“Are you prepared for tea with the Faerie Queen?” Tilly assesses Nora. “You’re not!”
Nora blushes.
Tilly’s eyes flare. “Tea will be served in a lacquered walnut. This is important,” Tilly’s foot stomps. “Nora, listen!”
“Yeap, walnuts,” Nora says with an eyeroll. “No problem.”
“There is a problem, Nora! What do you do with the leaf?”
“Leaf?”
Tilly sighs. “The walnut is served on a toasted leaf. If you don’t eat it the leaf first it’s a sign of disres– Nora, are you listening?”
“Pardon?”
“Nora, they’ll cut off your–”
“Hold that thought, I’m late . . .”

By Shari Marshall – 2022

Written in response to Carrot Ranch Literary Community 99-word challenge: ritual involving tea. My inspiration came from the current chapter I’m writing for my third novel. Without saying to much it does involve meeting the Faerie Queen.