Irrational Fears

1. I will become homeless.

2. If I use the toilet in the dark, bugs will attack my rear end (gracias, Honduras).

3. Someone will push me into an oncoming train / subway as I wait next to the tracks.

4. There are basement cockroaches waiting for me to step on them or snuggle between bedsheets (this one has basis in reality-- except I'm no longer in Honduras).

contest

12o words or less

“Hidden branches of your family tree: 

Unexpected stories that changed the way you think of yourself or your family.”

          Picture a boy. Picture a train. Picture this boy on a train winding through New York at the close of the 19^th century. Before the train can stop, he is tossed into the waiting arms of strangers like his family had thrown out rotting potatoes in Ireland. Picture his parents waving goodbye forever, and picture the boy then turning to face a new harbor. Picture all of the stars overhead that aligned to guide this little boy on this large ship to this particular train and into the waiting arms of this new family. No actual pictures of these events exist, but it is enough for me to envision what a chance at life I nearly missed.