| General Fiction posted January 20, 2025 |
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a story
What is It All About?
by Bill Schott
Even as I pen these first words, I am questioning the topic for my story.
There are so many real things happening around us all the time. It really isn't WHAT is going on, but more about HOW it is written.
Visited my nephew last week. I would say that he is my only nephew, but I have six others who live in both Florida and Maryland. I saw the Maryland nephews, Jamie and Teddy, at their father's wedding in 2019. Couldn't see them for his funeral during COVID, so it's been six years.
Saw one of my sister's four sons in 1995, when I came to Florida from Haiti, to move my father from the hospital back to his home in Punta Gorda. I was there for three weeks, but never saw anyone else. I haven't seen the other three brothers since 1973. They have aged fifty years since then. They lost their father, my brother-in-law, the last week of December. There was no service or visitation. He was cremated --- that was it.
There was never any hope that I would find some lighter spots in this reflection. Our family was never very close.
The only reason I hear from my closest nephew is to help him get something, as he is now virtually too crippled to help himself. After living an "only-me" life, he ended up broke and destitute twenty years ago. He moved in with his father, then spent the man's money, secretly, through constant ATM withdrawls. After my brother's death, he inherited the house and sold it within a year. He has no job, lives off the money from the house, and will be broke again in a year or so.
He is the only nephew I need to know about. The others are likely in better condition.
My remaining sister is the only sibling who has ever contacted me on her own. The rest were self-absorbed, which is a family trait.
I should never write about my brothers and sisters. It is depressing.
Nonfiction Writing Contest contest entry
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© Copyright 2025. Bill Schott All rights reserved.
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