Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Directory
Contests
Magazine
FAQ

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

Posted in Summer on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or use an email address:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 44 stories

Pink Martini

Submitted to Contest #128

“I don’t think I’m ready.”“You’re ready. Besides, you don’t have a choice.”“I don’t have a chance . . .” “C’mon. She’s sweet.”“She’s scary.”“She’s sweet and scary and—six years old. Look, I think you have a distinct advantage, being a grown up and all.”“Ugh . . . tell me what she wants to do again?”“She wants to have tea with her mommy’s new boyfriend.”“Where?”“In the treehouse.”“Do I have to climb the tree?”“Yes, you have to climb the tree—in your suit.”“Why do I have to wear a suit? I don’t even wear a suit to work.”“She wants a forma...

64 likes 44 comments 44
Read story

A Cup of Suspicion

Shortlisted for Contest #128 ⭐️

Warning - If you accept your invitation to this tea party, there will be mentions of poison and murder. It starts at 3.30pm GMT. Don’t be late.Why had Hazel invited the taxman to tea? Was he the next to suffer, like they had? Last month she’d asked the planning officer who’d refused to let her build a conservatory, the month before that, it had been the headmistress who’d given Billy a detention.There was a pattern, but only Jude could see it. The other friends (or were they victims?) thought Hazel was a darling to invite such a range of peo...

39 likes 23 comments 23
Read story

The Had Matter

Submitted to Contest #128

“I just don’t understand where this aggression is coming from, Alice. The man has extended an invitation to you, and it’d be rude not to accept. Now, you just march yourself straight up to your room and stay there until dinner’s ready. You’re going, and that’s final.”Alice turned on her heel and reluctantly soldiered to her room, making sure as she went to express her disdain in every way possible; stamping her feet, crossing her arms, heavily sighing and pouting, and muttering such things as, “it’s not fair,” and, “you just don’t under...

30 likes 19 comments 19
Read story

The Introductory Resocialization Event

Submitted to Contest #128

“You’re the first teenager to be invited from this province,” said my mother, trying to sound cheery. I looked at her, then down at the new dress spread across my bed. It hurt my eyes with its shiny newness and bright color. I didn’t even like the texture – the material felt stiff and unyielding, and I knew it would be uncomfortable. I had only ever worn soft cotton pants and t-shirts in grey. “I don’t want to go,” I stated to the dress. “You must,” my mother said sternly, and she stood to help me put it over my head. “It’s a pretty dress,” ...

22 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Eventually She Will Crack

Shortlisted for Contest #128 ⭐️

Eventually She Will Crack ‘Wait, you got fired again?’ ‘Yes. Do you have a lighter?’ Beverly reached over from the driving seat and sun in her glove compartment. She found a small silver lighter and handed it to Margot. ‘Thanks,’ said Margot, opening the car window and lighting the tip of her cigarette.  ‘What for this time?’ Said Beverly, chancing glances between the road ahead and her sister in the passenger seat. ‘Punched my boss.’ ‘You what?’ Beverly’s shock took form in a lasting gaze at her sister, one that lingered a s...

22 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Bad Tea, Good Friends

Submitted to Contest #128

Ava’s dress was not even pretty and the hot chocolate was SUPER watery.That’s what I’m gonna tell my mom when she akses me about the tea party. Pecause really, grown ups think Ava’s dresses are so cute, but they’re waaaay too pink and the sparkles get everywhere. Green dresses are ackshully way awesomer, pecause Merida wears green and she’s the best Disney Princess that nobody even knows about. And this hot chocolate is just like, warm water, but it has some cocoa in it, but really not very much and it’s not really as yummy as when my mom ma...

20 likes 11 comments 11
Read story

Another Cup, Dear?

Submitted to Contest #128

(This work of fiction contains sensitive content involving the death of a child.) Mamie heard the high-pitched whistle of her country kettle as the water began to boil and gently pushed herself up from her careworn recliner. "Another cup, dear?" she asked, as she moved from the living room into the kitchen. Her husband sat at the kitchen table, arms resting comfortably next to his breakfast plate. Mamie smiled when she looked in his eyes; those deep, dark eyes that she had loved for years upon years. She passed by and gave him a gentle kis...

19 likes 10 comments 10
Read story

Let Her Be Little

Submitted to Contest #128

He adjusted his bow-tie for the third time in the vanity mirror. His charcoal eyes were weary as he pulled it apart and started it again. The little red bow always looked a little eschew. When he finished it for the fourth time, he ran his hand through the tuft of hair on the top of his head, pulling it up to give it volume and then flattening it back down again.  “What’s wrong, Hector?” Teresa asked, popping into the mirror behind him. Her tan skin shone in the fluorescent light, as did the muffins in her hand. “I made these fresh fo...

18 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Three For Tea- The Disappearance of Tiffany Rogers

Submitted to Contest #128

“Don’t go there,” I told my sister, shaking my head. “Don’t take us.”The driver (aka- my sister, Kia) met my plea with a steely silence. I tried again. “They don’t want me there anyway. I’m bad news, right?” I shook my head. “We should turn around.”Kia, eyes forward, both hands on her steering wheel, sighed. “You’re still moving forward, sis.”“I can’t slam on the breaks or make a U-turn on the damn highway, now can I?” “Maybe not, but could you at least acknowledge my request?” “You mean the part where you keep running aw...

16 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Narrative Shift

Submitted to Contest #128

Dread filled Alisa's footsteps. The door opened onto a room with a long table. There was a steaming cup of unidentified tea on a table to the right of the door. It had her name on it. 6 people sat to either side. Their images were blurry, dark, yet distinct. For want of a better term, Alisa thought of them as demons. The opposite end of the table was still empty. "Please, Alisa, we've been expecting you. Welcome to take the tea. It is a special brew," a deep voice intoned. Alisa was unable to determine the gender or the person who said it. ...

16 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Elizabeth and Rebecca Go to a Party

Submitted to Contest #128

Boston, MA December 15th, 1773“So, Elizabeth, are you going to the Boston Tea Party tomorrow evening?” The two young ladies took a break from their board games by the fireside to discuss the matter.“My goodness, Rebecca, I haven’t the slightest.”“Neither have I, and I have yet to gather the details. The town crier’s rumor segment was quite choppy today. Do you not concur? I think he has consumption.”“Agreed, I could barely hear him over all of that nasty coughing. I did catch that the Sons of Liberty organized the tea party- whoever they are...

15 likes 3 comments 3
Read story

An Unwanted Tea Party

Submitted to Contest #128

I don’t know why my mother thinks that she should arrange my social life for me. I am a responsible adult after all. I have a good job, that pays well enough for me to have a nice apartment where I can live by myself and not with her. And I am thirty years old. Yet, she still thinks she should make social arrangements for me. A tea party of all things! She wants me to go to a tea party. Although my name is Alice, I don’t fancy drinking tea with some old queens, not unless I can be the one to say, “Off with their...

15 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Tea with Tracy

Submitted to Contest #128

WARNING - Contains violence, mature themes and language.“Great work today, Brad. See you on Monday.” Stavros said, as he sped out of his office door and whizzed right past me.“Thank you Stavros, you too!” I called out after him. Stavros waved his hand without looking back and walked out of the studio. We landed two new design contracts and completed another project to the client’s satisfaction. Stavros Christou Designs was a beautifully decorated office space located in a converted townhouse, and the showpiece for our interior design clients...

15 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Tea and Tarry

Submitted to Contest #128

You're invited! to Tea and Tarry From 3PM to 10PM We look forward to seeing you there! M&H Why is there always a certain amount of dread and excitement attached to social outings? instantly doubt going since you might not feel like it on the day and future casting can be a serious thing, to almost craving the company of new acquaintances and friends, wanting to know what kind of interesting is there to encounter. The fascination too much so eventually, on the very day, an hour before it starts, you do. However, this event held more ang...

15 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

THE DIVINE ESCAPE PLAN

Submitted to Contest #128

It is an utter waste of time if you ask me. People dressed up as clowns, parading around talking nonsense for what? I’d much rather spend my evening sitting on my sofa, enjoying a good movie, some comfort food and myself. Yes, that’s right, no company necessary. Every year, the same thing happens, no changes, the same crowd, the same type of music, and, yes, the same location. Maybe if they had had it in a different section of the vineyard, since they are trying to be cost-effective, I’d have considered it, but not in that garden with the s...

14 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

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

Fluff – 170 stories

Set your story in a tea house.

Spring – 36 stories

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

Fluff – 21 stories

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

High School – 26 stories

How to Write a Novel

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

How to Write a Novel