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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#138: Days in the Sun

If you live in the Northern hemisphere, now’s that time of the year when the days begin to feel a little longer. The start of Spring means you can look forward to afternoon picnics in the park, long walks while the sun is still up, and days that feel endless — like you have more time on your hands, even though that’s not technically true.

Celebrating this turn of the season, this week’s prompts take inspiration from these longer and sunnier days.

This week's prompts

Set your story on a day when the sun never sets.

Dark – 26 stories

Write a story about an afternoon picnic gone wrong.

Fluff – 37 stories

Write about a character who doesn’t want to go to sleep.

Horror – 53 stories

End your story with someone saying: “What a day.”

Summer – 40 stories

Write about light returning to a place that has been deprived of it for a long time, literally or figuratively.

Christmas – 89 stories

Stories

“The day the Earth stood still” by Sameen Azmat

Submitted to Contest #138

Fariha faked being asleep as soon as she heard footsteps coming toward her bedroom. She knew who it was. 'How many times do I have to yell at the same thing over and over again’? Her mother said while she opened the curtains of her bedroom window. 'Not again', Fariha thought to herself while her head was covered inside her blanket. 'Does anyone ever listen to me in this house? How do I change you and your brother when your father has the same habit of sleeping till noon on the weekend'. She pulled off Fariha's blankets. 'If you don't come do...

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“Gee Einstein, Stay Awake” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #138

Gilbert Einstein awoke to the smell of breakfast simmering in the kitchen. His stomach growled with hunger, but he didn’t go downstairs immediately. I’m forgetting something, he thought. But as much as he tried, Gilbert couldn’t recall what it was, so he jumped out of bed, got dressed and made a mad dash downstairs. “Good morning, Mom,” he cried out. “What’s cooking?” “Eggs and bacon, Gilbert, or should I call you Gee?” Since the first day of school, Gilbert had been called Gee Einstein by everyone in his class, including his teacher, and no...

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“The Sun Will Rise” by Wrenley Ashford

Submitted to Contest #138

I pull back the cool bed sheets and climb out of bed. My feet sink into the carpet and the floor creaks under every step but the fear of waking my parents is drowned out by the relaxed and calm atmosphere. The light breeze whispers through my window and my curtains flutter to a song only they used to know. Now, my mind recognizes the song too and it dances along, never stopping to take a breath. It took me a long time to find the right definition for the word peace. Only now, after years of unconscious searching, have I found it. Sit...

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“A Missed Picnic” by Abi Black

Submitted to Contest #138

I sat down at the open table to wait for the barista to make my espresso. While I waited, I looked around the coffee shop at the other customers. There were college students pouring over textbooks, an older man reading the newspaper over the rim of his gold rimmed spectacles, and the couple in the corner sat with the heads close together, deep in conversation. By the way the girl was gesturing with her hands dramatically, it didn't seem to be a happy moment for the two. "Order for J!" The barista called out. I stood up and reached for my ...

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“Molly’s Picnic Gone Very, Very Wrong” by Julie R

Submitted to Contest #138

“This is stupid,” Rane hissed angrily. “I can’t believe you forced me out to a picnic, in, what - the middle of the woods? Emos, I tell you, emos..” “Still not an emo,” Molly said, setting down the bag she’d brought. She opened it, pulling out a black blanket and laying it on the ground. “Says the one who brought a black blanket on a hot spring afternoon,” he scoffed. “I’m only doing this because Heather said she’d be friends with me if I made an effort to reach out to you and ‘realize h...

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“Age of The Void” by Rose Z.

Submitted to Contest #138

[Warning: Themes of blood and violence]The darkened sun, known as the Everwatchful Eye, peered through the veil that draped over the world in eternal night. Its gaze fell upon a mountainous basin where a battlefield raged, and a vagabond was left to die. Blood trickled onto ashen soil and congealed with remnants of dust and bone.The vagabond, Helia, sharply inhaled through clenched teeth as weary lungs expanded within a fractured rib cage. Tanned skin was tinted purple as a coolness crept into her wounds. The wind nipped at the scar across h...

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“A Sandy Predicament” by Sean Sorce

Submitted to Contest #138

"Not a bad day for an afternoon picnic, am I right?" asked Frank as he ligthly nudges my arm that was holding our picnic basket and blanket we were using for that day on Bradford Beach. Frank was carrying a pack of Miller Lite beer for himself and a pack of ginger ale for me.Since the Brewer game, I was starting to admire Frank and our friendship. We have been doing a lot of outings together such as going to the Milwaukee County Zoo, Discovery World and Summerfest. You would think that for a hillbilly like Frank, he wouldn't have so much mon...

