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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

“Love Potion” by Ashley Kujan

Submitted to Contest #128

“It’s just tea.” Every time I hand him a cup, he hesitates, looking at me with a hint of distrust. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t believe in love, or maybe he’s just plain terrified of it. Whatever his distorted beliefs, he simply doesn’t trust his own feelings. He will do anything, make up outlandish stories, even project false accusations in order to deny his affections. That’s why I’m a witch. I secretly prepare a magical elixir with mysterious herbs and roots, then I pretend it’s just ordinary tea. Knowing this, my boyfr...

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“Tea with Grandma” by Jennifer May

Submitted to Contest #128

Trigger Warning: Death Anna was awakened from her fitful sleep by the incessant screeching of her grandmother’s antique tea kettle. It was a horrible sound; grating on every nerve in her being. She felt instant, red hot anger rise into her belly. She opened her eyes in the soft pink room, tossed off the handmade quilt, now faded and worn. Jumping from the bed, she furiously pulled her long, black hair into a low ponytail. Realizing she had forgotten to put her clothes in the dryer the night before, she snatched her black work slack...

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“Spaz Talk over a cup of Tea” by MaureenJ Poutoa

Submitted to Contest #128

"There you go Spaz," said Cindy. "You can tell me about your adventure while we have a cup of tea." That'll be fine." said Spaz.Spaz started telling her story. I crawled carefully up the bank with my rifle and grenades, There was a dog in the courtyard it was barking as it sensed I got nearer. I remember the Sargeant saying "don't let anything get in your way, you must rescue the Journalist." "He has some vital information to stop this War." Seek and Destroy, if need be. Spaz had been trained by the Elite Forces for all sorts of missions, sh...

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“Healing Tea and a Sketchbook” by Lynn-Marie Reed

Submitted to Contest #128

It was a Saturday morning, and rather than opting for her usual mug of coffee, Ariel was reaching for the honey and turning on the heat to boil some water. Today her body was in need of something lighter, something different than her usual coffee with cream. Whenever she was sick as a child, and every moment since that she could remember, Ariel was given a cup of tea with honey (and sometimes a dash of lemon). It was a simple remedy her mother and grandmother reliably clung to. And, unsurprisingly, it became natural for her to adopt it. On...

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“Golden Teachers” by Jennifer L-Reid

Submitted to Contest #128

Golden Teachers By Jennifer Leech-Reid The shiny purple kettle screamed and sputtered on the little white stove. Slowly, I came out of my reverie and turned off the burner. Even slower, I lifted the much quieter, shiny purple kettle off the little white stove and brought it to my favorite mug. Today I would be having a lovely tea blend of chamomile and Golden Teacher psilocybin mushrooms. In recent years as I have found that Thursday mornings are excellent for micro dosing the small hallucinogenic that helped treat my depression. Occasion...

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“Tea with Seth” by Mary Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #128

I had the table set, a warm fire in the hearth, and a cozy chair for Seth to sit in when he got here. Today was our weekly tea. Seth was sort of the jack-of-all- trades in the village and I truly enjoyed our afternoons together, at the appointed time I heard his soft knock at the door. I hurried to let him in. “Ah lass, you always have a cheery fire going for me in your hearth.” “Well, you know me, I always feel a bit of a chill. I wrapped my shawl a little tighter about me.” “Come here and give us a hug t...

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“Needing Patience” by Raina Meginley

Submitted to Contest #128

“Two sugars, he says. Like I haven’t made this exact tea for him a hundred times. I swear sometimes he can be so annoying. It’s no wonder nobody here likes him.” Patience mumbled, stirring the hot brown liquid in the ceramic mug on the counter. She inspected the hand-painted red and pink flowers drawn on the side of it. The thick, confident lines and droplets of stray paint dotting the background suggested a child had painted it. She rotated the mug around, looking for a signature from the artist. Trying to place the name of the prospective ...

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“Peace tea” by Ethan Skogfeldt

Submitted to Contest #128

I set a cup on the counter just next to the stove where the kettle is beginning to heat up. My hand slides against the edge of the cold marble counter, and raise it to grab a tea bag from its box. Continuing my path, I trail myself over to a jar of sugar cubes; grabbing two before heading back to the stove. I drop the tea bag and cubes into the cup, the porcelain cup clingking from contact from the cubes. I grab a spoon and smash the sugar back into a fine powder, the tea bag now resting in a shallow pool of sweetness. Letting the spoon rest...

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“A reticent but resolute carer at work.” by Ibiyinka Olubunmi Elushade

Submitted to Contest #128

Reticent but resolute, he waltzed into the kitchen to make her the tea recently requested. The hum of the freezer fused into a samba with the sound of the kettle at work. Immediately, his mind wandered to what the weekend ahead would be like if the expected helper does not show up. The last few weeks of having to take care of her more than ever before have been really stressful. They were however made more bearable by her brother as well as his deep love for them both. But now that her beloved brother is billed to return to his b...

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“The Postman comes to tea” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #128

Ned used his booted foot to open the screen door leading onto the porch, the door squeaked as he opened it and slammed shut behind him before flies and mosquitoes could sneak into the house, he made a mental note to oil the hinges. He carried the metal tray carefully, trying not to spill anything, placing it onto the weather worn table between two wicker chairs..On the tray a large white chipped enamel tea pot, Ned had scooped four teaspoons of Bushells tea into the pot adding a gum leaf for extra flavour, a tin of condensed milk, a plate of...

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“Tea Leaves” by Rebecca Himmel Glassman

Submitted to Contest #128

Early morning. Sadness envelopes me. I am making a cup of tea. I was never one for coffee. It always upset my stomach. I put the teapot up to boil. Not for me these fancy coffee/tea making machines. I like to do things on my own. It makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. Although, this morning I don't feel like I want to accomplish anything. But maybe the tea will help. The rays of the sun are shining brightly through the open window. There is a slight breeze. I can see the curtain moving gently. It looks like it will be a warm da...

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“Carefree in Jiufen” by Amelia Yang

Submitted to Contest #128

Water poured steaming out of a heavy black kettle into and over a much smaller ceramic teapot cleansing and waking the tea leaves. She then used the same water to wash off the cups, one movement flowing into the next. My husband and I watched our waitress demonstrate how to make a perfect pot of Taiwan’s oolong tea at Jiufen’s Amei Tea House. I translated her final instruction to my husband, smell the fragrance after the first steep before the first sip. Then it was just the two of us, sitting outside with our tea in spit...

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“A Tea for Anne ” by Tyler Maund

Submitted to Contest #128

“I’ll make the tea!” Paul said eagerly, ready to prove his worth at any given opportunity. He opened the cupboard door and analysed its contents, five exceptionally ordinary tea cups sat in unison. He could feel the eyes of Amy’s mother on the back of his head, an intimidating woman, a tea connoisseur; he felt a bead of sweat threaten to leave his forehead. Making a cup of tea shouldn’t be such a spine-tingling experience, it is however when you are doing it for your girlfriend’s mother who bears a reputation that str...

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“Why did you go there?” by Lisa C

Submitted to Contest #128

Trigger warning: sexual harassment We are sitting in David’s kitchen drinking tea. We do this every workday morning between 8.05 and 8.45. I rinse out the dregs and smooth away the tannin stains before I put the tea bag and boiling water in his cup. When I put David’s drink down for him, it knocks against the table top, and a tide of light brown liquid slops over the edge of the cup. I want to go and get a napkin to clear it up, but that will annoy him. “Why did you go there? Why did you agree to have a cup of tea with him?” The tea t...

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“A Brewing War” by Glenn Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #128

Janryc stirred his tea as Astram described the situation with the rebels. He felt Janryc’s unbridled rage rolling off him in great waves. He had to resolve this situation before any more people were hurt or killed. Yet, Janryc made that near impossible with his impulsiveness and cruelty. “And what is the size of this rebel force, Astram?” Janryc asked, taking a sip from the cup. “Less than a thousand, my lord,” Astram said. “However, many of them are townspeople from the surrounding villages. Farmers. Tradespeople—.” Janryc cut him off...

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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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