Start your story with someone making a cup of tea — either for themself or for someone else.

Posted in Fluff on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 171 stories

“A Cup of Tea for your Sins ” by Kenzie Ramirez

Submitted to Contest #128

“So I suppose you want to ask me why I killed her?” The whistle of the tea kettle broke our unwavering silence. Without answering the question I shove back my chair and made haste to the stove top. Two perfect tea cups rested alongside the counter top. Their blue flowers dancing in the sunlight. When Mary had asked to come over for tea this was not the conversation I was expecting us to have. “Would you like sugar or cream with the tea?” I stutter. Focusing intently on the burning liquid pouring into the two cups. &n...

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“The Perfect Shower” by Andrea Mariana

Submitted to Contest #128

Author's Note Regarding Sensitive Material: this submission contains discussion on the struggle of infertility. I peer anxiously at the silver spigot of the decanter as I top off Aunt Marge’s glass of sweet tea, wary of a single droplet escaping through that precarious seal on the teal glass. Today has to be perfect, and heaven knows that the last thing a beautiful buffet table needs is three gallons of iced tea dripping all over the burlap tablecloth. Sweet iced tea, of course. This is South Carolina; around here, unsweet tea is only goo...

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“i will try for you” by Mollie Zehner

Submitted to Contest #128

“How strange,” Pope stated as he poured the water into a coffee mug, the wisps of heat billowing out into the air freely. He scoffed to himself as he listened to Atticus ramble, plopping a bag of tea leaves into the steamy liquid. A reminiscent made its way onto Pope’s lips as Pope repeatedly dunked the small bag, his current mind elsewhere. He thought of simpler times, like the way that his bare feet would hit the dampened sand, dodging the many relaxing adults and almost tripping over several towels and umbrellas. Pope wanted so badly to b...

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“Linden Tea” by Silvia R

Submitted to Contest #128

I crouch to look for the enamel pot in the lower cabinets. The edges are a bit chipped and the inside has yellowed with time. It seems lighter, like the metal has been thinning out over years of usage. I keep it under the tap and eyeball enough water for 2 people, then put it on the stove, medium heat. All that's left is fishing for the plastic box from the upper cabinet. There’s variety now, that’s for sure. There’s green tea and black tea in plastic bags, there are some store-bought cardboard boxes of herbal mixes, and then the crumpled ol...

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“Tea For Two” by Ellen Oh

Submitted to Contest #128

That day started out like any other: Birdie poured hot water in a mug and stared out the window while her tea steeped. It was Cinnamon & Cardamom. It smelled warm and fuzzy, the way fleece feels. Tasted good too. We shared. Birdie was a little off balance that day. I’m not totally sure why. She was just… off. She dropped the teabag in the trash and began the crossword. It was only Tuesday, so it should be a snap - and with no googling! But for some reason, she kept rereading the clues, and none of them made any sense. E...

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“Rail Spiked Tea” by Rami K

Submitted to Contest #128

Rail Spiked Tea “One or two?” Jack lifted his little tin tea pot from the fire and filled two mugs. The steam from the tea blended into the night mist that covered the floor of the graveyard. It had been 3 hours since Jack started digging. He counted four graves in total, taking him an hour to dig up a grave and he could save an hour if he really pushed. Jack figured it was time for a much deserved tea break. “Two, please” Jack pinched two sugar cubes between his fingers, careful not to disturb the row of neatly packed cu...

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“Just Rip the Bandage Off” by Zach Martz

Submitted to Contest #128

As soon as the microwave beeped, Katie withdrew the steaming hot mug of water from it and gently closed the door. She whipped out a bag of fragrant chamomile tea and plunked it into the mug. It immediately soaked up the water and unleashed its pungent yet fruity aroma right under her nose. She inhaled deeply, smiling even though she was very anxious. For pure sensory relaxation, nothing beat a cup of good chamomile tea.Katie began adding a small spoonful of honey to her tea, stirring it around inside the cup with a long-handled spoon. All th...

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“Masala ” by Quincy N

Submitted to Contest #128

The high pitched whistle from the tea kettle was like the saving grace bell from the heavens. I immediately got up to finish making the tea that this woman had asked for. Honestly, I would rather be slaving at work right now than awkwardly sit in the kitchen with her. I look through the steam blasting through the kettle to make out the feint neon green numbers on the front of the stove . 10:52. Dear God. I’ve been here for nearly an 8 hour shift all because I wanted to keep Uncle Seth company after his younger brothers funeral. Now he’s gone...

