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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

“Cayenne” by Izzy C

Submitted to Contest #100

Julienne loved cooking. She loved the way that stumbling upon her new recipe inspired her to shut her brain off for a while and focus on the movements of her hands. The way she could zero in her attention to the aromas that rose from the vegetables she chopped, the meat she would slice, and the spices she’d sprinkle in ever enough to make the dish unique to her taste buds. Waiting for the bubbling of the boiling water was her version of waiting for rain to fall outside her window, and the ticking timer of the oven was her own personal coun...

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“Just One Dance” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #100

It all started with a dance, a simple rocking of bodies. Back and forth. Back and forth. The cigarette smoke cleared, and the music died slowly. But they weren't aware of it. They hadn't noticed that most of the patrons of the place had left. They were on cloud nine, no—they were in heaven. They felt weightless in each other's arms. They could feel each other's heartbeat through their shirts. Their collective warmth was comforting; their arms extended to each of their backs like a heated blanket. Their breath was light, almost nonexiste...

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“Dearest of Friends” by John Michail

Submitted to Contest #100

"Go ahead, let's have a seat," Darren spoke. After you, my old friend," Jon replied. "All right. Thank you, brother," Darren said as he took his seat. "I'll be right back to take your orders, OK!" said the waitress. Darren & Jon replied in harmony, "Sure." The two let out a laugh and settled into their seats. Darren started saying, "Do you remember the last time we were in this place?" "My God, it has to be at least ten years now," Jon said. "Yeah, that's right!" Darren gleefully agreed. Jon's face immediately had fallen into a somber lo...

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“Dinner for Two, Plus One?” by Jacen Patchwork

Submitted to Contest #100

The house seemed to groan in protest as Freddie began his work in the kitchen. He smiled, taking the complaint in stride. What was it they said; everyone is a critic? He didn’t really understand why people said that; most people were not critics. Though, he knew, many people were prone to criticism. But now, in the age of cellphones, Yelp, and Google Maps, maybe most people did think of themselves as actual critics? Freddie didn’t know. It didn’t really matter though, in the end, he knew everything would work out as it was meant to. There w...

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“When Monsters Feast” by Ramiled Rose

Submitted to Contest #100

I’ve amassed an army, humans are terrified and I have become a king. The abyss no longer holds me hostage and humanity as I’ve known it has advanced. But no level of technology could have made them foresee me. And as I stood on top of the world, the poor little girl that held my hand in the abyss walked in. Her face inhuman, her stride was calm, she stopped in front of me with a new form I failed to recognize at first glance. “I see you’re doing well Vi.” I tell her, as her gaze looks up at me, and empty eyes stare back.&nbsp...

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“Seeking Inspiration” by Aileen Andrews

Submitted to Contest #100

My hands skittered over the keys, competing to tap the letters faster than the other, red underlines littering the page as letters get transposed. The satisfying pitter-patter shook my dainty little laptop, it would be romantic and poetic to say that its beat was to the time of my heart —rhythmic and melodious— but the words came spewing out of me in gushes of sun rays and rainy days, faster than my heart could ever accomplish. My heartbeat rose and fell as I created an entire universe, accelerating when Aileen’s feet dangled over thin air, ...

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“DEAD END” by Githinji Muthee

Submitted to Contest #100

If you saw this couple, you would have agreed it is the most beautiful couple you have ever seen. The smiling gentleman, his late twenties, in a sleek dark suit - blended in with a young exuberant lady at the table. She had her make-up right that night, not too exaggerated, nor under-done. Just perfect. They were having a sweet conversation - they felt alone. Even with her smooth thighs plunged under the table, she turned heads of men; starving for dinner.The two enjoyed their time near the wide window, and the moonlight sieved through the p...

