Write a story about someone who takes a joke way too far.

Posted in Character on Apr 12, 2024

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✍️ 26 stories

“The Unintended Masterpiece” by Jim LaFleur

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #246

Once, in the recesses of Josh’s cluttered study—a space so densely populated with crumpled papers and half-finished manuscripts it could have been mistaken for the lair of a particularly literary breed of dragon—a plot of exquisite pettiness took root. Josh, an author whose disposition was as sunny as a thundercloud, and whose success in the literary world was comparable to a lead balloon in an origami competition, harbored a grudge. This was no ordinary grudge; it was an epic, monumental, could-be-the-subject-of-a-Greek-tragedy kind of grud...

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“The Stickler” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #246

“Damn it! That’s all we need.” I braced my arms and swerved over to the side of the road, pulling up with a sharp tyre squeal. “Ooh, oooh.” Sam groaned, cradling her distended belly. “Jesus! Roddy.” “Sorry, love.” I said, turning to face her. “Are you all right?” “Uh huh,” Sam said, closing her eyelids.Sam’s face was clammy with perspiration as she clenched her jaw and inhaled through gritted teeth. I reached out to stroke her pale cheek, steadying my trembling hand as I did so. She winced i...

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“THE JOKE THAT MADE THE WORLD CRY” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #246

In the bleak solitude of World War, in a hospital ward, I lay, my body battered and broken by the merciless hand of war. Each breath felt like a struggle against an unseen foe, my spirit teetering on the brink of despair. In the oppressive silence, whispers danced like specters in the shadows, their words a tantalizing refrain in the cacophony of suffering."What is the point of all my efforts?" I started to ask myself regularly. After almost dying from a British gas attack, which left me temporarily blind, I began to realize that this war wa...

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“Jingles” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #246

I moved the knife quickly, slicing with apt purpose. The bell of the cat’s collar fell to the floor. Jingle jingle. This was the third time I’ve done this since we first got this cat; I just can’t stand the jingling of the collar, and I wanted it to look like the cat had somehow clawed it off, or had rubbed it against something outside causing it to scrape off. Hopefully, my family will stop insisting that the cat have a bell on her collar af...

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“Orphan Clown” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #246

The fire truck's siren shattered the chaos with its ear-piercing wail, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. Felix's instinct was to flee, eager to escape the looming specter of consequence that seemed to haunt his every step. He covered his ears to block out the screams. Well aware, he was hurtling towards an inevitable collision with his wrongdoing. His heart skittered. The notorious freckles disappeared into his red cheeks. Each swirling shrill made his face redder. Felix slouched, hiding behind his classmate Henry in the assem...

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“April Fool” by Jeff Macloud

Submitted to Contest #246

"It was supposed to be a stupid April Fools' Day joke. That's it," I told the two cops in the fortieth minute or so of what they called an 'interview'."Two people are dead," Detective Hughes said, scratching behind his ear. We'd just left the house and walked out onto the deck, and he seemed to be taking in the view of the Pacific behind me. The waves crashing on the rocks below the decking forced us to speak up. "Not my kind of joke," he said."Yeah, well, it didn't go as planned," I replied, and knocked back the rest of my whiskey, clacking...

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“Delusion” by Carolyn O'B

Submitted to Contest #246

Clint was twelve years old when he was first punched in the face. The burning, throbbing sensations he felt in his cheek were definitely unexpected. The force caused him to stumble backward, and he fell on his bum. He has seen fist fights on television, the “punch-er” would take the initial shot and the “punch-ee” would appear to be infuriated, prompting him or her to retaliate. But the pain Clint felt was physical and he was reluctant to fight back and risk another blow. He also felt a b...

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“The customer is always right” by Juan Farris

Submitted to Contest #246

The customer is always right “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Benard said with all the conviction his thin frame could muster. He was talking to his colleagues about a recent news headline that they had all been following closely. “The protest doesn’t affect me, so why should I care?” Benard was sharing his rather one-sided social commentary with the rest of the office, occasionally quoting an old movie line to give his argument validity and effect. As more and more people began to gather at the water cooler Benard became increasingl...

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“Have You Seen Me” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #246

(YA-Adult)Enshrouded in the shadows of the back seat, I found myself ensnared by the serpentine mountain paths that rose with an almost sacred severity. The driver, a silhouette of concentration, navigated the labyrinthine ascent from the right front seat, their hands a study in determination upon the wheel. A peculiar sense of déjà vu enveloped me as I observed her. A faint recognition flickered in the shallow depths of my memory.The flooded roads made each turn an unexpected encounter. She skillfully navigated the challenges with a deft to...

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“Mannequin ” by Josie Nasmyth-Miller

Submitted to Contest #246

“I’ll be back soon Angel” my husband calls and I wave him off from the sofa, the front door softly slamming in the lock. It was our Friday ritual, the steady groan of the ignition and shifting gravel echoing through the wide bay window. I had set up the living room as normal, basking in the hyper realistic fake candles I had found at the bottom of a discount bin and wrapping up under the white fuzzy throw and ripped leather sofa.“Harley! The whipped cream is for me not for you” I mockingly scowled at the small white and brown dog which had p...

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“One Orange Drink” by Jacqueline R

Submitted to Contest #246

Warning: Use of profanity Amy’s Bedroom “Hey Amy, should I wear the purple or the black top?” “Hmm, maybe the black one. The purple doesn’t go with the pants.”“What if I change the pants?”“Don’t! These pants make your ass look fantastic!”“You’re right! What was I thinking? You know I’m really excited to go out tonight. It’s been forever.” “Right! Ever since you started dating Nick, you haven’t gone out with us.” “You know, this’ll actually be our first time going clubbing together as a couple.” “Oooo? Really?”“Yeah with w...

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“The Ultimate Prankster ” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #246

"Ahhh!!!" she screamed, as the dark figure in a Jason mask popped out from a hidden corner in the hallway. She kicked the figure in the groin. The figure clutched his groin in pain. "Hey!" the figure yelled. "It's me!" "Justin?!" screamed Stephanie as she searched for the light switch in the dark. Her fingers finally grasped the switch and she flicked the light on. "Are you kidding me?" It's three in the morning. I have been begging you to stop these awful pranks." "What's going on?" asked Mark, her husband, stumbling from the master room in...

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“The Arranged Marriage” by Rubekkah Estero

Submitted to Contest #246

A man could be forgiven for thinking that the vision of merriment and mirth before him, seated on a bar stool, was in the highest of spirits. Yet, that vision didn’t match with the harrowing tale unfolding before him. ‘An arranged marriage, you say?’ Verity Harbinger’s sky-blue eyes sparkled, and her blonde shoulder length curls bounced as she spoke with animation, a strawberry margarita in hand. ‘Yes, Sir, I’m afraid so,’ she cooed, adjusting the ‘Bride to Be’ sash that hung across her shoulder. ‘Alas, by this ti...

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“The One” by Giacomo Signaroldi

Submitted to Contest #246

8 march 2036 -Is it a yes now? Rose maniacally stared Albert in his beautiful green eyes, so rare and so attractive, even now with the tears flowing from them. 8 march 1996 -Hi, I am Rose and I am five and a half! -Hi -Can you tell me your name? -Leave me alone -I like you -Girls are boring! Leave me alone! -BUT I LIKE YOU! -I don’t care -Why don’t you like me? -Because I like another girl -And if she wasn’t here anymore? -There will be another one -So you don’t want to marry me? -Listen, you crazy, the only way I would marry you… Chi...

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“The Laughter” by Lyra Lee

Submitted to Contest #246

I never liked pranks. Everyone seems to think it’s because I grew up with three older brothers but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Aside from the occasional teasing and name-calling they were actually quite protective of me. In reality my hatred of mean jokes has its roots less at home and more in classrooms and on playgrounds. I never fit in as a kid. The coldness and strictness of my eastern European upbringing has always clashed with my more soft and warm nature, and my overall shyness didn’t make finding friends any easier....

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Write a story about someone who takes a joke way too far.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 26 stories

“The Unintended Masterpiece” by Jim LaFleur

“The Stickler” by Howard Halsall

“THE JOKE THAT MADE THE WORLD CRY” by Darvico Ulmeli

“Jingles” by Nicholas Thomas

“Orphan Clown” by E.L. Lallak

“April Fool” by Jeff Macloud

“Delusion” by Carolyn O'B

“The customer is always right” by Juan Farris

“Have You Seen Me” by Scott Taylor

“Mannequin ” by Josie Nasmyth-Miller

“One Orange Drink” by Jacqueline R

“The Ultimate Prankster ” by ER Castaneda

“The Arranged Marriage” by Rubekkah Estero

“The One” by Giacomo Signaroldi

“The Laughter” by Lyra Lee

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that includes the phrase “It’s all fun and games…”

Set your story in a playground: two characters are having a serious conversation while on the seesaw/in the jungle gym/on the swings.

Write a story about someone participating in a seemingly innocent game that suddenly takes a turn.

Write about a character who treats everything like a game and struggles to be serious when they most need to, or vice versa.

Contest #246

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

242

Contest entries

99

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: