A Ritual Involving Tea #99WordStories

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This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to in 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about any ritual involving tea. It can be a daily afternoon tea prepared specifically or the reading of tea leaves in a cup. What do you know? What do you imagine? Is your story deep and ponderous or bright and flash? Go where the prompt leads!

As a child, I enjoyed playing with my tea sets. It was fun lining up my toys and having tea parties. I remember two tea sets from my childhood. One was a pretty little floral set made of china. The other was red and white plastic.

I remember sitting on the back steps one day when I was about three, washing my china cups and saucers. Perhaps I was getting ready for a tea party or cleaning up after one. I’m not sure. But while I was sitting there, busily at my work, Dad came out and didn’t see my pretty little cups and stood right on them, smashing them into little pieces. He was very apologetic and, surprisingly, I was very forgiving. He would tell the story many times later about how I’d looked up at him and said, “It’s okay, Dad. You didn’t mean to.” I think the adult me could learn a lot about forgiveness from the little me.

As an adult, I consider a very special treat to be a high tea with its cucumber and smoked salmon finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones with jam and cream, and a selection of petit fours. I have enjoyed a number of these over the years, usually in very special locations for very special occasions.

I remember having one with my mum and other family members to celebrate her 90th birthday at a restaurant she had enjoyed going to with her mother when she was growing up. It was definitely a special treat and an occasion to remember.

I’ve allowed some of these ‘special’ thoughts to influence my response to Charli’s prompt as I add another event to Amy and Lucy’s imaginative play. I hope you enjoy it.

The Tea Party

Ollie said the table looked divine. Teddy agreed, adding the fairy cakes were the prettiest and sweetest he’d ever tasted, and the tea was the perfect temperature. Amy and Lucy beamed. The tea party to welcome the happy couple home from their honeymoon was a success. Everyone was there. It was all going swimmingly, until a balloon popped. Ellie started, upsetting the teapot with her flailing trunk and whipping the cakes from their stand. Monkey screeched. Bunny watched tea puddle under the table.

“I’ve ruined the party,” wailed Ellie.

“It’s okay, Ellie,” said Lucy. “No one’s hurt. Nothing’s broken.”

Thank you blog post

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

Note: The collection of stories made in response to the previous prompt Broken Arm, including mine, can be read at the Carrot Ranch.

40 thoughts on “A Ritual Involving Tea #99WordStories”

  4. Pingback: Rituals of Tea Collection « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  5. Mabel Kwong

    I’m always amazed by the thought you put into your fiction short stories, Norah. Your writing always seems so effortless and captivating with meaning. I enjoyed reading your anecdotes of your tea party when you were younger and then used it as inspiration to write The Tea Party. Love how the characters were animals. Reading it again, it felt like you were speaking from the stuffed animals’ perspective at the tea party. So life-like and imaginative. Tea parties are meant to be fun and relaxing occasions with good company, and I like how you emphasised this sentiment at the end.

    Hope you are doing well. It must feel like summer over there now 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Norah Post author

      Hi Mabel, Thank you so much for your kind words about my stories. I appreciate them. I’m pleased the relaxed and fun aspect of tea parties shone through.
      It’s not quite summer here yet – some days are warming up but the evenings can still be cool (for us). I hope the floods haven’t reached you down there. Stay safe. 💖

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      1. Mabel Kwong

        You really do have a way with your words. And your writing is so versatile from what you do for Readilearn and your fictional stories. It has been very wet here. I’m not affected thankfully but many are. Hope we don’t get too much heavy rains soon and that it warms up. You stay safe too 💕

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. Norah Post author

          Thank you for your kind words, Mabel. I am pleased you are okay. Sadly many have been very badly affected. There has been so much hardship this year. Take care! 💖

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thank you for your kind words, Anne. I had to drag this one out of spam. Lucky I saw it. I don’t usually check them. I don’t know why WP has decided to bin your comments again when I appreciate them so much. Sorry.

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