‘Ta-da!’ announced Agnes, throwing her arms open wide, ‘what do you think?’
Archie stared at the array of lights hanging vertically from the ceiling, above the grand staircase.
‘What the…?’ he stared open-mouthed.
‘Isn’t it marvellous?’ gushed Agnes, oblivious to Archie’s response.
‘It’s…it’s…very big.’
‘Over a thousand individual lights.’
‘Well, if it’s what you want.’ Archie shuffled off into the living room.
Agnes looked at his back as he left. She shook her head and gazed up at her new decoration. The smile returned to her face.
‘Beautiful.’
In the centre of the huge vertical chandelier one tiny bulb flickered on and off. Then another. Then every bulb flickered and went out.
Agnes stood in the darkness.
‘Sonovabitch’, she muttered.
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above, thanks to Sandra for the photo this week).
For more stories based on this prompt, visit HERE.
Iain Kelly 
After hubris comes nemesis. Nicely done, Iain
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Thanks Neil, a tricky one this week. Look forward to seeing what others come up with!
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Well done. Does it take just one bulb to make the others all go out. I suppose so …. just like Christmas tree lights.
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I try not to let physics get in the way of a good bit of symbolism! Thanks Chris.
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Dear Iain,
I’d hate to try to keep up with the bulbs in that fixture. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s funny that that was the one thing that jumped out at me from the prompt – what happens if one of those bulbs goes out! Many thanks Rochelle.
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It was probably a lot of fun for whomever hung the fixture…a co-worker spent 8 hours hanging a fixture that wasn’t even half as complicated.
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Geoffrey is a smart man. 😀 Nicely done.
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Indeed he is 🙂
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LOL. Sod’s law. Well done Iain. Another great piece.
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Thanks Shehanne, yesterday’s was better, but this one has it’s merits 🙂
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Oh dear, that’s a huge let down for her.
Hehehe.
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Afraid so 🙂
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I guess that that Geoffrey will have to rebulb the installation now…
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I think he’ll be reluctant to help out 🙂
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Reminds me of my Christmas lights every year!
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Yep, there’s always one bulb every year that goes out! 🙂
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Sonovabitch, why the hell did she need so many lights. 🙂
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Exactly Geoffrey’s thought I imagine 🙂
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Hahahahaha! I LOVE it! I would have written it that same way, too.
Brilliant!
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Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
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Reblogged this on joesephin.
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Thanks for the reblog.
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Ha! Made me smile, this one. Serve her right for being a bit too flash and showy offy! A nice set up and pay off for us there – nicely done, Iain
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Thanks Lynn
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Pleasure as always Iain 🙂
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LOL OH doesn’t that just always happen! LOL 🙂
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Yep, typical! 🙂
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Makes me scared because my christmas tree is prelighted…THAT will be the moment for your final line LOL 🙂
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A bright idea is worth the effort.
Good funny story.
Randy
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Thanks Randy.
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It made me laugh. Great post.
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Many thanks, happy to amuse 🙂
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A little more than the breaker could handle, I reckon! Thanks for the chuckle. Well done!
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Thanks Caerlynn, glad it amused you.
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Oh that Geoffrey is a tricky one. I admire the conversation in this. Very well done. Especially this line ‘It’s…it’s…very big.’ It says so much.
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Thanks Alicia, much appreciated.
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Ah, so is this because he literally is a ‘sonofabitch’ and turned them off?! I wonder… 😉
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I hadn’t thought of that, but it definitely could be 🙂
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Hahaha!!! Amazing, as always. You always get a chuckle out of me Iain!
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You’re too kind, but thank you! 🙂
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Darn, I hate when that happens.
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🙂 thanks Tracey
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The last line had me laughing, as it sounds exactly like what I would say in the same situation. Nicely done!
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Many thanks, glad you enjoyed 🙂
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That was great fun, thanks for the chuckle. I like the dynamics between the couple.
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Happy I have you a chuckle 🙂
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Oh dear, and her dream dissolves into darkness 😦
Great story, I enjoyed the dialogue!
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Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Ooh, I think I’m with Margaret here. Geoffrey needs to relax and enjoy it! Although I would hate to be responsible for changing the bulbs…
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I think that’s why Geoffrey is so unexcited, he just sees the work involved for him! Thanks for reading.
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And there was I complaining about one dud bulb in the kitchen!
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Haha, bare that in mind next time your choosing a new light! 🙂
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Made me laugh. When she boasted about 1000 individual lights I immediately wondered who would replace the bulbs, it’d be like painting the Forth bridge.
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This made me laugh when i read about the 1000 lights and wondered who would be responsible for changing the bulbs, it’d be like painting the Forth bridge.
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Ha, very much, a never-ending task. Thanks Michael.
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Ha! I had a great laugh at that last line. Well done. And well told.
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Thanks Laurie, glad I gave you a laugh 🙂
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Great piece! Had me laughing . You really built it well.
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Many thanks 🙂
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I’m with Geoffrey. Good story, Iain. This gave me a chuckle.
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Thanks, pleased you enjoyed 🙂
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My dad would have flipped the master switch and blacked out the house 😉 Margaret got off easy. This is a fun story.
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Thanks Melinda 🙂
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You’re welcome
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An unappreciative husband can be such a douche bag. I was glad that she did not let it affect her.
But he did the ultimate – doused it all effectively!
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That would SO happen to me! Relatable fiction, that’s what you’ve written here. Nicely done.
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Many thanks Honie.
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Oh, not fair! She was so close to having the chandelier of her dreams. Fun take, Iain. Made me laugh.
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Thanks Amy 🙂
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It is such a identifiable experience. Great take.
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Many thanks
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Oh no! Guess that’s the downside of using so many tiny lights. Well written.
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Thanks Anne 🙂
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Oops! Apparently your physics is not too off – though the manufacturers may be! If the bulbs are in series instead of being in parallel connection, this may happen. A vague flickering of school physics and the rest google helped 😀 Nicely described – i can even hear the following arguments and counterarguments!
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Haha thanks for checking, it’s more research than I did! Glad you liked it 🙂
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🙂
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Haha, I don’t believe Margaret was expecting that at all. As for Geoffrey, he’d only be delighted! 😄 I enjoyed reading this.
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I remember those old Christmas tree lights. I think someone tricked her into buying cheap and faulty lights. Oh well. Humorous and good writing, Iain. 😀 — Suzanne
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😂 Awesome
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Ha! That made me laugh!
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Thanks Dawn 🙂
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