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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

“Solstice for a Doomsday Bot” by Kaitlyn Melbourne

Submitted to Contest #99

It is 8:47 pm, and the sun is setting. 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 43 seconds have passed since I was placed outside for an unknown reason. I am D-18570, Doomsday Bot. I am tasked with keeping one family safe and happy in a bunker to outlast the decay that has spread across the continent. This bunker houses two men and their daughter, Myla. Myla was the one who put me out here, as per the request of her father, Tom. I believe they do not want to celebrate solstice with a robot and would prefer it be between t...

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“Someone watching the sunrise” by Farheen M.ali

Submitted to Contest #99

The desire didn't last long, that the weather would be cold. When the Sun took a breath and yawned on the cloud … It was sweltering hot in July, 56 degrees in the city. Hot enough to scald a lizard. Honey bees were hovering around the hives and some were sitting to watch the sunrise."Ah! Another hottest day…" said one bee who was sitting on the lightest twig of the tree and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Then the next one reminded them, "but we have to go to fulfill our duty. If we don't go, how would we make honey?" The small ...

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“Sunset love” by Pink Lemon

Submitted to Contest #99

Watching the sunset has always been romantic, as I sat with my soon to be husband on the yellow picnic blanket with the white checker pattern here was a big sigh in his chest, “what’s wrong my love” he looks at me with his big puppy dog eyes “the sunset is so beautiful but do you know what is the most beautiful thing?” I’m guessing he will say to me “it's you love” just as the sun finished setting and the starry sky was coming he kissed me with his soft lips. The screaming howls of Charlie wakes me for the fourth time to...

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“A New Dawn” by Janet Thorley

Submitted to Contest #99

After opening the door to the camper van, Dawn pops the deckchair out before retreating back inside to grab a blanket and her coffee. The distant crowing rouses the sun, sending out its reminder that it’s time to throw the covers off and stir. Wrapped up, her gaze drifts and she watches as the reddish-orange haze begins its ascent above the horizon and notices the aroma of citrus wafting across the field. The green grass glistens when the light rays catch the blades and, after days of continual rain, it is a welcome sight. Although the summe...

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“Flowers without Vase” by Akanksha Verma

Submitted to Contest #99

The Sepia creased wrapper was left torn on the floor of her bedroom. She was measuring her pulses when the ringing clock flustered a gasp out of her breath, which was already stolen. The wood was glistening, the shadow enlarging. with every second her thoughts were left out of time. There was no warning through the windows. Just the haze of the morning lightening the paper, darkening her inside. But she knew there was a part of covering she had forgiven regarding the possibility. She’d left as a witness of her pain that she can pull wit...

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“Plastic Chairs” by Sheri-Ann Swayne

Submitted to Contest #99

Sam didn't exactly know what he was doing here. He was sitting in a damp outdoor chair that had paint peeling on the back and grass stains on the front legs. He could feel the cold from the cool plastic seep into his legs despite the warm April air. Well, he reasoned, it was a chilly evening. Night just barely touching the golden horizon below the trees. Years ago, night was a time when all the best things happened. It was a time when all but the streetlights and headlights were on. It was a time when all the windows came down and all his sp...

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“Sunset Summer” by Rebecca Hackney

Submitted to Contest #99

Destiny watched as the sun dipped down below the trees creating another beautiful sunset. She captured the moment with her camera then looked down at it to review the pictures she took of the maternity session. Destiny loved taking pictures around this time of day when the sun was starting to set; it created such a unique background. Pleased with the pictures and with the sun gone for the day she headed back to her car. She got in and sent a text to her babysitter letting her know she was on the way to pick up her daughter. Fifteen minutes l...

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“Some dream” by Lilou Sharma

Submitted to Contest #99

"Miss, do you live here?" A voice from below interrupted my thoughts. A middle aged man, with black hair, and a beard, wearing grey pants and a faded orange tshirt, was standing on the terrace, with one hand on the ladder that was fixed to the tank. "Erm..no, I'm just visiting my grandmother. 203, Meera? She seems to have gone out, the flat was locked, so I came here, to watch the sunsent and stuff. I'm sorry, is this a restricted area?" I asked, from where I was standing on the tank, and contemplated how to climb down the l...

