Start your story with the whistle of a kettle.

Posted in Dramatic on Aug 19, 2022

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✍️ 60 stories

“Letting Go” by Mary Delaney

Submitted to Contest #160

As she heard the whistle of the kettle, Carrie snapped back to reality and shook her head from the thoughts which consumed her while the water had boiled. She got off the stool, picked up her empty mug and poured herself some chamomile tea, praying it would help her get some much needed sleep. She sat alone in the kitchen, unable to wind down after having just dropped off her son at college. Carrie was emotionally drained, exhausted from packing and simply spent. Her husband Tom and younger daughter Maddie had long since ...

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“Ms. Mary and the Day of Surprises” by Catherine Hammond

Submitted to Contest #160

There was nothing greater than the sound of a whistle from a kettle to start the day. It was the first sound that Ms. Mary would wake up to every morning, along with her husband humming a song quietly downstairs. Ms. Marry was a simple woman both in spirit and fashion. She would wear the same color clothing every day and would follow the same daily routine. Today would be no exception. She went down to the kitchen where she made her cup of chai tea with two sugars. Then Ms. Mary thanked her husband for preparing the hot water before leaving ...

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“What Jamie Didn't Know ” by Margo Andrews

Submitted to Contest #160

Katie was pacing around the kitchen when the kettle whistled. “Finally,” she said as she slammed the mugs down and poured the water, steam billowing around her face. She hastily assembled the tea – throwing leaves in the infuser and dunking them into the water. Normally, watching Katie make tea was one of Jamie’s favorite things. She loved watching the care Katie took in making sure the infusers were filled with the exact grams of tea that were called for and watching her dunk the cute pink thermometer into wat...

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“Tea Time” by Rebecca Hackney

Submitted to Contest #160

There it was again. That sound. The whistle of the tea kettle which meant he was here. Claire hated that sound because it always meant trouble. That high pitched hiss was mocking her. It was tormenting her. Asking her to come and look and see what’s there. Claire knew though, she knew what awaited her if she went to see. This time she would ignore it. This time she is going to fight back. It all started when Claire moved into her new house. She wanted a fresh start and knew the Duncan house was that. The Duncan house was a popular house in...

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“Tea Kettle Whistle Blues Mixed With Giggles” by Patrissha Booker

Submitted to Contest #160

The tea kettle whistles waking Landry from an unintended nap, and he rushes to the kitchen prepare a cup of tea for his mother, Jolene, who has become mysteriously weakened. The 25-year-old Landry immediately assumed the role of caregiver to his mom (she raised him as a single parent and was always there for him, now it was his turn to be there for her) and her doctors sent in reinforcements to manage specific duties. The months pass and Jolene’s team of doctors struggle to find the cause of her being unable to move without assistanc...

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“Tea and Breakups” by Marie White

Submitted to Contest #160

The rose-printed, gold-edged china tea kettle on which she’d blown a month’s salary whistled, and he jumped nearly to the ceiling. Had she seen it, she would’ve seized the opportunity to add some snide remark or other to her already-massive repertoire. Fortunately, however, she was in the kitchen, preparing for the tea that would end all teas. Perhaps, he thought for what seemed the millionth time, this would prove a mistake. He ...

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“Revolution” by Andrew Audibert

Submitted to Contest #160

Steam billowed out of the spout of the whistling kettle. Claudius finished spooning tea leaves into the teapot’s basket, then he turned off the gas, picked up the kettle, and carefully poured its boiling contents over the leaves. When he was satisfied, he placed the kettle back onto its burner. Finally, he placed the lid on top of the teapot and carried the tray upon which it rested from the island to the small table five steps away. He glanced at Louisa as he rested the tray on the table, and he smirked. “You haven’t spoken since you walked...

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“The outrun” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

Submitted to Contest #160

TW: mentions of death, violence and murder. The entire cabin had been blanketed by an absolute silence that bordered on ethereal save for the rising sound of a shrill whistle that served as the only means to validate the uneasy air that lingered over the decrepit building. The whistling grew louder as the seconds passed by, going from a soft tune that pulled her to sleep, to a loud, high-pitched screech which warned her that leaving the kettle by the fire any longer would result in the inability to enjoy a cup of tea due to the unbea...

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“Break Time in Oblivion” by Amber Poppitt

Submitted to Contest #160

A swish of steam whistles from the kettle’s nifty little snout. Its melodic hiss echoes through the confined, clinical staffroom it finds itself in. A bite-sized inferno of frenzied energy, fleeing its chamber, sending slithers of condensation crawling up the cold vinyl and lifeless tiling. I pour the simmering water into four cups. Aromas of overly sweetened coffee, incensed earl grey, elegant green and fiery black tea sail up my nostrils. The sundry of familiar aromas activates my amygdala and hippocampus, signalling the ritualistic unio...

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“Lost In Red Lights ” by Camille M

Submitted to Contest #160

Author’s noteThis short story tells the adventures of Alexa and Levi who were introduced in the short story “The Black Rose Society”.*****The horrid whistle coming out of the kettle made Alexa wince in pain as it mingled with the sound of laughter and drunk exuberance coming from outside the kitchen. The smell of sweat and something else she didn’t want to pinpoint didn’t stop the joyous crowd of the Limnomedusae to start fights, indulge in the pleasure of being in the company of the red ladies and gamble everything they had including their ...

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“Starting over” by Odessa Verilli

Submitted to Contest #160

The kettle whistled, her breath hitched and her eyes were glassy, “I’m sorry”, she picked up her bag as if the squeal was her call to leave, putting the strap over her head. “I have to go”, she waited looking to the kettle but not at me, she waited more “Well?”. I wanted her to look at me, just once more, but I could only see the side of her face; her short lashes, the small scar on her cheek, the downturn of her lip, the flare of her nostrils and the workings of her neck as she tried to breathe. If she had only just looked at me, ...

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“Whistling arguments” by Ignis Drake

Submitted to Contest #160

Whistling arguments The kettle slowly started to whistle lightly. The pressure in the room, much like the pressure in the kettle was reaching its boiling point. He just sat there, like a lump of mud taking up space. She ignored the noise and kept rambling. She didn’t really need other participants to the argument. She never listened anyway; she had already decided the issue before even sitting at the kitchen table anyway. The argument was simply a dog and pony show which had to end with the rest of us bending to her will and doing what she...

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“The Uneasy Spirit ” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #160

The whistle of the tea kettle over the open flame on the stove filled the air. That whistle only meant two things. The first thing it meant was the water for my tea and oatmeal was ready. The second thing it meant was that the walking would begin in the apartment upstairs. That was the signal. I quietly walked into the kitchen and took the hot whistling kettle off of the stove and poured the hot water in my flowered “Too Damn Hot” mug my sister gave me for Christmas and then pushed my bowl of instant oats towa...

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“Tea-time In Drought ” by Janet Wylie

Submitted to Contest #160

Tea-Time in Drought August 2032, Stockton-on-Tees, England weeeeehhhhHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYY…. I race into the kitchen and grab the kettle off the hob. “Oww!” It clatters to the floor and bounces once, twice, three times. Steam hisses out. But no water. It’s empty of water. I dart out of the way, my arm outstretched, ha...

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“by Elena Novahkova” by Eliza Baklová

Submitted to Contest #160

I woke up to the sound of a whistling kettle every morning. The sun still slept, the sky enveloped in darkness, and the only thing lighting the crummy apartment except for the flickering lamp was the blue flames from the gas cooker. I yawned and put aside my fuzzy blanket, brushing my bare feet against the freezing tiles. A shiver circled through the entirety of my spine as I battled the desire to curl up inside my warm bed back again. I pushed through, folded the blanket, and with eyes half closed, I made my way into the kitchen. ...

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Start your story with the whistle of a kettle.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 60 stories

“Letting Go” by Mary Delaney

“Ms. Mary and the Day of Surprises” by Catherine Hammond

“What Jamie Didn't Know ” by Margo Andrews

“Tea Time” by Rebecca Hackney

“Tea Kettle Whistle Blues Mixed With Giggles” by Patrissha Booker

“Tea and Breakups” by Marie White

“Revolution” by Andrew Audibert

“The outrun” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

“Break Time in Oblivion” by Amber Poppitt

“Lost In Red Lights ” by Camille M

“Starting over” by Odessa Verilli

“Whistling arguments” by Ignis Drake

“The Uneasy Spirit ” by Marcia H.

“Tea-time In Drought ” by Janet Wylie

“by Elena Novahkova” by Eliza Baklová

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story during a drought.

Write about someone seeking an oasis in a desert — whether literally, or figuratively.

Write about a character whose job is to bring water to people.

End your story with someone dancing in the rain.

Contest #160

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

266

Contest entries

109

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: