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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

“Blue-Plate Special” by Erin Suess

Submitted to Contest #100

Ann-Marie stared into the blue-plate special sitting in front of her. It looked like a gelatinous formation of a volcano that had gone extinct but somehow never hardened. How can restaurants serve this and call it food she thought to herself. “Eat up dear,” came her grandmother’s voice. “This looks so delicious.” &nbs...

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“Thenty-five cents” by Bob Warren

Submitted to Contest #100

Jay was hardly one of those running-nuts, he called them, those people who ran every day come snow, rain, heat, or gloom of night. No, but he did usually find time on most weekends for a good long run. He said it beat the weekly stress out of him and reminded him he should take better care of himself. In addition, the extra time allowed him a break from his routine. One Saturday, he took a long run rough an unfamiliar residential neighborhood up on the hill that overlooked the city. Tall, shady old oak trees lined the street. The homes...

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“The Shiva, 1955” by Tammy Kl

Submitted to Contest #100

The Shiva, 1955 For the rest of her life, the smell of pickles and pastrami would be the smell of death. Irene was 13 years old, and her mother was dead. Even after everything – the ambulance, the hospital, the horrible evidence of her relatives taking turns shoveling dirt onto the coffin, Irene couldn’t believe that her mother was really gone. Now there were all these people (so many people!) gathered back at the house, nibbling on plates of deli meat and coleslaw, talking about Mama in the past tense. For a moment, she wondered if...

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“Is This Seat Taken?” by Bob E

Submitted to Contest #100

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” “Please,” the long haired man in the hoodie said, waving a hand over towards the empty seat the young woman stood by. “Help yourself.” “Thanks,” she said, putting her tray down and sliding smoothly into the seat without having to pull it out any. He looked at her. He wondered whether he should say something, or maybe it would be better if they both ate in silence. She was...

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“Snowflake” by Tom Sun

Submitted to Contest #100

***IMPORTANT: Characters are inspired by the airship Norge event. The date is set in 1903 at the North Pole. Some facts might be wrong: for example, Serbin Husky was not made known until 1908, and the North Pole’s sky isn’t very likely to be gray. Comment if there are any other problems. Please enjoy!*** The sky was washed by a nebulous gray -- one could not even recognize day or night -- and it had always been like this. At the end of the vision, there was only a boundless mass of white, not even a single spot of gree...

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“A new path” by Nicole Jerrell

Submitted to Contest #100

Per tradition, the two friends met for their yearly picnic. A tradition that started in the summer of eighth grade, right before high school. It was an idea brought up by my mom, who was excited about all of the clubs I was joining and wanted me to share my plans with Maria, my best friend since the second grade. “Ugh, can’t you find anywhere with air conditioning to eat?” I complain. “I could but the outdoors is just so lovely, you are just dramatic,” says Maria. It is a cool 89 degrees outside, with 70 percent humidity, as it is the mosqui...

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“food for thought” by Tilda Ranebjörk

Submitted to Contest #100

Ben scooped a sizable portion of the pasta onto his plate. It made a wet sound on the porcelain. He took some flaky salt and sprinkled it on top. Mom was always a little shy with the spices, which left the food bland. His thoughts soon left the dinner-seasoning. He has bigger problems to tackle. There are three assignments left untouched due tomorrow on his desk, and on Wednesday they have this important exam that he still hasn’t studied for. Thing is, he can’t be bothered to care. The lasagna in his mouth is flaming hot. He tosses it around...

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“Polaroid blues” by Peter Oke

Submitted to Contest #100

A man in a rusty coat arrives at the entrance of a diner. He slowly reaches for his pocket with his wrinkled hand and retrieves a photo of what looks to be a much younger version of himself and a young woman standing beside him holding on to a baby. He compares the backdrop in the image to the current diner and exhales deeply. He walks into the diner pensively and goes past a laughing couple and then a young woman sat on her own looking through the window with her drink in front of her. He gives her a second look the goes passed her to find ...

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“A Joke Of A Life” by Aiyana Henderson

Submitted to Contest #100

“Mark, come on! We’re going to be late to the party!” Mark laughed to himself. His Italian wife, Rosa had a tendency to be dramatic about the smallest details imaginable. Who would have thought that he would travel to Sicily, Italy of all places? Rosa went over to Mark to kiss him on the cheek and then the lips. “Mi amore, why do you laugh at me so much?” He shook his head at her and said, “Because you’re making a big deal out of this. Honey, we’ll only be gone from home for a month.” Rosa pursed her lips. She hated it when Mark was right....

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“Coming Home” by Lauren Eason

Submitted to Contest #100

“It’s not that bad,” the man drawled with his thick, southern accent. “Not that bad?” The twenty-something male sitting by him pointed at the windows facing the street. It was dark gray outside with slanted rain pelting the glass so hard it rattled inside the little diner. “You young’uns don’t know nothing about no hurricanes,” the man muttered into his coffee. “Darlene! Tell ‘em you all would’ve shut down by now if it was going to be worse than this.” The waitress smirked as she poured the young man’s coffee. She set the pot down on t...

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“Café Reunion ” by Thabo Diutliuleng

Submitted to Contest #100

As I step through the door and enter the café, I can’t help but get nostalgic, it’s been 10 years after all since I’ve been in this place. The last I was here was probably around just after graduation back in high school, Jaden, Tyler, and I stayed here for like 6 hours since it would be our last before heading off to vacation and then college. Oh my gosh, Jaden and Tyler, my best friends, my brothers, from our junior until senior days, we saw each other through it all. Everyone always tells you that even some of the most inseparable high-sc...

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“Dine with lies” by Stories Through The Heart

Submitted to Contest #100

"Anna, you started working too?" "Oh! Both of our children were grown up pretty early, isn't it?" "Yes! After the death of there parents, John and me pamper them. And cherish them until they stand on there own feet." "Yes, we also, went to the hospital to check there mother." "We prey for there parents but, what we do. We can't change the destiny." And more, and more, and more lies were spitting in front of us and we forced to hear them. Those lies were stabbing my mind again and again and I am getting frustrated. I wanted to b...

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“Poker face” by Falu Ekandji

Submitted to Contest #100

"I swear it wasn't me, I didn't do it. ". Well, why are your fingerprints on that glass over there, Dimitri ? Dimitri! I have Called you at least three times, pass that glass over there to me! Are you ok? You have been acting strange since we got here. Yeah, I am good just a little nervous, you know, me and meeting new people. Yes, I know, that's why we are here. You really need to spend a lot more time around people. Anyway the table is set, go say hi to everyone.I could have sworn that was real. That ugly cops breath, his wrinkled shi...

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“Dirt Dinner” by Krystal Brown

Submitted to Contest #100

On Frankie’s first night underground, she had the second most interesting dinner that she would come to have in her entire life. The dinner started out identical to a regular mealtime at their previous home -they passed around delicious meat and a loaf of soft, warm, bread- but the energy was undoubtedly different. It had been only 2 hours since Frankie had looked up at the blue sky for the very last time, shrugged, and thought, "Eh, it's overrated anyway," before making her descent down the three levels of concret...

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“The Dinner Party” by Edy Stoughton

Submitted to Contest #100

The Dinner Party Edy Stoughton I can’t explain to you how I got to the strange place I am getting ready to tell you about and it doesn’t really matter. Trying to explain would only confuse you and make me sound crazy. So my story begins with my arrival. It felt like it was twilight and a damp fog borne on a chilly breeze swirled around my face. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light I saw I was not alone. Peering through the mist I made out a large, ornately carved oval table with several women seated ...

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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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