CWO Episode 206: Bethlehem by Daniel Pope | Fiction (2017)

Creative Writing Outloud

You have two choices: When life gives you a challenge, you can either wallow in self-pity or pick yourself up and get to work. Debt, divorce, death. Hitting rock bottom comes in many forms. But after losing everything, you realize that your attitude is all you ever had in the first place. And with that shift in perspective, you can start the slow climb up and out of that gravel-lined pit. "Bethlehem" touches on themes of family, parenting, and upholding traditions. With only two parental visits each month, dad really wants his two kids to sit on mall Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. But when his bratty son suddenly has to pee, dad is force to take him on a misadventure to the alley for quick relief. Told from the perspective of the frustrated, down-on-his-luck father, this story uses humor as a tool to discuss divorce. Daniel Pope is a writer and musician from Seattle, Washington. His work has been published in Loam Magazine. Hear his music at danielpope.bandcamp.com. Download "Bethlehem" Today!