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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#100: Breaking Bread

One of the most intimate things you can do with someone is sit down to eat together. The idea of friends and foes, families and strangers breaking bread has been a recurring theme in art and literature for a very long time. It’s something that can bring us together against the steepest of odds; to quote Oscar Wilde, “after a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations”. But things don’t always end quite so harmoniously — food fights, anyone?

This week, we’re reflecting on the joys (or pains) of eating together or making a meal. Whether the dinner table is a place for communion or conflict for your characters, I look forward to sitting down to a hearty portion of food-themed stories with you. Bon appétit!

This week's prompts

Start or end your story with two characters sitting down for a meal.

Middle School – 264 stories

Write a story where a meal or dinner goes horribly wrong.

Thanksgiving – 201 stories

Write about a group of strangers — or people who know each other, but may as well be strangers — eating together.

Fluff – 152 stories

Write about a character preparing a meal for somebody else.

Fluff – 157 stories

Write a story that involves a secret or magic ingredient.

Halloween – 116 stories

Stories

“Silent Night at Broadsword Inn” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #100

Helga clean the tables in the dining room. It was almost closing time and since it was Christmas Eve, she wanted to get home to her husband and three young children. It had been a difficult few weeks as most of Iepers had been leveled by relentless artillery from both British, French and German guns. Peter Van Dyken owned the century-old establishment, but some of the building had been damaged in the fourth battle between enemy forces. This part of Flanders had been under constant siege or at least that’s what it see...

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“Uncle Rudy's Last Gift” by George Key

Submitted to Contest #100

Uncle Rudy’s Last Gift By George Key A chill came over Sticks as he prepared to make the short journey to the annual “Break Bread and Jam Til’ the Rooster Crows Christmas Party”. Taking that last glance at the broken mirror just to make sure he was sportin’ his lady killer best. Sticks knew that every musician in Tucson that was anybody was going to be there. Christmas gigs were few and far between on the average Christmas, however, Christmas 2020 was beyond bleak. COVID-19 shut down most venues and the city placed an early curfew on it...

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“The Hungry Tramp” by Karma P

Submitted to Contest #100

I was always the last one to wake up. The last one at the breakfast table, only left with ice-cold coffee and the wimpy butter sliding off my pancakes. If I’m lucky enough for pancakes. I’m usually not, though. In a house of fourteen kids, it’s first come first serve, and being the last one up doesn’t help. But tonight, I was the first one up. My sleepy head bounced between my shoulders and my hair had fallen loose around my head. My legs, which felt like wood planks, drove me towards the doorway, with the faint remembrance of a loud knock. ...

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“2021 Is My Year” by Masooma Shabbar

Submitted to Contest #100

Daniel was busy cooking up a storm in the kitchen. He was over the moon and back. He felt as if nothing could go wrong and that finally his life was taking off. He had been selected for Masters at the University of his Dreams, his application for financial aid was approved and he had just received the big promotion that would mark the turning point of his career. His side hustle was also booming and for the first time in his life, his income was more than his expenses. And the best part of it all? He was able to celebrate all this happiness...

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“Difficult” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #100

It’s difficult preparing a meal for someone you don’t know all that well; actually at all. I met her quite by accident. Well not quite, she ran over me with her bicycle. It was a nice bike, older Schwinn with balloon tires. Said it was her mother’s when she was herself. I let it go at that. It wasn’t all her fault, but then of late people on bicycles think they have the same rights as cars, which I get. But then cars don’t usually ride on the side walk. Anyways, I was waiting on the corner, looking to see...

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“Biscuits” by Dominic Gnardihos

Submitted to Contest #100

I don't turn on the radio when I drive. I don't listen to books or podcasts. There are some things I might like to hear to help wile away the time and make it more pleasant. Instead I sit in silence. My thoughts are all I hear. Some days it might be better to listen to the radio, to hear the bland and cloyingly gaudy pop come from my crystal clear speakers that probably cost me an extra few hundred. Some days anything is preferable to silence. But I've found silence has a voice. Silence speaks. I try to listen. Even if what it says is the op...

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“My Favorite” by Anuji Withana

Submitted to Contest #100

I slowly descended the flight of stairs. It was a little past 6pm as I came in from work, much early today to not miss our day. I wanted a surprise for her. Earlier today, the morning conversation with her, had taken an unexpected turn into an argument just before we were running late for work. And then, neither of us brought it up during the day, except for the normal formalities of a bill payment and a couple of groceries, she called me for. She was not home yet. She was supposed to be later than 7, so I had enough time. I had ...

