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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#188: But There's a Catch

In life, there’s almost always a catch. The beautiful new shoes cause blisters. The exciting promotion at work leaves you feeling out of your depth. The free upgrade to first class comes with a screaming kid for a neighbor. If something seems too good to be true, maybe it is!

We might call these drawbacks ‘the fly in the ointment’; the little things that spoil what would otherwise be wonderful. With this week’s prompts, we’re encouraging you to lean into those frustrations, big and small. Will your characters be able to find a workaround, or is this as good as it gets?

This week's prompts

Write a story that starts with the line “So, what’s the catch?”

Dialogue – 96 stories

Write about a character who would have complete happiness, if it weren’t for that one thing.

Character – 63 stories

Write a story about someone who is determined to not have their day spoiled — but the universe is trying their patience.

Funny – 48 stories

Write about someone who thinks they just got a great deal on something, only for them to realize…

Mystery – 32 stories

Write about a character who’s attending a dinner thrown in their honor, but deeply embarrasses themself during their speech.

Funny – 19 stories

Stories

“Forget Me Not” by Wendy Rogers

Submitted to Contest #188

I was out of breath, sweat was dripping in my eye, and I could feel a damp, squishing sensation in one of my cheap shoes from the puddle I stepped into trying to get here.The doors shut behind me, and I walked down the narrow bus isle to my seat. At least I made it, I guess that was a small accomplishment.Why couldn’t I keep things straight? Was it Wednesday, or Tuesday? When was that interview 9? Or 9:30? I could set timers and alarms on my phone as a reminder, but then I would forget to charge it. I could ask my mo...

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“Overheard at the Bar” by K.E. MacPhie

Submitted to Contest #188

Happy? Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? I have a perfect life. Maybe the ideal of the average Gen-X man in America. I can grow a beard in a week, my voice is low and commanding with real confidence and authority behind it, guys wanna be me and girls wanna do me. I’m a Lumberjack by trade, and I guess most people think that’s pretty impressive. Can I get a beer? I live in a cabin on 20 acres of land. I have four boys who all inherited my impressive height, hairline, and headstrong attitude. I can build or fix anything around the house or that drive...

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“Your Choice” by W.S. Clyffesend

Submitted to Contest #188

CW: This story contains themes related to dementia and memory loss. When I was 15 and getting my learner’s permit, the DMV asked me to fill out my voter registration and asked if I’d like to register as an organ donor. I wanted to say yes, but my dad stopped me. He said that the hospital was more likely to let me die, since if they sacrifice me they could save several other people. I didn’t know if this was true at the time, and now that I’m older I’m pretty sure that’s not true. But I relented for my old man and declined to register.&nbsp...

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“The Eyes of Ignorance” by Lovga Keiser

Submitted to Contest #188

Past a field of Lollypocks, through a barren-leaf forest, under a festering mother tree, and between the red gates. A short trip. Our world and the veil was rife with all sorts of creatures, a malignant sprite to your left, a whispering fae to your right, an ugly abomination throughout, there was no escaping the interactions that would be made but I could do my best to ignore them, pretend that I was like any other human-ling, blind to their existence. When the man behind the wall told me I could rid myself of this vision, that I could be l...

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“I AM HAPPY” by Pier Paolo Vittone

Submitted to Contest #188

I am HAPPY! How many of you can say the same? How many people can say to be completely, uncontrovertibly, happy all the damn time? I can. … … … I mean... Maybe there is a thing. But who doesn’t have at least one thing, am I right? I mean, it’s basically nothing, something completely forgettable and of no importance whatsoever. Actually, now that I think of it, you can forget I said anything. I AM 100% HAPPY and that’s the end of it! It wasn’t always like that, but I’m proud to say that through hard work, commitment, and a...

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“A Beautiful Day.” by Jeanine Rogers

Submitted to Contest #188

"Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day." Skyler sings as she gets out of bed. Today is the start of her one-week spring vacation from her job. Skyler goes into the bathroom and looks at herself in the mirror. Her long light brown braids looked nice against her melba toast skin and hazel eyes. "What the heck!" She screamed. She saw a big pimple on her cheek. "Not cute." Skyler popped it. Puss oozed out. Skyler knelled down and tried to find a bandage from the cabinet under the sink. There was so much junk...

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“As the Garden Goes” by Patricia Pobuda

Submitted to Contest #188

Coffee in hand, standing at the patio doors, Penny stares out at the dilapidated shed hunkered in the corner of her back yard. Her eyes roam from there, noticing the shed isn’t the only sad, rickety, grown-over thing in the yard. In fact, the whole place looks neglected, as though it hasn’t been cared for in a very long time. Accurate. It hasn’t. Ever since her marriage fell apart three and a half years ago, Penny has experienced bouts of depression and...

