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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#86: Springtime Flowers

March 21st may be considered the first day of Spring by many, but Mother Nature doesn't always agree. Depending on where you live, the daffodils could be showing their sunny faces or still hibernating under frozen soil.

For me, it’s usually a mix. Here you can be wearing shorts one day and shoveling snow the next, but one thing is consistent: as soon as the weather warms up, I’m bursting outside to gulp down that fresh air and watch the world come back to life. This week, regardless of what the weather actually holds, let’s celebrate the season of rebirth and renewal. After all, in our imaginations the sun can always be shining and the birds can always be chirping!

This week's prompts

Set your story at a park during a spring festival.

Spring – 82 stories

Write about a character coming out of a long hibernation (either literal or metaphorical).

Spring – 158 stories

Write a fairy tale about someone who can communicate with woodland creatures.

Kids – 168 stories

Start your story with one character pointing out the first sign of spring to another.

Spring – 107 stories

Write a story where flowers play a central role.

Spring – 278 stories

Stories

“Crocuses” by Ananya Voss

Submitted to Contest #86

The broken droplets of glass seemed to shatter and shimmer within her ears; not only was the sound a discordant jangle but also the sharp tiny pin pricks of the cruel edges of this rolling underpass she was travelling down were mercilessly rubbing and crushing within her ear drum. Leena rolled her head from side to side on the edge of sleep and awakening, attempted to shake herself out of the cold, suffocating tunnel with the barbarous spikes; pointy fingers were slowly closing in on her. She tossed and wriggled around, trying to open her st...

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“In Bloom, You Wither” by Paul Ferguson

Submitted to Contest #86

Tulips. Always were one of his favorites. The gate up to his family estate lay open, flanked on both sides by flowers in bloom. Daffodils, buttercups and of course a wide array of tulips. None like the one I possessed however. The dreary mood about me had been alleviated somewhat, gazing at his cultivated beauty, but it still hurt to know what came next. Walking up to the house, guards were stationed at every entrance per my instruction, having already scouted ahead in-case of some trickery. Yet, Domenico was not a man to deceive even the ...

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“The Hibernation” by David Dicaire

Submitted to Contest #86

The Hibernation It was deep in the forest an area that few if any had ever entered. The trees were tall, majestic, the foliage was thick, apparently impenetrable. The snow that the sun could fire at had melted, but the white crystals that managed to fall out of the zone remained like a lump of grey cauliflower. Amid all of the changing face of nature was a hut almost totally unseen. In fact, if someone was foolhardy enough to try and break through the thick foliage of this particular area, they would probably miss it. The...

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“Ice Adonis” by Favour Ori

Submitted to Contest #86

I should be in a flower farm where I would be well nurtured and be the haven of bees and butterflies, my petals ornament to cause the shine in human eyes, I should fill a room with the sweetness of my fragrance and be the envy of weeds but here I am lost within hard ground with no glimpse of light.It was the peak of winter in Seoul, thick snow blankets covered the street while lamps and asphalt were adorned with frostings. Couples in fur jacket and hand knitted shawl walked hand in hand into the movie theater just opposite Hwarang floristry ...

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“The Peace Lily” by Aimee Sanders

Submitted to Contest #86

I bought you chocolates and you bought me a peace lily. You told me that this lily, like it’s name, represents peace and tranquility. It was a fitting gift for an apology and made me feel insecure about the thoughtless box of chocolates I had given you. The reason behind the apology gifts seems so pointless now. We were in our last year of high school and we had both had agreed to go to the same university in the next city over to study English. I had been busy planning out what classes we could take when you shocked me by saying you n...

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“The Mill Road” by Thomas Philbrick

Submitted to Contest #86

I The man stared at the ceiling. His feet hung off the side of the bed. A distant lawnmower buzzed in and out of the afternoon and a soft breeze pulled at the saturated room. He closed his eyes. . . . Again the lawnmower wafted into the room. “Damn lawnmowers.” He leapt to his feet when his phone rang. It was the post office in Errol. A package had arrived for him. He thanked the caller and checked his email, hoping for something from the firm. Nothing. He started the truck and pulled out onto Route 26 without looking. He knew ther...

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“Stems” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #86

She loves him not. He sets the daisy stem in his box, leaning back against the tree. The box is full of bare stems, of imaginary rejections that have never actually been given. All those petals doing it for her. A car door slams. He tucks the behind himself out of her line of view. She doesn't need to see his collection of cowardice. "Hi Icarus!" she calls out, attempting to collect all of her shopping bags in her arms. She lives on the second floor above him, and he knows how much she hates making a second trip. He thinks it's b...

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“Spring Fair” by Christian Hinrichsen

Submitted to Contest #86

Spring Fair Jordero, Spring Festival Bards are dancing in the street with other street performers. They are celebrating the Spring Fair for the agricultural deity Mother Gaia. The festival celebrates the new season of agricultural goods and commerce. Traveling the back-roads today is Merrill and his recent newlywed wife Asa. The two are dressed in their best clothes as they shake hands and exchange hugs with the good people of Jordero In the distance Jerrin exchanges arrows with his druid girlfriend Kayla Long. The two practice their ar...

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“Spring-it-on / A Beltane festival of fate. #1” by Isabelle Jardim

Submitted to Contest #86

Spring-it-on! A Beltane festivals if fate: Everything was set, long table after long table draped in cream coloured table cloths, knitted in the spring festival or Sabbath as the local wise folk called it Beltane colours. Orange, reds and pinks laid along the tables as place mats with plates and cutlery gently resting atop them. Four tall trees had been stripped of their branches and leaves; sanded and oiled prepared as may polls for the blessed day. One towards each corner of the open field not far from the town of Salem in Massachus...

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“Backyard Coercion” by Tammie Elliott

Submitted to Contest #86

“Come here and talk to me,” Lily pleaded. “I’m just so angry and I need someone to talk to.” “So, talk, I can hear you just fine. What’s he done now? Lily put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Why can’t you just stop what you’re doing for a minute?” “Because I can’t,” Brady said. “Are you going to tell me or not?” She dropped into the lawn chair, flipping her hair behind a shoulder. “I made him dinner. I cooked his favorite steak and he won’t eat it. Evidently you aren’t supposed to boil a filet. It’s cooked. I don’t see the problem.”...

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“sunflower” by Niké A.

Submitted to Contest #86

His eyes were closed but the boy could still feel the sun beating down on his face. He willed his racing thoughts to silence and instead mindlessly basked in the heat of the sunset. Crickets began to chirp from their hiding spots in the tall grass, a hearty chorus taking hold in the otherwise calm evening air. A car horn blared somewhere in the distance, but the boy couldn't be bothered to care at that moment. For the first time in a long time, life was simple and he was content with that. After a while, the boy rolled...

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“Metamorphosis” by Shoaib Khan

Submitted to Contest #86

'Confused' that's what my mind was able to register at the moment. Confused and alone. The world around me didn't make sense, neither did my body. My hands and feet felt numb in this incomprehensible universe I found myself in. Everything was a murky purple shade; the sky and theground. I was standing on absolute nothingness. I tried to remember where I was. I tried to understand where I was but all that came to mind were distant jagged thoughts. Why can't I remember anything? I tried, desperately to cling onto faded memories that seemed for...

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“Here Come the Sun” by Jennifer Engel

Submitted to Contest #86

Do, do, do, doDo, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, doThe sound of an acoustic guitar was reaching her ears, slowly luring her out of a state of heaviness into the grogginess of being some-what conscious. The lyrics of the song began to kick in now: Here comes the sun, do, do, doHere comes the sun, And I say, it’s alright. Is it though? She rolled over asking herself. Little darling, it's been a long, cold, lonely winterLitter darling, it seems like years since it’s been here. It sure has. Reaching for her cell phone that ...

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“THE TRANSFORMED BIBULOUS CHAP” by Kennedy Safari

Submitted to Contest #86

Mutune had just excelled in the in the national exams and joined the best university in the country. The bloke being lithe and supple in body physique, he was gifted in class, very adroit and intelligent. He was always the top student in his entire academia. His desire was was to be be a barrister. Even in debate clubs, he had profound knowledge and savvy epitomizing a good debater, true demeanor and disposition that mirrors solicitors who litigate in the courtrooms. Mutune was in his right career path!Mdiambo was his alias name and moniker....

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“Changing signs changing times” by Kathy Landes

Submitted to Contest #86

The two bear cubs were about 8 months old. They had been having a great time learning to climb, swim, hunt and play. Their mother had spent a few months finding them a really nice cave to hibernate in and made sure their bellies were full before they settled in for their winter sleep. The winter months were harsh with deep snow and sub-zero wind chill. The cubs had never experienced winter and when they first got to the cave wanted to play. Mother bear let them frolic and went on the prowl for one more kill. They snow had come early th...

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$50

Prize money

797

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 26, 2021 EST

Won by Scott Skinner 🏆

Title: Flowering Walrus

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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