Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

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

Posted in High School on Nov 1, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 26 stories

“High Tea for Tony” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #128

Becky slipped ‘Little Girl Etiquette,’ under her seat cushion. Last minute cribbing wouldn’t do. The chapter on tea parties taught her so much. This would be her first tea party. She planned for perfection. The white garden table, set with dainty cups and saucers, looked exactly like the picture in her book. Her mother provided fresh cookies and juice (pretend tea), for her guests to sip. She adjusted a napkin and placed the plastic spoon, just so. She only needed Antonia, Cindy and their companions to arrive. Becky’s favorite Barbie doll a...

22 comments 22
Read story

“The Tea Party” by Jeremy A. Wall

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea reminded Haley of death. Not the taste, she never touched the stuff. It was the cups. Those little handles, decorative and curled, almost impossible for Haley to fit a finger through. The saucers. The delicate pot. When she closed her eyes she could still see them shattered on the floor, grey water pooling in the white shards. The stylish man doubled over in his chair, eyes frozen. Haley was twenty-four. It was her first year on the force. Her partner Dean kicked in the door. Michael Brown had not shown up for work. His friends were c...

9 comments 9
Read story

“Making Amends with A Baby” by Charlie Murphy

Submitted to Contest #128

“When is she gonna arrive?”"Any moment, now, sweetie, " Mommy said.“But, when?” I stomped my feet.“Be patient, honeybear.”I pouted."Want me to sing you a song?"Ding-dong!“I'll get it!” I ran to the door and opened it.“Hey, Jade,” Beth said.“Beth!” I hugged her.“See, Jade? You gotta be patient.”“Sorry, Mommy.”“That’s my lil guy.” She pinched my cheek.I smiled. I didn’t care Beth saw.I started acting younger than I really was three years ago. I didn't like to talk about what happened before, but I loved being babied!It's just who I am!”Thank y...

34 comments 34
Read story

“No Matter What” by Connor Greene

Submitted to Contest #128

When the lumber yard of Boston Harbor was in sight, Adoniram Douglass felt completely overjoyed. Three months of traveling by sea and he and his son, Cully, would be in the colonies in a matter of hours. Leaving Ireland was not easy. Especially during such a time as this. Rumors of revolution were in the air, and even breathing a word of agreement or compliance with the American "rebels" was grounds for arrest, beating, and hanging. He and Cully had come to escape the violence. Adoniram was a hard-working man whom violence seemed to follow...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Summers in Darjeeling” by MichElle Colpo

Submitted to Contest #128

Camellia, staring out the tiny nine by twelve-inch double insulated window of the airplane, saw nothing but large white fluffy clouds bouncing back beams of joyous sun into the cab. She wished she was as happy and carefree as the clouds they flew over. She felt more like angry bashing thunderclouds, lightning bolts clashing against each other in fits of rage.            She was eighteen years old and still being forced to visit her extended family in India over the summer. This was her ...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Sixteen Rungs” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #128

"I'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE!"The arriving dusk of day began to hide the barren foliage of the oncoming winter. It wasn’t a particularly good example of a day. Heavy cloud cover had hidden any hope of the sun breaking through its defensive shield. The passing of each hour, thickened the ground fog, blanketing the dead garden - that once beautifully presented the epitome of springtime bloom and summer blossom - with ghostly shapes and wildly, imaginative apparitions of hidden memories wisping through its curtain.Lies were easier to voice, these...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Presentation Is Key” by Hannah Barrick

Submitted to Contest #128

I gave Jerry a pained expression when the doorbell rang. “Here we go.” I could almost smell Paula’s perfume drenched clothes from here. “Now, come on…” Jerry admonished, “You promised to be civil to my mother.” He placed a light kiss on my cheek before turning to get the door. “I will if she will.” I murmured. Paula breezed in, perfume in tow, and swept me into a big hug. “Mia, darling! So good to see you!” “Thanks Paula. Good to see you too! It’s been a long time.” I smiled back at her while she looked me up and down. “And don’t you j...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Tea time in Boston” by Michele Stigers

Submitted to Contest #128

 Tea Time in Boston  “Just another day in Boston.” David said himself.”  The same people walking by, same old stores and taverns.  Nothing ever changed.  He let out a sigh as he watched the soldiers patrol the streets.  He stood outside his house for a moment and watched a bit longer.  He was greeted by his wife as soon as he entered. “What’s wrong dear? You look sad.” “Anna, I hate the way it looks out there. People every where look so miserable.  Come to the new world they...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Right Place, Right Time” by Katy Rose

Submitted to Contest #128

‘I can’t drink it,’‘Oh, come on Susan, what good is this doing anybody?’‘None! It’s not doing any good - for anyone!’ Susan slammed the tea cup down, the light brown liquid sloshed over the sides and onto her Eichholtz Umberto Dining Table.‘Susan!’ George jumped up and rushed to the kitchen, bringing back a napkin to wipe up the tea, ‘what’s come over you?’Susan didn’t answer but stood and made her way towards the dining room door, eying the ridiculously expensive ornaments on her fireplace as she left.It was a glorious summer day outside bu...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Charlie O'Brien, Pet Detective ” by Professor Alan Dale Dickinson

Submitted to Contest #128

CHARLIE O’BRIEN, PET DETECTIVE By Professor Alan Dale Dickinson [Copyrighted] You have heard of Superman, Superwoman, Batman, the Equalizer, the Bionic-man and bionic-woman, and Supergirl. And you also, you have heard of Captain Marvel, Busy the Super Rabbit, Aqua-man, Spiderman, Supergirl, X-man, Spider-girl, the Green Lantern, Incredible Hulk, amongst many other super ignited individuals, right? But, have you heard about Charlie O’Brien, Super Detective? What he, and they all the rest of these superheroes, have in common, is that they a...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Violin and Oboe ” by Grace R

Submitted to Contest #128

“A toast for us, the dreamers.” William stood to his feet, and Annalise watched his every movement. He rose the same way as he always did, slowly, as if he knew he could take his time, that he could take a century to move, and eyes would still be peeled on him. He smiled his vulpine smile, and everybody at the dinner began to raise their glasses, the sparkling liquid sloshing from side to side in each glass.  “For the dreamers.” Annalise did not raise her glass, but nobody had noticed. She had been fiddling with a napkin since ...

4 comments 4
Read story

“A mightea revenge” by Laura Tensen

Submitted to Contest #128

Did you know that lemon balm tea is good for you, and that strawberry yogi sips are bad for you? I know, because my lovely friends point it out to me all the time. Because of them I also know that even though Kusmi tea tastes like burned plastic, it’s full of probiotics and therefore very healthy. Bean pasta, also very healthy, definitely worth skipping a pizza for. Turmeric coffee, chia seeds and sumac soup, all very nutritious I’ve been told. My friends can hardly remember their life before wheatgrass tea and almond milk it seems. But are ...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Churchill Blue Tea Set” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #128

“ Anne, I am going to be late.”   John says, “it is a longer bus ride for me from this new house.”    He looks up, his warm brown eyes meet Anne’s .“How are you feeling? You should stay off your feet,” He says softly.    Anne rubs her growing belly and smiles.  “At least have an egg with your tea.”  Anne nudges a soft boiled egg in front of John while she pours a cup from the white teapot with the pictures of birds and houses and boats in blue.  “ I can drink the tea, at least,” Anne says as she...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Chore War” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #128

Tamara froze in the doorway of the kitchen. A boundary between realms. She knew she could retreat to the comfort and solitude of her still-warm cocoon of duvets, blankets, cushions and the 20-odd soft toys she liked to surround herself with, despite being 20-odd herself. Or she could tumble into an unknown future, proceed to the communal cutlery draw, pulling the handle with similar apprehension to plucking the sword from the stone, discovering at last whether indeed the last teaspoon in the house was the one whose muddied oval eye was mo...

4 comments 4
Read story

“All That and A Cup of Tea” by Catherine Douglas

Submitted to Contest #128

Captain Westheimer knew there was a reason he primarily stuck to coffee and hot chocolate after Stalag V C opened, and it wasn’t because tea just wasn’t available—he had plenty smuggled in for his British prisoners from Switzerland—nor was it because he didn’t enjoy tea once in awhile. It was because he couldn’t stand the intense standards tea was held to among the British, and after a particularly nasty argument between the German guards and British prisoners, Westheimer vowed to only drink tea in private. His superior and close friend,...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

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

Fluff – 171 stories

Set your story in a tea house.

Spring – 36 stories

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

Summer – 44 stories

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

Fluff – 21 stories

Contest #128

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Tea Time

$250

Prize money

298

Contest entries

160

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 14, 2022 EST

Won by Jay Wayne 🏆

Title: my fellow passerine

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