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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

“Families lost in time” by Melissa Alexander

Submitted to Contest #100

I could hear the words still coming from my phone as it fell to the floor and time just seemed to stand still. My sister, trying to utter the words that our dad had passed but the words got lost in the tears. I knew and she didn't have to tell me. The line; goes dead and I am left with my thoughts. My memories but there in the darkness; is still that angry little girl. An angry little girl, that's mad at the world and left with unresolved conversations with her dad. I had always assumed that I would have time to sit down and talk to him but ...

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“The Last Supper” by Aurora Bluemoon

Submitted to Contest #100

The Last supper Prologue “You deserve death rather prefers to live. Yet, I am offering you the last chance”, the two capsules were served on the dinner plates by the waiters. “I have offered you two capsules of red and blue. Red offers you Death and Blue gives your Life. Choose wisely what you want – Death or Life”, Mr R stated with an evil smirk on his face. The mask of panic and fear wore on the faces of seven people who were gathered around the dining table of a mysterious restaurant, upon the invitation from Mr R. ***** ...

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“Big Chunk Soup” by John Larson

Submitted to Contest #100

There was nothing Lester liked better than a bowl of big chunk soup at the end of a long day in the yard. Lester and the crew would walk into the yard at six most mornings, and we would be there till at least six at night. “Busy day today”, he would always say when he came back inside. “Me and the crew are starved! We need some of that big chunk soup!” He would slap me on the back as I filled up his bowl. The smell and ultimately the taste of the food made the day seem better and ...

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“When Life Gives you Lemons” by Margot Pierpoint

Submitted to Contest #100

When Life Gives you Lemons Margot Pierpoint Just wanted to say that it so far has been a really hot summer, and it's not usually so hot here, but if you have a lake or beach to go to it's not so bad. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story, I try to submit one every week, even if it's not that good. So I present to you: When Life Gives you Lemons. *death, mangled bodies, sadness* Back then I was young and willing. Now look at me, mother to six: three girls three boys. Back then I was young and beautiful. Now, look at me, old and wrinkled, ti...

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“Mama The Telephone Man is a Woman” by Meta M Griffin

Submitted to Contest #100

Mama, The Telephone Man is A woman I’m not going to regret what I’ve done—I’m going to regret what I haven’t done. That’s why I go out with the boys every morning; even though many people object. But the telephone company is still like home. I had to go to get a job at the telephone company after I left Wayne and moved back in with Mama and Daddy. Before I went out with the men, I worked at the switchboard and used to listen in on the switchboard when I know Norma isn’t watching. Nope, folks won't believe...

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“Third Date” by Christian Sexton

Submitted to Contest #100

It feels like Paris. It's dark out, but there's too many lights from the city to actually comprehend that there could ever be night. The candle is burning low in some scent of linen that makes me think of clouds. He has some cute little music playing. It’s French, of course. He told me that he'd learned some famous cuisines from his trip in France, and he wanted to try them out on me. I've never had a man cook for me. He dances around to the cute little "Suis-moi," and I tap my feet. Is he singing? I start to laugh, and he glan...

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“Madness Makes Strangers” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #100

Brison’s long, nimble fingers gently strummed the sensually curved mandolin in his lap. For the first time, he sat at the head of the long table, proud to be hosting this year’s summer solstice celebration. His tribe of Rhesus monkey and their closest neighbors, the dainty pale-faced Capuchins, relished any and all excuse for celebration. Brison was the now the head of his family. Until the month before, that honor had belonged to his father. He missed his father and his tune saddened as he gazed towards the river at...

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“The Farewell Dinner” by Don Peavy Sr

Submitted to Contest #100

Jonathan Williams, in response to his mother telling him Kristina was calling, got up from his bed and walked into the kitchen where the only telephone was other than the one in his mother’s bedroom. As he took the first step towards the telephone, Jonathan knew exactly what he wanted to tell Kristina Edwards Collins. He would tell her that it is over between them and not to call him anymore. Then he would hang up the receiver before she could work her magic on him. However, ...

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“Gift” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #100

At 5 am she rose from her sleep like a rocket breaking the atmosphere into consciousness. As tradition dictated, she looked at the clock, told herself ‘Five more minutes’ and then got up anyway. She knew all too well that once she left the realm of sleep, she could not return until the experiences of the day bought her passage for another journey into unknown lands. She had things to do, she reminded herself as she switched on the coffee pot, wash...

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“Skid Row ” by Marie McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #100

It was early in the morning. The sun shined down on the city of Green Fields. Jody Dyson woke up for the morning in her cot at the Green Fields Homeless Shelter. "What day is it? Tuesday. Another typical day, where I'm still at rock bottom..." Jody thought to herself. At the Homeless Shelter, four other adults and a small child occupied the place. One tenant was Helena, a woman in her early twenties who had been kicked out of her house by her parents for getting pregnant out of wedlock and her three year old son, Simon. Another tenant was Bi...

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“The Ghost of Love” by Trishie Chikerema

Submitted to Contest #100

Paul sat in his rocking chair looking outside through the window. It gave him great comfort seeing that the rose garden was thriving in spite of the harsh winter wind. Thinking of seasons made him miss spring and its beautiful array of colors. At least then, he could walk down Crescent Park and sit on his favorite bench watching the sunset. It was a long standing tradition that he had with Marianne. The thought of her made him smile and took him back to the day they first kissed, on that very bench in the park. A young and fearless love so ...

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“Petty Children ” by Tayyaba Abdullah

Submitted to Contest #100

Avoiding people was my main concern. I glided back and forth. Oily heads, shiny red hair, and two pairs of small hands. Make no mistake, these “humans” are criminals. Slightly buzzing above the head-size oil mines, I find myself wondering why these big blobs look so similar. Ah! Aren't they known as “Petty” adolescents? Curious they looked. I shall address them as T1 and T2, how do I know they are twins, well I don’t! The shapes and colors looked identical. Faith I had that my Suspicions were right.I was called… Philip, P-ilip, and Phil can’...

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“The Homecoming” by Marian Audrey Sureta

Submitted to Contest #100

"Mutya, how many foreign friends are you travelling with?" my now 58-year-old Filipino mother said. I understand her concerns; this will be my first trip home for Christmas with my friends and boyfriend (whom they've never met). I've never looked back on my motherland since earning a scholarship to one of the most renowned universities in the United Kingdom. It’ll be weird since my younger sister's spouse was my ex-boyfriend. “4 persons, including myself,” I said as my phone hung around my neck as I quickly packed, praying we...

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“Fantasy of a refugee living” by Saeeda Batool

Submitted to Contest #100

I'm a human who was born in a nation where boom shelling and body burying were commonplace. The entire day and night felt like a nightmare. My friends, relatives, and neighbours have all died. The secret boat made its way inside the flesh and blue zone. Food, water, and oxygen are in short supply. This appears to be a roller coaster ride, and the distance seemed to stretch on forever. The beautiful and pure sea waves push against the boat, making me feel alive. I haven't seen land in almost a week, and all I can think about is crying, food s...

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“Dinner Under the Tree of Forgetfulness” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #100

The slow simmer of the pot of water started bubbling on the stove. Savana grabbed a bag of spaghetti out of the yellow cabinet over the stove. She waited for the rolling boil of the water to begin. Her grandma always told her to wait for the water to roll of the water like the waves in the sea. Savana knew then and only then was the time to salt the water and put in the pasta. She had done this many times in the past. She had done it many times with her grandmother. Tonight her grandmother was coming over for dinner. Sava...

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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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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