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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 – 205 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 Trick of Citrus” by Ellie Peter

Submitted to Contest #87

“I am Sorin Weylen, god of mischief” No one ever liked him after he said those words, and no one ever liked him before he said those words. While he was the god of mischief, he was also the god of pranks, which, according to him, was vastly different then strictly mischief. He was also born the god of citrus, leather, ink, the number 7, and to his horror, rutabagas. Sorin Weylen hated rules and he hated mortals. Messing with them became a game of his, bribing Mayven, the goddess of weather, into sending down hail storms when there was a ...

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“Pixie God” by Flora Bell

Submitted to Contest #87

It was that time of year again, and the city was in chaos. Fire hydrants were somehow on fire. Silly string was laced between trees and bushes. Rouge rolls of toilet paper bounded down the road. And lets not even start on the slime dripping down the front of the buildings. It was the time of year the citizens regret the actions of their city founders. If only they had not invited that damn pixie god to stay as long as they wanted. "Incoming!" A voice yelled, everyone on the open street quickly running for cover. A high pitched cackling flew ...

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“Egg Surprise” by Rachel Quirey

Submitted to Contest #87

Egg Surprise Jack had a plan, and it couldn’t fail. He was going to propose using a large Chocolate egg. Now to many, this sounds a bit crazy. But he was a romantic, and this had taken him an entire year to plan and organise. His girlfriend Sally, loved to play pranks on others, but especially on him. She had a long list of successful missions that ended in a glorious victory. It was his turn, to show her he was a serious contender. There had to be family and friends who would arrive and make this big day...

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“365 Morning and Night” by Isa Negron

Submitted to Contest #87

I’ve got a question for you; A girl walks into a supply store asking for ten cans of red paint, six-packs of zip ties, four twelve-foot-long pieces of jute rope, two hammers, a large box of nails, duct tape, and a saw, what would you think? Would you question if you just witnessed a murderer collecting supplies for their next victim? Or maybe a sad housewife who’s ready to end her life and escape her ongoing routine? I bet the last thing you would ponder, is a young woman who is about to plan the best, most intricate, prank of the century.&n...

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“CELINE TASTES HER OWN MEDICINE ” by Leonard Kizito

Submitted to Contest #87

After a long while of absence, Rose and Celine again reappeared within the vicinity of Ngong' hostel, and were advancing, somewhat ungainly, towards its entrance. Even from afar, they obviously expended not a care in their manner of walking as was regular with their habits. Panting and sweating, their sweat-sodden tops sticking stubbornly to the straight of their youthful backs, the pair lackadaisically crossed the slabbed compound and onto the threshold. Underneath their clothing, Celine and Rose,--especially Celine who always engaged ...

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“Lord, what fools these mortals be.” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #87

Lord, what fools these mortals be!Carol pushed her hair up and wiped her brow. It was hot in the kitchen and the sweat was beginning to creep down the back of her neck. It was almost lunch time and the staff would be streaming in any minute, all of them eager to find the best seating or space at the counter.“What’s for lunch today Carol?” asked Joseph , “anything exciting?”“Today is a day for surprises, and I have made “Spaghetti all’ Amatriciana“Sounds good , even better with your French accent!” laughed...

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“Calendar Year” by Psyche Subcommittee

Submitted to Contest #87

I don’t have a calendar. I don’t have a calendar and usually I’m fine with that. I walk out of the house armed with the day of the week and sometimes even the time (though never with a watch) and if I did for some unfathomable reason need to know the date, I’d ask. I don’t even really subscribe to the lunar calendar, though I haven’t thought about it extensively enough to formulate a coherent reason, maybe because I’d rather stay in the shallow and agnostic end of the pool than wade into the dark and deep waters of contemplating real things....

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“April's fool” by Auguste Dupin

Submitted to Contest #87

When a lion chases its prey it experiences two kinds of pleasure viz; the kill and the thrill. Matt’s chase had evoked such a palpable thrill. He remembered vividly the day this outlandish idea had eerily entered his mind, a typical Netflix and chill weekend with his girlfriend April. The two had been inseparable since college, their love for each other was like a meadow of grass, sometimes it was lush and lively sometimes it was dry and gloomy but through and through they had adored each other. As they sat there pensive and idyllic a though...

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“Schools Out” by David Goodman

Submitted to Contest #87

April Fool's Day is my favourite day of the year because you can do naughty things and not get into very much trouble. For example, last year I decided to put frogs in my teacher’s pigeon hole. Oh boy she screamed but all she said was, “Daniel you are not going to be on the good money today no matter what you do.” This being my final year before I went of to college. I put a lot of thought into April Fool's Day and along with my best friend Jason decided that as it was there last year they both wanted to make an impact, something tha...

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“Mums are the best” by Gautam Prakash

Submitted to Contest #87

I reached my mum's place around evening time and went straight to bed. The long train journey was exhaustive and excruciating. This was my vacation after a long time and this one is special as tomorrow is my birthday. I woke up around 11 pm to the faint noise of the TV in the living room. I got up to drink water when I saw my mum half asleep with her favourite series on TV and a big box which was my birthday gift in her hand. Mums are amazing, aren’t they? I silently went back to my room as I did not want to ruin the experience she had ...

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“April Fool the Cat” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #87

April stalked the village streets by night and early morning, her ebony coat made her all but invisible. You only saw her when her eyes glowed in ambient light. Or when she was up to no good. The closer it got to midnight, the stronger her powers became. On this particular night of March 31st, April padded carefully along the top of a fence, picking her way along like a wicked black ballerina. When she smiled, her deadly canines shone in the moonlight. Her long snakelike tail twitched at the tip, acting as her rudde...

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“Strangers in Baketown” by Christopher Cayen-Cyr

Submitted to Contest #87

“This tastes like… I can’t quite describe it,” said Margot, the competition head judge. “Paradise perhaps?” “No.” “Apotheosis?” “Not quite.” “Perfection?” “I would say a combination of cement and rotten eggs.” The other contestants burst into manic laughter. No other participant had gotten that kind of feedback. Naturally, I ranked dead last, just like every year. Every. Single. Year. Next year was bound to be different, however. I would have the last laugh, whether they liked it or not. Baketown earned its fame from one reas...

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“Tomorrow” by Gwyneth Lu

Submitted to Contest #87

It was really and truly happening! Today, in 6 hours time would be tomorrow. Concentration, desperation and determination have made me continue my master plan, that would surely become an immediate and major success. I was desperately adding a couple of finishing touches to my work, desperately, desperately. Cold sweat trickled down my face, as I worked my quickest and hardest to ensure nothing would fail. I urgently encouraged myself to try harder, to so perhaps win the title of best trickster in the world. True, many of my other prank...

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“Homer's Prank” by Debra Birdwell Winkler

Submitted to Contest #87

HOMER'S PRANK By Debra Birdwell WinklerThe divorce was finalized a year ago on April Fool’s Day. Homer Hornsby wasn’t happy about the results. If only it had been a prank, but it wasn’t. She got everything. Well, maybe not everything, but an awful lot. She had to move out of his house – his 200-year-old family home which she invaded when he married her. That was good. She got the two kids – he didn’t want them anyway because he never liked kids. So, that was good, also. But she could move away to the other side of the country – eight st...

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“The Patron Saint of April Fools' Day” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #87

If you saw him on the street, you might easily mistake him for St. Nick due to his silver white halo of hair flowing freely from his head and chin, his bulky frame hidden by the festive red color of his apparel from his pants held in place by his suspenders and loosely fitting tunic. Despite his striking resemblance to the Jolly Old Elf from the holidays, Alppers is the Patron Saint of April Fools’ Day. If truth be known, Alppers temperament and attitude is the polar opposite of Santa Claus. It is said he prefers a more su...

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$50

Prize money

491

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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