Sound of silence Stories

If you’d think the shock and awe of four Pulitzers would mute a granddaughter’s proclivity to be a smart ass you’ve not met Jenna. Though, this Christmas, she’d decided to observe her first seasonal ceasefire of banter. Neither she nor her mother moved a muscle as my arthritic fingers struggled with the reindeer wrapping paper. Perhaps they understood their Dylan Thomas; there’s no helping the stubborn raging against the...

The door frame propped up Momma, and she watched her little girl kneel beside the bed. Tiny fingers steepled as she prayed, “Dear Santa. Hi, it’s me, Lulu Mae. Some don’t believe, but I know you’re real. I think I’ve been mostly good this year, so I’m asking you to fix the uglies Momma gets upset about. Amen.” She jumped up and then crinkled her face in thought before abruptly plopping back down to her knees. Squeezing he...