The following stories were submitted to our sister website, toowrite.com. They were written by people from Birmingham or are about Birmingham itself.
My Big Sister
Author:
Katrina Fey
of Birmingham
I was 10 years old and had never, ever seen the sea. I could not visualise what it would look like. I had five brothers and three sisters and we were not at all well off so never had a holiday.
Read the full story here
A Slice Of My Life
Author:
Jeanne Theirry
of Birmingham
As the weather became unbearably hot I was plagued with horrid little brown beetles and when I woke one morning and found some in my bed I decided it was time to do something about them.
Read the full story here
The Death of our Little Man, Aaron Senior
Author:
Denny Senior
of Birmingham
After the initial shock and tears brought on by the word cancer there was a sense of relief, because after months of despair we finally knew what was wrong with him.
Read the full story here
Going Home
Author:
Kay Child
of Birmingham
I felt rotten as I rang round the various undertakers, to see who could do it the earliest. The occasion was lowered to that of ringing round to get the best quote to have your roof repaired.
Read the full story here
The American Risk
Author:
Bethany Joseph
of Birmingham
I knew all the horror stories of people who thought they were friends with someone online; only to find out they had been fed a web of lies. But what can I say, how can I defend such reckless behaviour? Quite simply I can't but I don't need to.
Read the full story here
An Autumnal Day in September
Author:
Bethany Joseph
of Birmingham
This time, when I caught up with them I didn't resume my place on his right but instead took the left side - a decision that has racked me with guilt for the past 10 years.
Read the full story here
Offa's Tale
Author:
Aileen Bannocks
of Birmingham
I sat there, fascinated, listening to this man with a broad smile. He was the happiest man I had ever met.
Read the full story here
Shredded Wheat For Breakfast
Author:
Julie Keogh
of Birmingham
I realised also that Nan's detachment from Granddad had been deliberately employed as a way of coping and was serving no useful purpose now only perhaps to perpetuate the injustice of it all.
Read the full story here
Do Guardian Angels Die?
Author:
Holly Spencer
of Birmingham
At 11 years old I was having to make funeral arrangements and everything. I wondered how in such a short period of time my childhood could be snatched away from me so quickly.
Read the full story here
Once More Unto The Bleach
Author:
Margaret O'Riordan
of Birmingham
I hadn't worn a beret since my convent school days. I remembered that it was possible to put one on in such a way that, according to the nuns, it was a veritable occasion of sin. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite recall the technique for achieving this, so placed mine innocently enough, on my offending head.
Read the full story here