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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

“Delectable Offer” by Nathan Endress

Submitted to Contest #100

Takes place directly after the events of Shattered Realm Waking up from the sudden stopping of the cart, I already knew what the reason was for. With the front flap opening and the sight of the cart’s driver sticking his head through the opening, I forced myself up to look at him. “We have arrived, get your things and pay me before you go. I know the Captain of the guard, so don’t try to run off.” It was rather strange to hear a cart driver threatening you if you didn’t pay, but a foreign city is much different than one’s own hom...

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“Over cooked .......?” by Greg Rigby

Submitted to Contest #100

Alec and Andy McManus routinely met and sat at the same table for their Sunday lunch. The elder brother Alec was a sheep farmer whose wife had left him seven years previously and who had long since delegated the arduous hill work, the shearing, and the spring dip to his two sons, Bob, and Colin. His personal role had matured to one of constant review and direction, which he combined with regular and conscientious libation by choosing The Hen and Chickens or The Bottle and Glass as the venue for his daily meetings with his boys. Now forty-fi...

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“a nice warm meal” by Magali O'Brien

Submitted to Contest #100

My grandmother always told me to stay out of the woods in the fall months. Those old wives tales about children wandering into the shadows of the trees to be taken away. I used to heed those warnings when I was younger. We like to pretend children are young and foolish to obey the warnings of the elderly, but there is some part deep inside us that still fears those tales are true. It’s only our arrogance, unearned by time, that forces us onwards.It was a particularly nice autumn afternoon. I had come up from the city to stay at my grandmothe...

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“Influential People: The Browning of the Brand” by Jayke Luland

Submitted to Contest #100

On a rainy day in the big apple, 4 influencers have come together for the cultural experience of a lifetime. A swanky dinner -- hosted by millionaire chef and Tiktok content curator Adams Miles -- in a stylish SoHo apartment. Olives from the hills of Italy, a ham specially sourced by pig farmers in Africa; this dinner had all you needed to take your culinary exploits to the next level. Now, with an eagerly awaiting Instagram audience and branded products to shill, the Influencers converged, looking for a good meal and an even better uptick i...

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“The Red Feast” by Joe S

Submitted to Contest #100

Hans laughed, causing a sudden eruption of gravied delicacies across the heavy oaken table. He doubled over, one hand dropping to clutch the warbling corpulence of his belly as the fat noble croaked in unrestrained merriment. The sailor before him gave a small smile as the old man struggled for breath, hoping he had managed to restrain the annoyance from reaching his eyes. “And then-” Archduke Hans spat, hawking up the remainder of his last mouthful as he spoke, “and then what did the little lamb croak?” &...

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“A puff of smoke and a trip to jail.” by Annabel Anniebelleapara@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #100

TW: abuse As mum avoided our piercing stares as she dropped the dishes on the table to occupy herself, hoping that today’s dinner would not end in a fight. She sat down quietly and looked like she was suffering from a heat stroke. We knew that was not the case, she was just trying to find her voice. “Let’s say our prayers” She said a bit meekly as she bent her head down. I glanced at dad, who did not care much for the prayers or the food as he looked at mum with disdain in his eyes, he did not even bother to hide it from us, his three kids…o...

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“Blood is thicker than water?” by Holly Lightfoot

Submitted to Contest #100

“Are you sure you are okay with being alone? I can stay if you’d like?” Trinity asked carefully and quietly. As if saying one wrong word would break her. “It’s fine,” Lola replied curtly before opening the car door. Trinity looks like she wants to fight her but acquiesced. “Call me if you need anything at all.” “I will,” Lola responded sadly. “I love you.” She shut the car door before she got a response. Walking with heavy feet she arrived at her front door and even that felt like work. She waved off her girlfriend, who was patiently waiti...

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“Lasagna ” by Korinne H.

