diff --git a/2021/common.nim b/2021/common.nim
index f39e23a..510053a 100644
--- a/2021/common.nim
+++ b/2021/common.nim
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ proc inputStream*(day: int): Stream =
 
 proc toInts*(s: seq[string]): seq[int] = s.map(parseInt)
 
+proc loadInputText*(day: int): string = day.inputFilePath().readFile().strip()
+
 proc loadInput*(day: int): seq[string] =
   result = collect:
     for l in day.inputStream().lines(): l
diff --git a/2021/readme.md b/2021/readme.md
index 5aec99c..c06b29c 100644
--- a/2021/readme.md
+++ b/2021/readme.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Or
 - [x] [Day 3](./3.ts)
 - [x] [Day 4](./four.nim)
 - [x] [Day 5](./five.nim)
-- [ ] Day 6
+- [x] [Day 6](./six.nim)
 - [ ] Day 7
 - [ ] Day 8
 - [ ] Day 9
diff --git a/2021/six.nim b/2021/six.nim
index 8be2059..689a143 100644
--- a/2021/six.nim
+++ b/2021/six.nim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const DEFAULT_DAYS = 80
 const CYCLE_DAYS = 7
 const MATURING_DAYS = 2
 
-proc lanternFish(inputLines: seq[string], days = DEFAULT_DAYS): int =
+proc lanternFish(input: string, days = DEFAULT_DAYS): int =
   # a place to put newly-spawned fish that are not mature enough themselves to
   # spawn within the cycle
   var maturingFish: seq[(int, int)]
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ proc lanternFish(inputLines: seq[string], days = DEFAULT_DAYS): int =
   var fish = newSeq[int](CYCLE_DAYS)
 
   # initialize our current fish counts based on the input
-  for i in inputLines[0].split(',').mapIt(it.parseInt()): inc fish[i]
+  for i in input.split(',').mapIt(it.parseInt()): inc fish[i]
 
   for day in 0..days:
     let cycleDay = day mod CYCLE_DAYS
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ proc lanternFish(inputLines: seq[string], days = DEFAULT_DAYS): int =
   # sum all fish counts plus the fish that were spawned two days ago
   fish.foldl(a + b) + (if maturingFish[0][0] <= 1: maturingFish[0][1] else: 0)
 
-let input = 6.loadInput()
+let input = 6.loadInputText()
 time("day 6 part 1"): echo input.lanternFish()
 time("day 6 part 2"): echo input.lanternFish(256)
 
 when not defined(release):
-  let testInput = @["3,4,3,1,2"]
+  let testInput = "3,4,3,1,2"
   doAssert testInput.lanternFish(18) == 26
   doAssert testInput.lanternFish() == 5934
   doAssert testInput.lanternFish(256) == 26984457539