Start your story with someone breaking an awkward silence at a family dinner.

Posted in Adults on Oct 28, 2022

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✍️ 36 stories

“Daddy Deadest” by Kasie Huffman

Submitted to Contest #163

“I guess I will be the first to say it then… I’m glad he is dead!”, I proclaimed as I looked around the table. Sour faced looked back at me, not shocked just annoyed. Everyone was thinking it, but it was in poor taste to say such a thing just twenty-four hours after your father’s untimely death. Grandma’s hand trembled as she attempted to stab her food with the fork in her hand. It was not her fault that her son had grown up to be a horrid husband, deplorable father and all around dreadful human being. However, she bared that burden as...

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“A Very Real Conversation” by Douglas Goff

Submitted to Contest #163

“I’m gay!” she said, breaking the awkward silence at the dinner table. Only moments before she had told my wife Raschelle and I that she had an important announcement to make.“Okay.” I simply answered, staring at my fifteen-year-old daughter with many thoughts running through my head. I had six kids after all, it was likely that one would be gay.“I’ve always been gay. I just didn’t tell you or Raschelle because you are ‘homophobs’ and hate gay people.”Again, her words surprised me. Celeste had always been my rebellious child, with the spirit...

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“Mushroom Surprise” by Ashley Workman

Submitted to Contest #163

The density in the air seems to compress the room and everyone in it. No one uttered so much as a sound since Jessica began cooking the dinner that now sat before them—Succulent and juicy chicken marsala drowning in salty, sweet brown marsala sauce and an abundance of mushrooms. The serving platter continues to steam, wafting the dish's flavors, tickling the senses around the dinner table. Though there weren’t many of them, this was bound to be a dinner, never to be forgotten. CLINK—Jessica clinks her wine glass with Melissa’s. The prolon...

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“Lawfully, Your Teacher” by Diana Alexia

Submitted to Contest #163

"I am dropping out of school," Julie said abruptly during their family dinner. Her parents stared at her in utter silence, and she suddenly felt awkward sitting across from them. Seeming to leave a trance, her mother dropped her fork and stared at her in disbelief. Her father started carefully, "Sweetheart, what do you mean?" She was home for the summer and planned to stay until she figured things out. Julie hated law school. It was a mistake. She was eager to start, but after spending a year with little sleep and learning all the mater...

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“Family Dinner” by Juanita Ellingson

Submitted to Contest #163

Family Dinner “Dinner has arrived!” Lydia announced her voice shaking, placing the beautiful turkey at the centre of the table surrounded by everything else. The silence could be cut with the very carving knife her husband, Thomas, held. She took her seat to his right and smiled nervously at everyone around the table, as he began carving. Her in-laws,Clara and Robert scowled at her. Her sister, Zara, sat on the edge of her chair, trying to keep her temper in check, waiting for even the slightest comment to unleash her rage....

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“The beginning of it All” by Nuday Rebel

Submitted to Contest #163

As I get dressed for this big family dinner, I can feel my heart beating a million miles a minute. I can remember the last time we were all together, the chaotic scene of leaving my husband and packing his things while my family was in town was an embarrassment I never wanted to relive. I knew they all wanted to know what was going on since the last they saw me, I left for Texas so quickly and I hadn't talked to them too much. Months later I am faced with this nervous feeling and big news to tell. This morning all my senses we...

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“The Wrong Supper” by Victor Eaves

Submitted to Contest #163

“Fuck it. I got sumthin to say,” I said, and caught my old granny nearly faint in the corner of my eye. I imagined Judas having the same reaction sitting at the table with Mary and the disciples right after the crucifix. “This shit’s been on my mind for a while, and I thought everyone should know…” **** **** **** Paid, smiling actors sitting around magazine modeled table with overexposed lighting and a tiny logo at the bottom of festive commercials made my head numb. It reminded me of the shittiest half of the year. That...

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“Are You All Over the Meadow?” by Amy Ingram

Submitted to Contest #163

Teddy was out of sorts. This afternoon’s visit with his cousins was not living up to expectations. Ruby, at six, was a year older and bossy. He no longer liked her silly game. Ruby had made it up and insisted they play it all afternoon. It seemed to Teddy to consist of nothing more than running about and never getting anywhere. He stood at the top of the lawn, which sloped in a smooth sweep of spongy turf to the road below, making angry dents in the soil with his toe. Ruby was calling out the signature line again.‘Are you all over the meadow...

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“Truth and Happiness” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #163

I sat idly at the table playing with my food, doing my best to avoid telling my daughter about my decision. What would Amanda think, I said to myself. Glancing at her eyes, I could tell she sensed something was off. She repeatedly shifted her focus from her dish to my face, until she couldn’t stand it anymore. Gently, Amanda placed her fork on the table, and as it struck its surface, its sound broke the deathly silence filling the room. “What is it, dad,” she asked. It was a simple question, one that should have been easily answered, but ...

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“Take It And Run” by Lauren Montgomery

Submitted to Contest #163

"Merry Shabbos!" I call to the room at large, spreading my arms wide and slapping what I hope is a smile on my face. While my intention is to inject the sweltering silence with some noise, any noise, I fear my outburst only makes things worse, especially since lifting my arms in greeting puts the pit stains on my poorly-buttoned periwinkle button-down on full display. I begin praying for a meteor to hurtle through the French doors leading from the dining room to the backyard and put us all out of our misery. Surely Jesus grants wis...

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“The best kept secret” by Audrey Brown

Submitted to Contest #163

That time had come around again, and Angie so did to want to attend. Lets go and get this over with. Everyone was seated around the table eating dinner no one was saying anything the room was so silent you could the person across from you chewing their food. Suddenly Jacob spoke up. Since no one wants to talk about the elephant in the room I will. After a lot of consideration and going over everything, your mother have decided we will be getting a divorce. Suddenly a loud scream came from across the table. What is the matter with you all, ev...

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“Dinner Cross Talk” by Hope Linter

Submitted to Contest #163

Note: this story contains the topic of cross-dressing. John put his fork down. The bustling family dinner had gone quiet. Even his kid brother, Carl who’d blabbed on him was silent, but his cheeks were puffed out, like he was going to explode.. Mom in her light blue cotton shirt was looking down at her own plate, salisbury steak half eaten, same with gravy covered potatoes and peas. Dad, at the end of table, still in his work shirt, stared up at the dingy popcorn stucco ceiling, only the whites of his eyes dangling from his brows.. ...

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“Let 'Em Eat Cake” by Alyssa KF

Submitted to Contest #163

TW/CW: Direct references to eating disorders (Specifically anorexia & bulimia) this is accompanied by other mentions of poor mental health & feelings of self-loathing. Please please take care of yourselves while reading! The table was round. The table was silent. “Pip-squeak,” Pippa’s father said quietly. “I’m going to light the candle now” Though the girl didn’t seem to have tuned in at all, she nodded absent mindedly. The family, and her friends stared intently at the girl’s gaunt face. Pippa’s mother hit play, Ha...

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“The Eavesdropper” by Kristen Diaz

Submitted to Contest #163

It’s so quiet at the Quinbee dinner table. All I hear is clinks and clanks of silverware scraping across plates. Oops. I’m sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Annabeth June Quinbee. This dinner we’re having… I made it, but I didn’t have a choice. Either I make it or we all starve. No one helped me either. My mom, dad and sister had more ‘important’ things to do. There’s one person missing. My big brother, Alexander. He’s away at college. Anyway… As I reach for the bowl of creamy mash potatoes, I glance arou...

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“Something They Never Told Me” by Katherine Williams

Submitted to Contest #163

Something They’d Never Told Me There’d been an accident on the motorway, and I was even later than I thought I’d be. Sunday lunch was sacrosanct and if we didn’t make it on time, boy did Mum give us a thrashing. A verbal beating, I mean, because Mum, a tiny wisp of a woman, couldn’t even kill a fly, unless she talked it to death. Now in her late fifties with hair that was starting to turn gray, she was still formidable. She’d always run a tight household fueled by strong words, but we all knew that her strictness belied a heart th...

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Start your story with someone breaking an awkward silence at a family dinner.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 36 stories

“Daddy Deadest” by Kasie Huffman

“A Very Real Conversation” by Douglas Goff

“Mushroom Surprise” by Ashley Workman

“Lawfully, Your Teacher” by Diana Alexia

“Family Dinner” by Juanita Ellingson

“The beginning of it All” by Nuday Rebel

“The Wrong Supper” by Victor Eaves

“Are You All Over the Meadow?” by Amy Ingram

“Truth and Happiness” by Howard Seeley

“Take It And Run” by Lauren Montgomery

“The best kept secret” by Audrey Brown

“Dinner Cross Talk” by Hope Linter

“Let 'Em Eat Cake” by Alyssa KF

“The Eavesdropper” by Kristen Diaz

“Something They Never Told Me” by Katherine Williams

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who is living through a major historical event — whether they know it or not.

Write about a character who risks everything to pursue their heart’s desires.

Write a story about someone facing death for the first time in their life.

Write a story in which someone says “You'll never be content.”

Contest #163

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

126

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: