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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#99: Summer Solstice

In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21st is the ‘summer solstice’ — the longest day of the calendar year and, in astronomical terms, the beginning of summer. In my part of the world, this season evokes a plethora of scenes: sunbathing on river banks, al fresco dining with friends, and trips to the seaside, all punctuated by the heady scents of summertime — potent florals, sunscreen and food sizzling on the grill.

The solstice celebration has its roots in ancient Paganism — where people would gather at sites like Stonehenge and wear protective garlands of herbs and flowers to ward off the evil spirits who, according to Pagan folklore, walk the earth more freely at this time. From a spiritual standpoint, the solstice is all about embracing the sun and its awesome power. Whether you love basking in the sun or prefer to stay inside with the curtains drawn, I thought this week's prompts could be a way for us Reedsians to mark the advent of summer too. Happy writing!

This week's prompts

Begin your story with somebody watching the sunrise, or sunset.

Fluff – 275 stories

Write about the longest day of the year, or a day that never seems to end.

Summer – 99 stories

End your story with somebody stepping out into the sunshine.

Summer – 211 stories

Write a story about somebody reminiscing on an event that happened many summers ago.

Summer – 217 stories

Write a story about characters going on a summer road trip.

Summer – 104 stories

Stories

“The End of the tunnel” by Kaela Payne

Submitted to Contest #99

“That’s cheating! You have five letters, not four!” Amora said. She was sitting in a dark tunnel, with only a gas lantern to light up the area. She had a blank sheet of paper and a black pen. “Fine. What about horse?” Ezra said. He was sitting in a light-filled tunnel. Letting the sun light up the area. He had a blank sheet of paper and a red pen. Ezra wrote the word horse on the paper, smiling softly. “I guess that could work, how many letters do I have?” Amora asked. She looked on the paper and saw the word horse being written as sh...

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“Of fear, flashbacks and fire” by Dove Hui

Submitted to Contest #99

*** Agoraphobia: The fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn't be available if things go wrong. As I walk down the hallway towards my apartment, I can feel that my breathing and heart rate are slowing down. I know the psychiatrist tells me to challenge my fear, yet I cannot wait to get back to my apartment. Home sweet home, home safe home too, I think. And as I pass my next door neighbour’s apartment, I begin to smile. Home stretch, I think, once again. “How was your visit to the psy-chaiii-triis...

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“Made of the Gray” by Amaranthine Sky

Submitted to Contest #99

The Earth was spinning wildly around a coverlet of gold fastened tight into a ball, whirling while I gasped under the sweat-soaked covers, light flowing through my room. Before I knew it, I was back outside, drifting among banked seaweed and other paraphernalia—which was a better word for litter on the otherwise sandy beach shores.Had my body really kicked back the sparse bedding and knocked books aside, all in preparation for a walk on the beach? If I knew someone worth my time, I’d imagine they’d call me something along the lines of sadist...

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“The Forgotten Waltz” by Z.H Floren

Submitted to Contest #99

Perhaps it was the way the music seemed to be the only thing that rang in Labelle’s ears amongst the crowd of hundreds. Perhaps it was the way the scent of pine and the chorus of leaves rustled against the pitch black sky, that made her feel so utterly alone. Labelle wandered through the tightly dense scene around her, bodies adorned in varying shades of golds to the deepest of blues, and all she ever discerned were her own shallow breathes and the sweat condensing just below her nape. The ball of The Grove raged around her. Dre...

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“Sweet William ” by Cannelle L

Submitted to Contest #99

My heart raced as the cool breeze swept through my hair. The season was changing—summer heat subsiding, slipping into autumn chills. It was the best time for sweet Williams to thrive. Just the thought of their stems reaching and stretching to the sky made me giddy as I ran to your house. I was glad to have the sweet Williams to look forward to. At least, they were much more promising than our initial summer project. We had spent most of June in the field, surrounded by wildflowers, trying to search for fairies. Literally hunting for fai...

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“Kalan, the Winged” by Writing Caia

Submitted to Contest #99

Kalan entered the hall of the high fortress, dragging his body along the ragged, uneven ground until he gathered the strength to rise. Inside, strong currents of air cleaved the interior of the monolith, immediately drying the blood that streaked his body until it turned dark and rusted. Hearing his entry into the nest, the flock, cautiously and curiously, approached the various cave openings that housed them then. Round, lidless, rainbow-colored eyes watched him in silence. The view was superb. In every den, on the various levels of ...

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“Cosmo and Cleon” by Caitlyn Murray

Submitted to Contest #99

(TW: MENTION OF SUICIDE)Only after I died did I notice the way the light shone in through the windows up ahead, down to the station floor and the way people's faces basked in it just for a moment as they passed through, as if through a veil where time melts away and dust sparkles like gold in the flames. The sunlight pools and collects at our feet, and the people walk right through it, never looking down to see the whole of Victoria station glittering and alive. The sunlight passes right through me, with no skin to catch the warmth, no body ...

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“A Puppy for Christmas” by Kayley Dickins

Submitted to Contest #99

He hadn’t intended on remembering the date on which they had been partnered together at work, it had just happened, implanted itself on the inside of his skull awaiting his perusal whenever he desired to peruse. If asked why he remembered it so clearly, he would answer with one of the three explanations he had crafted that he deemed nonsuspicious, the favourite of which was that there was a good game on that day that he had watched at the pub in the evening. This was the favourite story because it was true, and the safest way to tell a lie i...

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“Seventy-Five Not Out” by Barry Smith

Submitted to Contest #99

Seventy-Five Not Out Joy put the postcard down, dried her eyes, and stepped out into the East London morning, sun just rising over the trees opposite. It promised to be a glorious summer day and she had to do a few errands, like she'd done almost every day all her life, one of the things that got her up and out in the mornings. At 82 you needed to keep moving. She'd been talking to Sylvie, her friend of three quarters of a century. She'd shed a tear, not because she was sad, but Sylvie had sent her the card with a particularly smutty joke,...

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“Finally, Something to Crow About” by Sharmila Shankarkumar

Submitted to Contest #99

TW: Attack by a crow It was in the summer of 1984 when the crow first started attacking my father. Boom! It began, just like that. None of us can remember what started it. One day everything was fine, and then the next, my dad was the crow’s sworn enemy, a mortal threat, a foe to be vanquished.The attack would happen when my father left for work in the morning, at 8.30 am. At the time, we had just moved to Delhi for his new job and he was driving his own car to work. This was before he’d secured the perk of getting a chauffeur. Now that I th...

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“Black-Eyed Susan” by Cannelle L

Submitted to Contest #99

There was a black-eyed Susan.Always a black-eyed Susan. I never liked black-eyed Susans, their yellow petals too flashy and flamboyant, their dirt-brown center too dark and dreary to be any Susan’s eye color, yet lately, they seemed to be the only flowers I long for.Out of all the flowers that bloom in summer, she's my favorite. I shot up before the sun even dared rise. One foot stumbling after the other, I staggered out of bed. It was out of habit for me to be sprinting about at such an early hour, but I couldn't help it. It was s...

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“Something Blue” by Briana Spring

Submitted to Contest #99

The first time she walked down the aisle had been magical. Sunlight streamed through the church's high-paned, mosaic windows, casting an orange glow over the guests' beaming faces. Her dress was a dream made of silk; pearl-white and long-trained, trailing behind her on the red carpet. A symphony of sweet-sounding violins accompanied her parade down the aisle. She held lilac flowers in her hands; fresh-smelling and full of life. She had seen the photographs later, and she could never understand how the camera had captured her in a way that ...

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“Letting you go ” by Hannah Jin Geromo

Submitted to Contest #99

I woke up as the sun light caresses my cheeks. I sat down and look at my phone. '7:35 am April 10th' I smiled and prepared to leave. I wore the dress my best friend gave me and looked at the mirror to admire myself, I sighed, I tied my hair in a half up bun and put on my necklace.I dusted my dress, took my things and went out." Barrette and necklace double check,bag check,helmet check,phone, keys, wallet, triple check... I think I'm ready to go" I put on my helmet and rode my bike. I smiled as the wind touches my face.I stopped outside a sho...

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“Arkansas” by Stephenie Domenico

Submitted to Contest #99

“You’re in my space!”“Nuh-uh! She’s in your space. Just shove her over. She’s sleeping, she won’t know.” “Why can’t you just move?”“I can’t move! I don’t have any more space!”Mom closed her eyes and heaved a sigh before half turning in her seat and snapping, “Stop that bickering!” She glared at them both and there was silence for half a beat before a chorus of protests filled the air. She turned her glare on her husband in the driver's seat. He had the air of a man who was unaware of the presence of others in his space.“Sean, do so...

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“Always listen to the Creepy Gas Station Guy” by Yvette Francaise

Submitted to Contest #99

We stopped at a run down gas station, and in front stood the dirty, and creepy looking owner. He was missing a few teeth and looked cranky. Part of me understood, it felt like a hundred degrees today. "Hey, can we get some gas?" My friend Betty asked chewing some gum loudly. Her white summer dress blew in a warm breeze. She stood with her arms crossed glaring at the man until he finally answered. "Yeah, we sell gas." He retorted sarcastically. "If I was you, I would turn your car around. Teenagers been missing 'round these here p...

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$50

Prize money

909

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 25, 2021 EST

Won by Tom Vandel 🏆

Title: The Men and the Lake

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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