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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

“Fever Pitch” by J.B. Dixon

Submitted to Contest #99

Becky sighed and took another sip of coffee. The sun was coming up on the first day of summer but she couldn’t bring herself to appreciate it. She’d been up all night with Matt, trying to get his fever to break, which it finally did around five in the morning. He’d fallen asleep thirty minutes later but Becky knew she wouldn’t sleep. The bright, yellow ball climbed higher, turning the dark blue to pink, orange, yellow then the sky blue of a cloudless morning. She looked at her empty cup, shrugged then went to the kitchen to get a refill. “...

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“Counterclockwise” by Azizah Hashifara

Submitted to Contest #99

The sun is upside down.Or is it?It is a rather peculiar sight for some people. But for them, it is a completely normal, everyday sight. When everything is already upside down, the definition of said word for them is (of course) different.Ume sits with her knees bent, her eyes are completely set on such a magnificent view: the sun leaving its work hours for the day and setting himself into a deep, deep slumber. After the longest day of the year, the sun clearly deserves its leave.It is slowly moving upwards, tainting the sky vermilion beneath...

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“The Deadliest Crop” by Calista Carine

Submitted to Contest #99

The darkness was approaching, cascading over the sky in ominous waves of an ashen midnight blue. The last rays of light held on, just as Clifford Freeman held on hope he would make it through one last night. They were growing in size.He bounced his leg as the shotgun remained firmly gripped in his palm. A glimmer of the final light disappeared below the horizon and reflected from the pile of sharp objects sitting before Cliff. He was no fool, he was ready. Everything from his kitchen cleavers to the wood-cutting axe had been collected and la...

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“Dawn and Dusk” by Brandon Lipsky

Submitted to Contest #99

What had happened to her master? This question was the obsession of Thalia’s mind as she watched the sunset fall beneath the horizon. Her name was Verna, and she had come to Thalia at a time when she had lost faith with the world around her. Thalia had grown up in Manhattan and had a nervous habit of letting her thoughts wander from one social issue to the next. Her mother, who saw only what she wanted to see, would always chastise Thalia for the failings she had in school as a result of this. At all of these chastisings would be a further d...

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“Sunshine on My Shoulder” by Tanya Larsen

Submitted to Contest #99

Sunshine on My Shoulder By: Tanya Larsen The sun bore down unrelenting, highlighting every crack and crevice in the dry earth Below. The only moisture to be had were the sparse droplets of sweat gathering at his bushy brow. It was wetter here than in his mouth, where his slightly swollen tongue held residence. He wondered if cracks would begin to appear on his tongue as they appeared on the rain barren earth on which he had been walking for what seemed an eternity. Mathers would not allow himself to do the desert cliché and look up int...

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“Usurper” by A Mehendale

Submitted to Contest #99

The message arrives in the hours of early morning.An eagle, dark feathered and resplendent, silhouetted against a blushing sky. Parchment clutched in her talons, plumage ruffled by the wind, she soars through the biting air, far above the castle grounds, and descends in slow, wide-arcing spirals: once, twice, thrice circling about the tallest watch tower. A man stands there, among the crumbling battlements, waiting, watching. His eyes follow the bird being chased by the sun's rise. He holds up a hand as she nears, and the eagle swoops l...

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“Heather” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #99

TW: domestic violence, suggestions of sexual violence The longest day of the year was almost here. The sun rose higher and higher into the sky. The start of summer. I couldn´t be happier. Summer´s light and warmth make my favourite season. Always has been a life enriching season for me. That year I had been invited to a summer solstice party. The only requirement was to show up dressed like a summer elf, of a flower nymph. I was thinking of my costume when the phone rang. It was Cynthia from the women´s shelter. If I could help her ou...

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“DON'T LOSE SIGHT ” by Elaine Casey

Submitted to Contest #99

It was the longest day of the year, one that never seems to end, for me, anyway… 21 June 2021, 4.43 a.m., and I was sitting on the wall, as I did every year, watching and waiting for the sun to rise above the horizon from its long slumber. The lone seagull gave a piercing squawk as it glided across the water towards the glistening slithers of light. Dylan wouldn’t be here today, as he’d been on this day for the past 10 years, apart from last year of course, as we’d been in lockdown. Wherever Dylan might have been in his world as a profess...

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“The Longest Day Of The Year” by Peculiar Ibhawoh

Submitted to Contest #99

It was on the news that morning as she brushed her teeth in the bathroom. June 21st. The day of the summer solstice. She could hear the reporters on the tv chattering earnestly about the longest day of the year, the day when the sun decides to take the long route through the sky and reaches the highest point, somehow resulting in longer hours of daylight than usual. As she rinsed her toothbrush, she remembered her aunt, a woman who never got along with her mother even though they were sisters. Her aunt had led her out of their mother’s wom...

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“The Reunion ” by Treyvon Chesney-Hendricks

Submitted to Contest #99

Standing on the porch he could see the waves. It was the mountain that spoke. “I was wondering when you would appear”, LT said. Standing behind him was EP, grinning viciously. “It was only a matter of time. You’re late.” Coughing, LT slowly wiped his hands on his legs. “You know that team tag was terrible. Perhaps find another one?” Silence came after, with only a smirk coming from EP’s face. “Nah, it seems that combo was more than enough, though you shall see soon.” Shaking his head, LT walks away, moving closer to the shells that laid ou...

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“Blinded by The Light” by Ben To

Submitted to Contest #99

It was hot, so hot. The sun beams were needles piercing Katie’s red, irritated skin, and their brightness was blinding her even through her eyelids. She wished that she had a hat or some shades to keep the sun out of her eyes. That was the least that God could have done. Damn him!The ringing of a cathedral bell rang out across the meadows and a divine voice suddenly filled the entire world. “One additional bale of hay will be added to the penance, due to sacrilege.” Katie leapt up from the hayfield that she had been lying in. No way! Th...

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“29th of February ” by Cassandra Swift

Submitted to Contest #99

Cold air kissed my cheeks. I’m so relieved that I finally had the chance to travel alone. Anyway, I’m joining a hike and camp, I’m with a tour guide and a group having their squad goals. We’re here in the top of Bundok Misteryo, a perfect place to breathe and find oneself. My phone reads February 29, 2020, 4:20 p.m. I can almost see the sunset. The group of friends I was with seems so happy. They are having fun, taking pictures, and joking around. I just smile looking to them, remembering my set of own friends. I had already talk...

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“Mr. Gold-Stick” by Nrjas Mielad

Submitted to Contest #99

I'm in the backyard, sipping some lemonade, and it has been the longest hottest day of the summer. Mom says I should head inside, but I tell her there is nothing better to do. I decide to go downtown. I tell Mom, then I grab my bike, and head out. Everyone seems to be crowding in downtown. It happens here in Texas. They go downtown on hot days and just sit like old hogs. It's weird. But this summer, no this day, is especially weird. It seems the number of people has doubled. Hmm. And there all odd-looking. Or at least half of them are. I kno...

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“On the Back Side of the Moon… The Day Never Ends” by Leon Moss

Submitted to Contest #99

The day that never seems to end is a mockery up here on the moon. Here, on the shores of ‘Lake- With-No-Water’, the day simply never ends. Never. I knew all about ‘the dark side of the moon’ before we made the move, but I never understood exactly what it meant. I’ll explain. A single orbit of the moon takes 27 and a bit earth days, the same amount of time it takes for it to rotate once on its axis. As a result, half of the Moon's surface is always facing the Earth. In other words, half of the moon is in sunlight 24 hours a day foreve...

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“Dragonling Scuffle” by Neri Sompanos

Submitted to Contest #99

"Now please turn to page 167 in your History of Elves and Their Magic Book- Seven years before Princess Viserra and her brother Prince Ilantar are able to reclaim their lovely home, the Empire of Waeterra, from Alaesa and Daeharice from the Kingdom of Ithoukkenait," Mrs. Ikeshia ordered the class full of young women and men. My friend Tarasynora, heir to the Qikkaterran throne, did as she was told right away. "Obedient little fish!" I thought, vile ideas running through my brain. "After you have read that chapter, I will r...

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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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