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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#22: Auld Lang Syne

From the Times Square Ball drop to the old Spanish tradition of trying to fit 12 grapes into your mouth at midnight — New Year's Eve comes with a host of different rituals and traditions.

Maybe a new one of yours will be submitting a New Year's-themed story to the Reedsy Prompts contest? 😊 In which case, we don't want to keep you any longer! So...

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... write! And have yourself a Happy New Year.

This week's prompts

Write a short story about a person who goes to bed on Valentine's Day and wakes up in 1920.

Holiday – 41 stories

Write a short story about someone with unconventional New Year's traditions.

Holiday – 44 stories

Two strangers meet at a New Year's Eve party. They spend the party together, and then never see each other again.

Winter – 79 stories

Write a short story in which the last line is the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve.

Winter – 97 stories

Write a short story about someone who does not spend December 31st celebrating New Year's Eve.

Winter – 77 stories

Stories

“New Year's Eve” by Nandan Chalamalasetti

Submitted to Contest #22

Today is New Year’s Eve. It’s almost 2020, and I am sick and tired of the same shit every year. I would like to be anywhere but here right now. It’s 11.30 now, which means 30 more minutes of this toxic environment. I can’t take it. “Mom, I have a headache, can I go home?” I said in the most convincing voice I could pull off.“Is it really that bad? Can’t you stay for a while more? We will probably leave soon to make our way to Causeway Plaza to see the fireworks display!” my mum said, trying her hardest to persuade me to stay. It almost ...

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“She's The Key ” by Charisa Dwi Santika

Submitted to Contest #22

Tonight was so burst. Thousands of people are happy to welcome tonight out there. They make various shows, parties. Sell lots of fireworks to celebrate. yes, tonight is new year's eve. The night I was supposed to celebrate, but somehow I felt reluctant. Maybe because my heart feels unwell.I didn't really enjoy it, but at least I was still in the crowd of this sea of people. I was at my friend's party. Everyone was happy and became talkative, not with me who didn't really like crowds. I exiled myself at the bar in the corner of the room a...

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“ Write a short story about a person who goes to bed on New Year's Eve and wakes up in 1920.” by Niamh Neraida

Submitted to Contest #22

I hate this place. I’m leaving as soon as I can. I glance up at the calendar on my wall and sigh; two more years until my coming of age. They say it’ll be gone in a flash, and then I’ll wish I could have it all back again. But I know that’s all bullshit. I’m sick of hearing ‘when I was young’. That was a long time ago; you didn’t have internet, so what? No one asked. We’re in the god damn 21st century for Chrissake. As soon as I turn 18 I’m out of here, and there’s nothing they can say or do to stop me.I slump down onto my bed and scroll thr...

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“Whiplash Visions” by Lonnie West

Submitted to Contest #22

The E-train was already full when the doors opened, but Thomas was pushed in by the impatient platform crowd. The doors attempted to close 3 times as the crowd shouldered in, then closed. Thomas hated New Years Eve in New York. Shoulder-to-shoulder in a stale car rank with the smell of impatient passengers, he scanned the car making sure not to stare at anyone. Ads covered the walls of the car showing him products and services to fill deficiencies he didn’t realize he had. Only a couple passengers were looking around. Everyone else’s eyes we...

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“The Pain That Travelled ” by Randeep Mand

Submitted to Contest #22

Jade had her hand on the shoulder of a friend, as she smiled for the camera. The group of five wore identical t-shirts in black with GRL PWR emblazoned in gold, a far cry from the neutral colour palettes she favoured for office and the soft pastels he had often seen her in, the few times he met her outside office. In the background could be seen what seemed like a private stretch of a beachfront, fringed by lush tropical gardens. Mark had seen this profile pic for the nth time since morning when she last changed it. The happy vibe ...

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“Time Flies” by Joe Parrillo

Submitted to Contest #22

Sitting on the couch in her second floor apartment overlooking the main street in Raleigh, North Carolina, Marlowe watched the New Year’s Eve ball drop in NYC on TV, pondering the year that was soon passing into the dust bin of history. It was a very disappointing year. Her freelance writing career was struggling as not one of her articles were accepted by any magazines. Worse, her boyfriend of two years kicked her to the curb for some young 19-year old bimbo, which acounted for her being alone tonight. The small room was enveloped...

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“A Granddaughter In Moscow” by Tom Moser

Submitted to Contest #22

It was the noise outside the hotel that woke her. Was it a horse? Maybe it was bells that invaded her sleep. No matter, it was daylight, and she had appointments on this first day of the new year. She reached for her cell phone on the bedside table and discovered she had failed to connect it to the charger. The phone still responded when she picked it up, but there was no greeting with the time and date on the screen. She put it down and stretched herself awake. The phone would charge while she was in the shower. As she pulled back the sheet...