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“An Echo in a Sunbeam” by Amanda Bennett

Submitted to Contest #138

“Afternoon, Miss Lovejoy. Another glorious day made all the finer for the promise of your company.” Eddie Wilson tapped his bowler hat and bowed, nearly tipping the overflowing picnic basket in his attempt at gallantry. Grace puffed up her cheeks like a chipmunk and blew out the hot air in a huff. Rocking back on the heels of her side-buttoned boots, she truly couldn’t decide which was worse about being dead: Coming around, trapped as a spirit, pacing a wooden patio on blistered bunions. Having no one but this damnable fool for c...

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“The Garden Of Light” by Camille Mockingjay

Submitted to Contest #138

The Garden Of LightA day in the garden was promised to me. I was awake hours before the first sunbeam hit my kitchen window, and waiting outside the Garden Gates before half the small village even thought about breakfast. Equipped with a journal, a new pen, and a satchel to take anything that seemed even remotely special, I impatiently clicked my heels together as I tried to catch a glimpse behind the gates. All I could see was a house, bigger than perhaps half the entire village it resided in. It was painted what once was lemon yellow,...

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“Dearest K.” by Christian Arnold

Submitted to Contest #138

Dear K., I finally did it, K.. I finally made it to my mother’s home planet. It has been, well, what can I say other than full of emotions, especially the one day I’ve spent honoring my mother. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that I’ve never seen the oceans, not even on our own world. Mountains and mountain lakes have been all I’ve known. Never adventured beyond them. Never felt like I needed to given the majesti...

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“The Adventures of Mrs. Carrillo's Guinea Pigs” by Ava Booth

Submitted to Contest #138

Chapter one-The beginning… “OREO!!!!!!!!!!!!!” screamed Marshmallow. “Where did you put my chocolate-covered hay?!” “In the coniferous tree, in the backyard…” “We can’t climb dummy,” Marshmallow explains. “Or can I?... MWAHAHAHAH!!!!!!” whispers Oreo. “I heard that.” Marshmallow scolded. “ My little munchkins! What’s going on? I heard popcorning!” Asked Mrs. Carrillo, the owners of Marshmallow and Oreo. As Oreo immediately stuffs her face with guinea pig pellets, meanwhile... Marshmallow scurries into her chalet and practices her calligra...

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“The Black-Leathered Journal” by Julian Steele

Submitted to Contest #138

[This story contains sensitive content such as sexual and physical violence and suicide.]You had a bad day, you say? Wait till you hear about my day. In fact, you may have already heard all about it. Perhaps someone forwarded you a link to a news article, or you came across one while scrolling through your social media feed. I mean, if bad news travels fast, scandals spread like a pandemic. But just in case you are part of that one per cent of the human population who doesn't live for the likes and hearts of your followers and thus you don't...

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“Staying Wistful” by Connor Avila

Submitted to Contest #138

Darkness emits a comfort to me. In times of strife, worry, or complete mental undoing, all of it can be remedied through this masking of reality. My reality is unique in a way. I wake up to a room of arid, dry gray walls. The dimensions of the walls and ceiling are perfectly even and inside it is only myself, and a bed. Sound is nearly nonexistent in this prison, confined to the vibrations I create by moving around. Likewise, if I do nothing, the world reciprocates my ambition. Lacking is a peer or alternative member to create cause, to inst...

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“Sunday Scaries” by Shawn O'Connor

Submitted to Contest #138

It was a quarter past ten and Michael was lying in bed staring at the stucco on his ceiling, connecting dots with his eyes. He had shut his bedroom light off what felt like ages ago, but his eyes had adjusted and the light from the street lamps coming in through his window was enough for him to make out the shapes of the dots above him. He stared at them with the intent of focusing on them hard enough to rid himself of every thought that was floating around in his mind. He didn’t really want to fall asleep. If he fell asleep then the next ...

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“Still Here” by V Lauria

Submitted to Contest #138

The church basement is dark. The nursery school teacher asks if there are any questions. My three year old hand shoots up. She calls on me. I might be the only one with my hand up. My question is sincere and simple. Why are you round like a planet? The teacher has no verbal response. She leaves the room as her assistant takes the helm. I know something’s wrong with my question. Still I’m disappointed to not have an answer. Give it all to Jesus is the sermon du jour. I find J...

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$250

Prize money

245

Contest entries

154

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 25, 2022 EST

Won by Christopher Kelley 🏆

Title: After the Rock

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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