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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

“A reflection of the past” by Nabiilah Bundhoo

Submitted to Contest #128

It wasn't an ordinary night. It was the darkest night of my life. Heavy drops of rain splashed on my car's windshield.Howling strong gusts of wind accompanied by the loud thunder and the heavy rainwere the only sounds I heard when I drove on the road. The sky was a special kindof blackness, the kind with few scatteredstars that sparkled with a strange flickering brightness. The road which was devoidof street lights was enlightened by lightning from time to time. Not another carin sight, I thought. Yet I preferred driving in this lo...

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“The Special Cup ” by Cace Mercer

Submitted to Contest #128

*TW: Mentions of smoking* The crackling of the record player woke the morning. Patsy Cline's deep, smooth voice glistened through the young woman's ears as she moved the needle over the turning black disc. "Crazy... I'm crazy... for feeling..." Her voice filled the room with a content intention. Despite her leggy height, her orange hair reached no farther than her shoulder blades and she positioned the strands in a bun-type up do. She checked her reflection in the mirror. Her white nightie skimmed the sides of ...

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“Storm In A Teacup” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #128

Lindsay, fumbling for her keys, was almost bowled over when the apartment door opened, and her roommate Jan stormed out and rushed downstairs. She called after Jan who ignored her. She heard the outer door slam downstairs. Entering the living room, she immediately sensed the tension in the atmosphere. Elvis the cat, was cowering behind the television, his favorite hiding place when scared. Laura and Ellie both appeared flustered and angry. “Can anyone tell me what’s going on around here?” Lindsay said, throwing her bookbag down and takin...

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“Tea With Tony by C.E. Metcalf” by Conrad M

Submitted to Contest #128

As I was pouring myself a cup of tea this morning, I was the dear in my back yard. I have only lived here for a few years but every morning they show up. I have never been able to get close enough to touch them. Every time I tried, they must have smelled my scent and ran. I build a cabin in the middle of a hundred acres of wood land I purchased from an old friend. My old friend was named Tony I used to visit him quite often when he owned it. Tony lived to be the ripe old age of eighty- eight. He was Dieng of cancer when he sold it to me. I h...

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“Tea Time With Dorothy and Mabel” by Jenny Simanowitz

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea Time with Dorothy and Mabel Words 1035 “Would you like a nice cup of tea?” Dorothy asks. Without waiting for an answer she places a cup and saucer in front of the young man who has sat himself on the edge of the couch. He toys nervously with the paper serviette she has offered him. “Yes please, that would be nice” he replies, glancing up at her and then quickly away. “English tea” she says. “With milk” adds Mabel. “Or without” says Dorothy. “Lots of people drink it without milk and put a lemon in it.” “Only in Russia” Mabel counters, D...

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“Reunion” by Indigo Roberts

Submitted to Contest #128

She rummaged around the back of the cabinet, fingers flitting through pots, pans, lids and strainers until she could hook her finger around the thin curved handle of the teapot, extracting it through the quicksand of aluminum and cast iron, dragging it to freedom. They really didn’t use the teapot much, preferring the convenience of the individual bags, the quickness of the electric kettle. But his folks were coming, a proper pour was expected. He had taught her, after the first time. After she’d scooped in too many leaves, a...

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“Cup of Opportunity” by Catherine Douglas

Submitted to Contest #128

The fruity and somewhat tart smell of raspberry tea had filled the kitchen. It was pleasant and sad at the same time, because the memories associated with such a smell were both pleasant and sad. It was a smell associated with home and happiness and comfort, but the last week or so had been a whirlwind of emotions for Private Liebermann, so much so that there was a part of him that wanted nothing more than to go numb. He had never expected being a guard at a prisoner-of-war camp would be rife with excitement. He was told it would be incred...

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“The Assassin and the Last Cup of Tea” by MG SINGH

Submitted to Contest #128

The young lad is preparing a cup of tea as Ronnie Singh enters the small tea stall at the edge of the tea Garden. His mind is in ferment. He remembers his last meeting with the big boss at the Planters Club in Jorhat. This city is the centre of the tea plantations in upper Assam. He remembers the meeting vividly in the lounge of the Planters Club. He had gone straight to the lounge where the big man was sitting and waiting for him. A waiter was serving him tea. The tea plantations all around the city were a gift of the British Raj ...

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“Moments ” by Adrianne Vicciarelli

Submitted to Contest #128

Colors of burgundy and green swirled and simmered as the scent of lavender softly sifted into the air. The window was open ever so slightly, letting in the first rays of a morning sun. Jade stirred methodically as she let the herbs take their place in harmony, creating a perfect concoction of ease amidst her wooden spoon. Birds chirped outside; it was early spring. There was something about Spring in the mountains that was comforting to Jade. Something about the air, the sounds, and the smell. Jade closed her eyes and took a deep breat...

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“Black Is Harmless” by Chukwuebuka Joseph - CeeJay

Submitted to Contest #128

Chidi's birthday was in a couple of days—Thursday, to be exact, and this Thursday would be unlike any other day. It had to be. I was a healthcare worker, but I was taking the week off for him. Chidi had somehow nursed an unusual apprehension that he wouldn't live above thirty-two. I'd never really taken him up on the discussion for fear of reassuring him, but he would be thirty-three on Thursday and that was something. Despite the conflicting thoughts, I was present in the kitchen, at the table where I was preparing breakfast. I added three ...

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“Habits” by Maryanne McNeil

Submitted to Contest #128

It was familiar, this feeling. I’d been feeling it since returning to my room with a steaming cup of tea and closing the door and surrendering, allowing it to wash over me. I hadn’t thought I’d experience it in this place and, up until now, I’d been right. But here it was, groping at my heart and giving me that free- falling-into-a-pit sensation. I wasn’t fully aware what had brought it on this time. Our meeting had been as usual, with nothing to indicate a falling-off of interest or commitment. If anything, it had been pretty much a c...

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“Ghost” by S. L. R.

Submitted to Contest #128

A high-pitched whistling from an old-fashioned tea kettle could be heard down the hall over the raging winds outside. The storm was turning out to be a formidable one, trees and branches creaking and cracking under the strain. How fitting, the woman thought. She allowed it to whistle a little longer than she needed to as she contemplated what she was about to do. Nerves rattled inside her bones in anticipation and dread. Am I really going to go through with this? Yes. Yes, she was committed. She had tried every other option, exhausted ...

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“A Chance Meeting” by Rachel Tate

Submitted to Contest #128

The kettle whistled on the stove, steam rising in clouds across the kitchen to the open window. Outside, the mountains in the distance towered above the low fog that clung to them, as the light was beginning to fade. Emily poured the hot water into the awaiting teapot, covering it over with the knitted tea-cosy that had once belonged to her beloved Nana. She turned excitedly to her housemate Sarah, who was pouring over the maps which spread across the kitchen table. “This weather should break tomorrow so we should have perfect conditions,” a...

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“Our shared practice” by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

Submitted to Contest #128

The kettle had long since boiled. It sat on the stove, hissing, steam billowing out at an almost alarming rate. At the nearby table I stared at the blank sheet of paper in front of me. Well, blank aside from the marks where I had scribbled something then furiously erased it again, pushing my rubber so hard against the paper it had almost torn. Some people had suggested that if I wrote her a letter then maybe I would start to feel better, but still my hand sat poised, the problem being I didn’t know what to write. It sounds like a funny pr...

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“Paris Magic” by Stephanie Knaack

Submitted to Contest #128

The day after her mom moved into her house, Spencer got up early to make tea and breakfast: black tea with lemon and scrambled eggs for her mom, citrus spice tea and toast for herself. She slowly made her way upstairs to the guest bedroom—well, it was mom’s room now, she had to keep reminding herself—trying to reach it without spilling anything. As she raised her hand to knock, one slice of toast slid off her tray and fell onto the hardwood, butter-side down. &nbsp...

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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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