Write about a summer vacation gone wrong.

Posted in Summer on Aug 2, 2024

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✍️ 66 stories

“When the Summer Vacation Goes Wrong” by Jessica Thomp

Submitted to Contest #262

When A Summer Vacation Goes WrongWhen the heat of the dog days of summer came to town, I knew it was time for thefamily vacation. Off to a place that I could run free and smell the fresh air. Freedom from the city and all its hustle and bustle.The day we left, I could feel relief sinking deep into my bones. One week to relax with no schedule to keep. The whole family together again. I just couldn’t wait to play games, eat, drink, and just hang out. We really didn’t have any plans this year. For me, this was perfect. I was always stuck to the...

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“Have Another Smoke...” by Jeff Meade

Submitted to Contest #262

“Mom, I can’t believe you’re blaming me for today’s outburst. Why is it so hard for you to realize that your mom just despises me?” Ever since we had kids, The Wife and I refer to ourselves as "Mom" and "Dad."“Listen, Dad, you and her have never gotten along since Christmas Break in South Africa. You know she’s getting older, so why do you have to needle her?”“I know she’s your mom, and I understand that you’d be defensive. But all I did was suggest that I could make a pizza for the kids. You know they won’t get close enough to her boiled fi...

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“Lightning Strickes” by Vickie Riggan

Submitted to Contest #262

Lightning Strikes “Extreme heat advisory is in effect until 9pm this evening here in the Valley of the Sun. Whenever possible stay indoors. The elderly and those with breathing difficulties should avoid going outdoors if possible. Stay tuned to this station for more advisories.” Gravel crunched under the tires of Freddy Jansen’s tow truck as he pulled up to the office of King’s Auto Parts Yard. He shifted the truck’s transmission into park, took his cell phone out of the front pocket of his work overalls, and dismissed the he...

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“The Creek Knows” by Roxana Grebelnik

Submitted to Contest #262

When I find Jimmy, he is standing over the lump half submerged in the creek. His arms hang like twigs at his hips and his cotton t-shirt clings to his back, soaked and muddy. I want to say something, to scream, to fight, but my feet are rooted to the ground. Jimmy senses me and snaps his head in my direction, wild eyed and pale. His lips begin moving but I can’t hear him, not fully. My mind stills, almost to a complete calmness because there’s an explanation. There has to be one. I swallow the bile in my throat and attempt to focus. Jimmy st...

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“ Broken Leg Summer” by Stephvon Dames

Submitted to Contest #262

It's the first day of summer in Newport, New Hampshire. During the summer, we encourage communal stargazing under the open sky. Join the little bear and his companion as they contemplate the vast night sky and envision tomorrow's adventures. Invite your children to partake in this enriching activity with you for a fun and memorable summer together. With only two mouths to enjoy it, kids can't waste a single minute. Each night becomes a precious opportunity to bond, dream, and explore the wonders above. So grab the blankets, find a cozy spot...

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“The Haunted Forest” by Robin Barker

Submitted to Contest #262

It was on the edge of Cluj, Romania’s second city that they found it. Hoia Baciu. The haunted forest. MTheir coach pulled up and they got out. Craig and Luke joined a line of other tourists opposite the first line of trees. An atmosphere of nervous energy filled the air around them. It was their first trip since leaving university in England and they desperately wanted it to be special. A trip to Eastern Europe. Hoia Baciu was Craig’s brainchild. “It’ll certainly be memorable,” he’d told his friend. Only after several hou...

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“Stitches” by Amy Jean Kern

Submitted to Contest #262

It all started with an idea. Drive far out in the Gulf of Mexico for one last adventure before the bride would be married. It seemed like fun for two thrill seekers. And yet today, for Sarah Lane, it was anything except fun. Sarah Ferguson was born in her parents’ countryside home in the dead of summer. She grew up in Houston, Texas with the nickname ‘Sarah Lane’ because she always seemed to give everyone around her heart attacks. From nearly falling into a firepit at two years...

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“A Summer Dream” by Leah Dewey

Submitted to Contest #262

The pine trees swarmed around the lake like a great barrier keeping everything safely inside. To the boys: William and Michael, it seemed like the woods were creating a private summer get-away spot just for them. Of course, their parents and little sister were still tagging along - someone had to provide the snacks and juice boxes, they supposed. But once they had been well sunscreened and had their floaties tucked on they felt like they were swimming all along on their perfect island. “Billy! Mikey! It’s time for lunch!” called their ...

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“Like a Fish” by Ann Martin

Submitted to Contest #262

LIKE A FISH ANN MARTIN You know I’m here, don’t you, Nanette? You know which one is me. Just a dim, green glow in the darkness; just the faintest ripple and plop. Shadows gliding, vague forms sliding. And you know which one is me. They’ve turned out the lights and you’ve turned your head away from me. But you know I’m still here. And you know there’s nobody you can tell; nobody who will believe you. That’s the trouble with this place. It’s like one of those foreign art movies where you can’t tell the truth from the dreams and all...

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“Rolling with the Punches” by Christine Richardson

Submitted to Contest #262

“Good God,” my mother said. “We’ve arrived in hell.” I opened my mouth, and then closed it again. There was nothing I could say to make either one of us feel better. Perfect Road Trip 2018 was not unfolding as planned. Because I could not see the mountain peaks while we were driving through the billows of wildfire smoke in the valleys, I had assumed that the Skytram would elevate us above the miasma to a heaven of pure.clear air, blue skies, and sundrenched slopes caressed by refreshing breezes. Instead, it had disgorged us in a s...

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“Like Cassandra, or Sisyphus, or Bill Murray” by Astrid De Keyser

Submitted to Contest #262

It was a sweltering summer evening, the air thick with humidity and the buzzing of insects. There'd be a storm tonight, no doubt about it. Lying in the grass Josie closed her eyes and pictured it. First the distant rumble and a slow darkening of the sky. The insects falling quiet and all forest creatures making their way into their dens. Humans would be the last ones out in the open, breaking into a mad scramble to get the laundry of the line, putting toys and barbecues inside as the first fat raindrops began falling on them. The clasp of th...

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“Bottled Up” by Zachary Thomas

Submitted to Contest #262

As much as he wanted to kill it, he couldn’t. No matter how many times he smacked his sandal down on it, the fuzzy red ant would just vanish into the soft, hot sand only to reappear dustier, angrier–stinging at the air in contorted retaliation. “Somebody bring me a cup or something,” said Mr. Bauer, holding out his hand while his eyes were fixed downward. He just wanted to destroy the bug and move on. It had been a long day at Bear Lake, a mostly good day, but nearing the end of a long week. Mr. Bauer was the director of Bright Horizons...

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“More than Just a Heat Wave” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #262

Prompt: Heat wave: Write a story about a summer vacation gone amuck (with an unexpected summer fling thrown in). (In an era before cell phones and texting.) More than Just a Heat Wave I was humming “my bags are packed and I am ready to go” when the radio announcer interrupted the song with the ominous warning “this is going to be the hottest summer on record. Stay cool and stay hydrated.” This was a warning I did not need to hear. “Oh, this is going to be fantastic,” I sarcastically quipped to myself. I looked i...

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“Missing ” by Miller George

Submitted to Contest #262

Sam looked at his watch as he tapped it to skip to the next song on his AirPods. It was 11:58 A.M., and lunch was calling. It was their second vacation day, and he hoped it would be relaxing. He grabbed his water bottle and was about to take a sip. "Where is Will?" Sarah shrieked at her husband. He took his AirPods and looked up from his iPad. "I don't know. He was just here digging." Sam responded carelessly, unaware of what was happening. Sarah looked at him in usual dismay. The shrill sound of a lifeguard's whistle and the ...

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“Blissed” by Kieran Ryan

Submitted to Contest #262

Ted lay flat, defeated entirely by the heavy, oily heat. Last night’s drink oozed from him, mixing with sweat and cheap suntan oil to form a grim, stinking cocktail on his skin. He slowly raised his head and scanned the poolside area to see if anyone had ordered a drink yet. He couldn’t be first, that was his rule. The usual crew, familiar after six days at the resort, lay scattered like dead things on loungers. The fat man with his thin white legs, the ancient woman dripping in gold jewellery, the bald man and his ugly wife. None of them we...

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Write about a summer vacation gone wrong.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“When the Summer Vacation Goes Wrong” by Jessica Thomp

“Have Another Smoke...” by Jeff Meade

“Lightning Strickes” by Vickie Riggan

“The Creek Knows” by Roxana Grebelnik

“ Broken Leg Summer” by Stephvon Dames

“The Haunted Forest” by Robin Barker

“Stitches” by Amy Jean Kern

“A Summer Dream” by Leah Dewey

“Like a Fish” by Ann Martin

“Rolling with the Punches” by Christine Richardson

“Like Cassandra, or Sisyphus, or Bill Murray” by Astrid De Keyser

“Bottled Up” by Zachary Thomas

“More than Just a Heat Wave” by Pete Gautchier

“Missing ” by Miller George

“Blissed” by Kieran Ryan

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or end your story with a heatwave announcement.

Write about a character who is allergic to heat.

Center your story around an unexpected summer fling.

Set your story during the hottest day of the year.

Contest #262

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

267

Contest entries

91

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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