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

“It Used To Be Like That” by Leigh Elasc

Submitted to Contest #69

Aunt May answers after what feels like the 45th ring. As soon as she clicks the videochat button, we all groan in exhaustion and roll our eyes in frustration. “May, where on earth have you been?!” Mom mutters, gritting her teeth and grunting. She looks like she's about to jump into the screen right now and smack Aunt May on the face in person. So does dad, and Uncle Gary, and Grandma Bern. “Sorry y'all,” Aunt May immediately says, her voice groggy and loose, like she just drank the whole day. Which she did, g...

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“My First Video Chat” by EDWIN HINOJOS

Submitted to Contest #69

MY FIRST VIDEO CHAT. My tension and stress were going through the roof, not because of the war, but because of my daughter's birthday. I was busy riding navy warships during the second Gulf War, although most civilians probably remember it as just an extension of the first Gulf War. During military operations we did not get the chance to call home or even get to a port to buy gifts for family for special occasions. In this case, we had been out at sea for the last forty-five days. My daughter's bir...

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“An Ornamental Accident” by Danielle Burke

Submitted to Contest #69

Evie allowed herself one more inhale of the comforting scent emanating from her three month old daughter before she left the solace to face the Christmas music. This holiday would be the worst yet, and not only because of the reasons that so many others were complaining about. While it was true that most bad things these days seemed to come in C’s--cancer and Covid--for Evie, Christmas also belonged on her list because it was a day she had to see her cousin, Caroline. And for Evie, Caroline definitely was the worst of the aforementioned C’s....

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“A Zoom’d Christmas” by Sarah Butland

Submitted to Contest #69

“Dad? Dad! We can’t see you. Step away from the computer a bit.” I was exasperated. We practiced this for each of the twelve days of Christmas. I would call him on the phone, he would answer and I’d guide him through answering the Zoom call. It was our first Christmas without being in the same room together. We were all heartbroken even though we almost never got along. Christmas was different every year with new faces, bodies to hug or avoid and wrapping paper to tear off the packages. I wanted this to go smoothly, to be joyous and mer...

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“The Song Plays On” by Katelynn Holden

Submitted to Contest #69

Francis was filled with disappointment when he heard that he won't be able to have their same holiday tradition this year. The coronavirus made it difficult to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family in the Philippines, and they couldn't even go outside because of the lockdown. "Ma, how are we gonna celebrate with our family this year?" Francis asked. "With all the technology available, I'm sure we'll work something out." his mother reassured him. The technology in the Philippines was very expensive, and their family would have to work v...

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“A Socially Distanced Thanksgiving” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #69

Every year Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart, as well as that of my family. None of us can wait to gather at Mom’s house. We always crowd around the table and gaze upon her Norman Rockwell table setting. Mom has never claimed to be a perfect mother of housekeeper, but come the holidays, you couldn’t ask for better. The table is adorned in a fall foliage table cloth, or some other scene depicting the holiday. The table is large, so all of the many dishes ...

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“A Covid Thanksgiving” by Ramon Nieves

Submitted to Contest #69

How can I be grateful when there was no Halloween this year? No haunted houses to plan and decorate. No parade of colorful costumes as the children go house to house trick or treating. No Halloween costumes or props to buy to scare the children with as they knock on my door begging for candy. No need to buy candies to give. No festively spooky Halloween parties to look forward to or host. Another thing that the Covid pandemic has taken away from me.As I glance out the window my eyes fill up with tears as I Notice the For-Sale sign on Do...

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“A McMaster Thanksgiving” by Sam Hershey

Submitted to Contest #69

BEEP BEEP BEEP the microwave alarm sounded as the shower in the bathroom turned off, Angelo McMaster, famous preacher, walked out and dried himself off quickly. The microwave beeped again and he really wished it wouldn’t beep every few seconds as he got dressed and then opened up his laptop. Standing back up he crossed the large hotel room and headed over to the kitchenette where he opened the microwave door and took out his plate. Yes, he thought to himself, he could have easily used the stove, or the single burner cook top he had...

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“Tradition Before Love” by Taylor Crosby

Submitted to Contest #69

“Oh, my God, Karen, hi!” my cousin immediately greeted with her usual cheery demeanor the instant I joined the video chat. Her parents and mine were present as well. I was a bit disappointed to see my older sister hadn’t joined. Oh, well. She had her own family now. What’d I expect? At least she has an excuse to not attend anymore. “Hey, Gale,” I replied. “How’s work going?” She waved her hand in dismissal. “Fine, fine. Hours are great, in fact. They never give me the night shift!” I chuckled, albeit a little uneasily....

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“young love in corona time” by Pruthvi Vala

Submitted to Contest #69

Once upon a corona time, James a boy from Miami, Florida and a girl from Los Angeles, California called Emma were in love. they were dating for more than 6 years now. Before quarantine life started, they used to hang out and chill, both lived in New York City. But the families lived in their respective cities. James had a sister called Charlotte who was studying Oxford university which is located in the United Kingdom also known as Great Britain .They could only communicate via video chat or voice calls which is actually very sad. Then, one ...

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“Everyone ” by Nikita Linivenko

Submitted to Contest #69

CLICK. Nothing. I feel the cool metal barrel leave my temple. I open my eyes to the blue glow of the screen. My sister applauds. My uncle grits his teeth. Step-dad forces a smile. Mom looks tired. Step-sis rolls the cylinder. Her turn now. Heavy breathing. She craps out. Lifts the barrel away and gives’er another spin. We all whoop and holler. “Cheater!” “She can’t do that!” She hedges again. I get impatient. She spins a third time. Step-dad’s knuckles turn w...

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“Family Calls” by Madalina Grosu

Submitted to Contest #69

The Christmas dinner had been a family tradition since forever. Amy remembered being three and running around with her cousins. Then, she was ten and shying away from her uncles’ praising her looks. “She’s going to be such a fine lady,” they’d say. When Amy had been sixteen, she learned to shut up whenever her aunts would say something malicious. After all, it was just a once a year thing; she could surely endure everything for just a few hours. Now that Amy was twenty-three and working on her graduate degree, a Christmas dinner with the en...

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“New Traditions” by Desirae Givhan

Submitted to Contest #69

“No, mom,” I say with loving frustration. “You’re covering the-, stop moving the-, Mom!” She won’t stop fidgeting with the webcam I sent her in the mail a few months ago. “What? I’m just trying to get the thing to focus,” she replies. Her eyes show she is a little hurt at my outburst. “I know, Mom. I’m sorry I yelled. Just let it be for a minute. It will establish a better connect...

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“Thanksgiving over Video Call” by Izzy Carroll

Submitted to Contest #69

"Yes, mom!" I said exasperated into my phone. "I'm setting up my computer right now okay?" I opened up my laptop and opened Facebook Messenger. It took forever to load up because of my spotty internet. I hated having to see my family this way because the quality was so horrible. "Okay sweetie i was just making sure you were because were all already online." My mom said to me through the phone. "Okay mom see you in a sec." I hung up the phone and opened the voice call in the group chat. It took me almost ten minutes just to get the screen loa...

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“Tilly Saves the Day” by Mike Burgess

Submitted to Contest #69

"I think it's a stupid idea". With those words, Bob knew he had lost the argument. "Don’t be such a bore, darling. Pass me that sack of potatoes, please". Tilly watched him open the cupboard door, pretending not to notice when it toppled and a dozen tubers rolled out. "You didn't tell me it was open". She ignored him. At her feet were four cardboard boxes, each filling rapidly as the various components of her family's Christmas dinners became ready. "Are you cooking them?""Heavens no, where would the fun be in that? It's ...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 59 stories

“It Used To Be Like That” by Leigh Elasc

“My First Video Chat” by EDWIN HINOJOS

“An Ornamental Accident” by Danielle Burke

“A Zoom’d Christmas” by Sarah Butland

“The Song Plays On” by Katelynn Holden

“A Socially Distanced Thanksgiving” by Monica Chaddick

“A Covid Thanksgiving” by Ramon Nieves

“A McMaster Thanksgiving” by Sam Hershey

“Tradition Before Love” by Taylor Crosby

“young love in corona time” by Pruthvi Vala

“Everyone ” by Nikita Linivenko

“Family Calls” by Madalina Grosu

“New Traditions” by Desirae Givhan

“Thanksgiving over Video Call” by Izzy Carroll

“Tilly Saves the Day” by Mike Burgess

🌟 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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