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

“The Last Supper” by Kayla Murray

Submitted to Contest #228

Ping! Susan’s phone goes off in the centre of the table. Everyone can see the phone blink to life, the bright light casting a shadow across the breadbasket. Nobody acknowledges it. Peter clears his throat. “So, how was your presentation on Monday, Benny?” he directs to his son at the other end of the table. “It was on Tuesday, Dad,” Benny says around a mouthful of peas. “Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Susan admonishes. “Sorry. It was fine. I got a B.” “Well, a B is nothing to...

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“When Niceties Burn ” by Joshua Stavick

Submitted to Contest #228

Forks clink against plates, the tedious sound chokes in the expanse of silence ever growing between us. Unspoken words foam at my lips, stinging, burning. They yearn to be said, more so to be heard. If I spoke… Father, would you hear me? Would you still love me? Mother’s glance flitters between us. She’s wearing her smile—the pretend one. Has she ever worn any others? I can’t recall. If she had, then I suppose they’re probably hanging up in her wardrobe now, gathering dust and mites. Withering, wilting. My fingers pat...

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“Forever Together Remember” by Joseph Gozum

Submitted to Contest #228

The world stood on the precipice of oblivion, and the Farnsworth family, like countless others, grappled with the surreal reality of an impending apocalypse. News of the cataclysmic event had spread like wildfire, leaving cities in chaos, governments in disarray, and families torn between despair and the desperate need to hold onto something resembling normalcy. The Farnsworths, living in a modest suburban home, found themselves caught in the crossfire of uncertainty. Mark Farnsworth, the family patriarch, had always been the sturdy anchor...

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“Fatima Comes Home” by Ebhoni Sanders

Submitted to Contest #228

Since Fatima was a little girl, she wanted to be a doctor. So when she received a full-ride scholarship to one of the most prestigious medical colleges in the country, it was no surprise to her family, especially her favorite Aunt Helen. "You can do anything you want, as long as it's in your heart, and you put God first." Fatima's Aunt Helen would say. It was Thanksgiving week and Fatima was looking forward to going home to visit with family and friends, but she especially, could not wait to see her Aunt Helen. Fatima loved making holiday...

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“Food 4 Thought” by Ali Abdul-Qawi

Submitted to Contest #228

"- A dish unseen is a plate half full."As the intricate beams of daylight filter through the glass panes, casting it’s piercing rays upon a man tethered to the prime of his life, Wendell Beavers. A classy gentleman adorned in tasteful plaid duds, sits at his dining room table around loved ones. Surrounding the space, each of the four walls are set with clusters of vibrant red balloons. Friends and relatives alike fill this place with social harmony creating an almost ethereal ambiance. After all, it's not every day, one turns thirty fiv...

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“Don't Look Away” by H J

Submitted to Contest #228

Themes of emotional abuse and domestic violence Act 1 He is walking into the room and it feels as if the walls are closing in behind him. His force is enough to draw in the brick and cement, make it bend around his aura and cage me in. He is smiling. As always. It’s insincere. It’s his warm up routine. The Grand performance is about to begin, the drums roll as the guests start their procession to the front door. Come one come all and witness this great showman revive the role of a lifetime. Mister nice guy! Do anything for anyone, guy!...

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“Mortal Reflection” by JR Lane

Submitted to Contest #228

Sirens wailed outside the two-story brick townhouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Dusk was setting, the final warmth of the sun slowly fading beyond the Potomac River. The family’s leather sofa, scuffed and stained, was pressed up against the front door. Dad’s favorite Remington Model 870 stood ready next to the door. The wooden venetian blinds were pulled shut to guard against the unknown. The family of three - dad, mom, and son - huddled around the dining table for one last meal together. A dusty black radio sat in the middle of the table....

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“The Famished” by Logan Baugh

Submitted to Contest #228

Nina pulled into the driveway and hauled herself out of the Jeep. It was much too high as she came into her forties, as little as she’d like to admit it. She looked up at the white house nestled in the nooks of trees where a Hobbit Hole could easily fit in around the corner. There were no birds though, there haven’t been for a long time. “I’m home!” Nina turned around and popped open the back seat stuffed with rows of groceries. “Anybody want to give mom a hand?!” Silence. Nina sucked on her teeth and forced a smile. “Okay.” She slipped he...

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“Final Affairs” by William Torion

Submitted to Contest #228

Content warning: violence, language, allusion to suicide.DECEMBER 21I am the only one who knows. This is our family’s last Christmas together. None of them would be all that surprised, but it is not for the reasons they think. I am eighty-nine years old. Roselyn is eighty-seven. She is not well. That is why we are gathered here today in this stale, lifeless gathering room in some forgotten back corner of Magdalene Assisted Living. I cannot care for Roselyn any longer, and she has long been unable to care for herself.I dig my thumb into my br...

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“Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day: In Search of a Brighter Future” by Michael Thompson

Submitted to Contest #228

Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day: In Search of a Brighter Future Nobody has ever asked me how I feel, so I keep my thoughts to myself. I keep my thoughts, whether good, sad, happy, or bad, to myself. I can control my emotions better when I do. The one thing I have learned as a 78-year-old Black woman from South Georgia working as a housekeeper, cook, and nanny for a well-to-do white family is that you'll keep your job longer when you don't share what you think. Be invisible. I've worked for them since I was 17 years old, and this just grew...

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“Big Girl Blues” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #228

Lara knocked on her daughter Rachel’s bedroom door. “Dinner’s ready, hon.” Not hearing a reply, she pushed the door open to see Rachel on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her auburn hair flowed across the bedspread as if posed for a Pre-Raphaelite painting. She cradled her teddy bear in one arm. “You okay Rach?” “Perfect…” “Big day tomorrow… I made your favorite. Everyone’s waiting to celebrate your last dinner as a single girl.” Rachel looked at her. “What have I got myself into, mom? You have an escape hatch?” “Oh…” Lara sat on the bed a...

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“Windfall” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #228

Topher’s mouth is the whir of a blender. Inside the blades, thick slabs of butter and sesame and crusty sourdough churn into an abominable, wet clump. Breadcrumbs pepper his cheeks and red hoodie like flakes of bronze, and in the dim wink of the restaurant, they shine against him. His hands are spiders- they devour, crack, splice another loaf into three bubbly pieces.“Mom, tell Toph to slow down.”She doesn’t hear me. Her gaze is elsewhere, swimming in the air, out of control. It lands on Daddy’s shoulders, the new shoulder pads in his three-...

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“Never a good cook” by Kyle Collins

Submitted to Contest #228

She signed her name and gently set the pen down on the dinner table. "When do you leave?" She asked. I picked up the paperwork and put it in the envelope. "Tomorrow night." She dished up the boiled veggies and handed me a plate. Her cooking had always been stale, flavorless, like the last year of our marriage. We sat in relative silence during what was likely to be our last meal. Since my first cooking class in college I'd hoped we'd one day travel to far off exotic places and eat strange foods and drinks. Bu...

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“Late for Christmas” by Marion Fulker

Submitted to Contest #228

Late for ChristmasFor us, the celebration of Christmas was never about religious observance. It was a time of gift-giving and receiving, of eating and drinking.I wake early, keen to get my hands on all the goodies under the tree with my name on them. As the only grandchild, I always had plenty.Despite being early risers, Christmas Day is the one day of the year they can’t get out of bed. The only day when TV showed nothing but programs to worship the birth of Christ, so I couldn’t even be distracted by the idiot box.Finally this day in 1968,...

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“Mushroom” by Raymond Connor

Submitted to Contest #228

Gary slowly stirred the risotto. The key was to ensure you went slow and allowed the rice to absorb the liquid before spooning in the next ladle full of stock. It was nothing fancy, just a basic mushroom risotto, but his family loved it, and at this moment in time, it was appropriate. “Do you think I should add a bit of paprika?” Gary said to his wife, June. June was closing the oven door on the freshly made pizza, another family favorite; she dabbed away another tear from he puffy eyes. “Sorry, babe, what was that?” “Paprika, do you think ...

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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

“The Last Supper” by Kayla Murray

“When Niceties Burn ” by Joshua Stavick

“Forever Together Remember” by Joseph Gozum

“Fatima Comes Home” by Ebhoni Sanders

“Food 4 Thought” by Ali Abdul-Qawi

“Don't Look Away” by H J

“Mortal Reflection” by JR Lane

“The Famished” by Logan Baugh

“Final Affairs” by William Torion

“Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day: In Search of a Brighter Future” by Michael Thompson

“Big Girl Blues” by John K Adams

“Windfall” by Nick Baldino

“Never a good cook” by Kyle Collins

“Late for Christmas” by Marion Fulker

“Mushroom” by Raymond Connor

🌟 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

232

Contest entries

89

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: