Write a story about a white lie which spirals out of control.

Posted in Angst on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 27 stories

“If I have the words...” by Kellie Lager

Submitted to Contest #107

“I can’t do this.” I rubbed my little brother’s spine, ignoring the way his sweat coated my skin through his button-up shirt. In the darkness backstage, I was grateful no one else was here to see how clammy he was. My mom should never have forced him to sign up for debate. I mean, really. This kid? Up in front of the entire school? He was much more comfortable holed up in the library. In the back, curled against stacks of musty old philosophy books. I was pretty sure he’d read every single one of the ancient philosophers and was now making h...

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“Never, Ever Tell Momma” by Donald King

Submitted to Contest #107

“What a morning I have had! Hooboy! This was one for the ages. Just a sec. Let me get myself combobulated over here. I got to sit. You know I'm not one to drink, but I could sure use a wine cooler to settle my nerves. Honey, this was epic with a capital P. I might as well tell you it all, cause you're gonna hear it soon enough. You know how things are around here. Do you see this? My hands are still shaking. I'm trying to hold them still. See? I'm telling you, I have been to crazytown and back today.It all started with Momma calling me this ...

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“Date Night” by Abigail Wilson

Submitted to Contest #107

“I told him I had a date.” “Why did you do that?” “So he’d take his son for the night.” “You lied to your ex about having a date so you could have a night without your son? Doesn’t sound like you?” “Well, he doesn’t ask to take Harry and Harry asked why he never sees daddy, and while I’m fine with Shithead having no influence over my son, it’s not fair on Harry. Obviously I didn’t want to tell Numbnuts that his son was asking for him, so I told a small lie. Doesn’t hurt that it makes it look like I have a life and will hopefully rub him ...

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“Your Round” by Kerry Goldsworthy

Submitted to Contest #107

George pulled back the canvas, revealing the body underneath. The guy was definitely dead, that much Adam could see. The light from the overhead street lighting wasn’t bright, but it was enough. He recognized the man from earlier that evening. He was the man with the bushy beard. The loud one with the annoying laugh, the one who though he was God’s gift to women. Adam couldn’t recall his real name. Jasmine had introduced the group to him, but the names went out of Adams’ mind as quickly as they entered. Besides, his focus had been on Ja...

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“Postcards and Lemon Shortbread” by Gill James

Submitted to Contest #107

"Who buys post cards these days - let alone sends them?" Sandy took off her hat and started using it as a fan. It was approaching midday, it was August and over forty degrees. She longed to be sitting by the pool under a sunshade. Instead of which Malcolm had dragged her round the shops. "They're old school, the aunts," said Malcolm. "They expect a postcard." "I suppose these pictures are rather lovely." There was one of the little bay they'd found and adopted as their own. "You've taken some really nice photos yourself. Why don't you ju...

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“Pants On Fire” by Trina High

Submitted to Contest #107

“Honey, do these pants make my butt look too big?” Shaunette strains to see every side of herself in the full-length mirror. The tight black and purple capris look good to her, and the lambs on the butt pockets emphasize her bountiful gluteus, but she wants to know what her husband thinks.Tedrick snorts and thinks that what his wife really needs is a full-width mirror that takes up the full door that it’s latched to, but he doesn’t dare say as much. He dutifully responds as any man with two brain cells does. “No, of course not, honey. You lo...

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“Red Lies” by Adam Applebaum

Submitted to Contest #107

Honesty is the best policy, right? Then why don’t males tell a female when a dress looks fat on her? You don’t upset her. What’s the harm in encouraging a little positive self-image? My name is Frank, and I’m here to tell you how a little white lie can seemingly overnight spiral entirely out of control. It all began on a Friday night. It was karaoke night at the local tavern. I was out with a friend, her name was Kira. We sang songs and had our drinks, but sadly she couldn’t hold a note to save her life. ...

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“Clowning Around the Truth” by Diedre Knight

Submitted to Contest #107

Reedsy Prompt #256 Liar, Liar Clowning Around the Truth It was around 11:45 when Pablo dashed out to his truck to flip a foil-wrapped burrito bottom-side-up on the dash. He wanted it to cook evenly by noon when he planned to devour it. Joe was just pulling onsite with his “Hot Grub” food truck. Pablo would order a side of Spanish rice to take home to Tweezer, an aging Australian terrier, and Joe would make at least one sale. Grabbing a chilled bottle of water from a small ice chest, Pablo shoved the truck door closed with his elbow just as t...

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“Piano Blues” by L Mack

Submitted to Contest #107

“I suppose you two will be next down the aisle,” Jessie smirks. “Jessie! We’ve only been going out for two months!” Leah shuts her down quickly, but she glances at me, gauging my reaction. “Sorry! Did I embarrass Luke?” Sounds like she hopes so. “But you have to admit, you’re moving pretty fast.” “No-one else has mentioned it,” says Leah. She still sounds annoyed. “Well the rest of the family are so stuffy, they wouldn’t. I’m the only one who speaks my mind!” I want to speak my mind but manage to hold back. Leah’s cousin Jessie is one of th...

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“Lair Lair Pants Designer” by Liza Blake

Submitted to Contest #107

“Oh my gawd! I love your dress!” The tall slender brunette slurred as she came crashing out of the middle stall, “I have to have it. Who’s the designer?!” “Oh um” I stammered from the sink, honestly trying to find a good answer. Before I could fully respond her hands found the buttons down the back and made surprisingly quick work of them. “WHOA WHOA! Hold your horses sister!” I shout turning in a circle to escape her grabby paws. She barked out a laugh and grabbed my shoulders “Chill out sister” she dragged out the word like a snake...

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“"Of course he loves you."” by Ace Page

Submitted to Contest #107

Some lies are easier to say than others. Some of them you have to swallow like shards of glass that cut your throat. Iron fills your nose and lays upon your tongue. Some of them taste like rotten meat, but it’s the texture that really does you in. Thick like tar, so thick you choke and gag. Lies like that make it hard to breathe and are even harder to say. And some lies, some lies are sweet. The taste of chocolate, of packaged cookies and candy bars. Irresistible and addicting, ones you can’t just say once, you have to go back to again and a...

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“The Dodgers” by Maxwell House

Submitted to Contest #107

Our hero was confused. He had climbed over a fence. Greg was at the centre circle after dark. Why was he confused? The grass was green. Why did Bobby Charlton wear a red shirt playing for Manchester United? Grass was green. Why did God do the things he did? Grass looked dull. It was Brentford's ground. Just after midnight. The Saturday after the team's tremendous victory over immortal Arsenal. They were already saying amazing things. Brentford's odds to stay up given. Arsenal's manager twice as likely to be sacked after just one game. ...

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Write a story about a white lie which spirals out of control.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 27 stories

“If I have the words...” by Kellie Lager

“Never, Ever Tell Momma” by Donald King

“Date Night” by Abigail Wilson

“Your Round” by Kerry Goldsworthy

“Postcards and Lemon Shortbread” by Gill James

“Pants On Fire” by Trina High

“Red Lies” by Adam Applebaum

“Clowning Around the Truth” by Diedre Knight

“Piano Blues” by L Mack

“Lair Lair Pants Designer” by Liza Blake

“"Of course he loves you."” by Ace Page

“The Dodgers” by Maxwell House

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character pretending to be someone they’re not.

Write about a game of ‘truth or dare’ that goes horribly wrong.

Write a story where a character finds out the truth about something they thought they’d known their whole life.

Write about a character who tells a lie which turns out to be true - or a truth which turns out to be a lie.

Contest #107

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

150

Contest entries

204

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: