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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#246: All Fun and Games

We all know the saying “it’s all fun and games” — and the perhaps less-used ending, “...until someone loses an eye.” There are many variations of this saying, but they all boil down to a similar idea: play has its time and place, but things may take a turn for the worse if you’re not mindful.


This week’s prompts are inspired by games and play, and especially that strange territory when something lighthearted suddenly turns more serious than intended, asking you to find the golden balance between the pursuit of fun and its consequences.

This week's prompts

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

Dialogue – 58 stories

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

Angst – 83 stories

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

Dark – 62 stories

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

Character – 26 stories

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

Character – 17 stories

Stories

“The Hexenmeister” by LeeAnn Hively

Submitted to Contest #246

They were settling in front of the fire, Mama in her rocking chair, Johannes with his wooden horses, and Inga singing to her doll, when thunderous voices suddenly heralded the bludgeoning of the door. The eldest twin, Johannes, sprung to his feet and instinctively sidled in front of Inga. Mama, dropping the darning into the ancient woven basket near her rocker, walked towards the latched entrance.With every fist lash, the hammering intensified, and the voices became audible. “Ebba! Ebba, let us in!” The cumbrous oaken door gave one last shud...

23 comments 23
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“Chicken Legs, Love and Ninjas” by Alexis Gold

Submitted to Contest #246

I didn’t want to go. June was long and busy and tiring with lots of lacrosse and school and other things I don’t enjoy.  I didn’t want to add another activity to the ever-growing roster of things required to be a better parent that I am. I wanted the beach, books and a bar cart. So, I pawned it off on my mensch husband, who agreed to take our three monsters and my nephews. I think we threw the last two boys in for sport – the event being “how much could I pile on before my husband had a second heart attack?” I flee to a rainbow-col...

11 comments 11
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“Rust” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #246

“C’mon,” Mick said, pulling at Billy’s arm.“I don’t think…” Billy began; he was panting from the effort.Mick ignored the protest and pulled harder, forcing Billy to follow him. They scrambled across the patch of waste ground on the edge of the woods, as far as a rusting chain-link fence that stretched into the distance, left and right.“You hold it up and I’ll crawl through,” Mick said. He showed Billy what he meant by grabbing the bottom of the fence, where it wasn’t pegged into the ground, and lifting. It made a gap big enough for a boy to ...

10 comments 10
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“The Pain Game” by Angela Yuriko Smith

Submitted to Contest #246

Warnings: Self harm, mild gore and substance abuse “You think you can help me get over my pain? You think I haven’t been trying my whole life?” He glared up at the young woman who had no clue how the real world worked. Instead of replying, she pulled a new bottle of bourbon from her reusable shopping bag. It was green, emblazoned with a happy planet earth. She had caught his attention. “I have some deep hurts, too deep for the likes of you. Don’t go crying when I give you nightmares.” His eyes rested on the bottle in the crook of her arm. “I...

3 comments 3
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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...

5 comments 5
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“A New Normal” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #246

Morrison Middle School’s playground is a little outdated. They still have the heat conducting metal slide that you stick to as it sears off skin layer by layer. The see-saws are a million splinters held together by chewing gum, so you’re bound to get a shard of wood stuck somewhere before you’re done creaking your way towards the sound barrier. Speaking of creaking, there are the black, rubber, butt pinching swings that hang from the bent A-frame. There’s a basketball court of busted, uneven pavement with grass growing up through the cracks....

5 comments 5
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“Not Quite Oedipus ” by Rachael Knight

Submitted to Contest #246

*Sensitive Content Warning: Cursing, mention of sex acts, substance abuse* “Can we stay with you for a while?” I watch my son as he teaches his cousin how to swing on her own. He patiently explains to her how to use her legs to make it move and she happily takes the instruction to heart. The playground was empty except for us. The sky was gray, but the air was warm for November. It was the perfect day to be here. “They make me think of us when we were that age,” I say. “Did you hear me?” My brother, Trent, asks and I begin to lower to the g...

1 comment 1
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“Dead Fred” by Bruce Callahan

Submitted to Contest #246

He was my closest friend and ally growing up, my imaginary friend.  See being an only child it got boring, like watching paint dry boring.  No siblings to play games within the neighborhood until the streetlights came on, the universal signal to go home for dinner.  The stragglers would have their parents screeching out of front doors or open windows for them to share that family meal.  No neighborhood actually.  I grew up on a dead-end street next to the train yard, one of only four houses.  It was a one stopli...

4 comments 4
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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...

8 comments 8
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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...

1 comment 1
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“Match Point” by D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #246

It was set point. I lost the first one—I can’t lose this one, too. I laser-focused onto Alex across the net at the baseline, took a deep breath, went into my Zen-mode, and sent him into slow-motion. I could read his serve like it was a kid’s picture book. High ball toss about a foot out into the court, deep knee dip into a low crouch, body swiveled under it, trunk and shoulders coiled. He’s going for the slice—I leaped right and straddled the alley. Slo-mo ended—WHAM! No! He pronated the racket at the last second—blasted it down the T! He ac...

6 comments 6
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“Gummy Mayhem” by Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #246

It was just another day in the life of Velma Dinkley, the resident nerd and social outcast. It's safe to say that I will never have a shot at being famous. My love for all things cerebral and my less-than-stellar social skills made me an easy target for bullies like Katelynn Carson. She was a classic mean girl straight from Hollywood central casting. I'd been dealing with her taunts and jabs for years, but it all came to a head at her Halloween party last year.Katelynn had set up a game of spin the bottle, and I knew it wouldn't end well for...

11 comments 11
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“A Quiet Conversation Between Rome and Julie” by Jimi Bush

Submitted to Contest #246

In a futuristic playground nestled within a neon park, the vibrant colors of the “jungle gym” and the rhythmic creaking of the swings contrasted the seriousness of the conversation unfolding. Julie and Rome, both in their early twenties, found themselves perched on the seesaw, their feet occasionally brushing against the soft rubber mulch below. Rome, with a concerned face, broke the heavy silence that hung between them. "I just don't know if I can do it anymore, Julie. The pressure, the expectations... it's suffocating." Julie's eyes mirror...

2 comments 2
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“Coco and Larson ” by Chelsey B

Submitted to Contest #246

The playground was nearly empty, and that was just the way Coco liked it. When there weren’t many other kids around, her mom let her climb on top of the monkey bars, but she wasn’t allowed to do that if it was busy.  Coco kicked off her sandals and clambered up onto the jungle gym. She hoisted herself up above the monkey bars. Her friend, Larson, slipped off his socks and shoes before following behind her. Coco scooted backwards, making room for Larson to get through. Larson pulled himself up and crawled onto the bars. From this high pe...

5 comments 5
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“Monkey Business ” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #246

Monkey BusinessThe bell rung just after 4th period and that always meant recess. All of the kids that were itching to just run out to the playground, lined up in the hallway per the teacher's instructions to walk in a safe and orderly fashion.I walked with the others all in a line towards the playground which was beyond the dusty softball field. As soon as we were near the basketball hoops, the teachers let us disperse and we all ran to the various places in the playground like the slide, the ladders, the jungle gym and t...

10 comments 10
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$250

Prize money

245

Contest entries

99

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 19, 2024 EST

Won by Sarah Coury 🏆

Title: Hearts Are Trump

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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