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“If there were no humanity” by Laiba Nadeem

Submitted to Contest #100

It was November. I perched on a wooden bridge by the sea, watching the sunset over the water. I was so depressed that even the picturesque view couldn’t help me. The scene reminded me of my childhood days when I used to watch the dusk with my grandma. She was the one who made my early years exquisite. I remembered how bleak last year was for me. The heart-wrenching story began that it was Sunday; I was having morning tea on the couch in the solarium listening to the chirping of birds. Suddenly my phone rang. An old, gravelly voice came from ...

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“Dining At Anducci's” by Hans B

Submitted to Contest #100

Blood dripped from the table onto the floor. The pool increased with every drop. The pool began to trickle following the pale grout lines of the light tan tiled floor. It outlined each square as it traveled. The slumped body was half sitting on an antique wooden chair at the end of the table. The air was thick with the smell of iron that didn’t move from the dead breeze. The flies would soon come and fill the air with their constant buzz. Except when they landed to dine and lay their eggs. The room was hot and the blood didn’t travel far bef...

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“Lydia and the Three Tenors” by Lydia Brattin

Submitted to Contest #100

Quite a few years ago, there was a man named Aaron, who usually spent his summers by himself in a humble Sicilian vacation home. He was part of the trio “The Sicilian Tenors” with his friends Elio and Sam, and they were planning to have a party at Aaron's house, which would be celebrating the release of their most recent album. On the day they were supposed to arrive, Aaron got a call from Elio and Sam, who said they were in town and ready to visit him. Since it had been quite a few months since they last saw each other, Aaron arranged to sp...

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“Coffee, Tea or me?” by Laura Dvoran

Submitted to Contest #100

Today seemed like any other day, sun was up and shining and my best friend in the whole world had BIG news to share! I was trying to get the sleep out of my eyes when my phone rang and she said, "I'm coming over with BIG news". Well, honestly, I thought I was still sleeping and rolled over and fell back asleep. Not long after, I heard a pounding on my front door, so of course, I had to get dressed and find out who was there. I got to the front door and saw that it was my neighbor, Shandy. We have not really been close neighbor's and her arri...

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“Blue cheese, Yellow bottle opener, Red wine” by Grace Williams

Submitted to Contest #100

“Thank you again for the steak Marie, I don’t think I’ve ever tried it before”. I’ll admit I didn’t particularly want steak tonight, but at least Marie and Nathan seemed to enjoy it. She leans over his shoulder to pick up his plate. I admittedly feel a pang of jealousy but push it down, making a mental note to learn how to pull off shoulderless tops as well as Marie does.“Are you sure you don’t want a hand washing-up, Marie?” I almost do a double take at that. Nathan never washes up at home. “It’ll be fine” She answers. “I’ll leave it to soa...

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“Dinner with the Dead” by Michael Martin

Submitted to Contest #100

The grey door in front of Lester was far too unassuming for what existed on the other side. An assistant - Jamie, according to his nametag - played tour guide for the teen, rambling in his most excited voice about the wonders of cognitive storage technology. None of it registered; Lester could only stare at the door. What would it be like meeting an actual dead person? What would this Curtis guy be like?Jamie finished reading the factoids off his notecards then opened the door. He ushered Lester inside a small room that had a recta...

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“Truth For Breakfast” by Avery Herrmann

Submitted to Contest #100

It was a typical morning. I woke up to the fresh smell of my dirty laundry, the birds chirping happily outside my window, and my dog snoring on my pillow. I stepped out of bed into my enormous fancy bedroom. My long brown hair fell in front of my face. My stomach grumbled, a sharp pain spread through my body. I groaned and stumbled to my walk-in closet. I slipped on some clothes and brushed my hair. I left some water and food next to my dog, Cupcake, and walked out of the room. I hopped into the elevator as quickly as I could. I went do...

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“When Aldric saw his Dad at the dinner table ” by Manzar I

Submitted to Contest #100

So you're taking cappuccino or a cold brew coffee? A cappuccino would do, my cupcake!, Aldric replied Come on stop being so cute, i'll get our drinks, Liam said. Here, cappuccino for you and a latté for me, what would be more good than two lovers enjoying the sunset in the beautiful garden and some coffee, am i right Aldric? Abostely Li, I just love this beautiful evening, its just me, you and the birds chirping a song for us! Aldric I just Love you! I Love you too Li! After they had their drinks, they fell into comfortable silence nd jus...

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$50

Prize money

891

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 02, 2021 EST

Won by Rayhan Hidayat 🏆

Title: mie goreng

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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