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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

“Oh, Leane” by Laura Pamenter

Submitted to Contest #128

Oh, Leane The ceiling lamp flickered like a cliché horror film, casting an eerie light of uncertainty across the small kitchen. The walls were lined with shelves of pots and containers with suctioned lids, overflowing with lavender, mint, and ground tea leaves. Above is where my teacups neatly hung on hooks, on display like tiny trophies. Having collected them since I was about ten years old, the cups had earned a certain sentimental value that caused my heart to ache at the thought of losing them. Of all the cups, I had one favourite. On...

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“Wagt Ash-shay” by Hamid Sirhan

Submitted to Contest #128

‘More sugar?’ my uncle asked. A heaped spoon hovered threateningly. ‘No, no, no, thanks amo.’’ my hand preemptively splayed over the top of my full-to-the-brim glass tumbler, steaming my palm. A thick layer of sugar sand had settled at the bottom, resting expectantly under the crystal amber sea of gunpowder mint tea. Shay. Chay. Cha. Thee. Tea. My father’s brother considered bartering with me, for just a moment, but there were other guests in peril of empty glasses. So he issued a disappointed ‘Akh, habibi’, with the sl...

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“Tea and Memories” by Melissa Woods

Submitted to Contest #128

“You look like you have a lot on your mind. Here, dear. This will ease it.” Delicate, wrinkled hands passed a porcelain cup and saucer to calloused, young ones. The old hands were much more steady with the fragile, floral and gold-trimmed dishes. “Um, thanks,” Pete nodded. He hesitated, watching the older woman as she poured another cup. A pungency of boiling herbs, dried flowers, and a million spices hovered in the air. As Jaycee had guided him to the tea bar and gift shop a short time earlier, the scent had greeted them long before ...

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“One Cup of Tea” by Lucia Yu

Submitted to Contest #128

I pour the water into the pot. It splashes, its halos of crystals soaring and breaking in the same moment. I grab a mug from the cabinet, feel my hands around the cold ceramic.The doorbell rings.I get up, peer through the curtains.A man rubs his hands together nervously, his dark, slick hair glistening in the sun. His skin is the color of coffee. He looks familiar.The doorbell rings again.I wrench open the door, and his face instantly transforms to sympathetic and somber. If I hadn't seen him moments before, I would have never doubted the si...

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“A HANDS-ON APPROACH” by Christine Hand

Submitted to Contest #128

A HANDS-0N APPROACH The waiter placed the tray of cakes on the table and went back to fetch the tea. Patti’s was one of the very popular tea shops in Colombo. It was where the three girls enjoyed meeting regularly. ‘Utterly unbelievable! the traffic on the Galle Road is an absolute nightmare. It’s taken me twice as long to get here today,’ moaned Rita as she wiped the sweat off her brow with the flourish of a silk hanky. ‘And all because of some sort of religious convention taking place in front of The Wellawatte market.’ She showed her...

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“Pumpkin vine” by Virginia Smith

Submitted to Contest #128

It had just started to rain, so softly you could barely feel it on your skin. But the path was darkened and I could see the droplets on the pond. I stepped slowly forward, absorbing each moment deliberately, the elegant trimmed plants, the perfect pebbles. I closed my eyes for the smell of pine in the damp morning. For many years I hoped and saved and planned to journey to Japan. I like the word journey much better than travel, and completely better than holiday (or worse still, trip). It infers a level of knowledge of the place to be expe...

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“Tea Time” by Michael Danyluk

Submitted to Contest #128

Shiawasena jikan tea house. I take the last puff off my cigarette, flick it; snarling and stretching my neck from side to side. It's showtime. These two bastards wait for me at the front door — wide, like refrigerators with legs — they size me up before letting me walk in. Nice little place for such nasty business; pinewood walls, and tiny oak wood tables. And across the room, a wood bar rail with a tapestry hanging over the edge. The man behind the bar cleans — tiny guy, almost cute — in his apron. Place is empty except for the prick ...