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“Purple Eye” by Nealofer Fleur

Submitted to Contest #100

What is the most valuable thing you've lost? Something that made you feel abandoned, a void that you think is unfillable. I often think about things like these, especially when I'm hungry after work. This has been happening a lot lately. The suppressed memories have begun to resurface. Making it hard to focus. My shrink thinks I've been working too hard and that I should take a break. That I had been skipping on my medication. And some hormonal changes are bound to happen especially with these new changes happening to my body. She doesn't ...

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“The Pass” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #100

Tanek Strife-stricken watched the enemy encamped in the valley below. From his vantage point on the cliff above the pass, he could see their tents painting the once green fields in striking yellows and purples. Such beautiful colors, bringing such pain and misery to Tanek’s people. He stood there, on the barren rocks of his forefathers, listening to the wind carrying the flapping sounds of enemy banners up the mountain slope, and felt his world tremble. The war had been raging for four years already. Four years of holding the pass with...

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“A Hundred and One Days” by Zayra Villamor

Submitted to Contest #100

I ORDERED my usual meal in this restaurant where I used to eat my dinner. I sat near the window, watching the city lights glow in the dark; just like a fallen star on the ground, lighting up the long road. I took a bite of the omelet, cheesy with dark leafy greens. It’s my favorite. There's nothing unusual tonight, it was just me, dining in this restaurant. I can see the servers from where I was seated. All young people dressed in white tunics move wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full. I thought tonight w...

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“Events Reported at Tapasya Paratha Junction” by Sharmila Shankarkumar

Submitted to Contest #100

Myself, Jaspal Singh Rana, and the other guy, Yatinder Singh. Picture the scene at Tapasya Paratha Junction, home of the mega-paratha. The two of us sitting on opposite sides of the table, our eyes boring into each other, our mouths open, tongues glistening, stomachs emptied out in preparation. Three enormous parathas, those mouth-wateringly flaky breads, enough for a small army, piled up next to each of us. It was time to decide who had the winning stomach, whose gastric juices could mount the greatest attack, whose intestines could take th...

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“Table for Two ” by Sabrina Pebblebrook

Submitted to Contest #100

Michelle’s Bistro was busting to the brim with hungry customers, as I watched them swarm around me like flies on a rotting carcass. The table to my left was a couple blatantly ignoring each other on their phones- the man, an older, grey haired fox, was scrolling through pictures of models on his instagram feed. How did I know? I held back a laugh as the obvious reflections of naked flesh flickered across the reflections of his ray ban glasses. His beloved was far too busy taking photos of herself at different angles to care, puckering her ho...

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“Chase your dreams” by Asia A

Submitted to Contest #100

"Baba, I want to say something." Said Arij hesitantly as her father was a serious man sitting at the head of the table. " Please have your meal quietly." Her mother interrupted hurriedly. "Pass me that salad." She added with a stern look and hold the plate from Arij. "Is there something important to say?" Asked her father while having a bite of cucumber. "Nothing special. She wants to visit her friend's home. And I think it's not appropriate to visit there frequently." Answered her mother, avoiding the eye conta...

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“Prison Food” by Megan Furniss

Submitted to Contest #100

I am not me here in this story as I stand, separated out from myself; my two feet on the kitchen floor, waiting. I have anticipated the moment and I wait for it to arrive. We have been fighting. We have been fighting for two months. I cannot remember what set it off, but I should have known we would fight, because we always fight as a precursor to him telling me that it is my fault that something has gone irredeemably wrong. I do not know what caused this fight and I do not know what has gone wrong this time, but I recognise the dance of t...

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“Sparks” by Ben K

Submitted to Contest #100

With a deep sigh, Derick unlocks the front door and walks inside trying to hide tired eyes with a rigid statue like smile. Closing the door behind him. Derick throws his coat on the couch and drops his briefcase behind against the wall. Kicking his shoes off, he lets out another sigh and calls out. “I’m home. How was your day…?” Derick trails off seeing neither Paul or dinner waiting for him.Instead, a single note awaits him. Resting underneath a small paperweight shaped like a flower. The weight always served as a proper reminder of their l...

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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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