‘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.
After hubris comes nemesis. Nicely done, Iain
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Neil, a tricky one this week. Look forward to seeing what others come up with!
LikeLike
Well done. Does it take just one bulb to make the others all go out. I suppose so …. just like Christmas tree lights.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I try not to let physics get in the way of a good bit of symbolism! Thanks Chris.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
I’d hate to try to keep up with the bulbs in that fixture. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Geoffrey is a smart man. 😀 Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed he is 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. Sod’s law. Well done Iain. Another great piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Shehanne, yesterday’s was better, but this one has it’s merits 🙂
LikeLike
Oh dear, that’s a huge let down for her.
Hehehe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afraid so 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess that that Geoffrey will have to rebulb the installation now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he’ll be reluctant to help out 🙂
LikeLike
Reminds me of my Christmas lights every year!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yep, there’s always one bulb every year that goes out! 🙂
LikeLike
Sonovabitch, why the hell did she need so many lights. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly Geoffrey’s thought I imagine 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahaha! I LOVE it! I would have written it that same way, too.
Brilliant!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on joesephin.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the reblog.
LikeLike
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
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Lynn
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure as always Iain 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL OH doesn’t that just always happen! LOL 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, typical! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes me scared because my christmas tree is prelighted…THAT will be the moment for your final line LOL 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bright idea is worth the effort.
Good funny story.
Randy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Randy.
LikeLike
It made me laugh. Great post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks, happy to amuse 🙂
LikeLike
A little more than the breaker could handle, I reckon! Thanks for the chuckle. Well done!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Caerlynn, glad it amused you.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Alicia, much appreciated.
LikeLike
Ah, so is this because he literally is a ‘sonofabitch’ and turned them off?! I wonder… 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hadn’t thought of that, but it definitely could be 🙂
LikeLike
Hahaha!!! Amazing, as always. You always get a chuckle out of me Iain!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re too kind, but thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Darn, I hate when that happens.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 thanks Tracey
LikeLiked by 1 person
The last line had me laughing, as it sounds exactly like what I would say in the same situation. Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed 🙂
LikeLike
That was great fun, thanks for the chuckle. I like the dynamics between the couple.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy I have you a chuckle 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear, and her dream dissolves into darkness 😦
Great story, I enjoyed the dialogue!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
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…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that’s why Geoffrey is so unexcited, he just sees the work involved for him! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
And there was I complaining about one dud bulb in the kitchen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, bare that in mind next time your choosing a new light! 🙂
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, very much, a never-ending task. Thanks Michael.
LikeLike
Ha! I had a great laugh at that last line. Well done. And well told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laurie, glad I gave you a laugh 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great piece! Had me laughing . You really built it well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks 🙂
LikeLike
I’m with Geoffrey. Good story, Iain. This gave me a chuckle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, pleased you enjoyed 🙂
LikeLike
My dad would have flipped the master switch and blacked out the house 😉 Margaret got off easy. This is a fun story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Melinda 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would SO happen to me! Relatable fiction, that’s what you’ve written here. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks Honie.
LikeLike
Oh, not fair! She was so close to having the chandelier of her dreams. Fun take, Iain. Made me laugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Amy 🙂
LikeLike
It is such a identifiable experience. Great take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no! Guess that’s the downside of using so many tiny lights. Well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne 🙂
LikeLike
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha thanks for checking, it’s more research than I did! Glad you liked it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, I don’t believe Margaret was expecting that at all. As for Geoffrey, he’d only be delighted! 😄 I enjoyed reading this.
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
😂 Awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! That made me laugh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dawn 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person