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“The Real Thing” by Goddess V

Submitted to Contest #128

The steam from the pot misted my face and lightly coated my beard. I poured the hot liquid into her ‘Unicorns Are Mystical Like Me” mug and the “Beardlicious” mug she bought me for my birthday last year. The water seeped through the bags of my homemade blend of herbs. We have tea every time she comes to my place. Though her aura warms me up from being near her, it is a bonus to feel the well-steeped elixir coat my insides. I handed her the mug of ...

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“The Teapot” by Reyyan Özertürk

Submitted to Contest #128

Snowflakes were falling in cotton pieces. I kept gazing at them as I poured myself some freshly-made tea from a porcelain teapot with some green and purple floral decorations on it. I had recently bought it from a flea market in a neighbourhood nearby. I had had too much coffee the whole day already, and thus, I felt a few cups of tea would go much better with a night’s read. The cinnamon sticks in the bitter orange tea clinked softly as I put the teapot down. I took my cup to my library room where a book lay open on a comfortable mustard co...

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“Death In a teacup” by Mike Davies

Submitted to Contest #128

I stood, hypnotized by the mighty whirlpool, the bag spinning helplessly. If I was to be of minute size, I would surely be swallowed In Its hot current, spinning like a pooh stick In an eddy. I must take care, for too much would kill Instantly, a quick death he would not have. To come this far and fail would be a travesty, he will die a death akin to mine own, I have not died In the physical sense, but for every blow struck, he killed a little more of my spirit each time. Immense suffering will be my parting gift, I have suffered many y...

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“Past Life” by Shana Kneebone

Submitted to Contest #128

I was running for my life, trying to get away from whatever was chasing me. I could hear it breathing and crashing through the forest. It was pitch black, there was no moonlight or starlight. I couldn’t see anything. I could feel it gaining on me, I could hear the rasp in its throat, hungry to consume my flesh and tear me limb from limb. I could smell it, it smelt of rotten flesh mixed with a musky scent of mould. I tried to pick up the pace, but my legs started to grow heavy, I stumbled and fell. “Abby?” I felt someone shake me, and say m...

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“Tea - Masaala Chai” by Amrita Sharma

Submitted to Contest #128

Close friends Raj, Shana and Josh looked forward to Joshna’s tea, her famous masaala chai. Chai latte; brewed Indian style with a dash of fresh grated ginger, turmeric, cardmoms, cloves, fennel, black pepper, milk and honey. The other guests at this friends get together, happy to polish off their alcoholic beverages; help themselves to water, juice or fancy coffee from the new automatic expresso coffee machine. They’d been an awesome foursome once, not too long ago that Josh and Joshna had been a super duper duo, a couple; those sure were ...

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“A Cup of Tea” by Richard Ault

Submitted to Contest #128

1925 words A Cup of Tea By Richard Ervin Ault Jocelyn Urabana (Joss) was concerned when she went to the sun porch and detected tears in her wife’s eyes. Lana Hartman was in her usual well-worn wicker easy chair, looking out over the Huron River in Ann Arbor. She slowly looked up. All Joss could think to say was “I’ll make us some tea.” Lana tried to swallow her tears and put on a fragile smile. “Thank you,” she said in a feeble voice. By the time Joss returned with the pot and two mugs, Lana had straightened ...

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“Teatime with Nana” by Alice Stannard

Submitted to Contest #128

Bev reached into the cupboard with one gnarled hand, misshapen by arthritis and spotted with new bruises. In spite of the fact that her auburn hair had faded to a lackluster, white-streaked brown, and that her face was now shrouded by a patchwork of intersecting creases, Bev still maintained her youthful countenance. Old age had snuck up on her like a winter blizzard arriving too early in the season. She was not prepared. Many times, she was silenced when her body let her down. Because inside, she never changed. She never grew old. While she...

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Start your story with someone making a cup of tea — either for themself or for someone else.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 171 stories

“A Cup of Tea for your Sins ” by Kenzie Ramirez

“The Perfect Shower” by Andrea Mariana

“i will try for you” by Mollie Zehner

“Linden Tea” by Silvia R

“Tea For Two” by Ellen Oh

“Rail Spiked Tea” by Rami K

“Just Rip the Bandage Off” by Zach Martz

“Masala ” by Quincy N

“The Real Thing” by Goddess V

“The Teapot” by Reyyan Özertürk

“Death In a teacup” by Mike Davies

“Past Life” by Shana Kneebone

“Tea - Masaala Chai” by Amrita Sharma

“A Cup of Tea” by Richard Ault

“Teatime with Nana” by Alice Stannard

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a tea house.

Write a story about a tea party that your character is reluctant to go to.

Write about a character who’s dying to “spill the tea” (gossip) about something.

Write a story about a conflict that breaks out over something ordinary (like tea, perhaps).

Contest #128

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

298

Contest entries

160

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: