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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#87: Fool Me Once

From trickster gods to office pranks, humans have long been fascinated by mischief and mayhem. There’s just something about breaking free of the rules of polite society and causing a bit of chaos that appeals deeply to our psyche.

This week, let’s embrace that playful spirit. Whether it’s someone being pranked or doing the pranking, there’s plenty of opportunity to dive deep into your characters’ motives and reactions. No joke — it’s time to break out the (metaphorical) cream pies and throw some anarchy at your protagonists.

This week's prompts

Write about a mischievous pixie or trickster god.

Kids – 206 stories

Write about someone who’s spent a whole year planning a big prank, and now they’re finally ready to pull it off.

Middle School – 75 stories

Write about someone who hates pranks and spends April Fools’ Day doing good deeds instead.

Holiday – 69 stories

Start your story with a big company pulling an April Fools’ prank that ends up going horribly wrong.

Holiday – 82 stories

Write about someone who goes to great lengths to avoid being pranked on April 1st, only to realize they had the date wrong and it’s already April 2nd.

Holiday – 60 stories

Stories

“The God and the Gardener” by Arch R

Submitted to Contest #87

“The thing people don’t get is that being God gets exhausting. Humans seem to want nothing more than to be near God, maybe even be God, but I don’t even want to be God.” The gardener furrowed his brows in response to the man in the ash tunic with a beard that looked like it housed bees. Who was this man, not only claiming to be God but complaining about it? All he wanted was to water the timid petunias peeking their heads into the world. They were his babies, along with the wistful anemones, flirty freesias and enigmatic hyacinths that gra...

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“The Fatemaker” by Ophelia McBride

Submitted to Contest #87

He is called. Called by the light of the full moon. Called by the trees carrying voices on its leaves. The cries of the hopeless who long for the glimmer of hope to shine upon them, even for a moment. The laughs at those less fortunate, spat out of the mouths of those corrupted and wicked. He is called by some force unknown even to him, and yet he obeys it blindly. He is called now. Over the fields, rivers, and lakes, leaping over them in one bound, one breath, leaving them behind without another glance. He travels silently and swift...

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“Darkness” by Iam Danger

Submitted to Contest #87

My heart was thrashing. Both ears throbbed and felt wet with either blood or sweat. The last time an ear hurt like this was when I got hit in the ear by a right hook in a boxing match. It was blood then. This time it was both ears. My normal rest pulse was 45. I was at 90 on my health monitor watch. My attention focused on controlling my breathing, not hyperventilating. Dizzy. Lost, alone, and in the dark—and I was supposed to be leading the gang of us out of trouble. I had taken a risk to lead them out. Now I was in the soup myself.Caw...

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“A Positive Problem” by Sativa Schilber

Submitted to Contest #87

The echo of laughter rang off of the walls of buildings near and far. Spring was here so excitement ran wild down the streets of the town. Just an ordinary no-name town. Nothing exciting, nothing wild. Until now. What residents did not know was that there was a new arrival to their quiet little town. She was a hot-headed, excitable sprite. And though most could not see her I could. She was a little thing, hardly the height of a pencil. Her bright blue shoulder-length hair masked the pointed ears underneath. Her wings were something of a drea...

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“Trickster's book” by Anes Nia

Submitted to Contest #87

This is a follow-up to the three other stories I posted last month, basically the fourth part of the main story.Irk’an was the fourth son in the Torrath family, the son of Baron Victor, the head of the district council. Being the fourth child got him away from the heritage conflicts that he didn’t care about in the first place. His family was one of the biggest and wealthiest families on the west side of this megacity. The district he lives in was known for the brutal lifestyle. It is no place for the weak, the rules that built the area...

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“Giggles” by Ashley 💜

Submitted to Contest #87

I giggle as I watch the humans fumble around beneath me, it is the start of their day and little do they know this is going to be the worst day they could ever have, my giggles turn menacing. April 1st, the only day I get to influence the lives of humans. I'm what's known to them as a 'pixie', a magical creature with wings that flies around and all that shit. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint them but my wings aren't cute and pretty, my wings are dark and pointy. My personality is not sweet and flowery, I love trouble. I'm evil, that's the har...

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“The Fool” by Iain MacIntyre

Submitted to Contest #87

It was always the same. They were so easy to fool – so gullible. Ever since he came into existence, he was always goading them to do something silly: something so deliciously foolish. It was his whole reason for being – to trick; to fool; to befuddle. And wasn’t his purpose just wonderful. Although he always saved his best trickery, his best tomfoolery, for that one special day – April Fools. It was he who invented it after all – he wanted a day that was his: one to encourage those to follow his delectable pursuits of pure wanton...

