Kith & Kin

Dear Loyal Readers of Kith & Kin, As you know, we here at Kith & Kin Worldwide Publications Ltd., Inc., LLP, constantly and unflaggingly search for and reveal the truth, regardless of what intimidation tactics may come our way. Our large, loyal, underpaid staff has been assiduously (yes, assiduously ) combing through the 80,000 pages of documents on the JFK assassination that were recently released by the Trump administration. As we all know now, mainstream journalists found in the materials absolutely no evidence of a conspiracy, of a second shooter, or even of Oliver Stone. Disappointment among conspiracy-theory adherents (you may count us among that number!) rapidly turned to rage—true, in the past, the lack of any credible evidence was the best proof of a conspiracy and cover-up! But we had nonetheless hoped to find some crumb, some scrap, some nugget of proof of our predetermined conclusions somewhere within all those pages. Well! Apparently the mainstream media r...

Morning. Turn off the alarm. Remember that I have an 8:30 am doctor’s appointment. Let the dogs out. Shower and get ready. Leave around 8 am because the doctor’s office is in Mauldin. Drive to Mauldin, easily a twenty-minute trip, in typical Monday-morning traffic. Fun. I have been to two different doctors about my feet because I am having some diabetic neuropathy symptoms. One doctor said, Yep, you have neuropathy, and you need to see another doctor to get fitted with proper shoes. The other doctor measured my feet and had me step in a shoebox full of what seemed like floral foam to get an exact measure of each foot. Both appointments were weeks ago. Over the weekend I’ve been thinking about which doctor I’m supposed to see this morning—I know it is the one who ordered my shoes for me, the guy who had me step in floral foam. But I forget which office he is in. I finally conclude to my satisfaction that he is in the one in Mauldin. Hence I am driving to Mauldin this morning. I ...

Photo of the actual Snake in the actual trash can moments before his untimely demise. A (mostly) nonfiction work written in script format by Steve Skaggs DISCLAIMER: This really happened, and, yes, we really did kill the snake. I know there was truly no reason to do so. We could have done something far more kind, such as releasing it into a nearby field or putting it into a neighbor’s mailbox. (Yes, “neighbor,” you know who you are!) But we were panicked. We were not thinking clearly. And, besides, if that snake didn’t want to end up dead, he should have stayed outside where he belonged! CAST (in order of appearance)      Cindy : The mother. She don’t do snakes.      Dad : Heroic leader of the family. Unflappable.      Jason : Sharp-eyed teenage son of Cindy and Dad. Laconic.      Black Snake : Out of his element and doomed from the start.      Caleb : Teenage son armed with shovel. Stoical. OPENING SCENE...

Thanksgiving is perhaps the best holiday of the year, filled with many traditions in our house. The day goes something like this. . . . Mama is up at 6 to put the turkey in. Back to bed briefly. Up at 7 to put the ham in. Showers. Takes the dog on a walk. It’s now 8 am. Time to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Slam the vacuum packs softly on the edge of the counter so as not to awaken an irritable male. Like a grizzly bear, the household male is hibernating, and, if awoken accidentally, is likely to come out of his cave in what could be called a “mood.” Put the cinnamon rolls in the oven on the rack below the turkey and ham. Wash up dishes from the morning’s preparations. Get out the mixer, corn, corn meal, and other ingredients to make Mama’s Famous Corn Casserole. Mix ingredients thoroughly, according to the recipe. Pull cinnamon rolls out of the oven and drizzle frosting over them. Set them on the counter, knowing that their scent will awaken Papa Bear as it wafts t...