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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 – 95 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 – 47 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

“The bag” by Phoenix-Rose Parchman-Lee

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” Odette asked taking black duffel bag from the masked man. ”Ha! Easy, there is no catch. Just take the bag, I promise you won’t regret it.” The masked man says walking away in the dark allyway. All you could hear was the howling wind and the pitter patter of his feet getting quieter as he walks away. Odette sighs as she cluches the bag in her hands. Unsure what to do at that moment. Well, in that moment she was regretting all her life decisions. Despite the fact that she was the one who wanted the bag. She was the one ...

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“The Offer” by Nicole Farmer

Submitted to Contest #188

“So what’s the catch?”“A choice, no catch. You can either stay here and meet your fate or leave with me.”Romina Vega flipped the business card between her fingers, thinking. “You make it sound easy. I can’t just stand up and walk out of here. If you haven’t noticed…”Romina pushed forward, repositioning herself in the metal chair. Her chains chattered as she moved.“If you tried to leave, the guards wouldn’t be able to stop you.”Romina pressed down a short laugh. There was no indication that she posed a threat to anyone. She was young, ba...

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“The Devil in the Details” by CJ Shutt

Submitted to Contest #188

“So what’s the catch?” “Who said anything about a catch darling?” He smiled at me, a meek measure of reassurance on his face. His smile gave me the creeps. It had a sharpness to it that could pierce through you. He seemed to recognize the effect it had on me, and the grin would only widen. “When deals have a catch they aren’t always apparent.” He chuckled as he stared at his feet for a moment, before looking up and straight at me. “It’s been said that the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was c...

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“Glory” by Daniel Williams

Submitted to Contest #188

“Why are you here? Did I not tell you to get lost for at least a month if you valued your job?” William jumped up and shouted at Steven, his associate whom he had almost fired yesterday. “No.” Steven looked hard into William’s beady eyes flooded by the rivulets of sweat that characterized his chubby boss. “Why should I leave my own office?” Steven said again, now with a smirk and then handed out an envelop. “In that letter, you will find that you are on vacation… permanently.” Steven enunciated the last words slowly. William q...

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“Dead and Alive in Paris” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #188

“What’ll it be? New York? London? Maybe that little cottage you two rented in Montauk the second year you were married?” Joshua asks enthusiastically. “Bristol, Rhode Island,” Tucker Tiempo replies. Joshua crosses his arms over his Giorgio Armani suit. “Again? You have so many wonderful memories. You only have one trip left and you choose to relive the moment you met your wife in college – for the tenth time.” “That moment never gets old,” Tucker replies. “Besides, this has all been about seeing her again.” “So, it has,” Joshua says indi...

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“The Weight of Motherhood” by Bryan Ciotola

Submitted to Contest #188

As I stepped off the plane, I was overwhelmed by the smell of jet fuel and the buzz of the airport around me. The journey had been long, and I felt every inch of my body weighed down by it. I trudged through the dimly lit terminal, my eyes adjusting to the shadows as I made my way to the baggage claim. It was a familiar scene, one that I had played out dozens of times before, but this time it felt different. I was coming home to a life that I had built for myself, but one that I no longer recognized.I saw them before they saw me, my husband ...

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“Like Emeralds” by Thomas Scheer

Submitted to Contest #188

Like EmeraldsThere was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Asher loved his wife, Evelyn. The way he looked at her made it abundantly clear to any passerby that this was surely a match made in Heaven. Asher had been his small town’s prime bachelor for a long time, thanks to his gentlemanly qualities, sharp looks, and ample fortune left to him by some relative (of whom nobody was entirely sure). He was known for his seemingly random acts of philanthropy, and constant willingness to be of service. Asher always had a smile on his face, and carried an...

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“Leave the Moon” by Emily Pollock

Submitted to Contest #188

I looked over and saw the pillow caving to her form, her face turned down so that only the left cheek was exposed. I watched as the corner of her mouth blew open and closed, tiny puffs of air expelling as though they were bubbles reaching the surface. It was the only part of her that moved, the rest of her motions in a place far away. It was a different kind of peace, I thought, and she made finding it look easy. The moonlight leaked through the curtains and bounced off the skin of my hands. They were held by my lap as I sat upri...

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“Tuesday” by James Burns

Submitted to Contest #188

When you are waiting for something desirable, and which is certain to arrive, time slows. Despite the clock’s spiteful wizardry, as its hands trudge their way around the face, one cannot help but feel increasingly happy as the anticipated event draws nearer. But what happens to the time when you wait for an uncertain arrival? Ten chimes rang from the clock. A ping of happiness arose, then washed away quickly. I felt something was not right. Although the risen sun and polished glass coll...

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“Lottery of My Dreams” by Cadence Ng

Submitted to Contest #188

The moment I opened my eyes, I instantly felt an unfamiliar discomfort throughout my body, which I slowly realized were from the stiff cushions of a velvety red armchair that I sat in; My back was poised up by a handful of pillows which were in what seemed like all possible shades of pink. I looked down at my clothing and noted that a lace cuff was wrapped around each of my wrists on the fabulous cream blouse I was wearing. Below my blouse, was a long dark brown fish skirt that wrapped my hips, waist and legs perfectly, similar to the way wr...

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“Joy in Relent” by Dhruv Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #188

Evan Locklear was having a fretful night of little sleep. As usual, he was in the only bedroom of his shabby house, moonlight revealing a spartan interior through broken blinds. His twin bed, far too short for his lanky frame, had a thin sheet which served as a blanket for him, and while it was perfect for the summer heat of North Carolina, the winter left him clammy and shivering. While that may have disturbed the peace of most people, Evan had grown used to it. What troubled him that night was not the weather, but the state of his life. He...

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“Captain Billy: Ad Astra Per Aspera or Bust!” by Bob Banel

Submitted to Contest #188

Author's Note: Ahoy! Follow along in Contests #180, #184, & #185. A sea change occurs for the Good Tugboat Samson and crew! Thing's get more messed up than a soup sandwich!It was 0530 Monday morning on the Seattle waterfront. The Good Tugboat Samson was all fast and standing by Pier 17, their home dock. Captain Billy stepped out of his stateroom freshly showered, shaved and squared away. He was in a "Semper Paratus" mood for facing the challenges of this particular day. An earlier message from Seattle Dispatch said there would noontime v...

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“Peace, Sweet Peace!” by Charles Haynes

Submitted to Contest #188

Peace, Sweet Peace! By Charles Haynes Frankie is one of my best buddies. He taught me how to spit. I can’t spit as good as he can, though. I’m still practicin’. Frankie has two younger brothers named Kenneth and Paul Mike. I know Kenneth because he lives in Frankie’s room, too. But I hardly ever saw their kid brother until we all went to the beach together. Frankie’s mama talked to my mama and my...

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“It Was A Good Day” by Miriam Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #188

“Today is going to be a good day,” I told the reflection in the mirror. There was no reason for that statement not to be true. The birds were chirping in the trees, the sun was shining in the sky, I'd remembered to make my bed... Sure, the coffee had brewed incorrectly, serving me up an entire spoonful of grounds along with it, but that was just one minor inconvenience. It was going to be a good day. I smiled widely at myself in the mirror, willing the happiness to spill from my cheek muscles to the synapses in my brain,...

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“You Won't Spoil My Special Day No Matter How Hard You Try” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #188

She woke up excited at the prospect of the day - brilliant sunshine peeping through the side of the drawn curtains. Untangling herself from the sheets she sat up and took off the furry cat eye mask, surprised it had even stayed on all night. Adie’s mind was bursting at the seams thinking about what she had to do this morning before the big occasion. Desperate to see the girls were in the other room she threw her legs over the side of the bed and walked towards the door. She could hear laughter from the other bedroom and couldn’t wait to see...

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$250

Prize money

256

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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