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“Taking Time in the Moment” by Damara Hutchins

Submitted to Contest #128

I had too much going on right now, but Mom could be overwhelmingly persuasive when she wanted something and today she wanted me to visit with her and Grandma. Now! I tried to talk my way out of it, but she went on about her appointment with the tax collector on Wednesday and her social club visit next week and then Bingo nights. It didn’t matter that I had finals on Thursday or two extra shifts at Lucky’s this weekend. I needed money. I needed to study. I needed extra time that I don’t have. I pulled up in the driveway to find them both sc...

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“Tassmary Gray ” by Bronwen Lewis

Submitted to Contest #128

It was the day. The door had been locked and wouldn’t be opened until the following afternoon. The man sat next to the chauffeur before calling out the destination he and his family desired to go to. While the man and the chauffeur were indulging in, what they considered to be, a fascinating conversation about an article they’d read in the newspaper, the man’s poor wife was trying to end a fight their twin daughters were having. The ‘battle’, consisted of scratching and mild hitting but the violent acts were not contained to just the t...

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“Tea with Tara Z” by Jeff Ventura

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea with Tara Z The limousine crossed the bridge into the city and the once distant twinkling engulfed her, as if the air itself had combusted into the white-hot light of a sparkler. She at once felt connected to something so much bigger than herself, and yet, she also felt tiny and unseen. She was a spec upon the brightest star. She rolled the window down so she could remember what the night she met Tara Z smelt like. ...

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“A Cup full of Legacy” by Valerie Cuffie

Submitted to Contest #128

It was another beautiful morning. Walking into the kitchen Stacy grabbed the kettle from the counter-top and filled it with water. The sound of running water filled her ears while tilting her head back and letting out a sigh. Turning off the water she sat the kettle back on its post, allowing it to heat. Opening up the cabinet she looked at the many options to choose. There was a lot of tea. It was something her mother loved. Selecting one, she placed the packet on the counter. It would take a couple more minutes for the water to be ready. W...

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“A Tea House Party” by Kathy Frizzell

Submitted to Contest #128

Heading up to my little cabin. It is a long way, putting music in the car and trying to stay awake. “Rocking to the Oldies”. Bumps and turns along the way. It had to be about mid afternoon by now. Pulling into the driveway and seeing my old neighbors. Grabbing my bags and putting my hand on the doorknob. Ready to settle in. Just closed the door. Someone knocked on the door! “What now”. Hi neighbor. {Just saw you pill in} and wanted to let you know you have a light out. Thanks. Have a good evening. Lights were on and I went to put woo...

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“wE'rE AlL MaD” by Lorelei Barrett

Submitted to Contest #128

The smell of mildew filtered into my nose as I walked closer to where I needed to go. The thumping of the dryer was somewhat relaxing, the buzzing indicating it’s done on the other hand not so much. My hand reached into the dryer grabbing the warm clothing inside. I loved every minute of this part of laundry day. Feeling the fresh, clean, warm clothing touch my skin. Handful by handful placing them into my basket. “No, Jess I don’t believe that Hanna got a fucking invitation.” I sigh into the phone, balancing it between my shoulder and...

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“ Prison for Tea” by Violet Steele

Submitted to Contest #128

Lionel wasn’t the spontaneous type; he was a man who stuck to a schedule, his unruly hair brushed every morning by five a.m. While many struggle under the weight of a busy to-do list, this man excelled. His mantra was, “if you’re not ten minutes early, you’re late”. Admired and respected by most, Lionel was top of his class and had the prospects of a productive and successful future. And for the first time in nearly ten years, Lionel found himself void of things to do. According to his schedule, he had three hours of free time before so...

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“Goes Around” by Brenda Butler

Submitted to Contest #128

Sky was notorious for the tea. It wasn’t bad enough that half of her clientele came to only get the tea. Her salon was the place to go and sit and pour it up. And most of the time, it was hot! It wasn’t a week that went by that Sky didn’t have the tea to serve. It was weekly but the day was always uncertain. It could me on a Tuesday or a Thursday and maybe even a Friday. She didn’t work on Sundays and Mondays, so whatever day it was you never knew. But you knew it was going to be good. I never figured out why sky like...

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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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