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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

“"It's been a long, long time"” by L.J Sunwing

Submitted to Contest #112

“Are you coming tonight?” Thomas pulled his heavy grey coat on and looked at his wife as he neared the door to their house. Alison, his wife, moved towards him. The dark circles were accentuated under her eyes by her long black hair. Her body lacked the muscle it had once had from college sports. Though not unhealthy, she seemed smaller and more fragile. This stood out in her state of sleeplessness from working a late shift at the hospital. Her work often led to her being isolated at home, due to the natural introvert having picked the caree...

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“Comfort Rain” by Viv S

Submitted to Contest #112

It started to rain this morning and it took me back to seventeen years ago. I am Ruth, I am seven years old and I will be turning eight in December. I like to wake up early everyday so I can watch cartoons before I go to school. Today I woke up extra early so I can watch Sherlock Holmes. I had breakfast and got ready for school. My older brother and I walk to school. It’s not that far away so we go early and play on the swings at the park. It was raining today so we didn’t get to play. Hopefully by recess it stops raining. I ...

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“I found you.” by Jayde Bennett

Submitted to Contest #112

A young woman sat at her wooden desk, just beneath her window, her escape from reality, even if just a moment. Until she came to, and realised that she was still in her current world, the real world; Aliza's world. Her doe eyes scanned the different people, going about their days, some chatting up the townsfolk. She had even noticed a couple locking lips passionately, she had smiled at that but her smile did not stay- instead her heart thumped a little too hard, that left a type of hurt that was unexplainable. She licked her slightly chapped...

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“Wash My Life Away.” by Liza Blake

Submitted to Contest #112

The papers arrived by courier early this morning. They are still on the kitchen table where I tossed them without even peeking into the un-labeled envelope. I don’t have to look. I know it’s a standard work up for an uncontested divorce. My husband had them drafted up last week. Well, I guess I should say estranged husband at this point. I haven’t even seen the man in seven years. “What’s this?” David asks before plucking up the envelope in question. “Oh it’s nothing, probably one of those fake loan companies trying to swindle ...

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“Green Over Yellow Bricks” by Megan Honrud

Submitted to Contest #112

“Keep running! Don’t look back!” Clutching the fur of her small dog closer to her rapidly beating heart, the young girl looks over her shoulder to spot her companion in dark robes trailing behind her, trying not to stumble and fall. “I said don’t look back!” “Where are we going?! Why can’t we take your broom?!” The little girl wailed. “The broom is gone! I had to set it on fire so they couldn’t follow us with it!” “They’re FLYING MONKEYS! They’re already following us! Wouldn’t the broom be faster?!” Her companion doesn’t answer a...

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“When She's Older” by Tori Routsong

Submitted to Contest #112

Later, when she’s older and her bones pop when she bends down, she’ll remember this. It makes sense. It smells the same-- Nebraska isn’t so different from Missouri in the rain, and it’s the same muddy scent, even though she’s on the driveway and not in the grass right now. The smell remains the same, and it’s the smell that’ll make her remember, when she’s older, this day in the rain. She’ll remember how the rain beats down, plastering her hair to her forehead. It will be longer by then, but for now it's short and stuck against her sk...

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“Grey clouds” by Will Lewis

Submitted to Contest #112

Grey Clouds The Gallowstree Pub was three and a half songs away from home. Working there was convenient at 17 but now at 25 and being local meant I had to have an array of excuses to cover sick days, holidays and newbies not turning up. The Pub was simple, friendly and an easy place to work. Quiz and karaoke nights were the best. 2 4 1 Mondays were also pretty good fun. Having managed to work my way up to ‘team leader’ in my 8 years of service, I’d established a good rapport with customers. Even though I thought most of them were sleazes,...

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“Reality?” by Sophia Gonzalez

Submitted to Contest #112

I was running and running as fast as I could. I felt the wind rushing hard on my face and the sweat dripping down my face, legs, and arms. I never ran like this and I’m definitely not taken as “the girl who runs”. But I had to. Thoughts rushed through my head just as fast as I was running. I don’t think my feet were even hitting the ground. How could he have gone and done that and expect me to ask for him back? Was I wrong or not? Suddenly I stopped, knees buckled and my face right in a tree… ***** I woke up in some sort of schoo...

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“The Sheriff ” by Ido Peretz

Submitted to Contest #112

My name is Nick Mitchell I’m an investigative journalist but this story isn’t about me no, it’s about my father who believes he is a sheriff, yes that’s right a western town sheriff the kind you see in western movies sheriff.My father’s name is Hank Mitchell he is 75 years old and he worked all his life as an instrument maker, when he was 20 years old he enlisted to the army and went to fight in Vietnam, when he came back he wasn’t the same anymore, a few years later he met my mom and in 1974 my older sister was born and in 1980 I was born. ...

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“Good Over Evil” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #112

Grayson tried to focus his eyes and blinked rapidly. The face above him was blurry but he recognized it just the same. He rubbed his eyes and his vision cleared. He looked up at the face again and was in disbelief not because of the face but for other reasons. “It’s about time you woke up, Grayson, my son.” The face said. “Look, for the last time I am not your son and where am I?” “All in good time Grayson, all in good time you will have all the answers to your questions.” The man said in a low voice. Grayson could ...

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“Daire” by Julia Townson

Submitted to Contest #112

As a young child, there was nothing I loved more than mucking about in the many puddles that formed in the driveway after a hard rain. Or, just standing there as the rain fell, with my mouth wide open, catching the droplets on my tongue. As an adult, there's just something so incredibly cathartic about just being in the middle of a rainstorm and letting the water wash over me, cleansing the darkest of sins, and making the world look beautiful again. Even if only for a moment. The neighbors watch me standing on my front lawn, collecting the d...

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“Betsie and Susan’s Excellent Adventure” by Dale Josef

Submitted to Contest #112

Betsie stumbled in through the front door, furled her umbrella and stripped off her raincoat. The first rainstorm of spring was always a doozy! “Grandma, have you seen Susan today?” “Ya! In da basement.” “What’s she doing this time?” “Vell, dis time she ist buildingk a maksheen!” “A machine?” “Ya!” “What kind of machine?” “I dunno. I dunno vat dat liddle gorl ist doingk half da time anyvays.” “Well, she is pretty smart...” “Priddy schmardt? Priddy schmardt? Let me tell you somt'ing: Dat liddle gorl ist da schmartest liddle gorl dat I've ever...

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“End of Innocence ” by Amy Shawley

Submitted to Contest #112

It was one of those muggy, sticky evenings in early August when the sky was just beginning to darken and the air smelled fresh with the hint of rain looming somewhere in the distance, a hint of what was to come. I sat on the porch swing drinking in the evening, my stomach dancing with excitement. I was seventeen and full of wonder. How I loved those humid nights in small town Pennsylvania. After months I was finally going to see him. Would I have a real romance? Would I be kissed? I breathed in the sweet air, the mix ...

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“The Heart of Demiurge” by Daniel Rains

Submitted to Contest #112

I sat up in my bed, jolted by the sounds of the alarm. The constant ringing echoed in my room, and my stomach turned. I have only heard this alarm during drills, and they were always announced ahead of time. That has been the policy before I was old enough to participate, ever since the Brigand stepped up their attempts twenty years ago. Declan ran into my room before I could get fully dressed. His breath labored as if he had just finished running a race. He looked at me with wide eyes, the rest of his face blank. "Come on, kid." He starte...

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“SULAIMANI ” by Kitty J

Submitted to Contest #112

It started easily. Like water draining through the holes of a giant overfilled colander, sprinkling from the heavens gradually gaining weight as they descend to meet the ground. The first drops left behind small dark spots on the arid soil, expeditiously picking up pace and colouring the ground dark. The sky grew dark, and mist seemingly rose as the last of the wavering dragonflies skid by. Deluge zoomed towards the ground; their fall disrupted by the vast understorey upon which they dispersed forming gentle thudding sounds gradually bl...

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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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