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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

“Prank of Luck” by Nazneen Nahar Ananna

Submitted to Contest #87

"I was screaming. But sounds were stucked in my throat. I wanted to stand up but my legs didn't let me to do that. I was bound to lie down. But my whole body seemed to me pushing out of ground. What a terrible feeling! Ah! My eyes! My frightened friends are asking me to wake up. They aren't getting my response though I am responsing to them. Even now I am also confused if I am alive or not? What happened? What happened? Oh! I can't tolerate anymore." After 15 days, Now I am feeling a little better. About 15 days ago, I was in that condit...

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“The April Fool” by Sean Tarzy

Submitted to Contest #87

In the office lounge of a Real Estate firm in Central New Jersey, James Pollin captures the attention of ten of his coworkers. “And then-” James chortles again, trying desperately to let his words escape before they are drowned by his uncontrollable laughter. “And then, when he shows up and can’t it…he’s gonna lose his shit!” James Pollin, the farthest thing from an “office-prankster” , allows himself to gently sink into the waters of popularity as he drinks in the adulation of his coworkers. This may be just an April Fools prank, but ...

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“Wizardry” by George Puscuta

Submitted to Contest #87

Do you know that moment when, after years of hard work, of putting up with all sorts of corporate bullshit, office politics, annoying coworkers, emails that turn into calls that turn into conferences that turn into trainings that should’ve and could’ve been solved by emails, you finally, finally hear those magic words: Congratulations, you have been awarded the … Take a minute, remember it, savor it! No?! Doesn’t ring a bell? Well, don’t give up! Your day will come. Or, maybe you’re one of those people that have always been rewarded accordin...

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“The Innocence of Yesterday” by Sonja V.

Submitted to Contest #87

When the dark, pitch-black sky with splatters of white stars met with the fiery glow of the sunrise of the morning of April 1st, Haven knew that something odd was going to happen that day. She always had a feeling that something was off, but today was different. And she didn’t know how right she was. All was fine in the morning, nothing out of sorts. Haven got up, sat on the porch drinking her chamomile tea and watching the sun come up, staring deep into it’s depths. After that she retreated back inside to do her mor...

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“Laughter In The Office” by David Zasloff

Submitted to Contest #87

Lance walked past the receptionist heading for his office and stopped. He turned to Janice, the receptionist. Sure enough, her attempt to hold back her laughter was a dismal failure. Was it because it was April Fools' Day? When Janice noticed that Lance hadn't proceeded through the door and turned to face him, she took one look at the expression on his face and lost it completely. She sounded as though she hadn't had a good laugh in at least a year and meant to enjoy the hell out of this one. Lance shook his head and went through the int...

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“She Be Folly” by Shelby Lemerande

Submitted to Contest #87

"Katy!" My boss calls from the copy room. His voice is muffled since there's a wall between me and him. I'm pretty confident that he's going to come ask me to look at the printer again, and I'm one hundred percent confident that I'll tell him the same thing I always tell him, it's an old model and he needs to replace it. As the only IT employee for this office, I'm pretty busy most of the time. Right now, for instance, I'm in the conference room (which is next to the printing room) fixing the p...

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“Running gone wrong” by Kimberly Funwayo

Submitted to Contest #87

Run, Matt, run!” John shouted as he got tackled down by our pursuers. The constant running was a norm for those of us who stayed in Midtown, New York. You had to run from the debt collectors and mostly on a Tuesday and a Saturday. You had to run from the bullies at school that was Monday through Friday. You had to run from the bullies out of school that meant every day from January through December. You had to run away from the drug dealers at the street corner and that meant every time you stepped out of the house. But the reason I was on t...

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“Fool Me Second” by Riley Bennett

Submitted to Contest #87

It was a beautiful, sunny day as Nathan walked down the street. Yet still, something was off. He continued to look around as he walked, seemingly being extra cautious. He took in a deep breath as he mumbled to himself. “You’ll be okay. Nothing to worry about. Nothing to fear. No one's going to try anything. April first is just any other day.” “Hey! Nathan! Wait up!” A man in seemingly his early to mid-twenties ran up to him. “Dude! Are you ready for our big show tonight? We finally got a gig in a decent establishment! It’s that club downtown...

