When we think of family, for good or bad, we usually think of an immediate family: parents, siblings, spouses, children. However, beyond those people there are varying layers of extended family. Words like “great-uncle”, “third cousin”, and “second cousin once removed” might connect in your brain with a person, but often these are more shadowy parts of the family tree, the realm of the distant relatives.
We probably don’t know our distant relatives well (because they’re distant). They could just be the stuff of family legends and myths if we know about them at all. The family might talk about a distant relative because they are famous or rich, or in jail, or just strange. What if they suddenly come into your life in some way (for example, the stereotypical long-lost uncle who dies, leaving a vast fortune)? There are lots of chances for interesting stories.
Story Prompt: August 31, 2026
Write a story involving a distant relative
If you write a story for this prompt, send me a link to your story on your own site, either in the comments or at info@greenwalledtreehouse.com.
The Green-Walled Treehouse 
I have a third cousin in Italy named Carlo. He’s much older than I am and visited once when I was a kid. I remember he always wore a crisp white long-sleeved button-down shirt despite it being summer. He spoke not much English and smiled all the time. You popped a file David. 🙂
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