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“Pure Soul” by Lata Bhatta

Submitted to Contest #99

“Look,” he says, pointing to the sky. I splash water in his direction one last time and glance up. It’s so beautiful. The sun is swimming down into the trees. There are sparks of red and pink. Is the sun melting? “Grandpa? Didn’t you say the sun would stop shining forever someday?”The redness begins to spread and it mixes into the clouds.“Yes, I surely did.”“It looks like it’s bleeding.”“And do you know what that means, Jean?”The water is starting to get cold and the rocks at the bottom feel chiller. “What does that mean?”“It means...

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“Good Morning and Welcome to the Sunrise With Jesus” by Renata Fernandes

Submitted to Contest #99

Sunrise with Jesus is a show that goes up on an Indian channel called Goodness TV at sharp 6:30 am every day. Maria checked her watch from where she stood, now facing the famous Chalakudy river, famous at least among the 1000s of people who flock to this place to get a retreat, a retreat from the rat race of our lives. There were two kinds of people who came here: the pious souls who made a visit to the place every year, and then, the more interesting ones who had a story (mostly tragic) to tell, a story that would lead them to the...

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“the sunset we watched that day” by Marie Adeline Kho

Submitted to Contest #99

this story begins a teen adult named Seline Aria von haiver watching a sunset with her friends Liza Green , Hannah Wibster they watch silently and inspirationally while seline is drawing a picture of the beautiful lake with a sunset background and they saw a young girl named Freya who will be the one to changed their lives so after that they talk to her...... "Freya do you like watching sunset" "no I don't and do not talk to me you only met me this day!!!" "i a...

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“Vis comun” by Nadia Uribe

Submitted to Contest #99

Her eyes started to hurt, she knew that, ironically, it wasn’t a brilliant idea to stare at the sun as it was setting, but she felt that sunset was a unique event, despite being something that was somewhat guaranteed to happen every day, despite being the same sun since forever, it was an unique event and smiling through the pain she blinked fast and let herself fall on the sand. - Isn’t it beautiful?- she said in a whisper, her voice mixing with the rumble of the waves - Yes, very beautiful- she answered, her voice small and shaky She lis...

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“Maxine's Adventure ” by Lucy Tickle

Submitted to Contest #99

The sun had just set, after the longest day of the year. Maxine was sat in her backyard content with life looking out at the vibrant orange and pink hues in the sky. Today had been filled with so much fun and adventure that it was a day that Maxine would never forget. Let’s take a look back at this morning when the sun was rising high in the sky. Around 7:30 am Maxine awoke to the sound of her mother bringing her laundry into her room, although her mother was as quiet at as a door mouse. The golden rays of the sun had also made their...

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“The Slippery Slope of Fire and Hopes” by Zara Stars

Submitted to Contest #99

In the waning light of the sun, the rays that brushed warmth against my skin brought me the last moment I found myself to enjoy. It was a breath of life against the cold air that surrounded me ever since I was born. But alas, it wasn’t enough to scare it away and let it mingle with the autumn wind. Instead, it just made me realise how different I was as the heat ignited the butane gas that had been spreading ever since I can remember. It was summer this year when everything crumbled to ashes. Long story short, life was shit. High school h...

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“The New Dawn” by William James Aka MusicMan

Submitted to Contest #99

The air was crisp on this beautiful Autumn evening. The sun was setting as Kim stepped out for her evening hike through the woods. The trees were dancing to the music of the wind as their leaves were forming a blanket on the ground below. Life was perfect. Kim is a writer and she lives in a small cabin deep in the woods miles away from Starhaven Michigan. The population of Starhaven is around nine hundred people. Kim travels by foot when she needs to visit town as she enjoys being in nature. Now on this beautiful evening, she had decided to ...

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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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