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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

“The Many Ways of Collapsing on Icy Pavements” by K.D. Walter

Submitted to Contest #128

David Vallejo woke up and checked the time on his phone. 6:43 am. January 1. He got up from the couch where he was sleeping and went over to his friend Pavel, who was resting on an air mattress on the floor. “You up?” he whispered to Pavel. Pavel responded with a sound that only vaguely resembled human speech. “Do you think I should start cooking breakfast for everyone?” David said. Pavel gave a response identical to the previous one. “Understood. I’ll go do that.” David said and then he went into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator with...

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“Oat milk” by Angela Hudson

Submitted to Contest #128

Goldie, 1955 Camberwell, London Alice was an easy baby. From her high chair, she watched me with her serious eyes as I set out breakfast. Always the same; it was better for everybody. Wipe the gingham tablecloth, damp-wipe with the cloth and shake out into the bin. Fill the glass jug from the tap; let it run clear and cold first. Set the cutlery; Alice’s own little set or she would not eat, that she did mind. The wooden-handled set, not from the best drawer. A napkin each, Alice’s choice from the drawer; I would hold them up to her. Flo...

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“Narrative Shift” by Minerva Noiropp

Submitted to Contest #128

Dread filled Alisa's footsteps. The door opened onto a room with a long table. There was a steaming cup of unidentified tea on a table to the right of the door. It had her name on it. 6 people sat to either side. Their images were blurry, dark, yet distinct. For want of a better term, Alisa thought of them as demons. The opposite end of the table was still empty. "Please, Alisa, we've been expecting you. Welcome to take the tea. It is a special brew," a deep voice intoned. Alisa was unable to determine the gender or the person who said it. ...

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“A long time brewing” by Pragathi Balasubramanian

Submitted to Contest #128

“Tea, Kaapi?” she asked her cousin and her cousin’s husband. They responded with tea. All the better, her coffee grounds were running low. Radhika went into her stores and took out the large metal tin that held the roasted tea leaves. She got her plentiful supply from her employer, who rewarded the workers a half kilo bag once every few months. She probably picked some of these leaves herself and she knew her employer was not giving her anything close to the premium teas they exported to foreigners. That’s what the milk, sugar, ginger and ca...

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“Three For Tea- The Disappearance of Tiffany Rogers” by Angel Vargas

Submitted to Contest #128

“Don’t go there,” I told my sister, shaking my head. “Don’t take us.”The driver (aka- my sister, Kia) met my plea with a steely silence. I tried again. “They don’t want me there anyway. I’m bad news, right?” I shook my head. “We should turn around.”Kia, eyes forward, both hands on her steering wheel, sighed. “You’re still moving forward, sis.”“I can’t slam on the breaks or make a U-turn on the damn highway, now can I?” “Maybe not, but could you at least acknowledge my request?” “You mean the part where you keep running aw...

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“Tea time in Boston” by Michele Stigers

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea Time in Boston “Just another day in Boston.” David said himself.” The same people walking by, same old stores and taverns. Nothing ever changed. He let out a sigh as he watched the soldiers patrol the streets. He stood outside his house for a moment and watched a bit longer. He was greeted by his wife as soon as he entered. “What’s wrong dear? You look sad.” “Anna, I hate the way it looks out there. People every where look so miserable. Come to the new world they...

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“Russian Tea House Roulette” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea… I don’t like tea. I’m an espresso, macchiato type of guy so why am I in a Russian Tea room at the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney?! My contact who selected the time and place, must be some well to do sort of guy. As opposed to me, who came from the other side of the tracks but since I was there, I ordered myself some tea, otherwise I’d look like a tool. Even I’m not ‘that’ uncouth! A few hours earlier, I was at a strip join in Kings Cross, having a drink and a lap dance when my boss called me. He very rarely called me directly...

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“Tea and Tarry” by Rhiannon Roberts

Submitted to Contest #128

You're invited! to Tea and Tarry From 3PM to 10PM We look forward to seeing you there! M&H Why is there always a certain amount of dread and excitement attached to social outings? instantly doubt going since you might not feel like it on the day and future casting can be a serious thing, to almost craving the company of new acquaintances and friends, wanting to know what kind of interesting is there to encounter. The fascination too much so eventually, on the very day, an hour before it starts, you do. However, this event held more ang...

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“The Yellow Box” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #128

The Yellow Box The security lights were on at the elementary school across the street so I could make out the windows of the classrooms on the east side of the building. I remembered the floor plan inside as I’d spent my childhood there what seemed tonight like a hundred years ago. This was the um...

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“The Tea Room” by Charlotte Lewis

Submitted to Contest #128

The Tea Room It's been well over forty-five years since Leota and I went to Neiman-Marcus the first time. As I think back on it, that visit may have been the glue that kept our friendship so strong. We met in church though neither of us were very religious. She said it was a social outlet; I said I was there for the music. Whatever it was, we met at church. Both of us had just come through an uncomfortable divorce. Not mean or anything, just awkward. It's hard in your mid-thirties to admit you married the wrong man. About once a month, we ...

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“Violin and Oboe ” by Grace R

Submitted to Contest #128

“A toast for us, the dreamers.” William stood to his feet, and Annalise watched his every movement. He rose the same way as he always did, slowly, as if he knew he could take his time, that he could take a century to move, and eyes would still be peeled on him. He smiled his vulpine smile, and everybody at the dinner began to raise their glasses, the sparkling liquid sloshing from side to side in each glass. “For the dreamers.” Annalise did not raise her glass, but nobody had noticed. She had been fiddling with a napkin since ...

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“Elizabeth and Rebecca Go to a Party” by C.B. Oates

Submitted to Contest #128

Boston, MA December 15th, 1773“So, Elizabeth, are you going to the Boston Tea Party tomorrow evening?” The two young ladies took a break from their board games by the fireside to discuss the matter.“My goodness, Rebecca, I haven’t the slightest.”“Neither have I, and I have yet to gather the details. The town crier’s rumor segment was quite choppy today. Do you not concur? I think he has consumption.”“Agreed, I could barely hear him over all of that nasty coughing. I did catch that the Sons of Liberty organized the tea party- whoever they are...

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“For All the Tea in Texas” by Kate Zerrenner

Submitted to Contest #128

He placed his long, bony fingers on the edges of the lid. The container looked like an egg with its top and bottom lopped off. It shone like one of those Hercules beetles you find in rotting ash trees. If you caught one, you could turn it this way and that, and it changed colors in the sunlight. The container would probably do that too, with its streaks of gold in the black lacquer.Mr. Sasaki lifted the lid to reveal a green powder the color of the algae that spreads out on the water between the bald cypress trees in the lake. Setting down t...

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“Chai Latte” by Rhita Koubbi

Submitted to Contest #128

Is tea all they had, here? Heaving a sigh, Jules stifled her longing for a nice cup of joe as she sifted through the boxes of assorted teas. Her cousin Samantha had invited her to England for the winter holidays, to a cozy cabin nestled in a lovely town surrounded by snow-capped mountains and pine trees. What she’d forgotten to mention (more likely Jules had been too occupied studying for her organic chemistry final to pay attention) was that there would be a congregation of Samantha’s friends, classmates, acquaintances, work-buddies, and f...

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“An Unwanted Tea Party” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #128

I don’t know why my mother thinks that she should arrange my social life for me. I am a responsible adult after all. I have a good job, that pays well enough for me to have a nice apartment where I can live by myself and not with her. And I am thirty years old. Yet, she still thinks she should make social arrangements for me. A tea party of all things! She wants me to go to a tea party. Although my name is Alice, I don’t fancy drinking tea with some old queens, not unless I can be the one to say, “Off with their...

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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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