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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

““What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate” - Cool Hand Luke” by MJ D

Submitted to Contest #100

There was a strong smell of garlic seasoning and bread straight from the oven. Maya sat on a red waiting bench for her mysterious partner, who held the reservations. She’s tried blind dating before and swore that - despite liking to meet all the very nice people - it was not for her. Her friend talked her into one last date, a final hurrah. Being the paranoid person she is - she had arrived 15 minutes early. Maya still had ten more minutes to wait when a tall man walked in. He made eye contact and smiled. He wore a blue button-up s...

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“Is It Kosher?” by Stormy Cloud

Submitted to Contest #100

Joe wiped the beads of sweat forming on his hairline, smoothed his jacket, tugged on his sleeves, and answered the door. She was the most beautiful girl he ever saw, and now she was at his door. He smiled and led her into the living room. His fingers toyed with the velvet box in his pocket. This was going to be the night she would never forget. He took her shawl and laid it on the back of the couch. Miriam looked around the room. “Joe, I thought you were taking me out to dinner.” The glow of candles lit the room. Soft piano music filled th...

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“The day the turkey met his maker ” by Tess Baker

Submitted to Contest #100

The turkey didn’t have a shot when Elizabeth went to pick him up for Thanksgiving. He was already meant for the table of a pack of hungry children. Little did this poor turkey know that his life would be sacrificed in vain. As Elizabeth proudly marched into the home with a turkey that was bound for the table for her seven children she would have no idea if the outcome later. When she arrived home her children excitedly exclaimed “mom is that really for supper?” In which Elizabeth replied “ this lovely bird will be for supper and we will be h...

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“Color Me Dead” by Esha Aphale

Submitted to Contest #100

It wasn't the intensity of the feeling but rather the existence of it that scared her. It was foreign, alien, and raw; something she had never felt before and something she'd never ever imagined experiencing. She wasn't sure of the steps she had to take next or how she would deal with it, but the only thing that she was sure about was the euphoric feeling that ran through her veins. But she snapped out of it, she had to. As much as she wanted to relish this feeling of pure, unadulterated joy, she had to work on her feet and handle a situatio...

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“THE TERRIBLE DINNER” by Luan Bosch

Submitted to Contest #100

THE TERRIBLE DINNER One night two families were having dinner together. The Daria Family and the Falco Family. The Daria family consist of two members Daria family Shara (Wife) Age: 34 Drake (Husband) Age: 31 The Falco family consists of three members Tina (Wife, mother) Age: 44 Dane (Husband, father) Age: 45 Rick (Son) Age: 25 THE NIGHT Tina: “RICK!!!” Rick came rushing down the stairs in a hurry Rick: “Mom? Are you ok what’s wrong!?” Tina: “Can you take out the trash please?” Rick: “Really? I thought there was a problem.”...

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“A Feast of Friends” by Noah Pelletier

Submitted to Contest #100

Chunk was walking along the shore with his head down, looking for lost things that he might be able to sell. But he wasn’t having any luck. Chunk found a cracked tin cup, a busted flip flop, and a waterlogged fashion magazine. The page was open to an advertisement for Miami Beach. It pictured a girl standing on a coastline with sand like sugar, and sapphire blue water. He was staring at the page when Zippy came along. “Hey, Chunk. How’s it going?” “Terrible. I haven’t had a job in weeks and nobody will give me any food.” “Don’t w...

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“Carnival of Carnivores ” by Margie Willis

Submitted to Contest #100

TW: cannibalism There’s no way to sugarcoat my sisters. During the holidays, the two eldest engage in some curious traditions, to put it lovingly. I am one of the rare clan members adventurous enough to enjoy their all-nighter pow-wows, which are a cross between a séance and a pioneer cookout with musical nuances of Native American spirituality. A hardy constitution is the best seatbelt for an excursion up to my sister Ellen’s rugged mountaintop, the highest peak between San Jose and Santa Cruz in California. So, buckle up. &nb...

