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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

“Cupid and the Day for Fools” by Fern Stone

Submitted to Contest #87

“And they say my holiday is stupid,” the airy voice sighs. Each important holiday has its icon. Without the faces representing them, the celebrations have one less thing to celebrate. Christmas has Claus, Easter gets The Bunny, and Valentine’s has Cupid. And April Fools Day doesn't have anyone. Which is why it isn't an important holiday. That’s also why Cupid is out patrolling humorless frat boys and women that have fake pregnancy tests and too much time on their hands. She also didn’t have much of a choice when her boss assigned her ...

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“No More Pranks!” by Debbie Teague

Submitted to Contest #87

The alarm sounded. A sleepy Tara stretched, smiled, and then her heart sank. Most unpleasant things Tara was able to tolerate, but there was one day a year that filled her with absolute dread – April 1st, the day of pranks. Too conscientious to “call in sick” and avoid any possible pranks, she mustered enough strength to drag herself to the breakfast table. After some deep breaths and a few mouthfuls of her favorite cereal she had an ‘aha’ moment. She would turn this day into a positive one and go out of her way to d...

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“Not Such a Fool” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #87

I hate the way people think it’s a necessity to play a prank on someone just because it’s that date…1st April. It’s probably because I’ve been pranked a few times in my life and didn’t enjoy any of them! When I was a youngster at school it seemed to be the day for the boys in our class to do ridiculous things – such as tell you that the principal had asked to see you and looked ‘mad as hell’. You would walk very slowly to his office, sweating and trying to think of what it was you had done to warrant a trip to the stuffy dark room where you ...

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“One Foolish Regret.” by Nicole Grosman

Submitted to Contest #87

“And they lived happily ever after” Olivia whispered and quietly closed the fairy tale book in her lap. Slowly her eyes moved to a sleeping thirteen years old girl, and a small smile tagged in her lips, even though the ache in her chest grew stronger. Sarah Kinn was only ten years old when the doctors first discovered she had cancer. Since then, the fierce girl has never stopped fighting. But in the last two months, it seemed as if her body was finally surrounding. Now she was lying on a hospital bed at the children's sector, and Olivia felt...

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“The gift of joy” by Georgette Ball

Submitted to Contest #87

Another year had passed since that fated day. Had it really been a year already? It was no joke when people said, “as you get older, the days seem to drag but the years fly by.” As she pulled herself out of bed, throwing the faded quilt to the other side and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she was feeling an equal mix of happiness and trepidation. Would the day bring celebration or unwelcome surprises? As a child Laura recalled this day with fondness as all children do. And as every adult learns in their own time, the day brings mixed emo...

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“Just A Normal Day In A Neighborly Neighborhood” by Steven Nguyen

Submitted to Contest #87

Maya hates pranks. And she often and says it within her heart and chest, as open as she could, to as many people as she would care to mention. It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy a good laugh now and then; especially when a good and harmless joke is done right, to other people at least - it is a hoot, she thinks, but still, such a thing leaves a bad taste in her soul, and she doesn’t care for it, or doesn’t want to care for it. So when it comes to pranks, there’s something inherently childish and deadly brutal to them that she finds hard to swall...

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“Greg and Jerry” by Achieng' Odhiambo

Submitted to Contest #87

Jerry drew in a deep breath and pulled back the curtain so he could get a peek into the hall. He grew pale when he saw that there were at least two dozen kids already seated and more were making their way through the door. He let go of the curtain and turned quickly, releasing the breath, he had been holding out of sheer necessity. Greg’s lips twitched as he watched his petrified brother. For a moment, he just stood there. He stared at nothing until he broke into a sweat. Then he unwittingly began to wring his hands and pace around the room ...

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“Off with it all...on April´s day” by Lis Lovén

Submitted to Contest #87

Off with it all…on April´´ s day ! Oh well, I might as well admit it. It was my idea from the start. I was very tired of my poor imagination when it came to fooling other people. Odd if you ask me, as I was born on April the first. It was like life itself liked to play pun and pranks with me. And I was a victim to stupidity. Yes very weird. I can recall my birthdays as a child. All those endless parcels with nothing in the silly li´l box. I had to make myself laught, just because of it. It belonged to the habit of the day. Be happy as you ...

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“Worst Case Scenario” by Erin Edwards

Submitted to Contest #87

You didn’t argue with Christopher Thustle. That was the number one rule of boardroom meetings. The only permitted words were yes, of course, and certainly. Or, preferably, you didn’t speak at all. In the nine months I had worked as social media intern at Thustle Events Inc., I had never spoken one word in a single meeting. Usually orders were just thrown at me and I was too busy struggling to write them down and nod enthusiastically to contend with the English language. ...

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“Fool's Web” by Matt Edwards

Submitted to Contest #87

They gather around the teakwood meeting table, its edges worn smooth and shiny from myriads of elbows, wrists and stomachs. Among the twelve or so people, Ralph wonders if he'll keep his job; Emily on the other hand, not for the first time, wonders which rainforest in South America had to surrender several of its brethren to make the object that they were all sitting at. It's been a tough six months, sales have been down 11% percent, what with setbacks in various guises. Denise clears her throat, which catches nobody off-guard, then caref...

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“Dreams and efforts gone” by Wilcy William

Submitted to Contest #87

Dreams and efforts lay crushed on the floor A few year ago I was in the college lodging. It was my last year, and I was very occupied with my tests and arrangements. I was anticipating that a good result and planning should go to unfamiliar nations for higher examinations. How could I get an administration grant for going to the U.S.A. That was the solitary issue that stressed me day and night. It was realized that I had bought a ticket for the Sikkim Raffle, which had reported one lakh of rupees as the principal prize. However, I didn't ban...

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“Why me ?” by Rachel Quirey

Submitted to Contest #87

It was all set up, the prank of the year, and my boss was going to win that golden statue, if it was his last mission in life to do so. For the last 5 years, his brother has won every prank, and now it was his turn to be champion. There was a lot of sleek work involved, a lot of cloak and dagger. No one wanted to be responsible for this failing, fearing the wrath of the employer. The town was a large one, and very busy. They would see many a tourist arriving upon over sized and extravagant coaches. Coming out in droves, like ants. Making ...

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“A PUERILE FOOL.” by Harrison Sharon

Submitted to Contest #87

Richard bought some cardboard papers and black permanent markers as he hurried to work. The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky, golden fingers of sunlight lit up the small town. Community volunteers’ swept and cleared dirt on the road, while few people moved about on the street, boarding taxis, and going about their days’ job. Shops were opened and signs that read ‘NOW OPEN’ were put up in front of their glass pane doors. Richard gave little smiles to the familiar faces he saw as he flagged a taxi. Richard arranged his tie as...

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“Fool Everyone; Upset No One” by Larry M

Submitted to Contest #87

“We are confident that you can come up with the most spectacular April Fools Day prank in the history of the world,” said the company president. “Thank-you, sir; I will do my best to make the company proud.” “Go for it, Mr. Burnet. The goal is to generate interest in Algon cars.” “Yes sir.” William Burnet was the rising star of the Algon Motor Company. He was the newest member of the advertising department, and with several innovative and successful ad campaigns, he was the golden boy. Company executives loved this young guy from Tex...

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“April Fool” by JC GuPta

Submitted to Contest #87

Befooling on 1st April every year has become a traditional venture, although the occasion is losing its popularity with the time yet 1st April is still reckoned as Fools Day. Rajkot College and hostel imparting Business Administration education was considered a renowned institution and most of the students undertaking studies there were hostellers. Both boarding and lodging being made available to them. One Arun Sinha enjoyed a monopoly and large patronage both in College as well as hostel. He hailed from a very rich family of Ra...

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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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