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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

“Let it Go” by Sharon Marcus

Submitted to Contest #87

I stacked the last box of donations in the cargo space of my SUV and shut the door. Months of preparation, and my therapist's suggestion to celebrate my thirtieth, was about to begin. Before leaving, I opened closets, looked under the beds and checked locks on the windows and doors. To my knowledge, the family didn't know my address. Born April 1st, came with drawbacks. Although drawback is putting it mild. Mom would recite the story. "Lily Rose, you were due on April 4th. I thought what a lovely date 4/4. But on March 30th, I felt si...

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“Water Prank ” by Ziran Tang

Submitted to Contest #87

Mrs. Morine never smiles. She always frowns at us through her heavy glasses with old-fashioned frames and picks on those whose eyes begin to sag with sleepiness under her tonelessly delivered lecture. This tedious class has the magical quality where those who are within ear shot of Mrs. Morine’s voice retain nothing of the lecture and desire to fall into a deep slumber. Most will fail to beat her soporific magic and fall asleep. Julia and I are the exception; we hide our phones under the table and mock her way of speaking through text, fendi...

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“The Second Broadcast” by Nivra Laesna

Submitted to Contest #87

Everyone in America was familiar of what happened on October 30, 1938 "Doc". The CBS radio broadcast a live performance of the famous H.G Wells book "The War of the Worlds". It was performed with a sole intent to scare the listeners and I must say they succeeded on their goal to scare everyone. Panic occurred during that time my father was only 6 years old. I remember that he said during that time they thought it was real and they use human skins and blinked sideways. Extraterrestrial being for human beings at that time may be possible due t...

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“The Hunter's horrid prank” by Christian Barker

Submitted to Contest #87

So I was sitting there. In the big meeting room. Everyones eyes peeled onto me. Because I'm the second in command here. The CEO of a glass making company. It’s march 31th. one day before April fools day. The owner of the company, and my best friend Cody Delaet wants to pull a massive prank. On Elon Musk. I advised against it but once an idea is in his head. He doesn’t stop. He walks into the room oblivious to the stares and glares he is receiving because he is 10 minutes late to his own meeting. He then says “ alright team. I have handpicked...

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“Google's "Prank"” by Kelrin14 Epshaw

Submitted to Contest #87

The Internet is a necessity in this day in age. We cannot go a day without it, lest our lives turn to turmoil. However, human beings currently have a natural proclivity to believe everything on the internet at the worst of times. And in this day in age, everyone takes things way to seriously. So, of course, Martin Mibishi decided that he would say that the earth’s core is about to erupt because of global warming. Two very, extremely unrelated events that could not affect each other. And, of course, Mr Mibishi is no ordinary twitter user. N...

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“St Elmore Park Hoax” by Clara Martin

Submitted to Contest #87

In 1990-1991, the recession was at an all time high. People in the small family-oriented rural town of Pinehurst, Alabama saw more than their share of hardships. The local coal mining plant laid off over three-hundred people in January that year. Small business owners struggling to stay open had to close down their stores. Farmers also had a hard time with their crops because of the drought and unemployment rates were on the rise. On March 27, 1991, two radio DJs Buckwild Charles and Big Red Hardy from WZRP radio station announced that there...

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“Tech Taboo” by Christopher Cayen-Cyr

Submitted to Contest #87

There are things you don’t say lightly in a tech company. One of them is this:“The robots have taken over. I repeat, the robots have taken over. Hide.”When these words were spoken over the intercom, most programmers on the Software Floor dove underneath their desks, including Lea, the beautiful C++ expert who worked across from me. Not me. I knew this day was coming. Since my very first course on artificial intelligence, I had been preparing for an eventual but unavoidable robot takeover. Luckily, my escape plan was now fully operational.I r...

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“A blunder he made!” by Shareen Aqueel

Submitted to Contest #87

He was sitting at a coffee table in a restaurant talking to someone on a call.Yeah Yeah, but I was actually planning not to come tomorrow, he said to his assistant.Why? Is everything ok? asked the assistant.Oh yeah, everything's fine. It's just that I am not feeling very well, he replied.I need to go now. Bye, he ended the call.It was chilly outside when he got out of the restaurant. Streets were empty and quiet as it was late at night. Snow was the only thing that could be seen on the road. It felt peaceful. So peaceful that he decided to c...

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“Not Today!” by Jenni Ferris

Submitted to Contest #87

My eyes flew open and my heart pounded hard at the first beep of my alarm. I sit up and take a determined breath. I will not succumb to the worry - not today! For the last five years I have anxiously awaited whatever unpleasant prank wrapped in the form of perceived hilarity would be bestowed upon me on this most vile of all days: April first Not today though! Today I am prepared. For five years running my name has been magically pulled from the fictional hat of employees who will be the crowned victim of the annual tradition of office ...

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“Tremors” by Alfamerin Raw

Submitted to Contest #87

Heading to the parlour, the breeze is not brutal hot but autumn- like. Being a regular to such establishments has it's own perks- like I can arrange my appointment anytime. With the starting of the April and new sessions beginning in our accounting department, I had been in stress as I had to file annual financial report. Also some of the stress is caused by my family and that is why I made the decision for today's appointment. I want to stay as far away from my relatives as I can. As I'm a genuine target for them arount this...

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“April fools day," Whos the fool now"?” by Andrea Mattarelliano

Submitted to Contest #87

Thomas was always known for being the one who would avoid the one day in April that he hated, he had been pranked so much as a boy that when April fools day came He would try so hard not to go out or do anything that meant he would have to leave his apartment empty or have to face the public, Thomas had many friends, he was a well liked person, and in the past he had a bad habit of playing jokes on people and they became so bad that he was told not to do any more because he took then to the extreme and people lives were becoming damaged b...

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“Not. This. Year.” by Iona Coppin

Submitted to Contest #87

Amy was ready. After 24 years falling foul of every trick, prank and practical joke, Amy had finally had enough. Not. This. Year. In the past Amy had suffered greatly for the amusement of others, laxatives in her coffee, airhorn under her office chair, deodorant replaced with fart spray, she was the unfortunate victim of them all. She decided that this year the safest place for her to be on this perilous day, was in her room. She had everything she needed, food, drinks, and entertainment. Other than the occasional dash across the hall to th...

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“Fool me not!!” by Kashaf Manzoor

Submitted to Contest #87

I was wondering about my admission in new college that my friend came to me, and we started gossiping about our classmate which we fooled last year. On 1 April last year we pranked him that she had failed in exams, and she think that we are right so she burst into tears. She was the topper of the college and she was sure that she cannot fail in exams but we proved that you have written all the answers wrong in the exams. And actually teacher's are very disappointed from you. After hearing this she went straight away to the teacher's cabin an...

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“Spring is Dear, Fools Do Not Remember!!” by Maryann Nwaokoro

Submitted to Contest #87

“The daylight savings is starting a little late this year" Anna mumbles into the receiver as she slides a folder into her drawer." Tell me about it," Noel replies giving off a smirk.Anna places her finger on her lips to hush him up, mouths " this is important" then waves him off to leave her office.Upon Noel's exit, she resumes back to the phone conversation." I will have to take a rain check," she pauses then continues " I have a board meeting that day and would be late coming in for your party."She knows this trick, she has witnessed it a ...

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“A Fool's Day” by Rylan Trimue

Submitted to Contest #87

It was a normal day, as long as you could ignore the fact that it wasn’t. April Fools Day. A day where mischief was excused and people ran wild with it. It was a day of pure chaos and a whole lot of paranoia. Thousands of people participated in this strange culture where each year people planned pranks and jokes, both major and minor, and pulled them on family and friends. You’d have to watch your back constantly if you wanted to avoid the joking, but it would be bound to sneak up on you at some point. And that’s exactly what happened...

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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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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