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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#112: Come Rain or Shine

From melancholy to cathartic to Singing-in-the-Rain-style joyful, rain somehow feels different every time. What’s certain is that rain often forms the backdrop to many of our human dramas — so this week’s prompts invite you to step into that downpour and let it soak you to the bones.

This week's prompts

End your story with a character standing in the rain.

Angst – 99 stories

Write a story where it’s raining men, literally or metaphorically.

Valentine's Day – 24 stories

Write a story where something magical happens when it starts to rain.

Middle School – 53 stories

The first rain of the season arrives. Write a story that begins immediately afterward.

Spring – 27 stories

Write about a character driving in the rain.

Fall – 57 stories

Stories

“Driving Rain” by Amy Wright

Submitted to Contest #112

Ford drove into the night, past one rainstorm and into another. He was driving through the driving rain, he thought. His brain was always coming up with cool stuff like that. He was pretty smart that way. His wife sure didn’t think so, though. She seemed to think he was an idiot, but she just didn’t appreciate his intellect. He switched the wipers back on as fat drops started to hit the windshield. Whip-whap, whip-whap, whip-whap. The wipers caught on the off beats like a drunken drummer. They weren’t the best wiper blades; need to g...

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“Song of the Ivory Tree” by Caje Auchard

Submitted to Contest #112

The silhouette of the sun dipped below the horizon, hidden behind enormous dark clouds. Lightning struck in the distance, signaling the torrential rain to begin. The canter of the horses pulling the carriage slowed to a crawling pace, but the steeds held true. Curses of the driver forced to brave the elements were drowned by the chaotic pelting of rain. “Just our damn luck,” Jakeb said, taking a long draw of his rolled cigarette. The foul smell of tobacco and smoke filled the...

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“Sins of Survival” by Riley Miller

Submitted to Contest #112

A voice sounded nearby, signaling the danger closing in. With my luck it was probably too late already. Trembling, I slid deeper into the shrubs that were starting to scratch through my protective clothing and pull blood from my skin. Couldn’t be helped. Surface wounds couldn’t even begin to compare to what ailments would befall me if I was to be discovered. Branches cracked loudly to my left and I held in a gasp as I tried to turn around without giving my position away. They had been on my right just a moment ago, and not that close....

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“How New Beginnings are Born” by Rachel Bauer

Submitted to Contest #112

I guess this is it. This is it for Ensto. I’ve been here the shortest amount of time, but I still feel the drain of it all. “So all the workbenches are ready to be put on the truck right?” I hear a mover say with a quiet answer. The hallway is so full of desks and benches it’s impossible to walk through. That’s a stark contrast to the work areas that were as bare as could be. I turned to Cassie. “Should we at least sweep up some of this mess?” The floor was littered with decades worth of dust and dropped work materials. She sho...

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“Come the Rain” by Jeff Duke

Submitted to Contest #112

The general looked down the long lines of his troops in formation for battle. They looked ready for battle. He looked across at the enemy troops loosely set in an attack formation. The enemy looked like a mob more than an army. Yet their reputation for destructive violence was unequaled. Thousands of soldiers on both sides of the field faced each other preparing to wage war. “Why do these things happen? Why are we lined up today to kill as many of the enemy as possible” asked the general? “We were at peace till these people decided the...

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“George's Umbrella” by Andy Statham

Submitted to Contest #112

George had been waiting at the bus stop for some time when the shower started but he had come prepared, he knew it was going to rain, his mother had told him so as he left the house. “Just a few errands to run today, George,” she said, “Mind you get them all done before you come home.” “Yes, mother.” George always did what his mother told him. He unfurled his umbrella. It was a big umbrella, not one of those collapsible ones that you can buy at the convenience store which barely keeps your head dry. This was a proper umbrel...

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“Road Song” by Nicholas Frazier

Submitted to Contest #112

“Thanks for the lift, Robin. It saved me some trouble” “This is weird-you haven’t taken any time off since I’ve known you. And you’re really going to buy this car? ” “Already bought, now I’m driving it off the lot. Look, take care of things for me. I know you’ll be great. Don’t call me-just do what you think is best. Time to fly.” He waved as the younger man drove off, then walked into Larsen BMW, scratched his name on the line and turned his new 740i into traffic. Fifteen minutes later he step...

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“Nothing but the Rain ” by Kiersten Boecker

Submitted to Contest #112

Nothing but the rain drizzled around them made any sound, a calming pitter patter of droplets tapping on the roof above a small outside deck connected to a small farm house that sat in the middle of nowhere. A thick canopy of tree branches layered the sky. They both sat there, enjoying the peacefulness of the outdoors, enjoying the silence that ran between them. The silence that has been running for a long time. The silence waiting, wanting, to be broken. “So how long?” he asked apprehensively, his gaze tilted downwards, fixate...

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“The Harvester” by Dean Hodsfry

Submitted to Contest #112

What the hell? Where am I? I was laying in a strange bed, I feel my head it is throbbing. I feel my mouth is dry and my throat is sore. My vision was blurred and everything seemed to be out of focus. I was in a dark room very old looking. As my vision tried to normalise I saw the old-timey paisley wallpaper on the wall and the air smelt a sickly and overpowering shade of lily, there was also the smell of something medicinal or clinical, I could not make it out. I saw a woman in the silhouette she was sitting in a chair. I cast a glance aroun...

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“Jim” by Agris Engelis

Submitted to Contest #112

My name is Jenna, and this is a story about how we never really know how much time we all got with one another. I met Jim about 3 months ago. Jim was a man of large build who worked as a lumberjack in the town. I had come here thinking to just refuel my rations and car and move on, but as I entered the diner looking for a quick bite, Jim instantly grabbed my attention, this man, arms as thick as the lumber he has been chopping, beard reaching down to his chest, reading a book of sorts, I can’t really recall. I sat at the table facing his, fo...

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“Memorabilia” by L.Y. Wynn

Submitted to Contest #112

Driving, wheels against the winding path slowly uncurling against the heaving engine. Pavement unwinding like ribbon making its way back home. -- Hometown. It rang like church bells in already aching ears. The buildings seemed to grow with the years, color fading as each person slipped away. The windows, now tinted, and streets aged, became wise with time. Old alleys and stairways hunched over like an older person. The lawns that once held parties and concealed muddy footprints now overgrown with sprouting weeds and occasional trimmed ...

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“A Bucket to Catch the Rain” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #112

A Bucket to Catch the Rain The dried leaves would blow through the back door in the fall, people would go out and smoke and on a decent day they would just leave it open. It was an odd feeling kicking her way through a pile of desiccated plant matter on the way to the ladies’ room. Any other season in here and you could see the dark red patterned carpet. On this trip through the bar, she nodded at people she knew but with her bladder about to burst she didn’t spare the time for conversation. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t spoken to both the...

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“L'Oiseau Blanc (The White Bird)” by Vie L'cast

Submitted to Contest #112

Marcelle threw pebbles off the steep cliff that rose over the Dover Narrows. It was a clear May morning. The air so crisp, the sea so still, she could make out the English coastline in the distance. It was there, in England, where all her dreams resided. She imagined herself beautiful, married, useful. Her blonde, blue-eyed husband would enhance her ordinary features making their daughters the sight she never was. She would be gainfully employed too. Her brief medical training with the Americans had awaken a passion in her she never knew ...

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“The Drought of Men” by Joshie Nygaard

Submitted to Contest #112

First, a History To be honest, it was a relief when the last man finally dried up. For a while, I had nightmares of watching my Freddy crumble into a mound of flaky skin and bones. But we moved on. We had no choice. And we quickly realized this wasn’t a tragedy, but a godsend! We could finally throw off the chains of the patriarchy and reform the world in our own image. We could fix the world men had so badly broken. Oh, how naïve we were. The first decade went about as well as we had hoped. After the initial confusion and hesitancy wore o...

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“Everything Rains” by Claudio Murgia

Submitted to Contest #112

It is on days like these that I ask myself what the point of living is, days when it rains men and women. I will never get used to the sound of bones breaking. First is the scream of those who are falling to their deaths, because that was their destiny, and then that popping sound, like old branches. Yesterday it was raining wolves. So many wolves that we are sorted for the winter. It is up to God what the next rain brings. This is why we call them the tears of God. Where does God take all of these men and women and wolves and elephants fr...

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$250

Prize money

260

Contest entries

178

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 24, 2021 EST

Won by Cathryn V 🏆

Title: Take that Drink

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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