Vickie Culbertson

“ SUDDEN SUMMER STORM ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #50

   Raindrops struck the treehouse in a pelting frenzy. Hours passed, thunder and lightning now accompanied the rainfall. There was no signal to the cell phone, the steady downpour brought a comforting lull as sleep has overtaken the weary child. The treehouse became a refuge in the afternoon, as sobs subsided in the lengthening shadows of night. Stillness enveloped in the darkness cloaking the brutal world below the branches of the sturdy oak tree.          ...

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“" New Beginnings "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #42

Once again the phone went to voice mail. Teagan leaves a message for Pilar, " I know you don't want to speak to me." "Please call me back! " As Teagan thoughtfully considered how to explain to this successful young woman that her life up to this point had been layer upon layer lies. Everyone in this family knew the truth, and everyone played their roles to perfection. At her mother's death a secret was revealed that Lydia Lunsford was not Pilar's mother, but in truth her grandmother. Teagan herself had been unwillingly persuaded to secrec...

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“"GUARDIAN ANGEL IN DISGUISE"” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #41

Silence rested over the entire house as Mollie placed the reciever back on the landline phone. With trembling hands, she reached out to the gentle embrace of her older sister Jaclyn. Trying to find the words to convey the life altering attack stilled her voice for a few moments. Jaclyn guided her into the kitchen, saw that she was as comfortable as possible while putting on a teakettle of peppermint tea. Tears flowing freely, Mollie related that Ed her husband had been transported to the local hospital by their neighbor. Apparently, ...

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“" THE CONVERSATION "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #38

The warmth of the sun felt good on my face, as I leaned into our backyard fence. My neighbor came walking up her driveway, wearing a pulling the trash can under the carport. Madison walks towards me as I ask her, " How are you surviving his stay at home order. I re-adjust my homemade mask as she relates how her week at home with four kids has been going. Each of us pull up a plastic outdoor chair; mine blue, hers green. This begins our first conversation to become one of many to chat or actually vent our shared frustrations. Madison, sigh...

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“" MYSTERY IN PRESTON FOREST "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #37

The call came in at 10:00 a.m. to Sullivan County Police Station that shattered our small town. My first cousin John Scanlon the police chief related after our Sunday dinner that a horrific homicide had taken place on Reedy Creek in a scenic view of the woods in Preston Forest. A father and son had been out for a hike when the boy noticed a couple of large trash bags in the sandy terrain along the creek bank. The son ran ahead as the father swiftly followed, nature lovers ; at first they were concerned that trash was contaminating the cre...

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“'KEEPERS OF THE DIARY"” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #36

Cindi CassidyDiary: My stolen identity changed me forever. It resulted in a new perspective, to live in the present. Speaking to my first grade class, I share my dream of owning my own home. A blue house with a red door. I ask the class to draw a picture of their favorite thing. After school, I meet my boyfriend at the house on Elm St. At the viewing I see possibilities, my boyfriend Seth sees lots of work. We go to the local diner and I call Blue Ridge Realty to set up an appointment for tomorrow. I call to schedule a substitute...

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“" TODAY"” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #35

Self-talk. As I stretch both arms above my head, yawning, blinking my eyes in an effort to wake up. Shuffling my bare feet into my fuzzy slippers I stand upright. Check list in my head: headed toward the bathroom shower. Tension subsides as I allow the hot water to pulsate over my head, my chest, my legs to my toes. Drying my body off, I thought about how I would break off my engagement to my best friend. New theme: spring time in Alaska, accepted to be part of a health care team, this chance of a lifetime. Purpose is an essential part of...

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“" LEADER OF THE. PACK "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #34

Hours whether long or short matter not when your dog meets you at the front door. Maxx, the sheltie circles around the fluffy sheepskin dog bed at the end of the bed. Listening to relaxation/sleep music, he is the first of us to ease into sleep. Soft snoring awakens me, reminding me this is a good time to get up and go to the bathroom. Leader of the pack, stubs their big toe on the way to empty their bowels and bladder. I whine and whine until LOTP opens the sliding glass door to let me out to pee and poop. I run across the yar...

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“"LIFE IS MISCOMUNNICATED"” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #33

My most embarrassing moment as a young adult was my freshman year at Appalchian State University. The distance between myself and my parents was 506.8 miles. This Thanksgiving holiday it was mutually agreed that we would communicate by Skype. I had told my girlfriend that I was going into our bedroom to speak privately with my mother. When I left our living room, Aimee was on the couch, watching a chick flick, "The Notebook".Skype is a computer program that allows you to make free voice and video calls between two computers, tablet...

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“A MERMAIDS BEST FRIEND ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #32

Karen Sue smiled. As her caregiver/companion, I asked her what she would like to eat. Karen Sue's eyes lit up like robin egg blue hue, as she replies "Meatloaf." Karen Sue shows me a notebook of Anna and Elsa on the front cover, the popular characters of the movie, FROZEN. I say outloud, "Sisters," "Yes, Karen Sue, you do have a sister and her name is, Rebecca, right?" Karen Sue is thirty-five years old and has/was born with Downs Syndrome.Each person with Downs Syndrome is an individual. Karen Sue is short in stature, flattened fa...

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“SORTING THROUGH MY LIFE” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #31

Sorting through the laundry, I automatically let my mind wanwh wder to a year ago when my Mom and I traveled to Colorado to make a new start. Dad had openly had an affair, his profession as a police officer and being teamed with an attractive partner allowed them to be together undetected for so long. Although, I got into a heated argument with my Dad in our driveway. I didn't know it was the last time I would see and speak to him.Today my mind is on replay, placing the whites with whites: bras, tee shirts, panties in the star...

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“UNEXPECTED CALL ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #30

The unexpected call came to me on Friday, October 26, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. I was at work, my title was Community Living Specialist and I was waiting for my client to come home from the special school he attended. He is autistic and 15 years old. It is time to meet his bus. Time has stopped for not only myself but for my husband also. Dr. Rebecca Krivinski`s nurse has repeatedly been dialing my husband then myself. She reaches my husband first, he works as an orderly at Bristol Regional Hospital. He is trying to get in touch with me while ...

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“PASSAGE TO FREEDOM” by Vickie Culbertson

Nathan Kendell felt relaxed and comfortable preparing to leave for a speaking engagement in New York. The unthinkable happened ten years ago when his wife and infant son were kidnapped later killed in the home invasion. This tragedy was never far from his mind. He would look in on his sixteen year old daughter, Meghan before leaving on this business trip.His daughter lay sleeping peacefully, her long blonde hair fanned across her lavender silk pillow. Her stereo surround sound system produced tunes by Selena Gomez. Melanie was pass...

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“ CONFLICT RESOLUTION ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #29

My childhood was blessed to have grandparents and cousins as I grew up being an only child. Weeks ago before graduation preparations were underway for the high school graduation. Formal photographs in cap and gown were taken for the seniors, as well as casual photographs from Allendale estates once owned by millionaire Harvey Brooks. With some assistance from my mom invitations were sent out to friends and family. Unknown to me my dad and Uncle Thomas after a day of drinking, made a decision to attend the ceremony. My cousin Lynn left his...

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“ TIME FOR US” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #28

As I stepped out of the pool, I noticed a young man speaking to my mother's best friend Joanna Miller. Walking, hurriedly toward the table where my mother sat reading the morning newspaper, I tripped over a lounge chair. Strong hands caught me around my waist, as I turned to thank the person responsible for breaking my fall." You may thank me by going out to dinner with me Saturday night," by the way my name`s Andrew Moeen." " Yes,! I would love to, before I revealed who I am, Laura Lambert. His dark black curly hair complimented h...

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