Write about someone who thinks they just got a great deal on something, only for them to realize…

Posted in Mystery on Mar 3, 2023

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✍️ 32 stories

“Moth in the Bell Jar” by Martin Lipman

Submitted to Contest #188

When I was a boy growing up in the village of Burbage in the East Midlands, we would trap Elephant-Hawk Moths under our glasses of lemonade in the summer. When one of us caught a moth under our glass, all the other boys would gather around and watch the brightly coloured creature flit and flutter helplessly, dashing its wings against the glass, scrambling for a way out. We loved watching the pink and green shades of the moth’s wings dither, making pretty patterns in the air. Sometimes, we would let the poor creature out but, on many occasion...

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“Bargain” by Melissa Rea

Submitted to Contest #188

Two hundred feet below the earth a dark figure stood in a black Italian suit, waiting. His shirt was black silk and his tie crimson, just for fun. It wasn’t a color he particularly liked, but it he thought it expected of him. He did not like to wait. Someone was going to be disciplined. The door slid open with the whoosh of an airlock. The blast of warm air hit his face and he closed his eyes with the pleasure of it. The girl behind the door dropped the papers in her arms when she saw him. ...

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“Estate” by Daniel Legare

Submitted to Contest #188

October 25th I thought the add had been a typo, but it turns out it was real. 5000$ for a three-story mansion? I had two separate inspectors go over it and they said that other than a bit of peeling paint, the place was in great shape. The realtor told me that it was because the previous owners, who are now deceased, had set the price at 5k, when 5k was worth so much more than it is now. And now, due to some kind of legal loophole, the price was not adjusted for inflation. He also told me that because it was a bit out of the way (you nee...

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“Beyond the world of ideas” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

Submitted to Contest #188

Sarah Jackson held the small leather journal against her chest excitedly as she nearly skipped her way out the campus. The words of her physics professor, Adrian De la Rosa, were still fresh in her mind, none of which had anything to do with the subject. The young woman had found a kindred spirit with the older man the moment he’d begun to share his fascination with the world of spiritualism and how he utilized his expertise in the field of science and applied it to the world of magic. Every end of his class, Adrian would take ...

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“The Frying Pan” by Will Hales

Submitted to Contest #188

Jon hated walking around Goodwill. It smelled weird, the lights were always flickering, and nothing was ever quite as it seemed. The book his girlfriend, Carly, held in her hands was a perfect example. The spine was in perfect condition, so when you saw it you got excited and quickly pulled it from the shelf, just to find that the corners were torn and someone had written all over the title page. Carly didn’t seem to mind, though. She wasn’t much shorter than Jon, which allowed him to peer comfortably over her shoulder at the sad excuse for ...

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“Mark Two” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #188

I saw her this morning on the way to work. The traffic had backed up and I was in danger of being late, so I peeled off the main route and tried a back route, safe in the knowledge that whatever I did, I was going to add to my journey time. I was always going to be late to work that morning. Some things seem preordained, especially the crap that comes at you in life. Late and pissed off, I saw her all the same. Despite the stressed fog in my mind, and the building anxiety of my tardiness, she stood out at the side of the road a...

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“Leaning Both Ways” by K A Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #188

“You really should try the margarine, Jim. I swear it's just as good as butter, and if we both use the same kind, we can save on fridge space.” “I don't know what you have against real things, Margaret.” “It's made from – see? – vegetable oil. Vegetables are real.” “Touché. But I'm late for work.” A kiss on the forehead, a pat on my pregnant tummy, and the conversation is over. “See you tonight.” Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to fit three dozen deviled eggs into limited shelf space every third Tuesday for the garden club. Worse, ...

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“Wow, That's a GREAT Deal!” by Liz Orvis

Submitted to Contest #188

“Sydney, there are ten more boxes out on the porch!” “Okay....thanks”. How did this happen? I don't even remember buying any of these things. I wonder how much money I spent altogether? It must have been quite a bit because I got a notification from my bank that one of my accounts was at or near zero... which isn’t great because I don’t have any extra money this month. I have a disease called Bipolar Disorder 1, which means I sometimes have high, highs (called Manias) and low, lows (called Depressions). The goal is to...

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“Buzzlesnap’s Notebook of the Storyteller” by Alberto P.

