Kurt Russell’s Hollywood career has been filled with great skill and success, but it has also been filled with heartbreak. Kurt was exposed to the entertainment world early on being the son of actor Bing Russell. As a kid actor, he gained popularity fast, but he struggled to live up to his father’s legacy and deal with the difficulties of early celebrity. Much of his early life and career were influenced by this fight, which made him grow up fast in a setting that frequently felt alienating. Kurt’s father, Bing, passed away too soon in 2003, marking one of the…
Author: World Wide
Zeke, my kid, is six. His scream could wake the dead, his vivid imagination, and his passion for gummy worms. Tantrums are to be expected with children, I understand, but nothing could have prepared me for what transpired last Saturday. While we were in Walmart getting groceries, I turned down a toy dinosaur. One word—“no”—and he went crazy. I mean full-body meltdown, throwing himself on the floor, screaming things like “Don’t take me!” and “I want to go back to my REAL mom!” Which… certainly. Sounds terrible for a passerby unfamiliar with it. I attempted to remain composed. Scooped him…
We share custody. Clean split every other week. No drama—at least, not legally speaking. From an emotional standpoint? That’s a whole other tale. Ava and I were only getting socks and cereal at Walmart during my week. She wanted to see the toys, hence we strolled over. At first, I didn’t even see her father, Darren. Apparently, he was down the next aisle. Ava became rigid and said, “Daddy’s here,” so I only saw. Though my stomach turned right away, I said “Okay” as if it were no great problem. I sent him a brief, “Hey, didn’t know you were…
Seven years old, my son Milo is inquisitive about everything. Last week, he became trapped between the metal slats on the school playground. Complete terror. The teacher dialed 911; the fire crew had to come release him. When I arrived, Milo was okay—slightly shaken but largely thrilled that a “real fire truck” came specifically for him. One by one I thanked the firefighters; it was then that one of them—tall, black hair, perhaps mid-thirties—gave me this lengthy look. He remarked, “I’m glad he’s alright.” You don’t recall me, right? I blinked once. “Should I?” He grinned, but it wasn’t the…
Six weeks ago, I had a job, a tiny apartment, and a sensible schedule. Now I’m on the sidewalk with my two children and a puppy we didn’t even want to keep. It all began when the restaurant I worked at closed with little notice. I had been there for seven years. One minute I’m plating food, the next I’m being given a last paycheck that hardly paid for groceries. I believed I could keep us afloat until I discovered another item, but everything moved so quickly. Bills mounted, the landlord ceased to be sympathetic, and all of a sudden…
Despite my desperation, I stared at the empty cardboard sign for too long, trying to find a less desperate response. Strangely, asking for help is hard even when you’re desperate. Kids were quieter today. They seem to be picking up more than I wanted. A shoelace from her sneaker fell off, and Jovi sat there fussing. Hope is attached to Milo due to his refusal to give up the puppy. I still find it strange that we care for a dog while we can’t care for ourselves. But honestly? The small man keeps Milo from shutting down. So I let…
I didn’t think anyone would help after my sister’s cold attitude. That was before Officer Rollins arrived. After the rain began, he spotted us outside the community center. I expected the standard “you can’t stay here,” “this isn’t safe for kids,” etc. Instead, he crouched, looked Milo in the eye, and begged to pet Hope. Hope, a scruffy mutt, has one ear that slips forward like she’s always curious. She almost knocked Milo over with her tail wag, who laughed despite himself. That laugh released stress I hadn’t known I’d been carrying since we left Aunt Clara’s place two days…
Officer Rollins gave me a direct look before I could open the package, so I finally grabbed for it and slid it closer. “This is not my work. I was asked to locate you by someone. I was completely stopped by that. I hadn’t revealed my last name to him. I hadn’t even disclosed my origins. He was only aware of our first names and the fact that Milo had given the puppy the moniker “Hope.” He only nodded toward the two teens seated across from him, their heads bowed in prayer once more, as they had the day before,…
The table caught my eye on my library trip. Just a folding table with paper bags and a handwritten sign: “FREE LUNCH FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS.” Actually, it was sweet. Kind. Someone helping in this dirty world. It didn’t bother me at first. Despite skipping breakfast and only having $2 in my account, I grabbed one a week later. Apple slices, peanut butter sandwich, granola bar. Quite simple, but satisfying. I took another the next day. And another. Something slipped out with the sandwich last Friday as I opened the bag on a bench across the street. A note. Handwritten…
