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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

“London Boy” by Katelin Grudzinski

Submitted to Contest #128

My hand shook as I sprinkled another spoonful of sugar into the steaming cup. I went to add another spoonful when Grandmother’s voice stopped me, “Not too much sugar, darling.” “I know Grandmother,” I replied, stuffing the spoon back into the sugar bowl. I placed the teacup on its matching saucer and slowly made my way to the dining room table where Grandmother was sitting. A lace placemat was set before her with a buttered biscuit on a pink plate that matched the cup I brought to her. I set the tea down in front of her plate, caref...

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“Sweet Tea” by Teresa Smith

Submitted to Contest #128

Marybeth tipped the teapot and poured the steaming liquid into her cup. It had a light, floral fragrance. Marybeth added two scoops of sugar and a splash of milk. “What do you think, Grandma?” Her granddaughter asked. Marybeth lifted an eyebrow as she picked up the teacup and took a small sip. “Well,” said Marybeth wincing, having taken a drink of tea a little too soon. “It’s different. Beautiful, but different.” Marybeth sat with her daughter and granddaughter in a tea room that had recently opened in town. Marybeth had never vi...

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“The Very First Meeting” by Steven Hamling

Submitted to Contest #128

" I was wondering if you read the book," Margaret asked Kathleen as they made their way to Doris house, " I had no time. I had to watch my grand babies while Ophelia and Jackson went on a booze cruise to Mexico," Kathleen explained. Margaret shook her head, " Are those two ever going to stop? How many times have they dumped the babies on you so they could party like they are college students." Kathleen waved her hand, " Oh, this is only the third time they have gone away and left me with the kids. I don't mind. Give me some time to spend ...

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“Nature Medicine ” by Richard Rubalcaba

Submitted to Contest #128

“Now Malcolm, what did we say about assumptions beforehand?” “To not make assumption first but to hear things out and depends on the situation to let things play itself out.” “Very good, because in some scenarios or a sudden event, if you let its natural course take its role, itself will play it out in its own time naturally.” Ocho, ocho, ocho! “Sounds like you are a receiving a cold?” “I have been sick a little bit and I feel cold.” “Luckily for you I am making some tea.” The kettle cried out loud as if a baby child was ready to eat a...

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“Final Tea Ceremony” by Robert Obszanski

Submitted to Contest #128

The humble elegance of the chawans stood out to him as he placed them on the bamboo mat in front of him. They were of various colours and their imperfection stood out to him as beautiful. He greeted each guest with a courteous bow as they entered, and began to gently clean each utensil in full view of all those around him. He was the host; his gaze was steadied on the task before him. Each utensil had been used previously hundreds of times. The nostalgic feeling did not shake his demeanour in front of all the guests at all. Their clothing...

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“Possessed By The King” by Traven Garcia

Submitted to Contest #128

It was no ordinary day in the kingdom of Avalon, the council of Battle was sitting in the war room preparing for the worst war in their century as the kingdom of Alavandar tried to invade them. The king sat at the head of the war table looking over scroll after scroll trying to find some way to stop this war before it got any worse than it already had. His manservant to his right turned to him, "Would you like some tea, M'lord?" He asked quizzically. The king turned to his manservant and smiled a tired smile at him, "Yes, that would be nice ...

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“Tea For Two” by Rob Ryter

Submitted to Contest #128

High Tea The picture of bored indifference, completely unaware she was slowly grinding Aanshu into the dirt, Athaline sat splendidly, waiting. One twelve-hour day at a time, slogging on through endless, back-breaking labour, an infinite, dark tunnel, Aanshu dared allow herself no hope of escape. Ironically, Athaline felt the same about her own existence. Living through one day, again and again, nothing to pin her hopes on, no random surprises, just on and on. In the orangery’s afternoon splendour, sun slanting through the greenhouse panes...

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“The Small Things ” by Veda Vivek💎

Submitted to Contest #128

My hands shook as I lifted up the kettle. The smell of jasmine tea hit me in strong waves, somewhat soothing my nerves. I placed the kettle on the mat I carefully placed on the wooden table, taking out biscuits and scones, as well as strawberry jam. Tears slipped down my cheeks as I opened the drawer containing my mother’s handpainted teacups. I gingerly held them, remembering her laughs as she painted, teasing me as I tried to replicate it. I smiled softly, putting them down as I filled it with the tea. The sounds of the crashing waves ...

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“The sheep's clothing has wrinkles” by Ruth Zschoche

Submitted to Contest #128

“Tea?”The speaker was a petite, compact woman. Her smile was red and wet. Her teeth white and small. The wrinkles on her face reminded Tin of a crumpled paper bag. The old woman held the pot over the teacup. The pot shook ever so slightly.Tin grimaced and rubbed her left arm.“You should really put that down,” said Tin. “You’re gonna drop it.”The woman slowly lowered the pot to the table. It was small and crimson. It glimmered in the low glow of the kitchen stove light. The bulb over the table was dim as well, and flickering slowly. The flash...

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“Cobalt Dreams ” by Lori C

Submitted to Contest #128

I stood watching the back of the stranger as he placed a kettle on the tiny electric stove.“Do you like tea?” He asked without turning around, already pulling open a drawer and rifling through a noisy collection of pots, plates, and silverware.I didn’t answer and the ship’s ambient sounds filled the silence between us. Weeks adrift in the Fringe had separated my mind from my body. The man’s jolly whistle, the ship’s dull hum, and the clattering of utensils all seemed like echoes in a waking dream.“Ah, here it is. Chamomile tea. Have you had ...

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“Memory” by Elena Crudu

Submitted to Contest #128

Ele made herself a cup of tea. It was a freezing cold evening in Chicago, the blizzard created a cover of ice on the roads, the wind was getting through the old windows of her apartment. She could hear the whistling sound the wind created, each more intense than the one before. As she was turning on her gas fireplace, Ele thought that the designers of this fireplace did a good job on making the fake wood logs look real. Mmm, linden tea with honey - her favorite, with each inhale of the teas aroma, memories ...

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“TEA TIME” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #128

The things I get myself into, I mused, quietly looking back over the past few years and where life has taken me. With different undercover assignments, I encountered an overload of high gear situations, some taking place in pretty dark places. This morning, the cup I was holding, held a complex brew of tea leaves from a jar labeled, EXPECTATIONS. This was such an inviting aroma and one of an assortment, that I recently purchased at a local tea house upon just arriving to this new assignment location. Another interesting day was brewing, as I...

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“Last Year of Ivory Lodge” by Daryna Tovkach

Submitted to Contest #128

I have to do something with the wall. The formless stains left after the last roof leak dried up to dark brown. I could tear down all these newspapers that cover it and get creative with paint, or, perhaps, someone could fix wooden planks for me. A part of me wants to give it all up, let it die as we are dying out. I stare at the old papers for a while. Some of them date 20, 30 years back. It will be a pity, but it's time to freshen up the place. I think warmly of my youth.Back in that day, we at least had hope. We clung to it and treas...

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“The Liberty Teahouse” by Ambassador Rose

Submitted to Contest #128

Equable, I was; not prone to meddling, not eager to incur my friends’ displeasure, yet there I stood, at the door of The Nox Teahouse – a humble structure that doubled as Jillian’s home – where I was certain to eulogize too much, set my skin in the color of equivocations, and hear a dozen euphemisms before the party was through. Taking a deep breath, I looked down at my tennis shoes. Not exactly tea-party material, me. We were short a baker at work, so I had pulled a double-shift and gotten off just in time to stand there, at the door...

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“Once in a Lifetime” by Ingeborg Eikeset

Submitted to Contest #128

“I’m sorry, dear, but no.” he says. “It’s too sudden.” Two young, local women approached them nearly an hour ago. His mannerism doesn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Until now, they’ve spoken but a few words to the husband. Their focus falling solely on his wife and their teenage daughter. “Oh, please, Harold, this is a once in a lifetime chance!” He shakes his head firmly. The wife’s tongue clicks. She used to get her way like that when they were younger. It’s a trick that no longer works its magic on his stubbornness. “They just need a few mo...

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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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