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

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 8, 2023

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✍️ 58 stories

“Cooking Lessons” by Molly Jenkinson

🏆 Winner of Contest #228

“That’s it petal, just push down a smidge more and it should cut right the way through it.” Mam’s standing above me as I’m trying to hack through the biggest potato the world’s ever seen. I’m sweating bullets at this point but she’s having none of it. “Can’t you just do it, Mam?” I’m absolutely knackered. I’ve been stabbing at this thing for (no joke) fifteen minutes but she just will not take it off me. I’m not sure why this isn’t working ‘cos usually when I’m doing stuff wrong, she’ll tell me she’ll just do it herself in that mardy voic...

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“Words” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #228

Words Once upon a time, a long, long time ago in a land far away there lived a band of brothers. Well, some of them were actually brothers by birth, the others all brothers by beliefs. The group started out very small but eventually grew to thirteen plus others that were like-minded but didn't necessarily travel with the core company constantly. Mostly they traveled together but sometimes they broke away and ventured out separately or in twos or threes. They were a peace-loving lot, however, out of necessity, some would still keep a weapon...

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“Cabbage Soup” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #228

“What’s this on the table, Barb?” “Colin, we’re turning Pescatarian.” “We’re what?” “We’re now Pescatarian.” “I didn’t realise we were religious, babe.” “We’re not.” “Are you sending me back to my Scottish roots?” “I don’t follow.” “Well, Presbyterians have ties to the Church of Scotland. Or are we turning Catholic with birth control?” “That’s Episcopalian, and no, we’re not turning religious.” “Then, what’s a Pescatarian when he’s at home?” “It’s someone who doesn’t eat red meat or poultry, but eats other things like fish, dairy products, e...

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“Not Mary” by Nicolle C

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #228

The unnerving chorus of cutlery scraping porcelain echoed throughout the room. Tension hung thick in the air, palpable enough to reach up and slice into it with my steak knife. Beside me, my sister sniffed. From my periphery, I could see her red-rimmed eyes staring blankly at her untouched plate. I cut into the slab before me, crimson juices forming a greasy puddle. I took a bite, relished the tenderness. The peas encroached into the sea of mashed potatoes like invading soldiers. “Would you please pass the potatoes, Mary?” Mother asked f...

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“White Sofa” by Marilyn McCottrell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #228

I could tell my drink intimidated her. Vodka and pineapple juice in its squat, masculine glass convinced her of preconceived inadequacies. “Shall I order you one?” I offered.She considered my question as she raised her water with no ice and no lemon to her mouth and took a dainty sip. That plum-colored, matte lipstick, the only makeup on her perfectly symmetrical face, left no hint that her lips had touched the glass. Her smooth, mahogany skin, radiating in the afternoon sun, gave her an angelic glow, and I wished then that I had chosen...

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“The Last & First Meal” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #228

At first, it seemed like a normal Saturday…one that I would usually spend on my PlayStation 7 or roughhousing with my little brother, Hunter. I had planned to go to the new holocade that just opened downtown to hang out with my friends and play Mortal Kombat Death Toll X, but the moment I heard the screeching right outside our front door, my plans were upended. I knew something was wrong.My mom was making a big commotion out on the porch right in front of the entrance. When she stepped inside our huge wooden front door, I saw what I nee...

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“The Feast of Change” by Iman Ahmed

Submitted to Contest #228

The air was thick with tension as the Thompson family gathered around the dining table for what would become their last meal together before their lives changed. The aroma of roast chicken and freshly baked bread filled the room, but the delicious scent couldn't mask the unease that hung in the air. Theodore Thompson, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair, carved the chicken with precision, trying to keep up the appearance of normalcy. His wife, Sarah, set the table with their best china, her hands trembling slightly as she placed the ...

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“Changing Nature (inspired by Dinosaurs)” by C.B. Chribby

Submitted to Contest #228

The oven gave a gentle roar, like a purring kitten. The fire crackled. Outside, an iIcicle snapped but made no noise as it punctured through a mound of snow. The rhythmic wagging of Sir Bently’s tail against the hardwood floor syncopated with the ticking clock. Though no one noticed, a man fell to his knees across the street. Lauren took a sip from her warm cider. It was taking forever. Just when she thought it couldn’t be any longer, the timer went off. Mother opened the oven and pulled the roasted turkey out. She was wearing her ...

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“A Sunday Recipe: A Grandma's Secret” by Shy Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #228

The house smelt like pinecones, just how Micah always remembered it. Memories flooded her mind as she traced her fingers along all the picture frames edges, remembering as many faces as she could before heading back into the dining room. She stopped at a picture of a woman with frizzy blond hair. “Aunt Moony,” she laughed to herself, her favorite aunt and clearly her grandmothers favorite daughter. Everyone knew it but never mentioned it out loud. Micah’s mother knew very well to which ends of the earth grandma Whitney would go for...

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“Don't Eat The Mashed Potatoes” by Jessica C

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #228

TW: explicit language, spousal violence, mention of suicide There’s nothing like a mother’s hug to make you feel like a child. I nestle my face into her shoulder and breathe deeply, savoring the hints of lavender and roasted meats. She’s deep into making Sunday dinner and the aroma lingers around her, even standing on the windy sidewalk. “My baby,” she coos as she brushes my hair. “I’m so happy you’re home. Are you sure you don’t want to transfer to a closer school?” It’s the same question she’s asked every time she’s seen me for t...

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“The Divorce” by M.R. Simon

Submitted to Contest #228

It all started on a perfect Christmas Eve. The lighting is right, the table is beautiful, the wine glasses, the fork, and knife. Everything is perfectly placed. The dining room is like a photo in a magazine. Mother cleaned the house all day long crying. We are all waiting for Dad to come back from the store, last minute shopping he said. Mother waited for him all day long, she made sure to let him know she wasn’t happy about the shopping. I think there something else, ornaments are flying everywhere and breaking on the bed room wall. Usua...

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“1898 - Campfire Meal in the Lighthouse Cave ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #228

Elsie's grey eyes took a last look at the snow falling on the lighthouse as the bright beacon rotated, lighting the shores and ocean. She tucked the dark, shaggy puppy back inside her heavy brown coat, pulled her hat down tighter over her dark hair, and ducked back down into the cave from the opening in its ceiling.Tomorrow everything would change.Aromas of spicy fish, beans and herbs simmering in a stew over an open campfire floated through the cave, along with the distant voices of her family. Elsie felt the emptiness in her stomach. She t...

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“Have a Nice Day?” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #228

Twisting the phone cord around my finger, I didn’t know what to do. I stood still for longer than I would have liked before I decided to dial the number. “You ok?” My mother’s voice sounded breathless as she answered. “Yes. Fine.” I heard her exhale. “Ok. Good.” “I’m just scared.” “Aww I know.” “Can you come over? I’m afraid to be alone.” “Sure. How about I take you to breakfast?” “That sounds great. Thanks!” *** Sitting in the tight booth at IHOP I felt anxious but safer than...

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“Jeremy” by Bruce Callahan

Submitted to Contest #228

I can still smell them. Sloppy Joes. The simple combination of sauce and ground beef. The steam rising off of the stovetop. Sizzling beef, cracking and popping, my mouth still waters at the sound. It was a Thursday. Payday. Sloppy Joe night. They were a family favorite. We didn’t have much. Mom was raising three kids all on her own. She did her best on a teacher’s salary. The money was stretched to its limit. We never knew. The mark of a great parent. Your kids may not hav...

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“Polar Privilege ” by Jorie Mack

Submitted to Contest #228

The 3,000 ton ship slowly inched its way to an impossibly small dock. Chloe’s face was pressed so hard against the tiny round window that her cheekbone was aching. She had slept the entire second leg of the journey and missed the change in waterscape. Down below, she could see chunks of ice floating in the blue water. She had never seen water this shade of blue before. She leapt out of her twin bed, her blanket cascading to the floor. Dashing around the tiny cabin, Chloe dressed in her thermal gear as quickly as possible....

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Ended on 23:59 - Dec 15, 2023 EST

Won by Molly Jenkinson 🏆

Title: Cooking Lessons

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 58 stories

“Cooking Lessons” by Molly Jenkinson

“Words” by Mary Bendickson

“Cabbage Soup” by Chris Campbell

“Not Mary” by Nicolle C

“White Sofa” by Marilyn McCottrell

“The Last & First Meal” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

“The Feast of Change” by Iman Ahmed

“Changing Nature (inspired by Dinosaurs)” by C.B. Chribby

“A Sunday Recipe: A Grandma's Secret” by Shy Jenkins

“Don't Eat The Mashed Potatoes” by Jessica C

“The Divorce” by M.R. Simon

“1898 - Campfire Meal in the Lighthouse Cave ” by Kristi Gott

“Have a Nice Day?” by Hannah Lynn

“Jeremy” by Bruce Callahan

“Polar Privilege ” by Jorie Mack

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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

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

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

Contest #228

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

230

Contest entries

88

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: