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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#165: The Blame Game

Blame-shifting, finger-pointing, and messenger-shooting are among our worst impulses — but we’re all guilty of them. It can be hard to accept the roles we play in our own or others’ misfortunes, but it’s also vitally important to our growth as people.

With that in mind, this week’s contest is all about the blame game. Whether your characters are taking the fall for someone else, or finally getting their deserved comeuppance, we’re talking about guilt, responsibility, and justice with this week’s prompts.

🥇 Winner

“Liability in Lingotto” by Scott Christenson

🏆 Winner of Contest #165

When the police forcibly entered 43-year-old Paulina Fiore’s apartment, they found her lifeless body on the floor of the kitchen, covered in mysterious bruises. The lead detective immediately suspected homicide and ordered an autopsy. But after extensive analysis, the coroner concluded the cause of death was vitamin C deficiency.In a video appearing on social media, Stephanie Brolo, who sources confirm is a close friend of Paulina, is seen weeping and uttering, “This is all my fault.”**At the offices of my city’s largest newspaper, I sip my ...

108 comments 108

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“A Case of the Obvious” by Chris Campbell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

It was a strange dinner party. Four of the guests sat deathly silent, flicking their eyes left and right accompanied by discreet raises of their eyebrows and short, quick jerks of their necks – as if trying to communicate a strange form of bodily semaphore. The intended recipient of such a choir of twitches and tight lips seated around the table was none other than Anthony Pratt, the co-creator of the board game, Cluedo. Seated next to him, his wife Elva was engrossed in full conversation with the evening’s soiree host, Mrs. Hannah Osmington...

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“It's Murder, Sir” by Delbert Griffith

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

A scream. The sharp clatter of a dropped tea service. The sound of soft sobs. A rush of footsteps up the stairs. The sight of a dead body. And then, silence. ______________ “It’s murder, sir,” PC Connors spoke. DCI Whitcomb eyed the constable wearily, sighing inwardly. He was tired already, and they had just arrived at the scene of a particularly bloody crime. “For future reference, if we ever come across the body of an old lady sitting at her writing desk with a knife through her neck, let’s take it as read that it’s murder, Connors.” DCI W...

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“The Breakfast Murder Club” by Zach Martz

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

A hush fell upon the gathering at the large clover-shaped mansion that Lucky the Lucky Charms Leprechaun lived in. The guests looked in horror and sadness as they saw the body of the effusive leprechaun floating in the large clover-shaped pool that was located in the courtyard of the luxurious estate.Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Buzz the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee, and Snap, Crackle and Pop all stood silently staring at the corpse. While their first impulse was to consider it an accidental death by drowning, something...

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“Ronald” by Kaila Janae

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

The last contents of the wine bottle slipped down my scorching throat as the doorbell rang. I looked down at my legs hanging limply over the arm of the sofa. In this hazy moment, it puzzled me how these flesh stumps could carry my body weight–not that I was particularly heavy. Thin? Hell no. But obese? Far from it. Ronald would have disagreed. The doorbell rang again, this time followed by a knock. Time to put these weird things to work. I swung them to the ground. When my feet connected to the carpet, it tickled the bare skin, causing a ...

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“A Tear in the Sky” by Shawn Wier

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

[CW note: cursing, potentially offensive commentary on religion]I've never heard so many sirens. Sure, I've been a passerby of some pretty gnarly car wrecks - the ones that close four-lane highways and require half the emergency responders in the county - but this is something else entirely. Maybe some federal intelligence agency already has a plan or something, but we're not prepared for it, at least not here in Oklahoma. Typical of tornado alley residents, I'm on my front porch staring at it rather than figuring out whatever it is I'm...

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This week's prompts

Begin your story with somebody getting (or taking) the blame for something they didn’t do.

High School – 41 stories

Write a story that includes the phrase “This is all my fault.”

Adults – 97 stories

Write a story where a murder occurs — and the suspects are all pointing the finger at one another.

Mystery – 26 stories

Write a story about a corrupt politician trying to avoid blame at all costs.

Adults – 10 stories

Start your story with a character telling their best friend that their spouse is having an affair, only for their friend to “shoot the messenger”.

Dramatic – 29 stories

Stories

“Liability in Lingotto” by Scott Christenson

🏆 Winner of Contest #165

When the police forcibly entered 43-year-old Paulina Fiore’s apartment, they found her lifeless body on the floor of the kitchen, covered in mysterious bruises. The lead detective immediately suspected homicide and ordered an autopsy. But after extensive analysis, the coroner concluded the cause of death was vitamin C deficiency.In a video appearing on social media, Stephanie Brolo, who sources confirm is a close friend of Paulina, is seen weeping and uttering, “This is all my fault.”**At the offices of my city’s largest newspaper, I sip my ...

108 comments 108

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“Text Me Your Love” by Daniel R. Hayes

Submitted to Contest #165

(Content Warning: Strong Language, Violence, Murder, Crude Humor.)Jake sat down at the kitchen table and admitted, “This is all my fault.”Sallie rolled her eyes and slammed a porcelain plate into the soapy suds. “You’re damn right it is!”“I’m sorry,” he said, lowering his voice an octave. “I wasn’t thinking right, and I couldn’t help myself.”“Oh, you were thinking alright,” Sallie roared, turning from the sink and pointing her soapy finger at him. “You were just using the brain between your legs, not the one in your skull!” Jake scrunch...

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“What Friends Are For” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #165

I’m almost glad Jim’s running late, because I’m about to break his world, and damn it, he’s my bro. He’s my guy. We go way back. But if there’s bad news he’s gotta hear it, and it’s my duty to tell him. That’s what friends are for. I’m not really good at this touchy-feely stuff, so I hope this cake place is all right. They got a decent coffee here, and a bitching key lime pie. Man, that shit is bananas. If pies were women then this one would be– Oh, there he is! “Hey Jim!” Yeah, he sees me. Ooh, is that a new jersey? Looks pretty dope. Looks...

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“A Case of the Obvious” by Chris Campbell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

It was a strange dinner party. Four of the guests sat deathly silent, flicking their eyes left and right accompanied by discreet raises of their eyebrows and short, quick jerks of their necks – as if trying to communicate a strange form of bodily semaphore. The intended recipient of such a choir of twitches and tight lips seated around the table was none other than Anthony Pratt, the co-creator of the board game, Cluedo. Seated next to him, his wife Elva was engrossed in full conversation with the evening’s soiree host, Mrs. Hannah Osmington...

Read story

“For the Love of Murder” by Anne O

Submitted to Contest #165

The wine glass shattered, and instantly conversations at the table came to a halt. There wasn’t even a dull whisper to be heard, the silence utterly shocking. Nervous eye contact was made between the group until their attention was drawn elsewhere. His body was convulsing as foam began to form at the edge of his lips. The shock in his eyes left unchanged while the pigment of his face turned from white, to red and then horrifically blue. “SOME...

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“A Father's Love Has Two Blades” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #165

TW: Mentions of abuse and some swearing.“Detective Nunez had recently been promoted from the rank of officer. He has admitted to a string of assaults against registered paedophiles near his home. Several of the men were left unable to function psychologically. One committed suicide shortly after being attacked.” I read from my phone. “Why did he do it?” Billie asks, bouncing baby Tina on her lap. “Even if he isn’t convicted, his career is over.” &nb...

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“How Are You Doing Out There, Sleepy Hollow?” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #165

Look at all these friendly faces out in the crowd!You know, some politicians hate campaigning, but not me. No sir, not me. I love a good campaign. I love seeing democracy in action. I love shaking the hands. I love kissing the babies. I love eating all those deep-fried butter sticks you all keep cooking up. I cannot believe how many things you can deep-fry these days. Will the wonders of America ever cease?Now, as much as I’d like to stand up here and pretend everything is right as rain at the Annual Sleepy Hollow Fair and Horse Pageant, we ...

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“It's Murder, Sir” by Delbert Griffith

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

A scream. The sharp clatter of a dropped tea service. The sound of soft sobs. A rush of footsteps up the stairs. The sight of a dead body. And then, silence. ______________ “It’s murder, sir,” PC Connors spoke. DCI Whitcomb eyed the constable wearily, sighing inwardly. He was tired already, and they had just arrived at the scene of a particularly bloody crime. “For future reference, if we ever come across the body of an old lady sitting at her writing desk with a knife through her neck, let’s take it as read that it’s murder, Connors.” DCI W...

