Love Grows in Crooked Places – Short Story About a Family
In the charming town of Lake Geneva, the Johnson family scrambles to win the Beautification Award. But when plans go awry, will their quirky garden measure up? Read this delightful short story about a family and look for Feel-Good Stories by Jack and Kitty for free every weekday.
Love Grows in Crooked Places – Short Story About a Family
In the picturesque town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, excitement buzzed in the community. The annual Beautification Award Program was the talk of the town, and no one was more determined to win than Veronica Johnson. Her house, with its pristine white fence and perfectly trimmed hedges, was her pride and joy. Winning this award was more than just recognition for Veronica; it validated her family’s status in the neighborhood.
Veronica’s plans for the front yard were ambitious. She envisioned vibrant flower beds and a charming, welcoming porch. Every detail mattered. Her teenage children, Zoey and TJ, watched with awe and bemusement as their mom sketched out her vision with fervent excitement.
One sunny afternoon, as Veronica was arranging the gardening supplies, she tripped and sprained her ankle. The doctor’s orders were clear: no walking, let alone gardening, for at least two weeks. Veronica’s heart sank. Her dream of winning seemed to slip away like sand through her fingers.
Determined not to let their mom down, Zoey and TJ decided to take on the project. “Mom, don’t worry,” Zoey said with a determined spark in her eyes, “TJ and I will take care of everything.”
Veronica, doubtful yet touched, replied, “Are you sure? It’s a lot of work, and everything needs to be just perfect.”
TJ chimed in, “We’ve got this, Mom. How hard can it be, right?”
The next few days were a whirlwind of gardening mishaps and decorating blunders. The two teenagers overwatered the petunias, overpruned the bushes, and the throw pillows they chose for the porch swing clashed horribly with the curtains. Their father, Shawn, joined in, attempting to install the porch swing. The result: a charmingly lopsided swing that wobbled more than it should.
Veronica watched from the open window, a mix of frustration and amusement on her face. She wanted to cry, feeling her chances of winning slipping away, yet she knew she needed to stay positive. “Left a bit, Shawn,” she called out to her husband, her voice laced with encouragement.
Shawn looked up, grinning. “It works and it holds my weight, so that’s a plus!”
The community began to double down on their efforts. Neighbors strolled by, admiring the various beautification projects around town. Veronica’s heart ached as she saw immaculate gardens and flawless porches. She felt a pang of envy – but also a growing sense of pride in her family’s hard work.
As the family continued their clumsy beautification efforts, bright floral displays and flawless green lawns emerged around town. It became clear to the Johnsons that winning was a distant dream. On the eve of the judging, the family sat on their crooked porch swing, looking at their handiwork. “It’s not perfect,” Zoey sighed, “We’ll never win.”
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TJ put an arm around her. “But we pulled it off. We finished every thing on mom’s list. That’s got to count for something.”
Veronica looked down, tears welling up in her eyes. Zoey noticed and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Veronica wiped her eyes. “I know everyone thinks I care about the award so much because I want to impress our neighbors – but that’s not it.” She sighed, her voice quivering, “The truth is… I wanted to make you all proud. Your dad has his job, and you and TJ have your busy lives… I thought winning this would make you see me as special.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes like those of a lost little girl.
Shawn hugged his wife. “Veronica, you are the heart of this family. We don’t need an award to see that.”
TJ added, “Yeah, Mom. You make our house a home. That’s way more important.”
Zoey squeezed her hand. “You’re the best, Mom. We’re proud of you, with or without any award.”
Veronica knew they were right. “You know what … who cares about a stupid award anyway?” she said. Veronica felt relieved. She had gotten so upset over nothing. She had a loving family who was proud of her, and she didn’t need anything else. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Veronica suggested, “Let’s go make some ice cream sundaes. That’ll be fun.”
Inside, the family gathered in the kitchen, laughter filling the air as they piled their sundaes high with toppings, the earlier stress melting away like ice cream in the summer sun.
On the day of the announcement, the town gathered, eager to see who would win. The Johnsons stood together, holding hands, a united front amidst their quirky garden. They knew their house wasn’t the most beautiful one in the neighborhood, and their front lawn certainly wasn’t something to write home about. But they didn’t care. They were proud of their handiwork. And they had worked together as a team.
The mayor announced, “This year’s Beautification Award goes to … the Johnson family!”
The crowd gasped, then erupted into applause. Veronica was in disbelief. “Us? But how?”
The mayor smiled. “Your garden may not be the most polished, but it’s filled with love, laughter, and family spirit. You’ve reminded us all that beauty is more than appearances; it’s about the joy we find in togetherness.”
The Johnsons hugged, overwhelmed. They looked at their less-than-perfect garden, realizing it was a perfect reflection of their family – imperfect, a little quirky, but filled with love.
At that moment, Veronica knew that the true award was the bond they had strengthened, a priceless treasure far surpassing any accolade. She smiled as she looked at their crooked porch swing, realizing she never wanted to fix it; like their family, that little porch swing was exactly the way it needed to be – perfectly imperfect.
Written by Kitty Norton. © 2024 Jack and Kitty Norton. Reprinted by permission of Jack and Kitty Media Group. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
