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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 Sun Sets in Cuyahoga” by Alex Kamczyc

Submitted to Contest #99

It felt like someone had piled a ton of loose stones on my chest. Struggling to catch my breath, the only thing distracting me from the pain shooting up and down my body was the sun setting over Cuyahoga County. Though it was short, the trek up the hill that Baker Homestead Apartments was located on was steep and torturous on the legs. I wanted to sit one last time at the fire pit on top of the hill before I went away. Today’s sunset seemed different. There was a warmth radiating from the yellow and pink mass as it gently kissed the ...

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“Cycle” by Penn Kname

Submitted to Contest #99

Happiness is like the sun. Those few words repeated themselves in my head as I saw the star rise slowly over the horizon, its rays breaking apart as they crashed onto all the houses they illuminated. He hadn’t even said it that much, the old man, but that phrase was all I could think of as I saw the sky turn from blue, to red, orange, and even pink and purple in some places. The clouds reflected all of this, and it was the sun who gave it to us; the most beautiful canvas there was to see. How long had it been since I’d seen the sun rise? Th...

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“A bad day in the office” by Henry Angula

Submitted to Contest #99

The date is June 18th 2021 at 6:30am its wet and chilly outside. The sound of metal poles colliding overlaps the chirping of birds in this beautiful garden. My colleague (Mike) and I have travelled to the central part of Kenya to shoot a wedding after a 6month drought caused by covid, we are super excited we planned how we are to spend the money a month earlier. Watching the events team bolt to erect tents as the 8:00am guest arrival time nears I tell Mike to prepare the equipment as I go for the wedding dress so we can take photos of it han...

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“The Longer, and Longing of a certain Sun--day” by Charles Arena

Submitted to Contest #99

The longer and longing of a certain Sun-day. “Mike we sure are having a good time today and although the days are getting longer, it often seems the fun is getting shorter.” Paul said to Mike as they were enjoying the sun above them. Paul then responded “It does seem that way but when we have fun, under the sun, we don’t usually seem to be on the run, and we leave our work behind us as done.” Carol then approached the boys and with a concerned look she said “ I c...

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“Close the Distance, Finish the Fight” by Dean Atlas

Submitted to Contest #99

The phrase, “Close the distance, finish the fight,” repeated itself through Drew’s mind to the point it almost became a mantra. “Finish the fight.” This is all Drew really wanted. It never rained a drop the day of the battle of Hawk Island, but as Drew inched his body across the battle ground, enough blood had soaked into the ground that mud started to cake onto his clothes. The smoke and mist were so thick it was almost impossible to see. There was no more command. There was no one to communicate to him and give him his orders. The only r...

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“"A hot day"” by Samantha Tong

Submitted to Contest #99

hot. Hot. HOT! Oh my gosh! Am I getting dumped into a pool of water right now? I mean, LAVA! Oh how I wish I was dumped in water right now... School SUCKS! I HAVE OFFICIALLY MADE THAT A FACT! Although it probably was one already...NEVER MIND THAT! School has got to be like at least 100 degrees outside and INSIDE. It is soo hot at the back of the class it feels like I'm being dumped into the SAHARAH DESERT and I have to stay their for...4 MORE STINKING HOURS. " It is SO HOT. MY GOODNESS! Can't Mr. Brown turn on the ac?" hisses my bestie, ...

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“Timothy the magician” by Sam Okethwengu

Submitted to Contest #99

One evening,Chief Nelson invited a thousand of noblemen to great banquet,and they drank wine together.While they were drinking,Nelson gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups and bowls which his father Ezra had carried off from the temple of Vienna.The chief sent for them so that he,his noblemen,his wives and his concubines could drink out of them.At once the gold cups and bowls were brought in,and they all drank wine out of them and praised gods made of gold,silver,bronze,iron,wood and stone. Suddenly a human appeared and began writ...

