Write about a family adapting a holiday tradition to take place over video chat.

Posted in Holiday on Jun 6, 2021

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✍️ 59 stories

“Trio of Secrets” by Courtney Haynes

Submitted to Contest #69

I check to see that everything is in place. I pulled out items I’ve never used and positioned them so that they will be in the background and no feelings will be hurt. I mean, who can find use for a figurine of Mel Brooks? It doesn’t go perfectly with the ambiance, but I have just enough of an artful eye to figure it out. Aunt Clarice's golden bowl is a bit more of a task so I drape it with cloths. There is an air of excitement as I check my makeup in the mirror. Like being in charge of TV production and was designing the set a...

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“The Online Conflict” by David Abu Bonsrah

Submitted to Contest #69

It was purposely a family reunion but for the first time ever as a video chat. It seemed to be the only way to continue the annual, 'Display your food' family holiday tradition. A family tradition that was practised very well in the days of my great-grandfather, Mr Daniels himself, but not any more. Obviously, I was going to display fufu and groundnut soup. A local delicacy in Ghana that mum thought me to prepare several years ago when I was a kid. Travelling to Venezuela and many other delightful experiences didn't make me forget the...

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“Cash Back” by Jessica Buford

Submitted to Contest #69

I called my grandma the other day as I regularly do since I live too far to visit. And as usual she let me know she had a story for me. She lives in an apartment community for people 65 and older, and generally her stories involve someone a few doors down setting their microwave on fire, falling to the ground and passing out, finding dishes as good as new at a garage sale, or dying (either because they had fallen to the ground or were in their 90s and the poor thing really was better off dead). But on this particular day her story was even m...

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“Crying With Thanksgiving” by Elaina Goodnough

Submitted to Contest #69

It once was a notion that only the scientists and know-it-alls talked about. It once was as real as a realistic fiction story, something that was possible, but it would never happen. Now everyone talks about it. Now it's the only reality, and it determines our lives. I remember in the beginning of January life was normal. End of January: life was too normal. February: the virus came closer. March: we were all going to die. Then it’s had been 257 days, but who was counting? 257 days of sheer torture. Of friends defying...

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“Grey Area” by Kate Bibb

Submitted to Contest #69

I know something is wrong as soon as my mom walks into the kitchen. I gently scoop up my cat, Peaches, as a little fuzzy gift for her. "Hey!" I clear my throat, knowing that my tone is far too high-pitched to fool her. "Hi, Alice." Her arms are wrapped around her. Mom tries to meet my eyes, but her gaze only finds the floor. Okay, I think. So she's not going to tell me what's up. "Is everything okay?" I transfer irritated Peaches into her arms, my head spinning with possibilities. "Yeah. I just got off the phone with..." She sucks in a s...

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“Thanksgiving with the Family” by Catalina Taylor

Submitted to Contest #69

Today is Thanksgiving. I know because I woke up at 5:00 AM to find my mom already halfway through cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I plopped down on the couch and started scrolling through my phone until I heard her talking to someone on what sounded like the phone. I was still in my pajamas and I knew I would be scolded for my messy hair and tired appearance, so I cleaned up and changed my clothes before saying hi to our extended family.Most of them are from my dad's side. He has 11 total siblings, 7 brothers, and 4 sisters. Or it's 12 siblings...

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“Lyuntaaz” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #69

If a space alien proposes to you, I wouldn't recommend saying yes. The long distance puts a strain on everything. I have to take three months off work just to be with family on earth during the holiday season, and most of that gets spent in lonely transit across the galaxy. I don't get to see my family much outside of those times, except by means of long range video transmissions we beam through satellites cleverly concealed in the Mars-Jupiter asteroid belt. Today is the first official day of the Lyuntaaz holiday cycle, but we...

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“Broken Vases” by Princess Eno

Submitted to Contest #69

The vase at the centre of my parent's living room is not the same as I remember. It lacks the crack that was there, that I put there. I stare at it, the red vase holding fake flowers that don't need water.The house is quiet,but I can still hear screams, and the vase at the centre of the table makes it worse, bringing back memories. "Mommy!" I push past the toys on the floor, swinging my hands and knocking off the vase at the centre of the table as I run towards my mother in excitement. B...