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“The Mischief of Loki” by Ernest Afram

Submitted to Contest #87

“If I may say, these chains are a tad too tight.” he grumbled, shifting uncomfortably. “Would any of you be so kind as to loosen them for me a bit?” As he expected no one moved, their glares piercing through him. So, there he was, Loki the god of mischief (though some disrespectfully add mayhem), before his fellow Norse gods and goddesses in the halls of Valhalla. More specifically, he was here for trial, bound by similar chains to what restrained his child Fernir, before the All-Father himself Odin. Odin’s stare was bored, tired, irritate...

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“Who Loves A Trickster? ” by Kas Reidva

Submitted to Contest #87

He was standing on the edge of a skyscraper, watching the horizon bloom in red, vivid steaks of light, that turned pink and orange the further they stretched. The trees in the parks, the tops of the houses, everything, seemed to be on fire. Fitting, he supposed. Lation has been waiting all year for this day. He could finally unleash his true self and engage in the games that never fail to make his spirit soar. Grimacing, the God remembered that he will have to keep his fu...

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“The Fool's Con” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #87

Loki sneered around the large, crowded room with a mixture of amusement and a hint of pride. Where once fools were less than popular is the stories of man, many of their more charming characteristics now allured modern society. Suddenly prominent tricksters and mischief-makers were all the rage, an exclusive club that every side character, anti-hero, and walk-the-line rogue wanted to be a part of. He remembered back to the days when only select few were drawn to mischief. Most archaic mortals had quite enough going on in their brief lives w...

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“Verna and the Hall of the Gods” by Elizabeth D

Submitted to Contest #87

The Hall of Gods was grander than I remembered. Golden columns shooting upwards into a roof of midnight blue dotted with silver sparkles of stars. Polished marble tiles, alternating blacks and whites like a chess board, a reminder the Gods played games and bent the rules towards their favor. Their imitation tactics had never stirred any feelings of fear or apprehension in me, even during those first days when it should have, leading to me to believe I was created lacking such emotions. Scents of wildflowers and the sea hung in the air, a fai...

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“Premsyl the sly” by Andrea Itt

Submitted to Contest #87

All the gods had their breath held in anticipation and fear for Premysl. The tricky spirit came and left like the wind, laughter following them like blown leaves. April fools was coming up, perhaps one of the worst (or best) inventions of the mortals. Minor spirits enjoyed the small holiday, a time of laughs and good jokes among friends, but the gods had reputations to uphold. And upholding reputations got increasingly harder as one is known for being dyed pink with red spots, or poisoned to talk backwards. But the day had been quiet, peac...

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“Mister Hat-Trick” by Alex L

Submitted to Contest #87

I must say, it has always amazed me that despite how often humans have touted themselves as “the most intelligent life forms”, they’ve always had the capacity to be easily duped if appealed to their vices, their hopes, and even their insecurities ( and we all know much of those they got). It’s all quite simple, really: you just have to find what they're desperate for, what they can’t live without, what they’d give anything to get - and many times their base instincts will get the better of them. Who am and how do I know all of this, you ask?...

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“April Fools” by Rebbie IB

Submitted to Contest #87

I didn't sleep. I didn't get a wink of sleep. why? because i was just that anxious, and just that crazy. throw in a bit of psycho in there and you have me....basically. "A, stop fidgeting." I looked at her "you wouldn't understand, I’ve been waiting for this moment since last year, when he did the mustard spray,” She stifled a laugh and failed. Ever. So. Terribly. “yeah laugh ha ha, but this year, it’s me laughing.” “A, it’s not that deep,” I turned to her so fast I think I got a whiplash. “uh, yeah it is, dude that shit stuck for a mo...

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“Man of Honor Mischief ” by Chloe Cota

Submitted to Contest #87

I hurriedly fasten my belt and look over my shoulder to the hotel room’s digital clock that had bright white letters saying “8:16”. I only have 14 more minutes until I have to leave to head to the venue. It’s April 1st, the infamous April Fools. Besides the holiday, it's also the wedding day of my best friend named Ben. The mixture of the dates couldn’t fit better together, especially since we had always had a lighthearted and fun friendship. Ben’s wife Linda is super laid back and perfect for him, she’d been part of our friend group ...

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$50

Prize money

492

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 02, 2021 EST

Won by Catherine Hill 🏆

Title: Samill the Trickster

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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