Cooking Summer

Welcome to The Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write about something “summery.”

This week story comes from Chiara. Chiara is currently in Berlin, Germany, not quarantined anymore but still doing her best to catch up with semi-abandoned writing projects.

Cooking Summer

by Chiara De Giorgi

Bored with the cold, the rain, the snow, and the early evenings? Want to try something different for a change? If your planet is in the right position^(*), you're in luck! Follow this easy recipe, cook your own Summer and surprise your friends!

1) First of all, tilt the planet just a little bit towards its Star, then set the sky over the half nearest to it to "clear-blue". This clever trick will allow you to have longer days and shorter nights in the hemisphere of your choice. Many skip this step, but it's absolutely worth your while, because it gives your Summer a touch of authenticity at the cost of a very small effort.

2) Now it's time to adjust the temperature: if your planet is within the recommended range of distance from its Star, you shouldn't need to do anything. However, you can always choose to make it a bit warmer or a bit cooler, as preferred. Try not to exceed one way or the other, or your Summer might fail.

3) Set the grass to "green" and the trees to "fruit". Remember to sprinkle flowers with bees, and your Summer will leave quite an impression on your guests! It's these details that make the difference!

4) Set people in "vacation" mode. You'll notice that some will be wearing bathing suits, others light dresses or shorts; some will dive into the oceans and the seas. That is perfectly normal and actually to be expected from a summery home-made Summer^(**).

5) Before enjoying your Summer, don't forget to melt the ice cap a bit. Use caution with this step!! In case you overdo the ice melting, you might have to start over again.

How did you find this recipe? Let us know in the comments and send us a picture of your home-made Summer. It will be added to our photo-gallery.

  

^(*)Keep your planet 147 Million to 150 Million kilometers far from its Star, and you're good to go! In case of a planet whose orbit does not allow such a distance, you can try to swap it with a nearer or farther planet about the same size as yours. Be careful, though: it is a delicate step. Too near to the Star, your planet will burn; too far from it, your planet will freeze.

^(**)In case you aim at "catastrophic Summer" we encourage you to buy one or more of the following expansions: "Fire"; "Monsoon"; "Tornados". For a "just annoying Summer", pick "Mosquitoes" and/or "Ticks".

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The Spot Writers—Our Members:

Val Muller: http://www.valmuller.com/blog/

Catherine A. MacKenzie: https://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Phil Yeats: https://alankemisterauthor.wordpress.com

Chiara De Giorgi: https://chiaradegiorgi.blogspot.com/.