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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#180: A Roll of the Dice

Despite all our skill and effort, sometimes life simply comes down to luck. Whether you’re trying to win a game, land a job, or find a significant other, there’s no sure way to know how it’ll work out — or how good your luck will be. A twist of fate could send you catapulting into happiness, or your luck could sour in the blink of an eye. But if you can push through bad luck, you might just find you can change it.

So this week, you’ll want to get your rabbits’ feet and four leaf clovers ready. Are you feeling lucky?

This week's prompts

Write a story that hinges on the outcome of a coin flip.

Adventure – 68 stories

Start your story with someone having a run of bad luck.

Angst – 42 stories

Write about someone losing their lucky charm.

Mystery – 26 stories

Set your story in a casino.

Adults – 34 stories

Write about someone whose luck is running out.

Character – 44 stories

Stories

“The ShyKon Directive” by John Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #180

"This isn't what I had in mind," said Jonas Ferringby as he stood at the point of a scimitar. "I really should think about learning a new language." This was it for the international spy. He'd come from across the globe, trotted through the marshes of France and visited the cathedrals of Italy. He'd tracked his quarry through months and weeks of grueling guesswork. Where were the nukes? Had the government of Qatar made the shipment? Only time would tell. But for now, Jonas had a rather prickly situation standing before him. The blade o...

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“The Little Man” by Jason Abshire

Submitted to Contest #180

In South Louisiana, fishing is more than a pastime, it’s a time-honored tradition, and way of life. It’s core to many a Cajun's existence. Cajuns set out in their bateaus and pirogues and traverse the swamps, marshes, and bayous incessantly. Their purpose, to harvest fish and other aquatic yummies, such as crawfish, crabs, and shrimp—this stands as many Cajun’s income. Pierre, a local Cajun fisherman, spent his life participating in this beloved Cajun tradition, through the week he earned his wages as a deckhand on a shrimping boat hauling i...

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“Charisma is a Cheating Man’s Best Friend” by Lu Ka

Submitted to Contest #180

Hello. I’m Ruri. Let’s gossip for a bit. Just you and me, okay? This scenario feels somewhat unhinged to me. A casual man who lives in London, UK is tearing up the friendship of two women living in two separate countries by dating to one of them, which caused her to push away the other woman, driving a wedge between them . I should have seen the red flags, right? I should have known, based on the whole character trait that singularly defines him (that being he talks in a flirty way to everyone who has a vagina) that he is a cheater, RIGHT?! ...

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“One Golden Spike” by Connie Kimble

Submitted to Contest #180

Carly finally graduated with her degree. She’d been a few credits shy of about 4 different majors but psychology won the lottery. Owing to a previous adventure, the twenty-four year old was also a single parent, but that had turned out fine. She’d been blessed with a kindred spirit, a mirror to her soul… 7 year old Abby. Carly and Abby were 17 years apart in age. Two optimistic children cheerily navigating a world that liked to eat dreams. Abby dreamed of becoming a ballerina. Carly dreamed of owning a horse ranch near the beach. Neither kne...

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“THE FLIGHT OF THE COIN (FLYING WITH THE COIN)” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #180

THE FLIGHT OF THE COIN (FLYING WITH THE COIN) Here the( soccer) referee holds the coin in the palm of his hand, spins it with two fingers without looking at it, lifts the palm, and throws the coin in the air. No, it’s not possible that the winners of a such hard-fought match played to the last breath could be decided by the toss of a coin, Joseph thinks. He is the captain of the Blue Devils which have fought like lions against the Red Roosters, and which deserved to win. Instead at the end of the penalty kicks, which followed extra time, t...

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“The Days of Peeping Tom” by George Borghi

Submitted to Contest #180

I wouldn’t have said anything. If my daughter was the tallest girl in 10th grade and wore a metal back-brace down the length of her back, I doubt I’d be broadcasting to the whole neighborhood that she had a peeping tom. I mean, you’re just opening yourself up for some blow back. Even my mom, who is extra nice, told me about her exchange with a touch of meanness. She said, “I saw Mrs. Blankenship at S&S and she told me that Margaret has a peeping tom. That make any sense to you?” “She wouldn...

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“Le Chat Noir” by John Lyden

Submitted to Contest #180

Harry Bender sat down at the piano, a warm glass of bourbon clenched in his right hand and a cigarette dangling in his left, sweat from his wrists dripped onto the keyboard. He crushed the cigarette in a crowded ashtray and took a long draw from his drink, reflecting on the bourbon’s smooth slide down his throat as it nestled warmly in his stomach. Suddenly Harry realized that his hands were moving across the piano keys, his fingers caressing a Thelonious Monk tune out of the instrument, the heaving notes blending into the smoke and laughter...

