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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

“Cresthill Spring Festival” by Leila Hodgett

Submitted to Contest #86

“I never thought I’d be grateful to see a patch of dirt,” Keela mumbled, tossing the picnic blanket to Sophie. People around them shot dirty looks, particularly the ones that had been going for their spot. Sophie laughed. “Why not?” “Because it’s dirt,” Keela said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She plopped onto the baby blue blanket Sophie had rolled out. “Maybe you’d be happy to see the organisms living in the dirt-I bet they’re hurt right now,” Sophie commented. Keela shrugged. “I’m pretty sure they’re hu...

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“Daisy” by Joey Olivier

Submitted to Contest #86

Estella was going to cry. She had lost her best friend in the writhing mass of bodies at the Spring Music Festival. I didn’t even want to come here, she thought. Georgia made me come. She fought her through the crowd trying to spot her friend’s pastel purple hair, but it was no use. Turning around, she dodged elbows and legs until she was finally at the edge of the crowd. Estella walked to the tent that she and Georgia were supposed to share when she heard the noises coming from inside. Unbelievable. Georgia had ditched her for a random st...

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“To a Better Place” by Molly DePinto

Submitted to Contest #86

Every person has their own happy place, whether it's the beach, the mountains, or some other gloriously privileged spot. The places people are the most happy in always seem to be in a spot of luxury, where the expenses are not usually worth the days off. No one ever looks at what they already have, what they've already seen, but I know I'm not like that. At least, I strive to appreciate what's in front of me. -- "I can't tell you how excited I am for this years' show, Madeline! We are all counting on your efforts you know, but after last ...

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“Black and White ” by Ryan Johnson

Submitted to Contest #86

Mister White took in a deep breath of cool spring air. The lights and sounds of the festival added to his brightening mood. Spring was finally here.Mister Black huffed, “I hate when you do that” he said. His voice was more of a growl then anything resembling his innocent old man visage.Mister White looked to him. Mister Blacks eyes were scanning the crowd. Mister White knew what he was doing. He was Looking for eyes that will connect with him. So, he can see into the future of one of them. See their fate. “What did I do” Mister White sa...

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“Snith Monument ” by Nazneen Nahar Ananna

Submitted to Contest #86

Snith Monument "What a pretty death!Yeah!I am dying with a heart full of contentment and a memory full of love.I am loving to die. Just one request. Please don't forget me." - Snith closed her eyes with these last words. He even didn’t give us a single opportunity to try to save him. "What happened, Twiline?" "Nothing, baby. Let's enter the park." I saw Twiline to be crying. She was crying continuously seeing the big monument of Snith. I was really shocked. Twiline is crying! I am Rithin, an orphan. I grew up in an o...

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“Just One Flower” by Teresa Fairhurst

Submitted to Contest #86

‘Oh Mike, it’s wonderful.’ Ned watched as his parents looked around them with big smiles on their faces. A spring festival. That was all it took to make them happy. They loved anything to do with plants, flowers, gardening. He didn’t though. So why had he agreed to come along with them? He followed them towards where all the stalls and exhibitions were, feeling a bit mean to have thought that. It had been a long and difficult winter. His mother had been very ill with a chest infection that had led to pneumonia, and his dad had taken time o...

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“The Spring Festival” by Kate Cornwell

Submitted to Contest #86

The Spring Festival was always my favorite event of the year. I honestly loved the Spring Festival more than I loved Christmas. Christmas was always stressful around our house because all it meant was Grandma was coming into town and she would inevitably say something horrible to mom or I and we would spend the rest of her trip trying to avoid her. One problem with Grandma – other than she the fact that she only likes my father – is that she is not very mobile on her...

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“Released” by Grace Bowler

Submitted to Contest #86

Grace BowlerA Spring Festival Story25 March 2021ReleasedAlana kissed the top of Hayley’s head, smiling softly. Her sister stirred a little but didn’t wake up. Her curls fell in her flushed face, her cheeks too pink for her caramel skin.Fifteen was too young to be this sick.There was nothing Alana could do about it. The doctor would be here in a few hours, and Alana couldn’t be around for it. Hayley had insisted that it was okay, that she could take care of herself. Alana had hesitantly agreed. The truth was, she needed to get out. She’d...

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“The Springtime of Love” by Secret Diary

Submitted to Contest #86

It had been one hell of a day. My eyelids were getting heavy and I was completely worn out. Maybe exhaustion was taking its toll on me, or maybe I was getting old. I felt sore all over. Only the thought that I was still in my workplace and I needed to go home and cook kept me from falling into deep slumber right then and there. 'Guess I should head home now, it's this late. Neil must've already left' I thought and giggled. That roommate of mine, was really something. Always smiling. And not to mention the fact that he had been my partner...

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“My Blanket has a Mind of its Own” by Sam Harvey

Submitted to Contest #86

Did I ever tell you about the time my blanket tried to kill someone? Yeah, it’s quite the story. And I swear, it’s totally true. You see, it all started when I was at the park totally minding my own business. I mean, I guess I wasn’t totally minding my own business because I was on Earth and not our plane. As you might know, we are occasionally able to travel to another plane of existence. One that doesn’t have magic, at least not the kind that we are used to. I guess the closest thing to magic they have there is neurochemicals. Melatonin, ...

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“The Golden Boy & The Ugly Duckling” by Susannah Webster

Submitted to Contest #86

When Tristan Stellan had tapped on my window, I had expected something much more illegal. Nevertheless, I was not disappointed. “You like it?” Here we are, dangerously out of breath, bodies heaving on the street, staring upside down at the Spring Festival in all its glory. Perhaps not all of it, lights down and all, but the dark intrigue more than makes up for them. It all stands there, silent and inviting: Rhonda’s funnel cakes, the old spin coaster, a new Ferris wheel, and the tacky dance floor. It emanates Easter eggs and danger and tul...

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“Spring Angel” by David Zasloff

Submitted to Contest #86

It was such an enormous park. Had to be two miles from end to end. Walking all the way through it was a hell of a job – in full costume and with thousands of Spring Fair participants milling around, it was next to impossible. But Gerry made it, waving to the people the whole way and daydreaming about the dirty martinis waiting for him when this shift was over. Three children raced over as he got started, shouting his character's name - “Buddy! Buddy! Buddy!” And slammed full-speed right into his legs. Nearly knocked him over. He patted the...

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“To Fill the Chasm that Rumbles” by Raymond Bouchard

Submitted to Contest #86

“I know this a lot to take in.”Somewhere, waves crashed against a shore, pulling back to reveal the pale flesh of the beach before engulfing it again. The moon, here, is a pervert, the beach pulls her bodice up.“She was calm going out, peaceful. It was like she was asleep.”Their fight, all this teasing, is both loud and soothing. Concentrate just enough and maybe your mind will pull up that phantom cacophony. Maybe, you too could hear that conch’s echo, maybe the conch should stop listening in to their fights, maybe the conch should’ve been ...

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“13 Flags” by Rachel Campbell

Submitted to Contest #86

What happens when a narcissist and a co-dependent form a relationship? Fireworks in the beginning and heartache in the end. It’s a match made in hell that should never have the chance to flourish. Regret forms the basis of my story, or self-imposed hibernation on love, that began in 2015. I saw his picture on a dating site and it drew me in like a magnet. No matter how many other profiles that I looked at, I kept returning to his. I had to get to know this man. I messaged him several times over several months before he ever responded to me...

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“Chained ” by Ashley Marie

Submitted to Contest #86

The diamond sparkles on my neck, reminding me of the day we consummated our relationship. We sat underneath the veil of night, atop a domed hill blanketed in grass and soot, sealed away from the obligations of the outside world. Beneath us, the city rumbled to life, but out there, under the influence of natural nothingness, urgency had ceased to exist. I was content to sit in agreeable stillness, to watch the blue moon waltz behind the clouds, but you had other plans.You stared into my lovestruck eyes and reflected on the last six months of ...

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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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