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“Thankful” by Karen Watts

Submitted to Contest #69

"Ew, Michael, Grandma can see you. Moooom! Make him stop." I resisted the urge to add to the screaming. This day had already been so long. "Michael, go to the bathroom and blow your nose, and wash your hands. Thoroughly." My four year old dashed down the hallway giggling the whole way. "Go with him, Katie. Make sure he washes his hands." Twelve year old Katie trudged after her brother, grumbling about disgusting brats and weird computer Thanksgiving. I was sympathetic. The last thing her father and I wanted to do was have another...

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“Grandpa peanut ” by Phil Manders

Submitted to Contest #69

Grandpa poured a generous glug of whiskey into his stained mug. He had never been allowed to use it when Thelma was around. He’d once threatened to enter the room with it during one of her coffee and cake mornings. Apparently having cartoon buttocks underneath and the words bottoms up on the side were vulgar and totally unacceptable for the church ladies. The joke backfired as soon as the doorbell rang, and he was banished to the shed. Again. He cradled the mug and took a long swallow, followed by a contented sigh. Grandpa, had been for...

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“Sometimes Treats” by Lydi B

Submitted to Contest #69

I was awakened from a most tantalizing dream by an exciting indication through my nose. Food. Specifically, the quintessential sometimes treat. My favorite thing! Where? Everywhere. In that room? I raced and skidded to a stop on the slick floor. Yes! It’s here. I lift my nose for a lengthy whiff, several snorts following. Alpha stood by the tall surface, creating all manner of clunk noises. Whatever odd aroma she produced was nothing in comparison to what permeated the very air. It was all around, teasing and encompassing all my ...

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“It's a video chat Christmas ” by Amber Brownlee

Submitted to Contest #69

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year; my mom always decorates the house so beautifully you would think you where living in Santa’s village. If you close your eyes and concentrate hard, you would be able to smell butter tarts and other baked goodies that just come out of the oven. On Christmas Eve my whole family would come over and have a great big feast, Grandpa would insist on carving the turkey while grandma would criticize him for taking so long. After stuffing ourselves to the point of explosion we would all sit around the...

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“Row of Lights” by Book Worm

Submitted to Contest #69

Twenty first century Hindu families pride themselves on holding on to traditional Hindu family values and traditions while making a switchover to modern western modernity. But Aryas are an odd Hindu family. They are confused between tradition and modernity. Three generations ago, the Arya paterfamilias converted to a new Hindu reform movement that swept the subcontinent. Speaking back to Christian colonialists who had labelled Hindu religion as pagan and its rituals and beliefs as superstitions, the reformists did away with all the elaborate...

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“Roma” by M Notes

Submitted to Contest #69

Allen shuts off the water the moment he hears his phone ring on the third chime. He tries to rush for it. Already knowing who is on the other side of the line even without having to check the caller ID. It's one of two possibilities this early in the morning. His boyfriend or his mother and he sincerely doubts she'd be up this early or calling him unless it was an emergency. He wrapped a towel around himself, stifling a yawn. "Wow darling you looking absolutely breathtaking even in the moonlight. How did you do it?" He smiles at h...

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“ABC to Zoom” by Pamela Saunders

Submitted to Contest #69

Harry sees his own face looking at him, hair crowned with tinsel, and a red tissue paper crown on top of that. A green Christmas cracker is on the desk in front of him, a red and white winter scene stuck on the front of it. A half-empty wine bottle is next to him with a half-full glass of red wine that he has been drinking. A square appears next to his face, with his mother's name in it, then his father's face appears sideways in the box. His father's mouth moves but there is no sound. Harry's speakers blast out Silent Night. “How appropri...

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Write about a family adapting a holiday tradition to take place over video chat.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 59 stories

“Trio of Secrets” by Courtney Haynes

“The Online Conflict” by David Abu Bonsrah

“Cash Back” by Jessica Buford

“Crying With Thanksgiving” by Elaina Goodnough

“Grey Area” by Kate Bibb

“Thanksgiving with the Family” by Catalina Taylor

“Lyuntaaz” by Chris Wagner

“Broken Vases” by Princess Eno

“Thankful” by Karen Watts

“Grandpa peanut ” by Phil Manders

“Sometimes Treats” by Lydi B

“It's a video chat Christmas ” by Amber Brownlee

“Row of Lights” by Book Worm

“Roma” by M Notes

“ABC to Zoom” by Pamela Saunders

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who falls back into childish behaviors whenever they’re around their family.

Write about someone who didn’t get along with their family as a child, but has since found an appreciation for them.

Write about a family’s first holiday after a parent has gotten remarried, and now there are new faces at the table and new traditions to be honored.

Write about someone telling their family they won’t be continuing the long-standing family business.

Contest #69

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

510

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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