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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story where a character’s life completely changes over the course of a meal.

Posted in Adults on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 71 stories

“Sophia's Feast” by Beth Whitcomb

Submitted to Contest #162

I am Sophia. I live in the window of my pet's home. She pats me now and then, but knows I'd rather she not unless it's dinnertime. My pet's name is Theresa. She has her own litter and they are all as annoying as you could imagine. They jump in front of me with their loud chortles, forcing me to swipe at them, to which I hear a scream or two, sometimes crying, but at least they back off. The youngest one will soon be like this too, but she's still too wobbly on her feet to touch me. She hasn't learned to jump like the older two. The males see...

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“My House Wants to Meet” by T. S. Memory

Submitted to Contest #162

Douglas, or Doug, was on the most awkward date of his life and it was not even his own. The person sitting opposite him on the dining table was not his date, but a proxy like him. It was a date for their houses. The humans received instructions through a Bluetooth earphone, passed what their houses wished to communicate and described the meal before them. The date was rather mechanical, but other than that the meal and ambiance was actually quite lovely. Doug was a smart home enthusiast; he lived alone so he had no restrictions to consider...

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“The Emperor's Luncheon” by Thomas McVey

Submitted to Contest #162

In the land of Glasnaught there sits a palace carved from pink sapphires. One would be forgiven for never having heard of pink sapphires, as the only people who have ever heard of these pink sapphires are either those who have been exiled from Glasnaught, or those who been told about them from through word of the exile's mouths. Among the latter, a scant few merchants know of their beauty, and the impoverished populace know only of them through whispers and legends. The Aldebrant Empire, which reigns over the prosperous land of Glasnaught...

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“Divine Delicacies ” by Chriss Lowe

Submitted to Contest #162

Elenor’s POV As I look into the mirror, I admire my perfect reflection.  Knowing I look jaw dropping in my crystal teardrop earrings, and my bold red lip. I smile knowing in fact, I look irresistible.everything sets off my fair skin quite nicely, my golden eyes gleaming back at me. Brushing my golden hair behind my ears, I turn to my lavish closet. Now time to pick out a delectable outfit Ravi will want to practically rip off of me, instead of being preoccupied making us his extravagant dish.  Tonight was going to be a night, unl...

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“Quarterly Punishment” by Lisa Hickerson

Submitted to Contest #162

Eloise stares blankly at the laminated paper as she ponders the broth they would be using to make the Italian wedding soup. She attempts to look truly and entirely enrapt by … whatever it was that her date was so proud of accomplishing. She had gathered enough to know that it was quite a feat he achieved this afternoon (big enough of a deal he felt that it so simply explained away the fact that he was almost 2 hours late for their date). She had just been paying her tab at the bar when her phone lit up with that familiar tinkle sound she had...

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“Night Blooming Dinner” by Shannon O'Donnell

Submitted to Contest #162

If you told yourself enough times that the delight you felt in the sound of birds singing together at dawn, meant nothing. Or the love you had for the color of the young summer leaves when the sun shines through them. If you discounted this magic over and over because it didn’t stop you from feeling grief or pain, you might be in danger of growing into a gnarled, bitter stump of a person. You wouldn’t see yourself as the heroine of your own story, because you told yourself too many times that the tension of the awe in the easy...

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“The Ballad Of Carlo And Flavia” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #162

They say that smell can unlock forgotten memories of childhood, beautiful holidays or special events and I agree with that, wholeheartedly. Especially when it comes to the smell of food. Growing up in the little town of Indiana Pennsylvania, I experienced a typical American childhood. Even though my parents were originally Italian, I learned to speak Italian at a young age so I could converse with my grandparents who lived with us. Otherwise, I was into American fashion, music, sports, and culture. For instance: When I thought about ‘foot...

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“Transgressions” by Jessica Berkowitz

Submitted to Contest #162

Eitan rolled the large rounded treat around his mouth before biting in. Magnificent—simply the best meatball he’d ever tasted in his life. This was the eighth meatball he had tried, so delectable and moist. He wasn’t planning to taste them but then he heard another party-goer, “oh they’re truly so wonderful!” “Thank you!” the woman behind the table was all aglow. “And they’re made in a separate kosher kitchen.”  “Oh, you’re much more diligent than me! I’m only kosher when my brother comes to town,” winked the older la...

