looking like dried blood.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I am here to take you back to live with me.” she said calmly. These words stunned me as I wanted to go with my mom but I didn't want to leave my grandparents. “I have a new boyfriend and a nice apartment, but it’s your choice if you want to stay or come with me.” she said, breaking my thoughts. “I-I’m not sure.” I stammered, as I hated being pressured by situations like this. “The choice is yours.” she said.
After thinking for a while I finally came up with an answer. “I……..want to stay with Pap and Mamaw.” I said. Mom looked a little sad but she didn’t tell me. “Ok, then.” she said. “I’ll drop by twice a week,” she said and walked out the door, closing it behind her. I walked to the window and saw her Black car pullout from the road and drive off into the distance. I turned and saw mamaw and papa sitting there like they just witnessed an elephant lift a mountain. “Well that was dramatic,” said Papa. “No it wasn’t.” said mamaw as she lightly punched him on the shoulder. “Come on Billy, I'll make your favorite, cornbread and beans.” “Hooray!” I shouted and ran to the table.
That night we all ate happily at the table, slurping down mamaw’s delicious cornbread and beans. As I sat there, I was wondering why mom was let out of jail and how she got money to buy the apartment and get a new car. After dinner we played some board games and we settled ourselves lazily onto the couch. Soon, Mamaw nudged me signaling bedtime. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about how lucky I was to have Pap and Mamaw in my life, giving me the guidance I needed to make something of myself. I knew as long as they loved me, I would succeed.
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- 6
Gerald R Gioglio
12/18/2021Nicholas, nice story, one all too real, one very well constructed and written. Take care, Jerry.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
11/09/2021A great story. You write so well. Hope to see more of your writing. I could feel the anguish of the young man.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Nicholas
11/09/2021Thanks!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Bernardo Mendes
11/09/2021Extremely well-written story Nicholas, well done! I hope to read more stories from you in the near future!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Martha Huett
11/07/2021Thanks for sharing your best story ever here on Storystar, Nicholas. It is very engaging and well-written. It was an excellent choice to write your story in the present tense. Excellent: )
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Nicholas
11/07/2021Thanks a lot
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Gail Moore
11/05/2021I am amazed at the calibre of your story for someone so young.
Fantastic piece :-)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
JD
11/04/2021That was an outstanding story about a different way of life that is just too great to leave. And family relationships, too. I think that was your best story yet, Nicholas. You are really becoming a great young writer. Thanks for sharing your stories on Storystar! : )
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
11/04/2021What a wonderful story! You could feel the love as relayed the events in it. Very nice job!
Reply
COMMENTS (8)