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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

“Family Dinner” by Harlow Jones

Submitted to Contest #100

“Hello? We’re here!” My father announced our entrance. We were met with unsynchronized greetings. A “hello” from the dining room, a “good evening” from the family room, and a grunt from the kitchen. My aunt beat a pot of mashed potatoes as if they insulted her. Despite her carpal tunnel and arthritis, her mother attempted to wash dishes. “Mom, what are you doing? Stop. Sit down. You’ll hurt yourself.” “I’m fine.” “No, you’re old. Sit down.” “Hi, Nana!” My sister swept in for a hug, as I made my way to the dining room. I set down the carr...

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“The destruction of Civilization, and a burrito bowl” by Natalia Nazeem

Submitted to Contest #100

I reached out for what feels like my fifth can of Redbull, alternating between my desktop and my iPad as I worked on an op-ed piece while playing Sid Meier’s Civilization V. “What is she doing now?” I muttered to myself as I saw Aysha’s trireme move closer to my coastal city - I knew my best friend would attack me sooner or later (all offers of peace and open borders were rejected; I’m sure I did something to annoy her, but I can’t remember what). The map was fully open- all five of us have discovered that ‘the world is round’, and we’re ...

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“Dine in Chaos” by Flora Bell

Submitted to Contest #100

Dinner had been flowing like every other that had come before. Until it all rolled down hill faster then an out of control snowball. Glass lay shattered across the hard wood floors. Bits of meat everywhere. And deep red liquid dripping from the table. Chaos had descended upon the dining hall; people shouting and pointing fingers."How did this happen?""This is all your fault, Weylyn! ""Bullshit! Quit lying though your fangs, Gennady! Or I'll rip you to pieces!""I'd like to see you try!""You little shit! Faolán! Let go of me!""Brother, as much...

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“Chicken and Ice Cream” by Cienna Sarah

Submitted to Contest #100

“Just… worthless.” He says. Decisions have repercussions. I pass the salt trying to keep my eyes dry. Foolish, he knows I don’t have allergies. The lie settles into my chest and I lick my lips free of butter and crumbs. He can see the flushed cheeks and the way his words cut deeper than any knife. The truth is I’m worthless… Heart pounding into my chest, keep it together for the kids. I watch them mindlessly plu...

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“Cabbage ” by Mira Khaled

Submitted to Contest #100

Cabbage. It was the cabbage’s fault, wasn’t it? Why did the cabbage sit at the back of the fridge all these weeks? Why did it go yellow and slimy? Why did it decompose and rot? Why did you have to smell like shit in the fridge? It’s all your fault cabbage. If you were gone, or thrown away mere minutes ago, none of this would have happened. But it’s too late now, isn’t it? He saw it. And now he is angry. ----------------------- While we were waiting for dinner, I was studying for my finals. Biology is a captivating topic of mine to study...

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“Sorry, we don't have what you're looking for on the menu.” by Anderson Lemus - Del Cid

Submitted to Contest #100

My collar abraded my neck as if it were bark. Tediously scratching the surroundings to liberate some of the unrest. I do not know why my tie choked me as if I were strangled to force some truth out. Awaiting in a lobby, with a painting of some city with a body of water that elongated its beauty. I stared at that as I rehearsed what I could say, trying to avoid any possibility of spilling words from my mouth. For a month I sat on the edge, with aching thoughts in anticipation of this moment. After graduating from college, a job wasn’t one t...

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“Starting Line” by Shamim Zuhura

Submitted to Contest #100

Contrary to popular belief, it was not love at first sight. Rose could say that much was true regarding her marriage. Even though it wasn’t the story her husband, Roman, loved to recite at dinner parties. He would say it was love at first breath. Yet it wasn’t true for him, or her. It was a story he had long perfected to gain the admiring looks and coos from a crowd he loved to control. And he was quite good at it. She was even better at pretending it was true. But just how long she could do that, was now unsure. The front door slammed...

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“The Elephant in the Garden” by Amanda Carrier

Submitted to Contest #100

I paused before cutting the Thanksgiving turkey. Martha Stewart would have died of jealousy at the sight. Dried flowers and bare branches made a macabre bed for the white Ghost Pumpkins lined up like sentinels down the center of the table. More than admiring my perfect decorations, I wanted to take in the moment with all my family gathered again. It felt perfect. But things weren’t like the old days, the days before mom died. If they were, the faces around me wouldn't be straining to smile and choke out just the right complement for the bett...

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“Baked Beans” by Václav Skála

Submitted to Contest #100

Last warm beams of lazy spring has touched dry stalks of brown grass from last year, that is lightly covered by white unmelted snow on the Great Herds Platte, to leave that open wasteland freely for fresh cold wind, which is slashing four dark silhouette of riders galloping on horses from the eastern grassy plains to the western densely forested mountains. Strong contours of their tired faces move on the gold-orange and azure horizon, where these soft shades of colors are mixing between each other until th...

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“Never Got My Apple Pie” by Freya Matheson

Submitted to Contest #100

It smells like garlic butter, and it’s making my stomach hurt. Sally’s cooking the same kind of instant mashed potatoes Mom and I use when we go camping, and inhaling the fumes makes me think of bug spray and days without baths. Even though the food looks terrible, I don’t complain because I like Sally; she smells like cats and cinnamon, and she gave me a York peppermint patty when we first showed up yesterday. “It’ll be our little secret,” she said with a smirk. She had lipst...

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“Guess Who's Coming To Christmas Dinner?” by Sam Richmond

Submitted to Contest #100

Guess Who’s Coming To Christmas Dinner? Yep… Uncle Burley, now how did ya’ll know? Once Cousin Scooter had got big enough to run, he’d took to runnin’ a right smart with Uncle Burley. After all, they’s a lot a young feller could look up to in a well seasoned gen’aman like Uncle Burley. (Even if the seasonin’ was closer to pickled!). Why Burley knowed ever den tree on Hick’ry Flats and could spit durn near 20 foot without even a runnin’ start. These self same talents, however was lost on Ol’ Lady Grimmandower, Scooter’s prim but stern mot...

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“A Time For Family” by Bob E

Submitted to Contest #100

By the time the smoke had cleared, literally and metaphorically, the dining table looked like a spillage in a matchstick factory. It was hard to tell where the cranberry sauce ended and the blood began. I was trying to sit up and look around the place, but I must have broken some ribs and every time I moved, pain ravaged my chest. Across the room, in the doorway, I could see something. Something I recognized. Someone. I wiped my face, blinked tears from my eyes. Mum was standing there, her arms folded, looking over the carnage. She shook h...

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“lasagna” by Bryce Lauren

Submitted to Contest #100

“Riley! Charlie! Get your asses over here!” my mother yelled to me and a toddler. My mom is… well, to put it one way, she’s a complete a-hole. Excuse my language, but she cusses at us all the time (even at my 6-year-old sister), throws tantrums like she’s a toddler, and has even thrown a pan at me before. No joke. But at the same time of her being on the leaderboard of worst moms ever, she’s extremely… well... For example, she gets really angry if I curse, even a minor infraction like “hell” or “damn.” I didn’t get a phone until I was 14, ...

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“Eyes of the Beholder” by Cassidy Lewis

Submitted to Contest #100

There was nothing festive or Christmassy about lobster, and he would not be convinced otherwise. Throwing a few shrimps on the “barbie” and calling it Christmas dinner was clearly deranged. The sheer convenience of it upset him, never mind the distinct lack of stodge. Bowls of roast veg, glazed in honey, a rich, thick gravy (none of this watery piss either), a tangy cranberry sauce, and the pièce de résistance, in the center of it all. Preferably on a red tablecloth decorated with candles and Christmas crackers. Sunligh...

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“Let's try this again” by The Sundial

Submitted to Contest #100

"Jasper, turn the camera off and get ready, grandma will be here soon" his mother; leaning into the hallway from the kitchen said to him from the kitchen. "Yes, mother" he said, while Walking to the kitchen. His hands extended and his fingers sliding along the walls. "Do I have to go?" He asked. "Yes you-" stopping to carefully apply the eyeliner on her eye. "Jasper… dear the last time I stepped out you almost burned the house down doing videos on that camera, besides, in three months when you turn ten; i'll give you another chance to prove ...

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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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