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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

“Fool's Paradise” by Rani Jayakumar

Submitted to Contest #87

Every year, Patty planned one major party. At first, it was just around Chrismukkah (her mom was Jewish and dad Christian), or New Year’s, big bashes thrown for a dozen or two of her closest friends and their plus ones, with drinks free-flowing and music that killed neurons. Then she moved on to Thanksgiving, with a big turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, inviting all her family and friends, until the turkey was the one least stuffed by the end. From there, she threw chili cook-offs and barbecues for Independence Day, singles mi...

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“My Dream Prank” by Oscar Perry

Submitted to Contest #87

It was a normal day in Cattle Town. Barn Johnson was in his lab analyzing specimen he found behind the toilet, meanwhile his wife, Zina Johnson, was in the mall grocery shopping. Their kids, Gear and Astrone, were about to eat breakfast. “Hey Astrone, can you pass the milk” asked Gear while pouring cereal into his bowl. Gear pushed the milk carton to the other side of the table where Astrone stood with a grin on his face. “What are you looking at loser” shouted Gear while looking around him. He grabbed the carton, poured milk in his cup ...

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“Sweet Revenge” by T.H. Sherlock

Submitted to Contest #87

I hated him. I hated every single thing about him, from his shiny forehead and receding hairline to the expensive leather shoes which made a clicking sound whenever he strutted around the office. He wore perfectly tailored suits, with a self-satisfied smirk, from Monday to Friday as a constant reminder of just how much more important he was than the rest of us. His bulging lizard eyes and insect thin body might have made a lesser man self-conscious – but not Adrian Cornell. Adrian oozed confidence and looked at us all down through his nose w...

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“Brother mine” by Priyosmita Banerjee

Submitted to Contest #87

I was devouring on a plate of hot omelette and toast when my phone ringed. I was inclined to decline the call, whoever's be it but I accepted it, after all its not everyday that I receive a call from my dear cousin."Hello," said I."Hello," he replied."How do you do?" I tried to say but I was interrupted by his "Now before you utter other words, dear little sister, tell me whether you are free this evening.""And you ask me this on a Sunday, brother mine? Anyways I am free.""See you at 6 pm at 'Robust', then."Before I could complain about the ...

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“I, The Prankster” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #87

I, The Prankster Suzanne Marsh “Oh, those three! I have survived a great many students but these two have got to go NOW!!!” The nuns suffered a great deal at my hands in the two years I was at The Mount. Watching television late one afternoon I had the most scathing brilliant idea of my entire career; as a prankster. It was simple yet brilliant. It was so brilliant that I knew it would finish my stay at the Mount and convince my Mom that I would be much better off at Kenmore East Senior High School. I had tried all sorts ...

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“Who is the bigger fool?” by Charlotte Bedford

Submitted to Contest #87

Trigger Warning: suicide My fingers shivered as they glided across the sharp metal surface of the chains, they felt heavy under the weight of guilt which hung so greatly on the chains I had forged. I slide them across the ground into position, I was ready now. I just needed to wait… Earlier that same day. It had been a long time coming, I knew I had to do it. It might not make others laugh, but it would be the best April fools I have ever had, I will be so thrilled come 12 o’clock this morning. I had to prepare. I thought about primar...

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“14” by Sun Set

Submitted to Contest #87

"I wonder how we went frm spending the day together, showing and telling each other just how much we loved one another to buying presents for only one half of the pie...What a facade." Said Jimmy of Valentine's day. Before saying these words Jimmy had only dated seven girls who all main evented wrestlemania with his heart, leaving him horizontal each time. These experiences sort of turned off his feelings or so he led himself into believing. Three months after saying "I WONDER..." he realised that he had ample time on his hands and decided i...

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“The Benevolent Trickster” by David Taylor

Submitted to Contest #87

April 1st. April Fool's Day. A date that's always lived in infamy for me. Since I was a kid, I was the subject of some really messed up jokes. It all started when I was around seven years old: my older brother Jason likes to go all out and prepare for some pranks. On my way to school, he got an exact copy of my bookbag and filled it with fake bugs. That shit shocked me when I noticed the bag wasn't as heavy, so I opened it and plastic flies and roaches and centipedes dropped out. I screamed and he was laughing in the other room. "Yo, I go...

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“The Legend of April Fools Day” by Leslie Strom

Submitted to Contest #87

The legend of April Fools Day I looked out the window to see snow falling, and faint footprints leading to my mailbox. The flag wasn’t up, but the footprints were there, which intrigued me because it was a Saturday. We get no mail on a Saturday. The sight of Snow on the first day of April doesn’t surprise me but I certainly am not happy. I was planning to get some yard work done today, but the snow had other plans. I looked out the window again and thought to myself. “good one, Mother Nature-April fools to you to”, and quickly close...

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“Plz ! don't do this .” by S Afrose

Submitted to Contest #87

What are you doing, Jack? Stop this silly prank. It's not a joke. What’s up dear ? April fool !!! Plz, don't mention this in a tricky way. I'm losing my strength. This day is such a traumatic one for me. I lost my dear family, only by trusting that mirage words-my family is gone forever. Loren, it's ok dear. I can understand that you think thoroughly to take any action. But, the world can't think like you. So what- Jack???? Loren shouts again. I can and I will do my level best. Loren stands up and moves slowly towards the door. Jack...

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“Prankman Forever ” by Aburrow Marsh

Submitted to Contest #87

Prankman perched unflinchingly on a ledge above the city, his eavesdropping equipment in tune with every cell phone and social media account in use below. Clad in black, with a paraglider affixed to his back and all manner of ninja-like paraphernalia on his person, Prankman clenched his jaws, ready to act.His thoughts flitted ceaselessly to his childhood, and the terror some people -- friends, family, bullies -- had inflicted on his psyche. April Fool's Day was the worst day of the year, bar none, and Prankman had the scars to prove it.He wa...

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“The Worst/Best Holiday Ever” by Anna L

Submitted to Contest #87

Everyone has a least favourite day of the entire year. For some it’s Halloween. For some it’s Easter (although I never got that one. You get free candy after a scavenger hunt. What the heck, Easter Haters?). But for me? It’s April Fools Day. Yep, you heard me right. You get mouldy cheese in your sandwich, over-ripe bananas smushed into your locker by annoying boys and the worst of all? Everyone enjoys it. Everyone enjoys pretending that April Fools deserves a real celebration. I prefer spending April 1st doing good deeds. “Hey, Justin...

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“The Postmaster” by Jharna Katara

Submitted to Contest #87

"The Postmaster might have left for his house, by now", she thought as she began walking towards the road. "Even he has his own children and he would like to spend some quality time with them too, I don't want to make him late." She increased the pace at which she walked in the gloomy wet afternoon. She walked past the cowsheds coming onto the path that connected the village to the main road. This path was full of mud which immediately molded into the footprints of the people who walked through it. The cold winds brushed against her cheeks a...

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“A Different Kind Of Mischief” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #87

The chill wind blew from the north-east. Prestwick ignored the wind even though he felt the cold more than he should. It’s what was expected. They all stood in their allotted places as their chief rallied them to go out and cause mischief. Last year he’d been eager. This year he just wanted to stay behind and sleep the day away. Speech over, everyone began to move out. Feet tramped over the familiar grey earth. Where they were headed would not be grey. It would be all shades of colour. Some would go to...

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“The Misfortunes of a Non-Prankster” by Sachi B

Submitted to Contest #87

Keshav disliked pranks. Actually, he quite hated them. He was often quoted as saying, “Why prank someone? It causes so much inconvenience. To them, of course… but more importantly, to your own conscience!”. It pained him, you know, to see people being treated unkindly, to see his fellow humans being evilly subjected to torture, under the guise of a ‘harmless’ prank. His heart went out to them, and his conscience ached even if he simply witnessed a prank being planned. His friends would just shake their heads sadly, while wondering how t...

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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.

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