Submitted to Contest #188

Oh dear. I am writing this two hours before the deadline. Most exciting! But never mind that! Hear me out. Just a week ago I was struck with considerable fortune. An incredible deal that no one will ever believe. Ah, what a bargain! I was approached by some merchant. Isn’t it funny how I’m using the word “merchant”? It is a very specific word, but I can’t call this person any other way! Well there he was, looking straight at me, and here’s what he said: “I can see them in your eyes, stories! So many stories!”. I know, right? I was as confuse...

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“Quid Pro Quo: An Allegory” by Dan Coglianese

Submitted to Contest #188

Priscilla ignored her friends, Stacie, Charlotte, and Maya as they sat outside the most popular Starbucks in Mechant Lake. It was on the corner of Tullamoor and Elm, where the most foot traffic on a bright Saturday in June would pass. Scrolling through her most recent Tik Tok video uploads, Priscilla sighed in exasperation. Stacie rolled her eyes and said, “Ok, I’ll bite. What’s wrong, darling?” &...

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“Got the time?” by Dêsērt Çhìçk

Submitted to Contest #188

As the man walked across the street, he was approached by a salesman full of energy and confidence. "Got some time?" the peppy salesman questioned. "Time?" the man asked in confusion. "Would you like to buy some time?" the salesman asked again, as he continued walking next to the man who was in a rush. .The man asked, "I don't understand," to which the salesman went on to explain that he could sell the man some time, for a modest fee. He said 'to buy some time for those extra minutes that he may need to get away from his wife and to be a lit...

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“MIDNIGHT MAN” by Moss Hall

Submitted to Contest #188

MIDNIGHT MAN ...

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“I'll Take Door Number Two, Please” by Tricia Cundiff

Submitted to Contest #188

The car used to be the envy of her friends; those with kids who couldn’t imagine having to place them in the backseat and those that couldn’t see their way to spending the extra money for something they called too extravagant for their pocketbooks. Of course, they loved riding in it, top-down, and their hair tied up. But where were they now? Not anywhere close to here, she was sure of that. The Mustang was a fun ride, comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger, not so much for the back seat, which usually just housed discarded...

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“My Gorgeous Angel” by Anita M Shaw

Submitted to Contest #188

She was gorgeous! The most perfect specimen of horseflesh I’d ever seen. Her red chestnut coat gleamed in the summer sun. Flaxen mane and tail. A flowing mane . . . long and silky. She stood sixteen hands, and her conformation – perfection! She moved with a gliding grace, floating over the ground. Just to watch her out in the field was a treat. What would it be like to actually ride her! Be sweet heaven! I had to have her. Okay, the money I had was supposed to be for other things—like fixing my truck. Or getting a new one. Proba...

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“Fritz” by John Polt

Submitted to Contest #188

Fritz The door chime rang as Fritz opened the door to the Marine Boat Sales building. He looked around the showroom and spotted the pontoon boat of his dreams. It was a brand new beautifully appointed Bennington twenty-four-foot Pontoon boat. One of the finest boats on the market and its built right here in the USA. He looked around as he heard an office door open up on the loft. He watched as the young man walked down the steps looking directly at him. He approached and asked, “How can I help you, Sir?” “Sir?” Fritz re...

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Write about someone who thinks they just got a great deal on something, only for them to realize…

Submissions are closed

✍️ 32 stories

“Moth in the Bell Jar” by Martin Lipman

“Bargain” by Melissa Rea

“Estate” by Daniel Legare

“Beyond the world of ideas” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

“The Frying Pan” by Will Hales

“Mark Two” by Jed Cope

“Leaning Both Ways” by K A Hamilton

“Wow, That's a GREAT Deal!” by Liz Orvis

“Buzzlesnap’s Notebook of the Storyteller” by Alberto P.

“Quid Pro Quo: An Allegory” by Dan Coglianese

“Got the time?” by Dêsērt Çhìçk

“MIDNIGHT MAN” by Moss Hall

“I'll Take Door Number Two, Please” by Tricia Cundiff

“My Gorgeous Angel” by Anita M Shaw

“Fritz” by John Polt

🌟 Similar prompts

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

Write about a character who would have complete happiness, if it weren’t for that one thing.

Write a story about someone who is determined to not have their day spoiled — but the universe is trying their patience.

Write about a character who’s attending a dinner thrown in their honor, but deeply embarrasses themself during their speech.

Contest #188

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

258

Contest entries

134

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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