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“The Dinner” by Pam Othoudt

Submitted to Contest #162

The Dinner            "Dang it" Julie exclaimed as she caught herself pouring juice in her cereal and burning her toast. "This whole week has been a disaster".            Her bad week started on Monday. As she arrived at her office job, her boss took her aside and told her they were downsizing. She was no longer needed. Feeling numb, she cleaned off her desk and went home. She spent the afternoon on her computer applying for un...

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“Temporary Tattoo” by Sarah Duffey

Submitted to Contest #162

      The buzzer sounds, cutting through the air with authority and resonance. A gaggle of thirteen-year-old boys clear the court, limbs bouncing and dripping with sweat. Boys from both sides collect their belongings, take long sips of water, and find their family members in the bleachers, waving to them weakly. Brennan finds his dad by the doors of the gymnasium. He pats Brennan on the back twice, and they head out into the December night with their coats hugging them.        ...

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“I just wanted a sandwhich” by Emmett Hernandez

Submitted to Contest #162

Maya let out a slow breath as she pulled into the parking lot of “Scott’s” at 10 PM. She had been coming to this same hole-in-the-wall dinner almost daily for not quite a year now, and yet somehow, it had quickly become the only constant in her life. Just over halfway done with her first year of college, moving away from her family, and starting her new job in such a small time frame had taken a toll on her, but being able to pull into this parking lot at any time she was free and wanted a cheap yet satisfying meal had been one of the few th...

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“A Man of Business” by Louise W

Submitted to Contest #162

Selected Excerpts from the Travel Log of Mr. Charles Edward Rutherford December 2, 1826 Johnson announced he would turn back today. This late in the year, he said, there’s no chance we shall find passage across the Teton Range before the snows come. He pleaded with me to join him; told me the chances of a greenhorn like myself surviving a snowstorm in the wilderness are exceedingly slim. But I promised Fisk that I would not return to the Colorado settlement without documenting a route through the Tetons. Competition in the fur trapping b...

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“Clarice Farm” by Meli Ann

Submitted to Contest #162

The clock blinked dimly 12:00. Your eyes focus on it as you reach for the knob to the radio of your 2014 Passat. You have been meaning to change the time for a while now but have not yet mustered up the moment to do during your busy schedule. The road repetitious of bushes and trees and the occasion 18-wheeler that you do your best to avoid fearing to get into a deadly accident. You are not sure how your station changed from today’s hits to a static white noise AM station. You leaned over and glimpsed at the dim orange station to see t...

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“My Ribeye” by Anthony D'Amico

Submitted to Contest #162

“My Ribeye”     “Robert, Robert, have you been here before?” Marci asked. “Robert?”     I looked at Marci and nodded.     Marci is the PTA president, condo board member of our community, PETA advocate, Girl Scout den mother and lead attention seeker of my wife’s group of friends. She organized this current outing of four couples and the only reason I agreed to attend is because it is at my favorite steak house. And because my wife Kristin asked me to attend, which is pretty much ...

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“Last Meal” by Marie White

Submitted to Contest #162

        His favorite foods—roasted chicken, corn, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a chocolate milkshake—sit on a plastic tray on the scratched plywood table before him, but he knows he can’t enjoy them, or anything, for that matter, with the scythe dangling over his head. They’ve referred to this as his “last meal,” although he really considers his “last meal” the homemade pasta and garlic bread Erica served him before the argument, before his life turned into a nightmare. He didn’t kill her. The noti...

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🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone looking at a restaurant menu.

Middle School – 80 stories

Write about a character whose love language is making food for others.

Adults – 37 stories

Write a story in which too many cooks spoil the broth — literally or metaphorically.

Adults – 10 stories

Start your story with one character trying to convince another that they make the best grilled cheese in the world.

Middle School – 36 stories

Contest #162

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This week's theme: Bon Appétit

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