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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

“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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“La Petite Quatorzième” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #100

The restaurant was fairly booked up when they got there. A table had been set for them, the cutlery laid out already, gleaming silver alongside perfectly crystal-clear wine and water glasses which gave the entire place a rather snowy, frosty appearance from afar. The atmosphere was muted, with classy and sophisticated diners conducting hushed conversations over small plates of exquisite food. Theirs was a large group by comparison; among the softly-spoken couples, their group of eight seemed like a brash and bumbling band of baboons, even t...

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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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“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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“Wine and whining” by Reet Miglani

Submitted to Contest #100

I run towards the house, my hair disheveled, my lips swollen as I hurriedly send Ash a messageMessagesYou- ‘Black and white roses for my funeral please, and for the love of everything holy don’t invite Uncle Vernon, he’s a pain in the butt”Ashton- ‘Where would you want me to hold the ceremony? Ooh, and I’m not paying”That little-I gasp unbelievingly, it was HIS fault that I was running late for the annual ‘family meal’! It was this tradition in our family where all the fat uncles who wore obnoxious ties and aunts who wore fake pearls and di...

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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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“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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“She Ordered Lobster” by Martin Buckell

Submitted to Contest #100

She’s ordered lobster. Fucking lobster. It’s only our second date for Christ sake and she’s going all out on the menu. Taking the piss. Taking advantage of my good nature. Thinking she can go for the pricier dishes. Expecting me to pay the bill. Yeah, you go girl. Fill your boots. Order the entire fucking menu. Don’t you worry, numb nuts here is paying. Look’s like I’ll have to order a salad. Keep the cost down. But then I’ll look like a dweeb and a tight arse and I can’t have that. Impressions are everything. I know, I’ll order the crab, ke...

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“A Farm Family and the Underground Railroad” by Cameron Landers

Submitted to Contest #100

A farm family and the Underground Railroad We read this, and like a Steven Spielberg movie, the scene opens to a view of today’s Sarcoxie, Missouri. It is a small town where everyone knows everyone in town and strangers are greeted with a stare. We see a few cars driving around the circular grassy center, and a few folks walking in and out of main street’s shops. Then, the camera view raise up into the sky, looking down at the town slowly fading into the misty clouds, and the letters 1838 appear, puffs up like a cumul...

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“Dinner With Friends” by Geum Disrud

Submitted to Contest #100

Hi my name is Riley I have long brown hair and hazel colored eyes and I’m about 5 and a half feet tall. I was wearing a pretty 50s style light pink lace dress with off the shoulder ¾ length sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. I was also wearing a pearl necklace and a bracelet to match. For shoes I had some cute black pumps. I was invited to a dinner party by my friend... Specifically, one of my closest friends Hillary she has hair cut to her shoulders that’s a dirty blond color and she is almost 6 feet tall. &nbsp...

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“Cook it if you got it. ” by Chuck Dudley

Submitted to Contest #100

Jack was never the popular kid at school, but this year he promised himself to do whatever it took to get the girl of his high-school dreams. Lauren, Jack has been fascinated over Lauren since he was in the 2nd grade. But of course Lauren never really noticed Jack. He didn't play sports, he wasn't on the debate team, he never really did anything to stand out. But this year was going to be different and he knew before they went off to collage he would have to make his move soon. Jack was the quite type who stayed to himself and Laure...

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“Just in case, I love you” by Makayla Boline

Submitted to Contest #100

Amanda and her husband are now celebrating their third anniversary.Amanda was preparing the meal, steak and noodles- both their favorite meals. As Amanda was cooking the steak, her husband came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering in her ear, "smells amazing, darling."Amanda smiled, "glad you think so."Their laughter filled the room."I love you," Amanda said, sighing."I love you too, so much, hey, I have to stop by the office to grab something for work, I should be home before you've finished," Austin said, grabbi...

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“Guess Who Came to Breakfast?” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #100

Guess Who Came to Breakfast? “Crash!” The sound of all the plates and glasses on the breakfast table tumbling to the floor followed by a bloodcurdling scream as cousin, Carey Stupolski, also saw herself hurled off her chair in our dining room and saw herself covered with pancake syrup. The scream emanated more from the shock of our breakfast guest than from fear. Carey had been living and dining with us, the Fizurskis, because her mother Marcia, my mother's sister, needed her temporarily remo...

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“The Kitchen Radio” by Gerald Daniels

Submitted to Contest #100

The morning light seeped between the slats in the kitchen blinds, gentle and pale. Thin rectangles of dust danced lazily in the delicate beams casting spinning shadow dots on the work tops and doors. A little radio, plastered with greasy fingerprints and flour, spoke of political elections, pink roses and lost friendships. A pot boiled and hissed it's steam on to the window and little puffs of spray fizzled onto the hotplate as the water rose over the rim. &n...

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“Everlasting Solstice” by Amy Mayeaux

Submitted to Contest #100

Carter was being stubborn, as he always was after cooking. “Absolutely not,” he sets down his bowl onto the wooden table, “I am not seeing him.” For good measure, he crossed his arms - being defiant as ever. “You can’t just ignore him.” Dylan gives the stew a sidelong glance as she pushes it further away. “He is your uncle, as much as he is mine, and besides, it would be rude.” “Like how you are with my stew right now? I didn’t slave over the stove for nothing.” “I am not being rude, you know my preferences-” Carter interrup...

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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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