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“Upside Down Day” by Teresa Hovatter

Submitted to Contest #188

Mornings are my favorite time of the day. Beginning long before the sun rises, and I'm surrounded by calm silent darkness, and the twinkle of the stars. No phones, no television, nothing to interrupt. Just quiet time and coffee with Jesus. This was going to be a great day, I could feel it in my bones. My spirit was peaceful and filled with joy, I was excited to start my day. I had plans for a terrific day that I had been looking forward to for a week. This morning like all others, after sunrise I let my ...

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“Serenity” by Juliara Baeten

Submitted to Contest #188

I could tell by the way the sky was painted salmon and tangerine it would be a good day. “Storms a brewin,” Mac said, using the limp end of the coffee sock to lift the camping cook pot out of the embers. The coffee steamed. I bristled at her. “No it aint,” I growled. “Look it how pretty that sunnup is!” I pointed at the horizon beyond the distant ruins and square red bluffs - purple still this early in the morning. Mac looked, nodded, and milked the last of the coffee out of the coffee sock, whipping her hand back away f...

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“Henry's Catch 22 The Creepy Mansion Job” by Rw's Rndm Lfe

Submitted to Contest #188

Henry’s Catch 22 the Creepy Mansion Day 1 Colombus Ohio June 13th, 1998: Henry Baggins is low on money at least until payday next week. His friend Riley Miller calls him about a gig that will provide enough money until next week however there is a catch. "So, what's the catch?" Henry asked his friend Riley Miller. "Well, it's a bit of a strange gig," Riley replied, his voice hesitant. "But it pays well, and you're low on cash, right?" Henry sighed. He had just moved to Columbus, Ohio, and he was still adjusti...

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“Catch, Mr President” by Elisheva L

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” Jordan asked, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he picked at his nails. The girl stared at him, eyebrow raised. “Catch?” She questioned, looking him in the eye. God, her stare made him squirm. It felt like she was turning his brain inside out and picking it apart. “Yeah. A catch. There’s always a catch.” He insisted, grimacing at the smirk spreading across the girl’s face. “Always? Don’t tell me the president’s son has done this enough times for there to be an always.” The look of pur...

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“The Traveler” by Antonio Paternoster

Submitted to Contest #188

"So, what's the catch?" "What's the catch?" the old man behind the counter croaked. He moved back and crossed his arms in a defensive manner and a feigned shock blossomed on his dirty, wrinkled face. His twig-like fingers grossly caressed the rotted green oak counter separating him from the disgruntled traveler. "Room and board free of charge? I'd be remiss to not think of the deal as suspicious. So, I ask again, what's the catch?" the traveler calmly asked, wiping off some dust from his denim overcoat which complemented his b...

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“Iniuriose” by Elijah Jeroslow

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” asked The Man who was across the desk from Gally, and was funding the project. “Catch?” Gally asked, “There is no catch.” The Man looked at Gally with disbelief. “There must be a catch.” The Man said. “There is never not a catch with a project of this multitude.” Gally looked at the man, thinking of what could classify as a catch. She then said to The Man: “Well, I guess the catch could be the secrecy this project would need throughout its use.” “What do you think would happen if ne...

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“Random” by Bill Cook

Submitted to Contest #188

“So what’s the catch?” Those were the last words Clark heard before he fell asleep. His Dad had asked him the question. He was in the middle of telling his Dad how perfectly imperfect his life was. Clark knew growing up that he would have a large family with a dog on several acres by the time he was 40. He was on the high school football team; living, breathing, eating, and sleeping all things football. As a teenager, he would run around telling everybody how his dozen sons would be a string of team captains for 15 ...

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“The Power to Turn” by Sally Bennett Boyington

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” Bonita asked as the vampire prepared to sink his fangs into her neck. She knew he would take the question as normal human nervousness. She was counting on that tendency to underestimate normal humans. He paused, a scant millimeter from the pulsing artery. The cold breeze of his breath raised goosebumps on her skin. Bonita shivered. She turned her head toward him in time to watch him win the internal struggle and pull back. Accusingly he said, “You already agreed to let me turn you.” “Yes, but now that it’s time . ...

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$250

Prize money

258

Contest entries

133

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 10, 2023 EST

Won by Tom Bombadil 🏆

Title: The First Idol

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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