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“How I Nearly Didn't Meet Your Mother” by Mental Vagabond

Submitted to Contest #87

Dates have always been an issue for me. This is important for the story I'm about to tell you. Now, your Uncle Rob is a perfectly decent human being nowadays. Growing up will do that to a person. Back in the day though? He was mean, with capital M. Now, it's true that, even though he had 7 years and roughly 30 pounds on me, he did not pull the usual bully antics, such as wet willies, wedgies, or the time honored 'lock you into a closet and leave you there 'til you cry yourself to sleep'. No; besides the occasional barb and thwack upside th...

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“Most Miserable 24 Hours” by Briana Sawyer

Submitted to Contest #87

April 1st. The most miserable 24 hours a human being is forced to endure. I painstakingly forced my way from under my sheets landing harshly on the ground with a thud and a groan. The countdown has barely begun and already I'm on my face. I have the worst luck on April 1st. I’m already a major clutz with horrible coordination. But in a family of pranksters, I am guaranteed to sport several bruises by the end of the day. And by pranksters, I mean literally. Our job is to pull pranks on people in an attempt to make them laugh. If ...

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“Fool me once” by Sofia Duarte

Submitted to Contest #87

The alarm clock rang, I don’t want even to look at the time. It’s April 1st. No! I want to skip this day. Can I get drunk and just sleep through the day? I feel woozy, maybe I’ve drunk too much with my friend last night. Just think about it. Do we have to celebrate a lie when the world is full of corruption and mischievous people? I don’t know what makes this day so special. Every day seems like a lie to me. And here I am, trying to get dressed to go to work. I am a man of my word, and I hate all the office typical jokesters. Yay, look at m...

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“Flee! The final hour of Sonny Davin” by Kaito Horan

Submitted to Contest #87

What is fear? Ultimately fear is a powerful human emotion that alerts humans to dangers that threaten one’s safety. However, how does one really know what true fear is? We all think we know the answer to that question. It’s what you felt that time that you got lost in the mall as a kid— parents nowhere to be found. Or rather it's that time you and Tom Cruise were surrounded by assassins with nothing but plot armour to defend you. Those are both very similar situations every person has lived through at some point. Before you know it, those si...

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“My God , I’m your fool!” by Aruna Bassie

Submitted to Contest #87

Fool me once ..... Fool me once : I wouldn’t even blame you ; I’d blame myself thinking I should have seen the signs , focusing on how I could be that dunce. Fool me twice : I’d expect you to think you were already on thin ice , instead of just believing I’m just not that nice. Fool me thrice : rather than realizing you have issues , why would I choose to think it’s my fault for I’m the cause of our relationship lacking enough sugar & spice. Fool me for the forth time : I still can understand your immature boy’s toys thought process wh...

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“Puck” by Kenneth Diao

Submitted to Contest #87

There are a few deities that are quite well known.That is, if you believe in them. Some don’t. But many do.Jesus, Muhammad, Shiva, and Buddha, for example. They’re so famous that they’re mythical, divine. The ones who’ve caught a glimpse of them, or of their doings, are counted as the fortunate, though some suffered terribly for having seen them. Most people know of them through the texts, teachings, and hearsay.There are an uncountable number of unknown deities. Druids, nymphs, fairies, door gods, family gods, minor saints, house gods, and ...

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“Steve the Trickster God ” by Shyla Mason

Submitted to Contest #87

Chaotic, powerful, mischievous. These were words that once described me. A force of nature, a god! I was once feared and worshipped by many, the harbinger of misfortune! And on top of all of my astonishing and otherworldly powers, I was also incredibly good-looking. Yes, yes, I was a winner with all the ladies, goddesses and mortals alike. You may not believe me now with this sorry excuse of a body that resembles melted ice-cream, but my looks were once unrivaled by any man. Eight pack abs of steel, a jaw so chiseled it could cut flesh, and ...

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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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