Submitted to Contest #100

It's perfect, almost too perfect. No. Stop overthinking. He loves lasagna, everyone loves lasagna. It's perfect.I finish wiping down the kitchen counter. Cheese, spices, and chopped vegetables are speckled everywhere. I always was a messy cook. Maybe that's why he hates me. It was more than that and I knew it. Our marriage had been a ship-wreck since the day I said "I do." It wasn't anything violent, just words. Words are enough. Everyday was like warfare, we were constantly screaming at each other. Maybe that's why Steven wanted to move. Be...

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“Food Fight” by Anna Svetkova

Submitted to Contest #100

Food Fights - Short Story Ring! Ring! It was lunchtime. My stomach was rumbling, and I was starving. Finally, I can eat! I’m a big fan of food. I binge-watch every single episode of Cooking House, and I cook whenever I can. My cooking is so good. Thinking about it makes me hungry. Students flocked ...

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“ What To Eat?” by Jovan Ivančević

Submitted to Contest #100

Three men are approaching the ruins of the fortress very tired. They were walking for hours. Inside they try to find shelter from the harsh winter. They start the fire, without any conversation. It seems that it has been prepared for them; just to ignite it. Everyone sits to his place around it as cold winds are the only thing to be heard, apart from hauling of the wolves. -“Fetch the wood”, silence is broken in commanding voice to the fattest man. Also he has a dark beard all over his face. He goes out, but he is not coming ...

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“50 Years of Rhododendrons” by Ashley Cramer

Submitted to Contest #100

The steam of Esther’s mug of tea swirls and disappears in the morning sun. She sits in a chair just outside the door of her small English cottage, staring out at the massive expanse of rhododendrons she has amassed in the 50 years since she and her husband moved in as young newlyweds. The sweet smell and the sound of bees buzzing to and from the purple flowers awake her senses and prepare her for the day. A lone honey bee lands on her floral-printed robe, which is welcomed by Esther, and she smiles as the bee flies off in search of food. Est...

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“Chasing Windmill-berries” by Jon R. Miller

Submitted to Contest #100

The onslaught of nano-pulsations intensified, threatening to puncture Florian’s closed eyelids and drumfire onto his retina. The din of static crackled around him, interrupted by low frequency booms convulsing his body and high-pitched squealing in his ears. He regretted not paying for the optional eye and ear protection. Lyle had insisted against them, calling him a spendthrift.The sensory melee abruptly stopped and warmth permeated his face. The ringing in his ears subsided, bringing to the fore the warbling of birds.“Come on Flo, don’t ju...

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“Unbroken traditions ” by S Mehjabeen

Submitted to Contest #100

I ran, breathlessly, to take the best seat at the decrepit dinner table before my brother could get to it. “Afshaneh, let the men eat first,” my mother briskly sneered at me, aggressively nodding her head, and I dejectedly made my way into the kitchen. Friday dinners at my uncle’s house was the happening hotspot for heated debates and political discussions. Differing opinions would be thrown from one end of the table to another while simultaneously stuffing a handful of Basmati rice soaked in Korma daal hurryingly in their mouths. But...

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“The Special Games” by Jatin Zadoo

Submitted to Contest #100

A Society M.K was one of the members who lived in the Society and this time he was the host of the special meeting. "Good Evening Everyone, I am your host for today's Special game," said M.K Everyone from the society yelled, " Yeahhhhhh." There is a game which we will play in which you have to make the best thing you can make but this will not be an ordinary family game. The First thing which you have to do is "Write your name on a small piece of paper." There are seven families who are playing this game, the seven families have...

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“The spicy gathering” by Valerie Swift

Submitted to Contest #100

Spensa is in the last year of her high school . She's supposed to attend a get together for dinner today with her classmates. However she hasn't even talked to all of them properly as she never really liked too much socializing . So she was nervous and wished she could come up for a reason to not attend . Eventually she ran out of time and started getting ready . She reached there in a couple of minutes and exchanged greetings and fake smiles . She was already exhausted but little did she know this was just the beggining . Henry one of her c...

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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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