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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

“Summer Vacation Summer Road Trip” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #99

Finally, it's summer vacation. You don't know how long I've been waiting for this day to come. Two months of fun and sun.Tomorrow me Aaliyah and my two best friends Clara and Reagan are going on an adventure of a life time. A once in a life time trip. We are going cross country from New York to California by train.I'm so excited to go. I've been talking about going on this trip since forever and now the day is finally here.Right now, I'm preparing my bags for the trip. I'm only taking one duffel bag and my camera. I'm going to document this ...

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“Purple Scales” by Simone T

Submitted to Contest #99

“Oh man, that’s a nice van,” I gazed longingly at the vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. The back window was covered in dirt, there were dents along the side doors and the bumper was hanging off on one side. But still, a nice van. “Hey, Luce, I bet you can’t spruce it up,” Lucinda glared at me for a moment before responding. “You rhymed two times too many in the past minute. I mean, I know you’re a poet or whatnot but I can only handle so much, Davie.” “A bard, if you please,” I responded, voice going high and reedy. Lucinda ...

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“SUMMER ROAD TRIP” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #99

Women and children were sitting in the front row of the van while the men folk were busy talking and they were seated at the back. They were arguing rather debating over current politics. The little girl Rajani was holding a small nylon cover outside the window and was enjoying it when it got inflated looked like a balloon. As she was holding it on the opposite side of the moving van, the wind was blowing on it and helped it. Her sister Ramya, was guiding her to hold it strong or else it would fly off. In fact, she was the one who started it...

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“Trip of a Lifetime” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #99

TRIP OF A LIFETIME Harry double-checked that he had remembered to pack everything. He pulled out the list that he had been carrying around in his pocket for weeks — since this trip had first been planned. Everything was ready to go. It was eight a.m., and they were right on schedule. He hopped into the van, started the engine, and dropped it into gear. Before he left the driveway, he turned to his wife, Eleanor, and said, “All set?” They were on the road for an epic trip cross the country — their Greatest Hits...

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“Escaping sadness” by Silvia Vangelova

Submitted to Contest #99

The car was humming quietly and Izzy stood beside it, leaning on the right back door. Given her stance on cars, it was a strange place to find comfort. However, her thoughts were effortlessly following the same rhythm as the monotonous sound of the engine. Her heart, on the other hand, had taken on a much slower melody. Izzy was so used to her sadness, that it actually felt normal. Even at that moment. But it wasn’t. Sadness should be reserved for special occasions, rare moments that have really earned the heaviness of this fundamental...

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“Good Night” by Aisha Khan

Submitted to Contest #99

Saman still didn't know Asad, but there must've been some good in him for him to scavenge and unearth someone who could help her. That's how they ended up in a four-person, Honda BR-V car to the North. Most people would have gone road tripping solely to escape the merciless summer heat in Punjab, but they were not like most people, even if it was June currently. Even Asad's friend who had arranged the lodge booking in the hill station assumed they were heading for their honeymoon. Asad didn't correct him. Neither Asad nor Saman liked the sum...

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“Joey” by Linda Smith

Submitted to Contest #99

As the sun sets low in the sky,the purple glow looked amazing, Tina watched the sun set,waiting for the wildlife to come in for a feed. She did this every night at dusk. Tina a carer for Joeys that had lost their mum to road kill. She,being a carer for many years,waited as the made their way in from the bush,as they jumped in for a feed and greeted her on the patio,Tina noticed a big buck not seen by her before. She knew them all as she had raised them from joeys. But this one was new to the mob. She walked out with her grain to feed them. A...

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“The Grinch Is Not Stealing My Joy Today” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #99

The glowing sun, a perfectly crisp orange circle in the bloody sky illuminated the path across the water. I sat for hours until the sun dipped below the horizon and the colors changed to charcoal black. The news came in a phone call. I knew that it would be bad news. The tone in the doctor’s voice told me all I needed to know. I didn’t need to hear the words. I already knew the words because I had said them to myself many times. I told the doctor calmly that I would make an appointment for next week. I lied. I had no intention of makin...

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“Brightest Star” by Kiki Abbi

Submitted to Contest #99

My mother was the brightest star to ever walk the planet. She as well admired the other star that shined but not as bright, the sun. She used to wake up extra early just to see it rise. She would go in my room and wake me up. She would carry me in her arms and take me to our porch. We would sit on the wooden rocking chair together and she'd smile as the sun came out.She loved the beautiful colors. The shades of orange, pink and yellow made my mother's face light up. "Milo, I am as the sun", she would say. "I rise and I fall. But in the end I...

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“End of Time” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #99

Standing on the sand, fresh, a new beginning, knowing that no matter what trespasses on the day, it will be different tomorrow. Wiped clean by the tide of a new day, the imprints of a previous time, only a memory of those who left them. We stand watching as the ocean has ceased to roll as it once did. It no longer brings in the hope and promise it once did, now, it brings only questions, when answers are what we crave, need.I marvel at the lavender colored sky. The future not bright enough to burn off the disappointment t...

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“Halo” by Elle D.

Submitted to Contest #99

His heartbeat is steady as his eyes wash over vibrant hues painting the sky, a profusion of purple, orange, red—all so elegant in their form. He can hear the waves crash as the tide rises before his position on the shore, relaxed against the sand. The sunset is always beautiful, the way the stellar phenomenon in the clouds drops below the horizon until the sky bleeds into a profound onyx, the stars looking like twinkling Christmas lights—almost begging for one to reach out and touch. “It’s magical, isn’t it?” asks Gemma from beside h...

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“Silver bracelet” by Taquindle Remington

Submitted to Contest #99

“Watching the sunset never gets old,” I thought to myself. Its magnificent golden glow mixed in with the reddish sky only added to the marvelous scene. “Grandpa, how come you're always watching the sunset,” my grandson asked, walking over to where I sat perched in my rocking chair outside. “Well, Joseph,” I said clearing my throat, “There’s a certain type of validity in watching the sunset. When it goes down here, it is rising somewhere else. When it is no longer our light, it beco...

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“Laika” by Charlie A

Submitted to Contest #99

Moscow The sun was setting. It was cold and Laika was hungry again. “food, more food.” There were others nearby. “water.” She’d been attacked the night before. “this isn’t food.” The others had been after her for a piece of bread. “do they have bread?” She flips her head around suddenly. Different light now. From down the alley. “food?? there could be others.” Laika wanders towards the new light to a fire on the street. The others huddled around it. “you have food? this is warm.” A new sound. A can or a bottle. The others bark defian...

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“They're Like Ocean Waves” by Veda Keda

Submitted to Contest #99

Melanie stood at the beach, the orange sun slowly withdrawing into the ocean. Her eyes were foggy with tears. She let herself get sucked into the nostalgic air that swarmed around the beach along with the setting sun. She wanted to try her best to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but she couldn't. She couldn't because she was filled with hate. Melanie hated the ocean. She hated the beach. She hated the salty sea breeze that would hit her nose and last all day in her hair and on her skin. The worst part was that she hated the memories, and she ...

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“Heliotropium” by Anna Carter

Submitted to Contest #99

*Heliotropium – “The name ‘heliotrope’ derives from the old idea that the inflorescences of these plants turned their rows of flowers to the sun.[5] Ἥλιος (helios) is Greek for ‘sun’, τρέπειν (trepein) means ‘to turn’" *Wikipedia There are many tales of nymphs that loved the tricks and faults of selfish gods. Some found a way to escape bad fate some had less luck and washed away You see when gods of old and new look down at nymphs that looked up too, they fall in love quite abruptly and the love once pure turns rather ugly Long gone...

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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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