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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#35: Spring in Your Step

In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of spring began on March 19th. The changing of seasons often brings about a renewed sense of motivation (hence "spring cleaning") and creativity. Indeed, many poems have been written about spring — such as Emily Dickinson's "A Light Exists in Spring" — and authors have long been inspired by the season:

"That is one good thing about this world... There are always sure to be more springs." — L.M. Montgomery

This week, we're also inspired by spring, and so are our prompts.

This week's prompts

Before bed, you put your clock ahead one hour for daylight saving time. When you wake up, you realize you've gone forward a lot more than one hour.

Fantasy – 81 stories

Write a story that takes place at a spring dance.

Spring – 89 stories

You made a promise to yourself you'd finally do it on the first day of spring. Today was the day.

Spring – 145 stories

Write a story about someone who finds something interesting peeking out from a melting snowbank.

Winter – 88 stories

Write a story about someone walking through a park on a spring evening, told only through internal monologue.

Character – 141 stories

Stories

“How to Break-Up with Your Boyfriend” by Najwa Zandlo

Submitted to Contest #35

It’s too late now. You’re already here. Just get out of the car. Seriously. Remember when breaking up with people was easy? Remember when it was just information passed in a note between classes? Just walk over there. You picked this spot. Why did you pick this spot? Why are you meeting in a park? Oh, that’s right - the second date thing. Jesus. You should’ve known this relationship was doomed from the start. Who plans a break-up on their second date?“If we ever break-up, we should do it somewhere tha...

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“Relativity” by Jeanne Marceau

Submitted to Contest #35

I never thought that I could dread the greetings of the birds in the morning. I have waited too long to hear them again and now that they are finally here all I could think about was crawling back under my covers and wish for winter to return. Wish for the clock to turn back to the dry and the cold, to a day other than this one.“Ems, are you awake?” Ethan asks as he knocks on my door, “Can I come in?”I take a moment considering whether to say no, but he and dad are the only ones who still have patience for me. I open the door hoping th...

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“Dear Dorthey” by Tanna Eldon-Everts

Submitted to Contest #35

Dorthey woke at 3 a.m. to the sound of wind slashing her thin windows. She moaned and rolled over in her bed, frustrated that the storm raging outside would not retreat. She grabbed her pillow and angrily thrust it on top of her head, trying to block the sound of the eerie gale creeping under her door. The noise diminished but still Dorthey felt uneasy. Something was wrong and Dorthey knew it. She slipped out of bed and did a lap around her small house. Nothing. Dorthey cursed at herself and hopped back into bed. She closed her eyes, but the...

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“Girl Promises Can Go Well” by ✎💎 ℂａŁ𝔢в 𝐖𝐄𝓲Ǥ𝐓 ♡💀

Submitted to Contest #35

I woke up at 8 am to start my day. I first checked my phone, where a notification had appeared, labeled "Abby Promise." Oh no, I thought to myself. Today was the day, and I'm really starting to regret making that promise to myself. My younger sister knocks on my door."Hey, I need a ride to school! Hurry up!" she shouts to me."Coming!" I shout back with an equal amount of ferocity. My phone starts to buzz on the bed. I look down at it, and my heart skips a beat. "Abby wants to FaceTime" was what the screen displayed. I answer the call and st...

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“Too Much Drama For One Night” by Elliott Chesla

Submitted to Contest #35

I should have never let Elizabeth convince me to go to the spring dance. I hate dances. They are my worst nightmare. Girls crying over boys in the bathrooms, guys dumping girls for other girls. Dances are just stupid all around. I mean why would you want to go to a dance where no one is actually dancing? I know that I don't. I'd rather stay home and read or watch "Suicide Squad" for the millionth time.It was Friday, April 25th the night of the spring formal. I was in my Sophmore year of high school and as of then I hadn't gone to any school ...

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“Just a Little Chemistry” by Lynn Penny

Submitted to Contest #35

“So I heard that you sell the stuff,” Moxxie asked after taking a seat with the goth girl, Gina.“I sell lots of stuff. You’re going to have to be more specific.” She barely glanced an eye over as she continued to sketch in her notebook. From what Moxxie could tell, it was some weird demon girl with a bloody mouth and a human head in her hands. Creepy, but very well drawn.“You know, the stuff that makes sleep feel like twenty years all in one night.” Gina spared him a single glance before returning to her drawing.“What makes you think I have ...

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“A Walk through the Park: An Invisible Threat” by Victoria Jayne

Submitted to Contest #35

Dusk, not that far away from the edge of the town, Henry decided to go for a walk at the local park just two blocks from his house. Karen, his wife, advised him to dress warmly. He returned the comment with a smile and a kiss on her cheek. He didn't heed her suggestion. Henry put on his lightweight spring jacket and slip-on shoes, then headed out the door. 'I should have worn those long underwear Karen got me for Christmas,' Henry thought to himself as he thrust his hands into his jean's pockets and subconsciously shrugged his shoulders hi...

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“MORAL DILEMMA” by Shirley Medhurst

Submitted to Contest #35

Bruce was the one to raise the alarm by refusing to come back to either of the girls despite their whistles, shouts and offers of treats. He had scarpered as was his norm the moment they had let him off the lead, but usually he did not stray too far or for too long. By the sound of it, he was down by the river below the footpath.“You’d better go and get him Liz,” ordered Sara, “He’s your dog.”Exasperated, Liz stared at the steep embankment, wondering where best to begin her descent. No longer white and powdery, the old, crystalized snow...

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“New Life, Old Habits” by Cassandra Garrett

Submitted to Contest #35

My feet and legs are screaming as each step hits the mossy forest floor, "how much longer can I do this?" I worried. I leap over fallen trees and branches as my adrenaline courses through my veins, my lungs burning more and more in the harsh, cold, nighttime air. I hear heavy boots and labored breathing behind me. A loud bang echoes in the emptiness of the forest around me. "Please let him miss me, please let him miss me, please let him miss me" I begged God as I pleaded the sky with my eyes, I keep running faster and faster, I can no longer...

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“A Glimpse Of Tomorrow...” by Artemisia Pearl

Submitted to Contest #35

“Mom. What is the point of Springing Forward?” Kelly asked, setting the microwave clock forward. She was wearing her favorite pajamas; a pair of orange polka-dotted capri pants, and her mom’s old Matchbox 20 t-shirt. She set the time to 11:46. That was an hour and two minutes ahead of the actual time. “Well, you like playing outside and swimming late at night, right?” Said her mom, “Springing Forward is how we get longer days. It’s how we have light so long in summertime.” Kelly nodded her head, in understanding of her mom’s response. “I gue...

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“One Spring Day” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #35

Sprinting along the path, his shoulder bag bouncing against his hip and his coat flapping open against the wind, Ryan nearly collided with a lady, who was trying to keep her balance on the icy surface in impossibly high, scarlet heels.“Oh, I’m so sorry”, he said breathlessly as he brushed past her.She smiled as she wobbled, waving her arms in the air, and he noticed that her eyes were the color of cornflowers. Grinning back, he paused and started to run his fingers through his hair, remembering at the last moment that the beanie his grandma ...

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“Spring Thaw” by Dawn DeBraal

Submitted to Contest #35

Gary hauled the trash out from his hardware store. He dumped the can into the dumpster. It was a beautiful day, thirty-eight degrees surely this was the spring thaw. March blew in like a lion but was going out like a lamb. None too soon, he was tired of winter, and short hours of daylight. He wondered about leaving during winter. He was starting to look at places down in Florida near the beach. That would be lovely. He scooped up a shovel full of snow, dumping it on the melting drift behind the store. The water was starting to pool at his ba...

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“THE COLLECTOR” by Aishath Saimon

Submitted to Contest #35

The town was engulfed in a blanket of white snow. The icy wind shrieked and howled in the deserted town. Not a soul could be seen outside at such a time, no one except a little girl who was hobbling down the lane with an excited look on her face, oblivious to the icy wind piercing her cheek like a knife. Her name was Emerina Asternette. she loved exploring and as her family had come to this town on holiday, she was determined to explore every inch of her neighborhood before they went back home again; Even if there was hardly anything to see ...

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“Sister of Summer Flowers” by Adriana K. Maxwell

Submitted to Contest #35

The most surprising thing about Amari was that she was never surprising when he was with her. It was only afterwards when he was trying to think of words to describe her, if he ever were to tell anyone. He always called her a girl, but said out loud, that sounded like a five-year old. She was as tall as one of the young women who danced every Friday night in the village. She was far older than that though she didn’t look it and she never counted. Still, the word “girl” stuck in his mind. She was a pretty girl, rich a...

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“The Girlfriend Paradox” by Courtney Haynes

Submitted to Contest #35

“It’s the first day of spring,” Murray said, standing at my doorstep, smelling like baloney. “Don’t tell me you forgot.”“You sure that’s official?” I griped, wanting any way to wriggle my way out of this. “It’s still cold as fuck outside.”“It’s New York, dumbass. It’s always cold.” My mind wrestled with reality, trying to concoct a believable rouse. Instead, my sullen eyes fell down to the Tiki Lounge ticket on the table. It’s mere presence depressed me even more.“You remember what you told me?” Murray said.Of course, I remembered. It w...

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$50

Prize money

544

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 03, 2020 EST

Won by Naomi Coffman 🏆

Title: Spring Queen

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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