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“E-PAT-A” by Rosalia Ventura

Submitted to Contest #99

A day that never seems to end. That’s what it felt like on Saturday, August 20th of 2022. I woke up early to the soft singing of birds in the trees and the surprisingly relaxing dings produced by the elevator outside my room. I rose out of the white bed, stretching. That had been the most comfortable bed I had slept in in a long time. I brushed my teeth and showered, and put on a pair of black leggings and a white and olive green striped top. A light layer of makeup, a purse, and a ponytail holder later, I went down the elevator for ...

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“Midnight Snack” by Courtney Kermott

Submitted to Contest #99

It was midnight when Kate woke up. And I was starving. Starving. I’m Tammy, Kate’s stomach. I have been through a lot of pain. Kate has Oral Allergy Syndrome and avoids her trigger foods like a good girl. Listening to me whenever I am upset. There is a problem though. We are running out of food. Everything hurts. Except turkey, and rice. And salt. Also water. That's it. Except rice hurts me too, but it's the least painful. “I am hungry!” I said. “Wha? What?” Brain awakened. “What’s wrong! Was that real! Did we actually fall off the moon! Are...

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“Time to tell” by Dumisan Khumalo

Submitted to Contest #99

Dumisani khumalo Time lapsing put him on the spot like a choir boy ,, and time outside our own rhelm of time,froze all his intentions he had to find a juggernaut to fight his battles at his coming of age . The way love is ,is nubbing ,you can not tell the difference between reality and truth unless you know what times you live in and want. He had matured fast and she too fell into his paces at school ,that everyone found it fascinating they were becoming a couple ,and they stood in awesome watch as if to prove a point to ...

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“Saguaros Don't Grow in Brazil ” by Nikita Linivenko

Submitted to Contest #99

“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain – I’ve seen sunny days I thought would never end.” - James Taylor Another handful of speed to keep me from crashing. “listen, I saw this movie once, an old movie and it was in black and white and Portuguese. Brazilian but, you know, obviously Portuguese language. It was called Black God, White Devil and the landscapes in it remind me a lot of the one we’re passing through now. The desert, the Saguaro’s- What’s that? Saguaro’s don’t grow in Brazil? Well, whatever type a cactus they got down there –...

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“It's just starting” by Duck Lucy

Submitted to Contest #99

I knew this day would be my favourite, the minute the church bells rang. It was 6 am. My first words of the day would’ve made a sailor proud, mostly after some spark scared the shit out of me. Maybe I was paying for my atheism because the church bells caused my hands to wildly slash and knock over my unnecessary glass of water (I knew I shouldn’t have that next to my bed). The 2 decilitres of water splashing onto the plug, frying the whole electric system of the block. “Just wonderful.” I didn’t dare call the landlord this early. I instead...

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“Consequences” by Ellen Salkeld

Submitted to Contest #99

Consequences Mile Marker 75 He waved the pistol at me like a pointer, urging me forward as I looked to him for direction and struggled to grasp the steering wheel, slick with sweat. “Which way? Straight?” “Yeah, keep going east till I say otherwise. Got it?” I nodded, shivering despite the June sun’s heat blazing through the windshield. My morning coffee sat untouched in its holder since I’d placed it there almost an hour ago when my carjacker jumped in the passenger seat. Shame on me I guess, for stopping at a deserted 24 hour convenience ...

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“The Sun Barely Moves” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #99

Catia spent what she believed had been her twelfth meal under the same sun. The small, orange disk appeared to crawl like a disabled snail in one section of the sky. Very little about her life had worked correctly ever since the extreme shimmer that occurred early mornings ago while on her usual run. The blue sky maintained slight remnants of the shimmer high above. Catia felt confusion and fear as the colors danced in the stratosphere. She watched the clouds move. They appeared to be moving at an aggressive pace as if the jet stream suddenl...

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“Go With the Flow” by Christine Hungerford

Submitted to Contest #99

The boy waited at the empty, lonely park, waiting—yet again—for his busy grandmother to get him from soccer practice. He glanced at his wristwatch. 4:05 pm. Sighing heavily, Lucas stared up at the cloudless blue sky. She promised him on the phone she was on her way. Two hours ago. Lucas went to his brand-new black and white Nike cleats, studying those now. He’d been digging them in the dirt patches, balding the green grass covering this sand...

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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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