This year, May beats March as my least favorite month. It’s not the weather, which has been warm and pleasant. I think I’m just more than ready to be done with school. But there’s a lot more to May than just praying for the end of the school year. Below are ideas on how to use May in a story.
Mother’s Day
With this holiday, which, by the way, was created by a distant relative of mine, you can explore female relationships within a family. One approach could be to structure the story over successive Mother’s Days, showing how the celebration reflects the relationships.
Memorial Day
This is another holiday which lead to an examination of family relationships. Your focus can be on those relatives who have served our country or any family members who have passed away. Over the years, my kids and I have traveled with my parents to West Virginia to lay flowers on the graves of my grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great grandparents. West Virginia is the “Old Country” for my family and I’m so pleased to be able to share this family history with my kids.
I can see short story set at a cemetery where relatives who are estranged are laying flowers on the tombstones. In the process, they talk and become reconciled, burying their antagonism.
Graduation
As a member of the high school band, I attended more graduation ceremonies than is healthy for one individual to endure. But being an observer, rather than a participant, in the ceremony gave me a great position to people watch. You can develop a story where the main character, sitting with the band, makes some discoveries about fellow classmates and their families.
Of course, graduation ceremonies are the perfect way to kick off or end a story about the students who are receiving their diplomas. Since the ceremony is usually serious, writing about one where everything goes wrong would be fun. A thunderstorm threatened my high school graduation, and as the speakers kept talking, the entire student body and crowd in the football stadium watched as the black clouds piled up to the west.
Last Day of School
When I was in junior high and high school, I noticed a change during the last few days or even weeks. Everyone relaxes, at least a bit. The teachers know they can’t teach any more. The kids know the teacher have lowered their expectations concerning learning. My mom would ease up on our night time routine.
As the evenings in May grew long and golden, I could sense the finality of what was happening. I never regretted a school year ending; I came to hate school by the time I was in eighth grade. But it did seem like a time for reflection, looking back and looking ahead.
This thoughtful time is suitable for a story about a student who has regrets or maybe wants to accomplish something before the year ends, a teacher facing retirement, or a parent whose youngest child is finishing high school.
This day also has enormous writing inspiration for comedy with everyone from teachers to kids marking time until dismissal. Many schools offer a Field Day during the last week, so combining an event like that with the last day provides loads of opportunities for comic complications.
How could you use May in a story?
