Set your story in a tea house.

Posted in Spring on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 36 stories

“Darragh Dunne's Irish Farewell” by Hannah Barrett

Submitted to Contest #128

Darragh Dunne had an impish Irish smile and mirthful Irish eyes. He had a fine Irish temper, too, but you couldn't see that on the wallet-sized memorial cards they handed out at the funeral. Alive or dead, the fact remained that nearly every memorable characteristic Darragh possessed – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – was attributed to his Irishness, and this despite the fact he was three generations removed from the Emerald Isle. In truth of fact, he was from Long Island and decidedly more molded by that heritage than his great-gran...

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“The Interview” by Ernie Olson

Submitted to Contest #128

The InterviewBy Ernest LeeHe is an old fashioned individual.Truthfully, ‘old school’ would be a more accurate term to use in describing the man I wish to work for. So, when I was advised to dress traditionally, I understood precisely what was intended. I believe my appearance will be acceptable, however, I am apprehensive. There is much weighing upon the moment.I have never met him, not personally. I know what he looks like, of course. I have researched him and his firm extensively. As has he of me. This is most certain, for not everyone is ...

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“The Composer” by Neil Deuchar

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #128

The Composer An elderly man is sitting perfectly still on a sofa. One hand hangs limply from the armrest, the other trembles on a familiar depression in the upholstery beside him. His head moves with his breath as he stares at the room out of the tops of his eyes. A mirror hangs over an unused fireplace. The mirror frames his head and shoulders with ornate gilt whenever he coaxes himself up onto his poles and, balance corrected, raises his head. There’s a small television on a corner table, its flex wound into a carrier bag. Behind it, win...

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“Tears of a Samurai” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #128

Tokyo, Japan: 1876 Japan, the land of the gods, was once a beautiful place. The hills, lush in growth, revealing all the beauty known to the civilized world. City streets swept daily, and all forms of filth, disposed of. All the people knew their place in society. Peasants, courtesans, merchants, even the untouchables. The world was orderly, and it was all due to the presence of the Samurai. Sadly, that was a heartbeat ago. A divine wind from the east blew across the coastal shores and through the palace gates of Edo. But the wind did not...

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“a tale to tell over tea” by Joan Warburton

Submitted to Contest #128

Miranda hummed as she got ready; she was eager to meet her friends for their usual cuppa and cake in Nancy’s Tea Room; bursting to the gills really and couldn’t wait to get there and give them the low down. Finally deciding on her mint and white dress, M&S of course, with matching cardigan, silk buttons fastened to the waist to empathise her slim waist she slipped into white kid heels smoothed the imaginary line down her sheer tights; she was ready. As it was a beautiful summer’s day she decided to walk instead...

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“Alexander” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #128

There are people of whom you simply cannot guess their age. Alexander was such a man. A mysterious ageless being, who came from Russia once upon a time. and once upon another time; I met him. I had a summer job in a small hotel, as a jack of all trades. I don´t drink tea more than once a year, and that´s my absolute limit. I am a coffee junkie. There was a tearoom attached to the auberge and alexander managed it. During the day he would serve tea, to whoever was willing to follow his rules on the art of drinking tea. To the uneducated mind...

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“Dirty business” by E. Roux

Submitted to Contest #128

It’s been about an hour since I was waiting in the tea house. I get my phone out of my bag and check again the message he send me this morning. I will explain everything. Meet me at Charlie’s at 4 o’clock. I’m not in the wrong place. However, is 5.15 and he’s nowhere to be seen. I give him a call. Voicemail. I let out a sigh and put my phone on the table. The waitress comes towards me, putting on her face her best smile. I take a quick look on the menu she had left on the table when I entered. “What can I bring you?” she asked. “Ear...

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“The Tea-rex Mug” by Patrick Borosky

Submitted to Contest #128

Carl stared into the murky depths of his mug as he sat at the bar. Since he became an adult, he had always been a coffee person. He bought into the stereotype that it was a drink for a strong person. The strong bitter taste and the caffeine surge were precisely what he needed to start a new day. After all, life itself was bitter, and the drink seemed a perfect accompaniment to it. Finally, to this day, hardly anyone on this earth could argue that few things matched the fragrant aroma of a freshly made cup of coffee. Pair that scent with a si...

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“Liquid Courage” by Sarah L

Submitted to Contest #128

Amara waited with baited breath as her grandmother carefully lifted the steaming cup of tea to her lips, blew on it, then sipped. The lines on her grandmother’s mouth deepened as her lips screwed up, then became straight once more as the old woman sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Amara. It just wasn’t right. You’re sure you were truly feeling the calm flow through you?” “I’m pretty sure I was,” Amara replied, rubbing her arm without meeting her grandmother’s eye. “Could I try it again, Mimi? Maybe I’ll get it—” But before she cou...

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“TranquiliTea” by Quinn Cavanagh

Submitted to Contest #128

If I were to start my own tea house, it’d be called TranquiliTea. I would sell orange pekoe and earl grey and dirty chai tea lattes, and maybe they'd go by names like 'Elixir of the Sun" or "Liquid Ecstasy" (warning: does not contain real ecstasy). I’d sit in as a barista alongside my carefully crafted coworkers, I’d pour each brew with a smile on my face and a warmth in my gut (probably from the three teas I’d have already downed by then), and I’d cap the environmentally-friendly, locally-sourced disposable cups with a wonderfully mundane b...

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“The Shy Man and the Fortune Cookie” by Clyde Mcculley

Submitted to Contest #128

The Shy Man and the Fortune Cookie He was in his late twenties, lonely and awkward. Love had failed him after several attempts at dating women. His right eye had a nervous twitch. After finishing college, he decided to move to a small town near where the college was located. He did not want to make a big change in his life. He found a small sparsely furnished apartment on the second floor above a mattress store in the downtown area. It was a chilly evening as he walked down the street to find something to eat. He discovered a sma...

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“Clara and the Teapot” by Liz Neylon

Submitted to Contest #128

Clara and the Teapot Clara checked her phone, the text from Janine, the journalist, said she was running late: “Terribly sorry, have been delayed, more like 4.30 pm and looking forward to a cup of tea!”. It wasn’t great, this was when clients started coming back in, but they would have to manage. Guy, the trainee chef, appeared from the kitchen; wearing a messy blue and white striped apron, a tea towel draped over his arm. “Do I look the part?” he grinned, blonde fringe falling over one eye. Then he pivoted round, taking an exaggerated pos...

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“Russian Tea House Roulette” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea… I don’t like tea. I’m an espresso, macchiato type of guy so why am I in a Russian Tea room at the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney?! My contact who selected the time and place, must be some well to do sort of guy. As opposed to me, who came from the other side of the tracks but since I was there, I ordered myself some tea, otherwise I’d look like a tool. Even I’m not ‘that’ uncouth! A few hours earlier, I was at a strip join in Kings Cross, having a drink and a lap dance when my boss called me. He very rarely called me directly...

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“The Tea Room” by Charlotte Lewis

Submitted to Contest #128

The Tea Room It's been well over forty-five years since Leota and I went to Neiman-Marcus the first time. As I think back on it, that visit may have been the glue that kept our friendship so strong. We met in church though neither of us were very religious. She said it was a social outlet; I said I was there for the music. Whatever it was, we met at church. Both of us had just come through an uncomfortable divorce. Not mean or anything, just awkward. It's hard in your mid-thirties to admit you married the wrong man. About once a month, we ...

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“Tea: A Unifying Force” by Michaela Dennean

Submitted to Contest #128

The doorbell chimed, announcing yet another customer. It seemed like everyone from the the island of Manhattan had come to Just a Cuppa to get a hot drink on that cold January day. “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift flooded the tea shop, setting a cozy mood. Fragrant blooms overflowed old tea cups used as vases set on each table. A sweet aroma filled the room, a mix of spicy chai tea and the famous Just a Cuppa lemon olive oil cake. Meredith Porter-Benoit balanced four tea cups and saucers, two dessert tiers, and a china tea po...

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Contest #128

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This week's theme: Tea Time

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Title: my fellow passerine

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Set your story in a tea house.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 36 stories

“Darragh Dunne's Irish Farewell” by Hannah Barrett

“The Interview” by Ernie Olson

“The Composer” by Neil Deuchar

“Tears of a Samurai” by Howard Seeley

“a tale to tell over tea” by Joan Warburton

“Alexander” by F.O. Morier

“Dirty business” by E. Roux

“The Tea-rex Mug” by Patrick Borosky

“Liquid Courage” by Sarah L

“TranquiliTea” by Quinn Cavanagh

“The Shy Man and the Fortune Cookie” by Clyde Mcculley

“Clara and the Teapot” by Liz Neylon

“Russian Tea House Roulette” by Mark Nero

“The Tea Room” by Charlotte Lewis

“Tea: A Unifying Force” by Michaela Dennean

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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: