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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

“Mother's Tea Time” by Marie Richmond

Submitted to Contest #128

Robin changed her outfit three times before deciding to wear the bias cut skirt and jean jacket to the Forest Club’s Mother’s Tea Party. Beads of sweat bubbled up under a medium-beige Revlon foundation and her armpits produced half moons creasing her gauzy top. She would have to tie the jacket around her waist to cover the tear in the floral sheath. Wiping her brow with the back of her hand she thought about how she needed to make a good impression on the high school moms. Her daughter would soon attend a private academy, the first in the fa...

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“Spilt Tea” by Emmaline Mielecki

Submitted to Contest #128

October 15, 2011 Dear Diary,Hey, my name’s Alison and a couple months ago I went way too far by spilling some of the most secret gossip of our whole school. Let’s just say I’m popular but not in a good way. You are probably wondering how exactly this all happened.Well, it all started when I heard Tyler and Haley talking about hanging ou...

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“Tea Stains” by Rachel Aubertin

Submitted to Contest #128

(Contains reference to infidelity.) The sky was raining tea that day. It was spilling over the rooftops. Pooling in the gutters. Dumping out the downspouts and washing through the sewer grates when Lavender ran up to Matcha’s bench under the awning. Her hoodie was dotted with droplets. She was half an hour late for her appointment “Sorry I’m late, but you will not bel-eeeve what happened in class!” Lavender’s eyes were lit up. She was waving her hands as she spoke, a sure sign the story would be potent. Clouds were brewing, rolling o...

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“Paperwork” by Dale Bird

Submitted to Contest #128

When Tom heard her drop Grandma’s tea set, he laid into Linda: “You know what, just because Grandma liked me more doesn’t mean you have to resort to something like this.” Linda stood in front of the sea of small white pieces spread like stars on the dark brown kitchen floor. She slapped her yellow rubber gloves down and turned to Tom. “You know what, maybe you do the dishes sometimes so then you can take better care than I can. I’m upset about it too, OK? Things break.” She combed both hands through her chestnut hair streaked with ...

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“For those with regrets” by Kaitlynn Sobieski

Submitted to Contest #128

He was on his deathbed, that much was sure but at least he got to watch the nurse make his tea. “Just a few more moments sir,” She reassured him with a smile. It was nice how people were so kind when they knew you wouldn’t be around much longer. “What’s your biggest regret?” He asked her.The nurse looked at him, “Well, I don’t see the point in finding regrets. They just remind you of what you could have done, but that doesn’t matter because you’re still moving forward.” She walked over to check on his fluid machine, "What’s yo...

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“Like Sunshine” by S. N.

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea was David’s favorite drink. He would get up at the crack of dawn, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon and head into his still-dark kitchen. He’d grab his kettle and fill it up with water and put it to boil on the stove. He’d open a small cabinet in the corner, lined with jars full of different types of teas. He would consider having some green tea, no, maybe black? Eyeing his rows of jars, each one labeled with scribbly handwriting, his eyes would land on his favorite jasmine, and he’d pick the jar out and unscrew the top. The...

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“For Genevieve” by Maci Petrolle

Submitted to Contest #128

Trigger Warning: contains death and child loss. I never thought I would have to do this. My hands shook slightly as I poured the hot tea into one of my nice blue marble teacups. Richard looked over at me briefly, smiling his normal condescending smirk. “Tea almost ready? It’s been 10 minutes since I asked for it.” He snapped as his gaze returned razor-focused to the crossword section of the newspaper that he must do every morning. I nod gently, I took my time this morning. “Almost my dear,” Once he look...

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“Having tea while discussing the great ascension to the tea parties in the sky.” by Alicia Coggins

Submitted to Contest #128

She rounded the corner from the kitchen into the den where Millie had been bedridden for some years now, the fireplace of black slate stone stood in the corner and it was so clean that it was obvious it hadn't held a flame for most likely longer than 10 years. Alice set the old brown wooden tray that carried a most beautiful tea set down on Millie’s lap and turned to grab the white plastic lawn chair. There wasn't much room next to the bed so a level of comfortability was to be sacrificed. Grabbing a small pillow from the corner for a little...

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“Meeting at La Véritea” by Gianina Vescovi-Chiordi

Submitted to Contest #128

Melody approached the oversized wooden door of La Véritea House with care. So caught up in making her appointment on this brisk January day, she wore thin, flimsy shoes with hardly any tread, thinking only of the dress code and not the weather. She cursed under her breath as she gingerly navigated the slick stone steps, willing herself to stay upright while salty winds whipped in from the coast. Everyone knew La Véritea as the "High Time House" around town, dubbed as such for its lengthy waitlist and mysterious nature. Case in point ...

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“Tea teaser” by Leila Shahtahmasebi

Submitted to Contest #128

To tea or not to tea. That is the question. Or rather, to spill the latest gossip I had learnt over a cup of tea, knowing full well I had been explicitly warned not to do so. But it was such a juicy bit of news.. I had always been terrible at keeping a secret. You would have thought my friends would have caught on by now but I was adept at playing the innocent so I had always managed to get away with spilling the beans in the past. Nobody had ever suspected it was me. Now I stood in front of my kitchen bench top, the kettle gently whistling ...

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“Bleeding Seconds” by Joseph Lancaster

Submitted to Contest #128

“I never really thought of myself as a vindictive person." - Liam MountebankLiam sunk his shovel in the grave, leveraging his weight against the frozen soil. Even though he took a measure of pride in his conditioning, the work was still tasking. Perspiration would coat his forehead, and then be whisked away by the chill, prevailing winds. He soundlessly tossed another heap of dirt to the growing pile beside him. The ground felt almost like stone, so much so that Liam still wondered whether he had found the right spot. The tombstone had ...

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“The Conversation” by Wilma Segeren

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea with Nana “Mom, it’s such a beautiful day and I’m not wasting it on Nana. I want to hang out with Theresa today,” Willow whined. “Now, Willow, you know she loves visitors and you haven’t been to the retirement home in ages. She’s been asking about you. Just spend an hour with her for me, please, sweetie please?” Alice knew she could usually get an affirmative response with a ‘please.’ “Oh Mom, she is always putting you down, always putting everyone down, how did you ever come from someone so miserable?” Willow lamented. She had made ...

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“To See Hawaii” by Sarah O'Donovan

Submitted to Contest #128

-Donna’s POV- I walked through the random assortment of tress with the sun beating down on my skin in intermittent bursts through the leaves. I turned to see Colm admiring, what most people would consider just an ordinary crack in the ground. I sauntered on over to just outside arms reach of Colm when he urged me to wait. “Look at them all,” He gestured with his index finger outstretched to just in front of my shoes. Tens of tiny ants crawling around in perfect lines between us. Colm always appreciated things in a way I could never und...

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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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