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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#228: Yummy

I always find it fascinating how food captivates us; not just as a practical necessity, but as a cornerstone of our life experiences. Food can embody cultural heritage, traditions, and the art of sharing. It’s a medium through which we build and nurture social connections — be it cooking for lifelong loved ones or nervously gathering around the cafeteria table on the first day of school. Eating can also elicit all kinds of emotions, like pleasure, guilt, and desire. It can be a medium for new experiences, creative expression, or sometimes a bridge to our past.

In light of food's powerful role in our lives, this week’s prompts will explore how it may influence a character’s journey, and shape their life experience.

This week's prompts

Start or end your story in a bustling street food market.

Narrative – 24 stories

Include in your story a scene about a family's last meal before a significant change.

Dramatic – 58 stories

Write a story in which a character eats something that they shouldn’t have eaten.

Mystery – 64 stories

Write a story in which a certain food makes your character travel back in time.

Character – 51 stories

Write a story in which a character cooks up something to impress someone.

Romance – 34 stories

Stories

“The Price of Secrets” by Yara Haya

Submitted to Contest #228

“Mom! When are we having dinner?” Ava yells from the warm, white-walled living room downstairs. It’s a Thursday at 6:29 PM in Killow's sketchy area, and the sun is setting, allowing the moon to visit. “Soon sweetie! Can you heat the mashed potatoes we had last night? Megan requests. “Sure!” Ava answers. She sits up from the exquisitely soft couch, at least what it feels like, and makes her way to the kitchen. As she grabs the mashed potatoes from the nearly empty fridge, Lane, Ava’s brother, walks down to the kitchen where he sees Av...

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“Mushy Peas” by Michelle Levine

Submitted to Contest #228

The table was dressed with the best cloth she could find: a pastel green silk, adorned with fleur de lils. A heirloom that had belonged to her grandmother. It was draped on the table in a laissez-faire fashion, and the dishes were sprawled out like daisies in spring grass. It smelled of sweet and tart and cured meat. She sat there, waiting, as they walked in. One by one."Is this a special occasion?" Adrian's eyes excitedly ogled the dishes as he sat down, next to his beloved mother."What have we done to deserve this?" Aida's face gleamed as ...

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“The Bowling Alley” by Georgia Bodill

Submitted to Contest #228

I arrive at my sister Jess's house and make my way into the dining room, taking the last seat around the table. There's a bowl of piping hot pumpkin soup waiting in front of us. Here I find all of my family which includes Jess and her boyfriend Jack. My brother Joah, his wife, Tia, and both our parents. 'You're late Anna.' teases Joah, though there's a heaviness to his words. 'By five minutes.' I say. 'Six.' He corrects. I roll my eyes, 'That's something Jack would say.' Everyone looks away. I scan their faces until I fall on Jack who is str...

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“Confectionery Confessions” by Roger Scypion

Submitted to Contest #228

CW: Sex, Violence, Profanity, Sinister, Murder. Standing, high above in the amphitheater balcony, is the host of the costume party, Monty Stickle. His guests don't know who he is. Monty is wearing New Orleans themed, Shakespearean make-up and a blood red, velvet costume. Holding a wireless microphone, Monty speaks as he looks down at his masquerading guests. Each signed RSVP invitation to the festivities are bow-tied and rolled up like scrolls on the table beside him.“I hope everyone enjoyed the six-course meal and left room for dessert...

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“One and Done” by Shane Cape

Submitted to Contest #228

One and Done The air was light in the mountains. And the breeze was cold against his face. His hair waved with the gentle wind, making it gracefully dance across his brow; carefully revealing his blue eyes from underneath the bronze of his mane. In the distance, beyond some rolling hills, he saw a cluster of flowers. “Looks like no one’s been here for years… decades maybe… even centuries. I may be the first person to have ever seen this place,” he thought to himself. He approached the flowers. They grew tall, probably about five feet...

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“Babes of Montego Bay” by J. S. Bailey

Submitted to Contest #228

“Welcome, welcome. Lemme take yuh bags, sir." "Oh, thanks mate." A short, afro-haired gentleman in a baggy suit takes a suitcase from the father and proceeds to pull a satchel from his shoulder. "Really there's no need." The man holds the strap of the bag in attempt to keep it but the pudgy Jamaican gives an insistent tug. "Oh. Thank you. What's your name?" "Mi name eh Grumpy. Dat wha mi friends call me, anyhow." "Well, it's nice to meet you Grumpy," says the man's wife as the Jamaican insists on taking her bags too. "This is my wife Samanth...

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“Who Stoled Gramma's Meatball” by Vanessa Severino

Submitted to Contest #228

For as long as I can remember, I have spent every Sunday afternoon until I was a teen, around the table at Grandma's house. However, I, the oldest grandchild Annie, had the honor to sleep over Grammas the night before. So, I had the privilege to be there every Sunday, before the rest of the family arrived.As soon as Grandma and I would return from Sunday Morning Mass at St Joseph's Parish, Grandma got started on the gravy. I know most people call it sauce, but in our family, we called it gravy!Ever since I was just two years old, Grandma wou...

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“Don't Eat That” by Carter Summerville

Submitted to Contest #228

“So, you’re saying that your husband had no known allergies?” Officer Logger asked the grieving woman in front of him. “None - and this is a meal I have cooked for him hundreds of times. The medical examiner said he didn’t choke either, so I don’t understand what could have happened,” Mrs. Turner said as she cried down into the tissue in her hands. Detective Logger nodded and took some notes on his small memo pad, surreptitiously glancing at the child sitting in the corner. The child was staring at Officer Logger with a blank s...

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“A Belly Ache Under Pressure” by J. I. MumfoRD

Submitted to Contest #228

The tide lapped hungrily at Waxham Sands Beach. Dr Jeffrey Ames, clad in a neoprene drysuit, waded into the murky water, ready for his third attempt to collect samples from an unidentified siphonophore. The radio at his shoulder crackled to life as the shore team checked his status amid the lapping waves. Jeffrey raised a gloved hand. The iodine scent of the local beach was welcoming. Waxham was lovely, he thought. Next time he should bring Josephine. He turned to the sea. Seafoam collided against his mask when he dived under the surf. He wo...

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“Red Velvet Lips” by Harriet Ashford

Submitted to Contest #228

Standing in front of our gilded mirror, I ran a hand down the side of my spotless white tube dress. The punishing cardio and calorie counting had been working. I looked great in this dress. The new diamond on my finger caught the sunlight streaming through the entryway window. Three-carat and princess-cut, the diamond sparkled brilliantly. This dress, the ring, my fiancé were all perfect. This engagement party would be too. &nb...

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“Enrico's dairy allergy” by Sviatoslav Chupryna

Submitted to Contest #228

Enrico moved to Leicester a few years ago from Italy, Florence. He planned to study and to find a job here. Unfortunately, England universities were too demanding for him and he didn't get in any of them. That was a really bad time for Enrico. After a third university didn’t approved him, Enrico fell in apathy and closed in his home for one month Anyway, for Enrico a job was always more important than anything, so he get a job as an Assistant in a builder company. That was always weird and cute when 7 years old Enrico asked his mother if sh...

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“Xmas Lunch” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #228

Lilian despised Xmas—the frantic rush to buy presents when the shops were teeming with customers. Navigating through the overcrowded shops, wondering what the hell she would buy. Each counter was knee-deep in potential customers, and given her petite stature of 5 feet, the whole experience was a daunting task. Once the gift shopping was complete, the next challenge would await her - boarding a bus or struggling to the underground train station amid bustling pavements outside the department store on Oxford Street. Th...

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“Sarma” by Kathleen Shapona

Submitted to Contest #228

It seems like the spirit of Christmas has changed over the years, or is it me? People are cranky and rude, and gatherings are more challenging to organize. Family and friends have moved away to more affordable areas of the country, so getting together has become a hassle. Stretching oneself so thin that when you finally catch up with said family on Christmas, you are too tired and can barely keep your eyes open. I always wish the holidays would hurry by. Not when I was a kid; I lived for Christmas and wished it was Christmas every day. What ...

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“Mother is the world” by Olivia Mastrangeli

Submitted to Contest #228

Hi mom, how was your day at work today? At school our teacher tried to have us write a story and put it online and see if people like it. I thought maybe me and Marie could work on it together. Do you think it would be ok if she stayed for dinner? "Sure sweetie, but we were going to go out to dinner". Is that okay with Marie? I don't know, I will go call her. She is wondering where we are going to go? We are going to Rally's. Mom, Marie says she is on her way over. We have to start the story.As I left the kitchen to open the front door my br...

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“Eternal life ” by Brian Smedley

Submitted to Contest #228

ETERNAL LIFE Jill Gilbreadth boarded the plane at LAX to her visit to the holy land. She so much wanted to visit the birthplace of Jesus and where he ministered during his life. Her flight took 6 hours , but she made it to Jerusalem and checked in at tge Double Tree Inn. A much nicer Inn in modern days than when Joseph and Mary were trying to stay in an Inn , yet there was no room. Plenty of rooms here, tho. She decided to walk to the town center and look for a good place to eat. She found an outdoor plaza with several eateries. Sh...

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$250

Prize money

231

Contest entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 15, 2023 EST

Won by Molly Jenkinson 🏆

Title: Cooking Lessons

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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