Your stories belong here.
A PLACE WE SHARE
Sixteen family occasions, told in sixty-four personal stories. A little different through every pair of eyes.
Family circleI brought the yellow sweater because it always gets cold by the water. We talked until the sky changed colour. This is the photograph I would choose to explain what home feels like.
Family circleI won, but that isn't the only reason I saved this. Everyone stayed at the table for another round. Sometimes an ordinary Saturday is the thing you want to keep.
Family circleI kept a little notebook of stops along the way. The beach got two whole pages. I drew our shoes in a row because we all left them in exactly the same place.
Family circleI made the menu and put a flower at each place. Mom and Dad told us how they met. I asked whether they knew back then that we would all end up at this table.
Family circleI sat in the front row and promised not to wave while he was playing. I nearly managed it. Afterwards he let me carry the guitar case to the car.
Family circleI made stars and one very wobbly heart. We saved the nicest ones for the tin and ate the broken ones while they were warm. Broken cookies have advantages.
Family circleI liked seeing how much I had learned since the start of third grade. Some things still took practice, but I had good memories of trying. We saved this sample report to tell the story of that school year.
Family circleI made this house when I was nine. The roof took three tries, but I worked it out. We saved a picture in our family collection so everyone could remember the little rooms I made for them.
Family circleI asked Mom whether she had been my age in every place we passed. She said yes to most of them. I tried to imagine her with a backpack like mine.
Family circleI made the flowers out of paper when I was seven. Some petals were too big, so I decided they could be special flowers. I added the butterfly last because the garden needed somebody to visit it.
Family circleI was five when my brother finished this school year. I knew the report meant we were celebrating, even if I did not understand all the words. I mostly remember getting to choose my own ice cream.
Family circleI remember asking which tiny player was my brother. He told me it was a painting of a whole game, so I could choose. I chose the one nearest the edge and kept cheering for that one.