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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

“Fun and Games” by Marisa Billions

Submitted to Contest #246

(This story has a language warning, as well as mental health and violence) “You know what my daddy used to tell me?” Clara asked the pretty psychologist, Dr. Jayne Bennet, sitting across the table from her, in a room that could be best described as boring. White walls, a window that was so high up you couldn’t even look out of it, fluorescent lighting, white tile floors, and the table was metal, and the chairs and table were bolted to the floor to avoid the inevitable.  It was their second meeting, and Clara liked Dr. Bennet, probably t...

6 comments 6
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“Forward and Back” by Alyssa Terese

Submitted to Contest #246

“So, he's dead, huh?” We swung side by side letting the air move us along, the dirt shifting with a crunch beneath our feet. My head hung low, but she held hers high as she faced the open field behind me. “Seems like it.” she nodded solemnly, “No show, no calls, his boss said he hasn't seen him in three weeks.”  “Sounds dead to me.” The wind moved me a bit faster than her, the air harder against my back. If I looked straight ahead, I could see our old house from here. I think she was oblivious to that fact. “Does it matter?” she asked, ...

2 comments 2
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“Sharp or Dead or Biting” by D'Spencer Luyao

Submitted to Contest #246

Trigger warnings include: grief, implied past abuse.            The moon was a grin that night, and the wind was the sharp gnashing of its teeth. We stepped willingly into that bite anyway, Milo without a jacket. He would be fine for a while, and then he would fight against shivers for the rest of the night. I had on a long-sleeved shirt underneath my jacket, and that would be plenty for me when I inevitably handed the jacket over to Milo.         ...

1 comment 1
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“Letting Go” by Jennifer Luckett

Submitted to Contest #246

I dabbed the blood dribbling from a gash on my calf, thanks to exposed wood on the battered seesaw. Once, the playground beckoned us on lazy afternoons, its sharp, sweet freshly mowed grass, the promise of freedom to play during the endless stretch of days made Summer my favorite season.   Now, those placid days existed in my memory; this abandoned space looked worse for wear. Weeds outnumbered blades of manicured grass, warped and scarred structures, relics well past their prime, remained here, not unlike at least one of its ...

2 comments 2
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“Losing a Face” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #246

Ellie rocked slowly on her chair, arms wrapped around her raised knees. She stared at the material of her jeans, muttering in an attempt to comfort herself. “It's okay, it's okay. You're in the middle of nowhere. No-one's going to introduce themselves out here. You know the postman, and Hope's coming over later. It's okay, it's okay.” A knock on the door. She froze. No. It couldn't be anyone new. There was no-one within miles of her. It must be Ned, the postman. She brushed her auburn hair out of her face. Breathing slowly, she stood up, and...

5 comments 5
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“Clash of the Siblings” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #246

Caution: horrific details of a birth that goes wrong.Katy heard a bone-chilling scream followed by wails. Her twelve-year-old daughter Suzie ran inside."It's OK, Mum. We were playing a game on the trampoline, that's all.""Eddie has hurt himself?""Yes, as usual. He'll be alright."Katy ran out to check on her son in the backyard. Ten-year-old Eddie wept, cradling one arm as he sat in the middle of the trampoline.“Suzie did it,” he blubbered."I'm sure it was an accident."His bottom lip curled down, and he shook his head. Tears trickled like wat...

14 comments 14
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“Until It’s Not” by C.N. Jung

Submitted to Contest #246

I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was an accident. I’m not a bad kid…not really. I get decent grades; I don’t pick on anyone. I mind my own business. Mom works the night shifts for the gas station down the road from our apartment, so I go straight home after soccer practice. Every day I spend the evenings babysitting Charlie and Emma, my baby brother and sister, twins conceived through a few-week relationship Mom had with this man she met when he was buying a pack of cigarettes from her. Needless to say, he didn’t stick around when he found...

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“Maria and the Old Man ” by Ellie Northrop

Submitted to Contest #246

"How much higher can you go?" asked the old man. "Until I make a full circle!" Maria yelled over the roar of the wind in her ears. With each kick of her legs, Maria swings higher and higher on the swing. She can't get enough of the wind that hits her face and whips her hair around. Maria can't fight the smile on her face. The playground is surprisingly empty on a Friday afternoon. The skies are cloudy and grey, and a thick fog surrounds it like a barrier that protects those inside. Maria started to slow down, feeling an ache in her legs. Eac...

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“Be Careful What You Wish For” by Traci Dietrich

Submitted to Contest #246

I stepped out the front door with Sam, zipping his backpack as he struggled to get his arms in his jacket. He was late for the bus again today. Thankfully it stopped at the entrance to our cul-de-sac a block away. As I watched him sprint down the sidewalk, I saw Nina from next door working on her petunias.  A little early for that isn’t it, I thought to myself glancing at my watch. 7:18 A.M. It was too early for chit chat, so I waved and smiled in her direction before sneaking back inside.  I walked past Nina’s house yesterday afte...

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“The Skirmish Near Marbury” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #246

Content warning: contains themes of racism.“No agenda, just human interest”, said the managing editor before dispatching Andrew to the heart of England.Andrew was Black, so there was always an agenda. “The American Civil war, right?”, said Andrew, who thought he’d mis-heard.“That’s right”, said the editor, a gruff direct man with a deeply suppressed sense of humor, “Not Cromwell, but Robert E. Lee; zealots, both”.“Will you issue me a musket?” said Andrew.“Funny” said the editor.+++The Civil War re-enactment was taking place in Marb...

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“The Arranged Marriage” by Rubekkah Estero

Submitted to Contest #246

A man could be forgiven for thinking that the vision of merriment and mirth before him, seated on a bar stool, was in the highest of spirits. Yet, that vision didn’t match with the harrowing tale unfolding before him.  ‘An arranged marriage, you say?’  Verity Harbinger’s sky-blue eyes sparkled, and her blonde shoulder length curls bounced as she spoke with animation, a strawberry margarita in hand.  ‘Yes, Sir, I’m afraid so,’ she cooed, adjusting the ‘Bride to Be’ sash that hung across her shoulder. ‘Alas, by this ti...

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“Clouds from Both Sides Now” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #246

Mary Beth likes the feeling of everything nowadays. Her head has found a home in the crux of her boyfriend’s collarbone, and her new tennis shoes are just the right size, and the sky is open and blue as a robin’s egg. A blade of grass tickles the back of her neck as she traces a finger up above. “It’s a beautiful day,” she whispers. “Not as beautiful as you,” Farley tells her. He moves his hand from her waist to her breast. She is just sweet enough and just dumb enough to believe him. Mary Beth scoots her head up and looks at him. He has a...

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“Life's Ups and Downs on the Swing Set” by David Moyer

Submitted to Contest #246

DISCLAIMER: This is a NOT a true story. But it could be; in fact it is based on one and it may hit really close to home for a few of you readers as it does for me. The true story I based this on went VERY LITTLE like this and had a MUCH WORSE ending, so I suppose this is the way I wish the true story had played out, in hindsight. Of course I've changed the names so as to avoid embarrassing or incriminating any actual people. Anyway... I like to call this a "true enough" story.BANG! “Awwww, OUCH, my ass!” I started laughing immediat...

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“Echoes of Madness” by J.B. Redel

Submitted to Contest #246

TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains mentions of the following:Physical violence, gore, and abuseSuicide or self-harmMental health “Well, this is clearly haunted.” “Mikail!” Katlynn reached around her husband’s back to lightly whack her son on the back of his head. “Knock that off.” “Momma,” Kalli called from where she stood next to the van, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around Lucky’s neck. The poor golden retriever was dying to run around and explore, yet stood dutifully still to allow the six-year-old to cling to her for support. “Is it ...

2 comments 2
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“Loser's Swing” by Q.L. Vincent

Submitted to Contest #246

How many of you had an imaginary friend?I was a latchkey kid growing up. My father served in the army overseas, and my mother took up a job at home to further support us. My mother didn't return until a couple of hours after school let out, so I'd be alone for a good while. I was an only child and had trouble making friends, so this compounded my loneliness.There was a playground about two blocks from my house that I'd frequent after coming home from school. I could get there faster by cutting through a small (but thick) forest clearing behi...

2 comments 2
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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