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“A Lady or a Tramp” by CJ Ives Lopez

Submitted to Contest #100

I knew dinner was a disaster when the pasta sauce started running down my leg. I only wanted to please Jimmy to show him how much I loved him. Listening to those girls was the worst. Let me rewind a little so you get the complete picture of why I thought I needed to throw myself at this sweet boy who always stood by my side. The boy who promised himself to me until marriage and I to him. The one who is my soul mate. Dating Jimmy has been the delight of my high school life. I never thought I could get a guy like him, but here I am dating ...

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“THE BOSS” by Sheryl Grant

Submitted to Contest #100

THE BOSS. It was so nerve wracking having the boss over for dinner, but I wanted to make a lasting impression with a fantastic, memorable meal, to show him how multi talented I was, away from the office. I was good at my job, and was always being praised for my work by my boss, so it neve...

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“On the Doorstep” by Sydney O Bryant

Submitted to Contest #100

The shrill cry of the doorbell as I press. I hold my breath. My scuffed jogging shoes tap the pavement over and over, my nervous disposition is at fault. Never in my life have I been able to sit still. In high school, I fidgeted with the pencils, the desks, anything I could grab. When I got to college it didn’t get much better, especially during the times I would return home. Like now. I don’t blame my parents, my siblings or the rest of my family. How could I? It’s not as if they put the entire burden of their completely fucked up, wretched...

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“INTUITION” by Abe Baron

Submitted to Contest #100

I stood frozen in front of the concrete house, surrounded by flowering bushes and fruit-bearing trees. It was a shelter like those of normal people. “So, this is Abby’s house.” I turned back when Amanda’s pitchy, insulting voice broke the stillness of the ambiance. “Yeah.” I agreed while checking her from head to toe. She pulled down her creased miniskirt. As always, her dress was not for the occasion. She looked herself up on her phone, took a selfie of us with the house in the background. “That should work for my IG. Come on. Our F...

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“The Way to a Man's Heart......” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #100

Bonnie had to stop at the grocery store, after picking up Brian, on her way home from work. She needed diapers; again. Shopping with the baby was so much more complicated, but she was learning how to cope. Brian babbled in his car seat. Glancing in the rear view mirror she saw her precious son. She felt so fortunate to have him. He was the one good thing that came out of her disastrous marriage. Divorce had dragged her down, dampened her spirit, and destroyed her self confidence. But escaping the four years of abuse she had suffered, had mad...

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“THE TIDES OF MEMORY” by Benson Angote

Submitted to Contest #100

‘Your father’s not coming home tonight. The food is getting cold.’ Worry was scribbled all over my mother’s face. I switched off the TV and joined her at the dining table. I was starving. My stomach rumbled. I was tired of waiting. I mumbled a short prayer and blessed the food. I was raised right. We were a small family of three and it felt a little awkward sitting down for a meal without the head of the table around. All that notwithstanding I took my plate of food with much relish and started eating. The door swung open unexpectedly and ...

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“Dinner’s served ” by Marvin Koyo

Submitted to Contest #100

After turning off the tap, Darryl looked in the mirror as he wiped out his face. He was still stressed out since he left the cab. Darryl Faudner couldn’t toss away the thought of failing his meeting with Mrs. Delafosse for his promotion request. He wanted that promotion so bad only for the sake of his newborn baby. With a jobless fiancé having zero motivation to hustle, he had less time to argue. All charges in the house had burdened him until he would have that promotion. However, Darryl mostly thought of not failing than winning tha...

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“Mom, something smells funky” by Gaynor Jones

Submitted to Contest #100

Mom, something smells funky Here in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October, unlike our American friends. Families will get together to enjoy a delicious meal. We hold Thanksgiving since January 31, 1957, on the first Monday every year. Our families are going over to our parent’s house for our dinner. There will be nine of us sitting around the table. This year the family wanted to eat something different from the traditional turkey. Spice things up a bit. Everyone is in for a surprise. Everyone is hungry and excited about the del...

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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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