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Write a story that starts with the line “So, what’s the catch?”

Posted in Dialogue on Mar 3, 2023

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✍️ 96 stories

“Corn on the Cobb” by Sam Patel

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” “Buddy, there’s a catch on every side of every deal. The trick in life is to see it coming.” “Hmm, well ok I guess so. And my name's Clark by the way.” “Well, Clark with the nice satchel, what’s the verdict?” “I had my mind made up, but...” “Look, I can’t stand around here all day waiting for you to decide.” “Yeah I know. Sigh...what should I do?” “No pressure here Clark, but the clock’s ticking. Look…is this really what you want? Go home, you’re better off without it.” “Just wait, can you give ...

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“The Bank Robber's Sponsor” by Claire Clayton

Submitted to Contest #188

"So what's the catch?" "No catch. Just you, me, and KC going to a bank." "Sawyer." "In ski masks." "Sawyer!" "Okay. Okay, man! God, you're so pushy. Ya, ya we're gonna rob it." "Sawyer!" "Come on, dude. I need the money, bad. You know who this business goes, sometimes you're down and sometimes you're-" "High?" Jack finished, grabbing the spliff from Sawyer and stomping it under his foot. "Dude!" "That's what happened at your last job isn't it? You got high and screwed up?" "Jack-" "So you need me to come in and take charge for you so you don...

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“Twists in the Road” by Ginger Edin

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” I thought to ask them. “You can’t look in the trunk, and you can’t be late,” the big one replied quickly. The little one looked up at him and he shut up, his head seeming to retreat into his immense shoulders. I figured that the little one must be Vince’s right-hand man. The little one explained, “We need a solid guy to drive our cargo.” So smooth with his steel grey eyes. Hypnotic. “Our cargo is valuable, and so is our car. We need you to get it to San Fran within 48 hours while staying under the radar. And you...

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“Glow Worm” by Adam S. Karofsky

Submitted to Contest #188

“Alright, so what’s the catch?” “No catch. No rules.” “Bullshit.” “It’s true.” “Tell me the price again?” “A dime. Just like in the old days.” “Bullshit.” Kai examined the tiny pill. Held in a small zip-lock bag, it was triangular and golden, with white lines spiderwebbing out from the center like an exploding star. “Where’d you get these again?” “Leo. He owed me from that time back in Brooklyn. Relax, it’s all-natural.” “Leo?!” Kai looked nervous now, knowing the other kinds of stuff Leo used to sling in the old days...

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“An Old Heirloom” by Blake Childres

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch?” The deal was much too good to be true. She had been in mourning for the last few days, then her grandmother’s supposed ‘lawyer’ showed up, telling her she was the only one included in the will. Caroline was conflicted, to say the least. True, out of the rest of her siblings and cousins it was Caroline who was closest to her grandmother. It was Caroline who visited the most often. It was Caroline who was with her grandmother when the elderly woman eventually did pass on thanks to organ failure. Old age finally caught...

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“Poverty city” by Michael Nguyen

Submitted to Contest #188

“So, what’s the catch” I asked the car seller. “No, no catch. Just a few issues. Rear wiper won’t work. But the brakes do.” “Wonderful.” “Half the time. All the lights work great. Especially the engine light that one stays on all the time.” “Well for $400 dollars-“ “Heaters start in seconds.” “It is getting colder-” “So long as you don’t mind toxic fumes and headaches that come with it but who’s asking anyways. Not you. So we have a deal.” “Absolutely.” “Hey you aren’t swindling me are ya?” “I don’t need this car for driving. I need to...

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Contest #188

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