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“Luck of the Draw” by Nikki Taylor

Submitted to Contest #180

The luck of the draw, or rather a flip of the coin. That’s all it took. For the day to go from the best day possible to the worst one. “Congratulations to our lucky winners!” the announcer cheered. “And what might your name be, miss?” “Uh-uh, Meredith. Meredith Frost,” I responded with a stammer. “And you, sir?” the announcer asked the man standing next to me “Anthony. Anthony Dawson,” he responded to the announcer. “Wonderful, once again, congratulations!” the announcer exclaimed. “We have randomly selected you two for a chance to win our g...

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“A Bounty Uncollected” by Matthew Law

Submitted to Contest #180

The heat was the worst of it. This deep into summer, with an overflowing common room, the only thing keeping her at a comfortable temperature was the cold, cracked plaster wall against her back. Stale beer and sweat attacked her nostrils, amplified by the heat and humidity, whilst a cacophony of noise swept across her ears. The headache she could live with, but the heat caused her to bristle.She kept an eye looking across the crowd in front of her, as serving maids slid between packed tables carrying jugs of ale and plates of bread and chees...

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“Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #180

Town of Torrington Wyoming Territory 1882 Gower Gaston races down the sidewalk, his boots clomping against the sidewalk’s wooden planks, his spurs jingling out a frenzied beat. Rushing through the door of the Marshal’s office, the tousle-haired young deputy points at the cover of his dime novel shouting, “It’s him! It’s The Preacher!” Marshal Myles Gaston adjusts his specs, looking at the cover of “Say Your Prayers… The Preacher’s Coming,” which depicts a well-dressed dandy brandishing a pair of smoking pearl-handled guns. The pair step o...

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“Writer's Block” by Alana Ash

Submitted to Contest #180

I tapped the blank page of the worn notebook with the tip of my ballpoint pen. The seconds ticked by. My anxiety ate me alive. I needed her to work with me. “Please,” I tried again, but this time I didn’t hide the begging from my tone. The folding chair squeaked as Malaya leaned back into it, kicking her feet up on the worn oak desk that sat between us. A smirk covered her face. “Sorry, Alana, no can do. I’m feeling a little shy today and my throat hurts a bit. I think I’m coming down with something.” I breathed in a shaky inhale, tr...

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“The Weight of Duty.” by Nancy Davison

Submitted to Contest #180

The first time that he said it, we were standing on the balcony beside our bedroom too far away from the inner door for the palace guards to overhear. I laughed and considered his attempt at humour as a good sign. But his eyes were still hooded and weary. His shoulders still curled forward with the weight of what was on them. I sighed internally and took a slow drink from my wineglass, savouring the dry burn as the liquid slid down my throat. Then, turned my back on him and looked out over the city of Marion. It hugged the base of the mounta...

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“20 Milligrams of Pain” by Devan Sakaria

Submitted to Contest #180

1Apollo reclined into his chair, stretching his spine. It was eight hours after midday. He was alone in the office as he stood out of his chair, sighed, and snatched a prescription bottle off his desk. The little orange container held more evil than Apollo could ever imagine, but he wasn’t thinking about that–he just wanted to get home. He stepped onto the cold pavement, backpack over one shoulder, and his trembling left hand clutching the bottle. The pills rattled with each mindless step Apollo took. Right foot in front of the left other, t...

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“stop, drop, flip ” by Benjamin Okojie

Submitted to Contest #180

The coin flipped through the air spinning as it reached its arc, Thomas watched it peak and for a moment, he felt it stop completely before changing direction and descending. He caught it in his right palm and swiftly closed his right palm over the back of his hand. He took a deep breath before unveiling his hand, the coin showed tail. “shit” he whispered. Time resumed from its momentary pause; Thomas leaped backward swiftly dodging the punch coming from the large man in front of him. The man stood 6 feet 4 inches, weighed 240 pounds, made o...

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“Heads or Tails” by TJ Lee

Submitted to Contest #180

Two days ago we buried my father and step-mother. Shelly, my best friend, believed I was the way I was because my life was always changing, and in order to deal with it, I clung to anything stable that I could. I loved my dad. He gave me a good life. We had a stable life, just not a stable mother. The wife who died in the car accident with him had been wife number 4. My dad had worked as an accountant to a few businesses around the city, and some in the neighboring cities. He suggested accounting, that way I could work with...

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$250

Prize money

214

Contest entries

99

Stories

Ended on 22:59 - Jan 13, 2023 EST

Won by Marilyn Filewood 🏆

Title: Come In Spinner

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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