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“The Land of Fairytales: Where the Rainbow Ends” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #165

Not so long ago, in the Land of Fairytales, Lucky, the leprechaun, lived at the end of the rainbow, in a little green house with a with a backyard full of four leaf clovers.One day, Baby Bear, Goldilocks, and Little Red Riding Hood played next door in the Rainbow Park while Lucky painted his house with green paint like he did every day.Goldilocks called out, "Lucky, why do you paint your house green every day?""Because this is where the rainbow ends," Lucky answered.On this particular day, Lucky ran out of paint, so he headed down the path t...

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“The Girl with Gossamer Hair” by Rebecca Miles

Submitted to Contest #165

Warning: bullyingIt’s not easy being different. This is probably true the world over, but in my life, the hardest place not to fit in is my school: Manor Park. Here I often think there’s more than just water on tap in the corridor’s fountain; it’s dispensing your choice of still or sparkling pure liquid hate. Not everyone is filling up their bottle, but more than enough are.Do you wear glasses? Well hello bug eyes. Hand-me-down clothes are still just about good to go? Have you ever heard of…shops? Or perhaps you laugh like a donkey when the...

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“Crossing the Rubicon” by Thom With An H

Submitted to Contest #165

That night he had lied—he wasn’t working late, he could’ve gone with them, but he went to her instead. No one should have been surprised, after all he had been a cheater his whole life. Whether it was games or cards or taxes, he always found the shortcut, the workaround, the edge. Throughout his life, he had found convenient euphemisms such as resourceful or clever to avoid identifying his duplicity. But, as the years passed, it became impossible to ignore this one undeniable truth: cheaters cheat.A melting cherry ...

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“The Breakfast Murder Club” by Zach Martz

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #165

A hush fell upon the gathering at the large clover-shaped mansion that Lucky the Lucky Charms Leprechaun lived in. The guests looked in horror and sadness as they saw the body of the effusive leprechaun floating in the large clover-shaped pool that was located in the courtyard of the luxurious estate.Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Buzz the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee, and Snap, Crackle and Pop all stood silently staring at the corpse. While their first impulse was to consider it an accidental death by drowning, something...

Read story

“The Angels of the War” by O. Ben-Abou

Submitted to Contest #165

He was hiding in a grove of trees near the field, one hand resting on his gun, the other tapping against his thigh. He did that when he was nervous. And he had a big reason to be nervous. According to his commander, a soldier reported movement in this field. Supposedly enemy soldiers. And who better to send than Michael Weissman to check it out. Why him, of all people? Because Michael Weissman was Jewish. And his platoon didn’t think highly of him for that reason. It didn’t matter that he didn’t wear a kipp...

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“Till the Stars Grow Cold” by Kyle Bennett

Submitted to Contest #165

"Goddammit Riley, you shot my tit off!" The the pain is a searing, living thing that burrows into me like a hungry animal. I have enough clarity to realize that it was a glancing blow, the bullet had not gone into my chest. I don't think it did, but it's bad enough and clarity is fading fast. I make the mistake of looking down at my left side, seeing the torn and mangled flesh and the blood. So much blood. My cartoonishly red hand is making a futile effort to cover it, to staunch the flow, to put it all back the way it was. I feel blood ru...

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“Affluenza” by Daniel Legare

Submitted to Contest #165

Content Warning: References of death and substance abuse, swearing.I’ve never been in a courtroom before. It doesn’t look like the ones in those movies or shows. Just regular old office lights, the long tube ones. The room is kind of bland, no windows or anything. It’s just like a room where you have meetings and stuff. Other than that, it’s kind of empty. The only thing that looks like the movies is where the judge sits. I wonder if he’ll have that black gown-thing on and one of those old-timey white wigs. The security guard is a fatso. I c...

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$250

Prize money

203

Contest entries

106

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 30, 2022 EST

Won by Scott Christenson 🏆

Title: Liability in Lingotto

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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