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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#128: Tea Time

Did you know that January is National Hot Tea Month? Tea is a wonderfully diverse beverage that’s enjoyed in many different ways all over the world. It can be a soothing drink, a social drink, and has even sparked conflicts (think the Boston Tea Party, or the First Opium War).

Inspired by the history and cultural significance of this beverage, here are the prompts for this week’s contest:

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone making a cup of tea — either for themself or for someone else.

Fluff – 171 stories

Set your story in a tea house.

Spring – 36 stories

Write a story about a tea party that your character is reluctant to go to.

Summer – 44 stories

Write about a character who’s dying to “spill the tea” (gossip) about something.

Fluff – 21 stories

Write a story about a conflict that breaks out over something ordinary (like tea, perhaps).

High School – 26 stories

Stories

“The Teapot” by Reyyan Özertürk

Submitted to Contest #128

Snowflakes were falling in cotton pieces. I kept gazing at them as I poured myself some freshly-made tea from a porcelain teapot with some green and purple floral decorations on it. I had recently bought it from a flea market in a neighbourhood nearby. I had had too much coffee the whole day already, and thus, I felt a few cups of tea would go much better with a night’s read. The cinnamon sticks in the bitter orange tea clinked softly as I put the teapot down. I took my cup to my library room where a book lay open on a comfortable mustard co...

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“Death In a teacup” by Mike Davies

Submitted to Contest #128

I stood, hypnotized by the mighty whirlpool, the bag spinning helplessly. If I was to be of minute size, I would surely be swallowed In Its hot current, spinning like a pooh stick In an eddy. I must take care, for too much would kill Instantly, a quick death he would not have. To come this far and fail would be a travesty, he will die a death akin to mine own, I have not died In the physical sense, but for every blow struck, he killed a little more of my spirit each time. Immense suffering will be my parting gift, I have suffered many y...

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“Grandma's Tea” by Lexsie Lewis

Submitted to Contest #128

“I passed through the yellow stained kitchen that was once pure white. That is what cigarette smoke does to beautiful things, it stains them, ruins them, sometimes even takes them away completely. There she stood, leaned against the stove, wearing a white laced, cross back dress, perhaps one elegant enough to wear to a wedding. It had not even been a second that she’d placed the Tetley tea bag in the scolding, pungent smelling water, that the scent danced around the kitchen, almost tickling my nose. We drank tea. She wrapped her fingers arou...

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“The Kettle Is On” by Lorna JC

Submitted to Contest #128

You hear the shuffling over to the corner of the kitchen. The clink of the tin as your mum opens it just wide enough to get the teabag out, two teabags actually, she's making a pot. You'll need a whole pot after the day you've had. She knows there's something up, so she invited you round for a cup of tea. The pewter teapot lid is open and waiting for the kettle to click off. You sit at the table. The kettle is heating up, it's gargling and bubbling and steaming. Suddenly you think it might override its off-switch and rebel from the everyda...

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“The Colossus” by Lauren Marton

Submitted to Contest #128

I must stay awake, Ellis thought, taking another sip of Luthian tea from a black-and-white teacup. It was quiet but not silent. Nowhere aboard the Colossus was entirely silent, even at three o’clock in the morning. It was a place of ceaseless clicks and whirrs, of creaking boards and the low growling of an engine from somewhere deep within the bowels of the ship. Every now and then she heard a door slam somewhere, which was usually either preceded or followed by indistinct voices in the hall. The children were asleep in a narrow bunk bed, ...

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“Here we are” by Peter Saydollar

Submitted to Contest #128

I took a walk, one day, down a path I’d frequented. The day was pleasant; sunny with wispy clouds drifting through the blue sky. It had rained several days before, and I was excited to get outside. The path I took was common among people on foot or bicycles. Children used it as a highway through town. Adults used it for exercise. I used it as an escape from being indoors. The path itself was made primaril...

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“A Cup of Tea for your Sins ” by Kenzie Ramirez

Submitted to Contest #128

“So I suppose you want to ask me why I killed her?” The whistle of the tea kettle broke our unwavering silence. Without answering the question I shove back my chair and made haste to the stove top. Two perfect tea cups rested alongside the counter top. Their blue flowers dancing in the sunlight. When Mary had asked to come over for tea this was not the conversation I was expecting us to have. “Would you like sugar or cream with the tea?” I stutter. Focusing intently on the burning liquid pouring into the two cups. &n...

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“The Perfect Shower” by Andrea Mariana

Submitted to Contest #128

Author's Note Regarding Sensitive Material: this submission contains discussion on the struggle of infertility. I peer anxiously at the silver spigot of the decanter as I top off Aunt Marge’s glass of sweet tea, wary of a single droplet escaping through that precarious seal on the teal glass. Today has to be perfect, and heaven knows that the last thing a beautiful buffet table needs is three gallons of iced tea dripping all over the burlap tablecloth. Sweet iced tea, of course. This is South Carolina; around here, unsweet tea is only goo...

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“Linden Tea” by Silvia R

Submitted to Contest #128

I crouch to look for the enamel pot in the lower cabinets. The edges are a bit chipped and the inside has yellowed with time. It seems lighter, like the metal has been thinning out over years of usage. I keep it under the tap and eyeball enough water for 2 people, then put it on the stove, medium heat. All that's left is fishing for the plastic box from the upper cabinet. There’s variety now, that’s for sure. There’s green tea and black tea in plastic bags, there are some store-bought cardboard boxes of herbal mixes, and then the crumpled ol...

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“Rail Spiked Tea” by Rami K

Submitted to Contest #128

Rail Spiked Tea “One or two?” Jack lifted his little tin tea pot from the fire and filled two mugs. The steam from the tea blended into the night mist that covered the floor of the graveyard. It had been 3 hours since Jack started digging. He counted four graves in total, taking him an hour to dig up a grave and he could save an hour if he really pushed. Jack figured it was time for a much deserved tea break. “Two, please” Jack pinched two sugar cubes between his fingers, careful not to disturb the row of neatly packed cu...

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“Masala ” by Quincy N

Submitted to Contest #128

The high pitched whistle from the tea kettle was like the saving grace bell from the heavens. I immediately got up to finish making the tea that this woman had asked for. Honestly, I would rather be slaving at work right now than awkwardly sit in the kitchen with her. I look through the steam blasting through the kettle to make out the feint neon green numbers on the front of the stove . 10:52. Dear God. I’ve been here for nearly an 8 hour shift all because I wanted to keep Uncle Seth company after his younger brothers funeral. Now he’s gone...

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“The Real Thing” by Goddess V

Submitted to Contest #128

The steam from the pot misted my face and lightly coated my beard. I poured the hot liquid into her ‘Unicorns Are Mystical Like Me” mug and the “Beardlicious” mug she bought me for my birthday last year. The water seeped through the bags of my homemade blend of herbs. We have tea every time she comes to my place. Though her aura warms me up from being near her, it is a bonus to feel the well-steeped elixir coat my insides. I handed her the mug of ...

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“Heaven'S Little Tea House” by Gretchen Stevens

Submitted to Contest #128

In a little tea house called HeavenlyAroma setting on top of White Top Mountain in Va. A sad wondering lady stopped by to smell of the heavenly aroma of the different kinds of teas that was drewing to try to lift her lonely and heavy heart. Her name was Elizabeth she had been having a hard time trying to deal the death of her husband Curtis passing away from about six years now.The owner of the tea house walks over to Elizabeth and say's my name is Sky how may I help you today? Would you like to try the special tea of today? Which is organic...

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“Bringer of Light” by Rebecca Cole

Submitted to Contest #128

“Tell me the story again Mama.” The woman smiles with a face who has seen the world burn and rise out of the ashes. “Again child?” Her voice soft, full of love and honey. “Please?” A small boy whispers. “As you wish.” She puts her cup of tea down onto a table, and snuggles next to the young boy. They sit in a nest of blankets and love. Holding each other like they are all that is left in the world. “Close your eyes. Imagine a world in which the streets are full, bustling with people, alive with conversations. As you walk down t...

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“Warm Winds” by S.C. May

Submitted to Contest #128

“My doorbell rang, one stuffy day of sticky popsicle sticks and blistering heat. I opened my door to no one, simply sun charred air and the smell of youth. There was no one but, there were eight mismatched cactuses and a pair of sneakers lying - hoping to not be forgotten - on my doorstep.” The woman fiddled with the laces of the sneakers on the table. The synthetic fibers left black smudges on her wrinkled fingers. “Those shoes.” She paused and caressed the side of one. “These shoes. I knew these shoes. They were the ones I had bought all ...

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$250

Prize money

298

Contest entries

160

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 14, 2022 EST

Won by Jay Wayne 🏆

Title: my fellow passerine

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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