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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

“Long Rites of Day” by Joe S

Submitted to Contest #99

The gorge's name was Tybus. A crooked lesion of sun bleached sandstone and exposed shale, marked by the passage of a dead river bed. Yellow sunlight swallowed the gorge in its predatory immensity, locked leech-like upon the crooked stone like some eternal unavoidable predator, weathering the fissured rise of rock on either side. A fitty place for endings. Valen suppressed a shudder at the sight, closing his eyes to the oppressive sunlight glaring all around him. He breathed deep, fe...

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“In Just One Day” by Philip Baker

Submitted to Contest #99

Under the protection of the slanted rainbow umbrella, rooted inside the infinitesimal grain of the sand that was light enough for the wind to blow around as he pleased, there stood Alice over a blue-white striped deck-chair with wooden frame in the color of the beach and tenuous hair carefully skewed in her face to hide the strong reflection of the sunlight. She had planned this trip months ago for the summer, with her boyfriend Michael who was lying with his sunglasses on, right next to her and she had finally managed to get the much...

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“The Cursed Summer Solstice” by Penny Polendina

Submitted to Contest #99

June 21st. Summer solstice. The longest day of the year. Well…here we go. I believe summer solstices are jerks. You know, like how they last forever? When you stare at the sky, and the sun seems to be moving at snail-pace? And then you go, come onnnn sun! Just let this stupid day be over! I usually like writing stories. Crossovers, picking up unfinished plot threads in my favorite anime, and those activities drag the ...

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“The Earth Strikes Back” by Rami Dhanoa

Submitted to Contest #99

Inhaling the crisp morning air in the first moments of wakeful consciousness, I realized with glee that I hadn't overslept, especially on such an important day. Arising from my stack of sleeping mats bundled together for makeshift comfort, I walked toward the mouth of the cave I was sleeping in, and peered outside. A vast vista of barely illuminated mountain peaks were starting to make themselves visible, painted a prominent pink-orange by the light of the rising sun. The birds were as of yet silent, and with the wind barely blowing through ...

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“Claritas” by Ashley Cramer

Submitted to Contest #99

Clara sits down by the shore, pushing her toes into the sand, listening to the waves crash over the rocks and watching their spray become momentarily illuminated by the glow of the moon. She hears a bell from the hills above, the second bell of the night, and knows it is time to return for prayer. Every night, those that remain in Ingquea gather at the altar that graces the highest point in the village to pray humanity will one day walk in the light again. Nobody that Clara knows has ever been able to walk under the sun. Almost three centuri...

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“The Light” by JaCinda Walls

Submitted to Contest #99

I could feel the chains tying me to the wall rattle as I moved. It was almost time to eat and I was getting ready for the food to be slung under the door, but that didn't happen this time. I heard the bolt sliding and felt my panic rising as I watched the door that hadn't opened in years slowly creak inch by inch. Once the door was done creaking I saw HIM step through; the Catcher was what the others had called him. I had been alone for so long I almost forgot about the others.. The other women and men who had sat in here with me, ate food w...

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“The Room. ” by A Raye

Submitted to Contest #99

TW: confinement, abuse, sexual assault/rape, physical violence, death. The Girl was 18, maybe 19, but looked like she was a preteen. Skin and bones, from lack of nutrition. Pale with dark crescents under her eyes. Eyes so gray they looked like the sky before a thunderstorm, with clouds and haunted memories behind pupils. Full lips, cracked and dry, the same color as her skin, corners pulled downwards. Cheeks sunken in, body hunched over in defeat. Below her waist lay stringy, unkempt chestnut brown hair, lifeless from years of g...

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“THE MAZE DIAMOND” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #99

(This story is set in earth’s twin planet GAIA2 which is about 800 years younger and is evolving.) Vex was a very rich man on the island and he dealt in jewellery and precious stones. He was elderly and had a very young and very good-looking wife Sigma, but he was a miser and denied his bijoux to her. Sigma was very popular and knew a lot of people in the island. One of them was the notorious burglar Zig. Zig was a young man slim and tall and had his eyes and even more on Sigma. Vex kept his stock in trade in a building alongside his own whe...

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“Home” by Dodie Foster

Submitted to Contest #99

’10...’ The countdown began. ‘9...’ The voice over the tannoid was croaky and hoarse, ‘8...’ And the bad quality of the speakers made it muffled too. ‘7...’ Someone started to cry out for their family. ‘6...’ They were a few rows behind me. ‘5...’ Some other people began to call out for families. ‘4...’ People began to move around, ‘3...’ Grasping at each other in one last goodbye. ‘2...’ The floor began to shake. ‘1...’ I closed my eyes. ‘0...’ Something lighted up in a passionate white and I suddenly felt heavy. I couldn’t control my body ...

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“Hollywood Stories ” by Jacob Mathews

Submitted to Contest #99

I was just joking. I didn’t think the fucker would actually show me his hot wheels collection. Also, who keeps their hot wheel collection on their yacht? This guy is a billionaire and I have no idea how. Regardless, I’m trapped in a sex dungeon on a moving boat with no idea how to get out. There is a deeper explanation to how I got there. My friends and I got invited to a who’s who of Hollywood party due to my ability to make friends. I have no intention of ever being an actor, director, or writer. I just love to be around it, and apparently...

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“Number One” by Cheza Vidal

Submitted to Contest #99

“Everything in place?” Golga waved the severed hand in front of me. From the darkness underneath her eyes, I could tell she was exhausted. Her lips were chapped from lack of water, and her scalp showed traces of dandruff from the lack of a good shower. I stood there, cool as a cucumber, hands crossed and my back against the cold, hard metal wall that made up the infrastructure of Slugmine. I slowly nod, my eyes focused on the hand, then back at the body in front of her. The Boltcrusher was made up of magnificent circuitry and perfe...

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“Sunlight of Sorrow” by Karen Socorro

Submitted to Contest #99

And there she was: standing on the edge of goodbye, among the broken pieces of a love that couldn’t last. Her curly, golden hair fell on her shoulders in a way that always made me lose control; so careless and yet so cynical. She had the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen: grey, reflecting all the sadness of her past lives. And her body, so splendid that I could get lost in it, with the curves in the exact place, that made her look so human, so real. The first months of our love were even better than the ones described in the movies. We were...

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“The Devil's Tunnel” by DAVIS SSENOGA

Submitted to Contest #99

A Devil's TunnelThe tunnel was pitch black, and the thought of us escaping from the hands of the rebels was one that run across my mind and made my flesh crawl. The sound of bullets could hardly be heard and the screams were faint apart from the panting of our own hearts, we were left with no choice but to run into a dark tunnel. The look at my sister's bruised leg was a lamp in my throat, she was off color. She sat with hunched shoulders, a furrowed forehead and her face contorted as though she was struggling not to cry. Her grey eyebrows l...

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“THROUGH THE DARK FOREST” by The B Twins

Submitted to Contest #99

THROUGH THE DARK FOREST “Hey are you guys coming in my party tonight?” asked Dave to everyone on the conference call. Everyone excitedly replied “Yes!” except for Sam. “We haven’t met in a while. You should definitely come.” insisted Benjamin. “I really want to. But I have got extra classes tomorrow. You guys have fun. Maybe will see you all next time.” said Sam. “Sure, but classes are more important.” said Alex. “We’ll miss you bro!” added Rosie. The hall was decorated with artificial flowers, dancing lights, a huge loud-speaker from whic...

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“Peter” by Celia Hyland

Submitted to Contest #99

Bodil admires the slight tan she has achieved as she stretches her long, slim arms up towards the branches of the apple tree. A dappled shade flickers across the perambulator parked beside her as little Pamela lies sleeping, her blanket clutched tightly in one podgy fist. She had so desperately wanted to make a good first impression when Charles had been hired by the school to join the mathematics department. Now the academic year is over, she can enjoy some peace in the school grounds. Bodil is painfully aware she hasn't helped her ...

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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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