The Word Worker

Author: wordworkerrussell

  • Tears of the Cyborg

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    wordworkerrussell
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    I walked through the empty rooms, no footprints visible but mine in the soil-thick dust covering the floor. My steps echoed thinly from the metal cabinets lining every wall. My ears tingled from a faint hum that could be felt more than heard, and an occasional click or whirr felt like a church bell in…

  • Not Normal

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    wordworkerrussell
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    As anyone who follows my blog knows, I have been silent for several weeks. This was not by choice, but by circumstance. I want to try to explain why because I hope to encourage others to embrace who they are in whatever situation they may find themselves. Life is not one size fits all. Every…

  • The Assignment

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    wordworkerrussell
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    “Today’s writing assignment is to write a one page short story using this picture.” “It’s a rowboat!” “I don’t know how to write about a rowboat!” “That’s a wooden framework, y’all.” Now, kids, there are many elements in the picture. There’s a sunset, and water, and a boat, and you’re right, some kind of wooden…

  • Book Review: Through Grandpa’s Eyes

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Until I read it to my children last night, I had never even seen this book, but it is definitely a new favorite. Patricia MacLachlan has a gift for describing the world through the eyes of a child, and this book is no exception. The story beautifully introduces to children the concepts of empathy and…

  • What If…

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    wordworkerrussell
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    In the book of Mark we read about a man who was deathly ill, plagued with leprosy. This man had nothing left to lose, and threw himself at Jesus feet with a poignant faith born of desperate need. “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” What if Jesus had practiced social distancing? It…

  • The Test

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Su Lin stood on the steps of the brick building, hands twisting the tail of her shirt into a tight knot. Today was the day. In a moment she would step through that door into the Naturalization Office. Mr. Munro would be waiting for her in his stuffy little office, a jar of pens and…

  • Book Review: On Mother’s Lap

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    wordworkerrussell
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    My babies may be just a little too big for Mommy’s lap these days, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying the magic of this book. On Mother’s Lap is about a little boy who wants all of his favorite things to share his favorite place. Michael and Mother rock and rock on a cold…

  • The Cafe

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    wordworkerrussell
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    The Cafe was still there, tucked away in its remote little corner. The structures surrounding it had grown even older and more drably brown with time, a stark contrast to its bright colors and neat facade. In the afternoon light it almost seemed a sun unto itself. The evening rush had not begun, and the…

  • Book Review: One Morning in Maine

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Robert McCloskey has always been one of my favorite storytellers. I love his gift of capturing the all-important little moments of childhood. One Morning in Maine chronicles one such rite of passage. Little Sal has a loose tooth, her first, and can think of nothing else. Losing a tooth means she’s a big girl and…

  • Book Review: Sarah, Plain and Tall

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    wordworkerrussell
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    I have loved this simple story since I was a child, and this week I was finally able to share it with my children. Sharing my childhood favorites tends to be somewhat risky with these superhero, cartoon, and video obsessed little people, but this story proved to be timeless. I read it aloud and reveled…