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“Following in His Footsteps” by Nathan Callan

Submitted to Contest #22

The animalistic cries of enamored tourists and New Yorkers alike flooded the mind of a single young man. He firmly shut the apartment door behind him and moved up the stairs to his room. “I’ve told you to treat the tenement door better!” cried of one of his neighbors. She continued, “you just wait until I-” Her screams were reduced to muffles as the young man entered his apartment; this time, gently closing the door. Groggily, he moved to the apartment’s windows and mechanically shut the shades one after another. Then he walke...

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“Younger Than My Daughter” by Shaneka Murphy

Submitted to Contest #22

Three days into a brand new year! So glad to see 2021 and so glad to be back home! Last year was one loooong year! Can't complain though. Forty-one proud years of existence! Life has blessed me with 3 precious children. I keep a picture of them in my wallet to show them off. My baby, twenty, is at the prime of her life, she thinks. My boy, twenty-one, has spent the last year of his life trying to "find himself"! And then there's my eldest, my blue-eyed Margaret! She's a whole century now! The BIG ONE ZERO ZERO! Yes, you heard it right! Don't...

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“Auld Lang Syne” by Michael Nabi

Submitted to Contest #22

Auld Lang SyneDecember 25, 2019. Susan was very quiet. I wasn’t good at reading her emotions despite having been with her for over two years. That was one of my faults she occasionally threw in my face. But I knew she wasn’t happy. “Susan, what’s wrong. Don’t you like the jewelry I bought you?” She didn’t answer. I persisted. “Susan, please talk to me.”“If you can’t figure it out, then we have deeper problems.”“What do you mean?”“Do you really not realize I was expecting an engagement ring?”I answered, “We have more than enough time to go th...

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“The Red New Year” by Olivia Hampton

Submitted to Contest #22

“Happy New Year!” A number of voices yell in sync, causing me to leap from my nap. With sleepy eyes, I glance at my alarm clock to see it blinking a bright 12:01 am. “Happy New Year.” I mumble to myself, rolling my eyes as I rise from the uncomfortable mattress bought on clearance. Gradually, I make my way to the door. And with the help of the lights from the fireworks, I carefully maneuver my way around piles of clothes. Before opening the door that connects my room to t...

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“The Cake-Eater's Ice” by Jamie McAllister

Submitted to Contest #22

“5…4…3…”Jemma’s voice mingled with the crowd as they watched the ball in Times Square slowly drop, ready to welcome in the New Year. She turned to face her roommate, Susan, who seemed to be struggling to stay upright.“2…1! Happy New Year!” Jemma yelled and clinked glass with Susan before she took another sip of champagne from her glass. Susan downed the rest of her champagne in one gulp and grabbed the nearest male and planted a sloppy kiss on him. Jemma turned away to leave them to it. All around her, people were kissing and hug...

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“Displaced ” by Gary Phillips

Submitted to Contest #22

Why had he come? James did not care for parties and Gail knew it. He cared even less for fancy parties where he didn’t know anyone. Thank God Gail had kept it simple and hadn’t chosen to have one of those throwback Roaring 20s parties that everyone seemed so fond of this year. He wouldn't be here, except Gail insisted he attend. James would prefer to be home working on his latest fantasy novel. Who was he kidding? This was the fifth novel he'd started. Four other novels languished unfinished on his laptop and this one would meet the sam...

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“Out With The Old” by Annie Percik

Submitted to Contest #22

The old man sat by the glittering Christmas tree, snoring gently in his comfy armchair. His white hair sprouted outwards in untidy tufts, clean but unbrushed. His puffy face and corpulent stature spoke to seasonal over-indulgence, and the way the chair seemed to form around him suggested that he hadn't moved in some time. He wore soft pyjamas and an old but clearly very comfortable robe. His feet were encased in fluffy slippers, and his chin rested on his chest in slumber. In short, he was the very picture of ease.The family of the house wen...

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“Memories in Passing” by Dana Smith

Submitted to Contest #22

I was looking out of my driver’s side window on a winter day, slowly traveling past the row of mid-century houses on Dantzler Street in St. Matthews, South Carolina. It was a Tuesday morning, New Years Eve, in fact, and I'm on my way to work. The air was cool and crisp, the sky had a pinkish-orange hue as the sun peeked through the clouds; cars were still parked in their driveways, too early for their owners to have left for work. The town, when quiet, had a peaceful essence about it. My side radio had been quiet for the entire 46 mil...

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$50

Prize money

338

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 03, 2020 EST

Won by Emily Hemmings 🏆

Title: Pagliacci on the Q Train

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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