IAIN KELLY

EMIGRANTS

‘Good lord,’ Archie exclaimed. ‘Have you seen what they’ve done to that turret roof?’

Agnes sighed, not looking up from her newspaper. ‘Yes, dear. I saw it when the scaffolding came down last night.’

‘It’s one thing to stick ghastly turret extensions on their house, quite another to have one in gaudy bright colours.’ Archie turned away from the window. ‘It’s hardly in keeping with the surroundings, is it? Typical foreign vulgarity’

‘They’ve invited us round for dinner tomorrow.’ Agnes said.

Archie paused. ‘Good,’ he conceded. ‘About time we got to know some of the locals now we’ve settled in.’


crook-roof
© Sandra Crook

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).

To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

71 responses to “EMIGRANTS”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    And thus do we fool ourselves. Nicely donem Iain

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Neil, wasn’t sure I’d got my point across, but that’s a reassuring reaction, as intended.

      Like

  2. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Let me guess. Roger and Helen are Americans. 😉 Love the twist at the end. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle – I think they could be British or Americans, both can have similar attitudes sometimes! 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

      1. FabricatingFiction Avatar

        Very true Iain!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Joy Pixley Avatar

        Speaking as an American with a lot of friends living here from Europe and Canada, I can vouch that those groups are just as bad when they move here — everything is *objectively* wrong if it’s not exactly what they had back home!

        Liked by 2 people

    2. James Avatar

      I was going to say “Americans” as well, particularly Californians. They move into a new place and immediately want it to conform to their personal standards.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Joyfrida Avatar

    I got it…A very nice subtle hint. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Joy, glad you appreciated it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Ah, gentrification. I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of this sort of thing in Washington soon enough. Nicely done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Afraid so…. 😦

      Like

  5. Claire Fuller Avatar

    Like how you turned it round there at end. Nice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Claire 🙂

      Like

  6. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    Subtle, but very well told. It made me smile. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Clare 🙂

      Like

  7. Liz Husebye Hartmann Avatar

    Nice twist–xenophobia on the road!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, I like that description! Thanks 🙂

      Like

  8. Sandra Avatar

    He’s going to do down like a lead balloon with his neighbours. C’est la vie. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe he will learn with time- I suspect not though… Thanks Sandra

      Like

  9. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Hah! Got a straight-out guffaw from me!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dale, glad it gave you a laugh 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Lynn Love Avatar

    Bless Roger for not wanting to pass on a free dinner! Great little tale, Iain – Roger’s voice is so strong too. Nicely done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe meeting the locals will bring Roger round, especially if they serve good food! Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        Ha! Yes, let’s hope good food warms him up 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    Oh I love how you brought this full circle!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  12. jeremystevens9 Avatar

    Very well done sir, and not very PC. I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jeremy

      Like

  13. aliciajamtaas Avatar

    Ha! The end caught me off guard. Kudos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Alicia glad I managed a unseen twist 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. plaridel Avatar

    it was a good start for the couple. maybe they should bring something, too, in addition to themselves. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Good idea! Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. draliman Avatar

    Ha, all his comments made him sound like they’d lived there for decades, nice turn-around 🙂
    Great dialogue.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, glad the dialogue worked as intended! 🙂

      Like

  16. spicedmullings Avatar

    Hypocrisy exemplified. Its so ridiculous, especially when you note that he is the foreigner here!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, afraid we see that sort of hypocrisy all too often!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Lizy Avatar

    Prejudice will always yield to self-interest!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Lizy, I agree we are only prejudiced when it suits us to be so.

      Like

  18. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    Cough. That could have been me, first time abroad, talking about German bread being the very best, and the beer… I think there may be hope for Roger. Fun story, gave me a good chuckle.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, I like to think there is hope for Roger too! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Mike Avatar

    This made me smile Iain. Like you, I had neighbours attracted to that roof!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Mike, yes we went in similar directions with this one – although you added naked orgies to yours!! 🙂

      Like

  20. creatingahome Avatar

    People always have to have opinions don’t they?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think he’ll become round to liking it eventually 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Well written, I hope he learns more about his neighbours!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure he will. I have hope for Roger. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover Avatar
    Life Lessons of a Dog Lover

    LOL. Nice twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks 🙂

      Like

  23. Dahlia Avatar

    Haha – loved this one Iain 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks, glad it gave you a laugh 🙂

      Like

  24. Louise Taylor Avatar

    Brilliant. I hope some of the Rogers of this world see it, read it and ruminate on it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, more importantly let’s hope some of those Rogers change their way of thinking!

      Like

  25. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    Loved that change of perspective towards the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks, glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Poppy Peacock Avatar

    Ha! Great twist… well handled.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  27. seekeroftruthweb Avatar

    Ethnocentrism at it’s finest!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Absolutely. Thanks for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. nonsmokingladybug Avatar

    People seem to come around when they get to know each other. Just taking the first step -that seems to be the real task.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think Roger will too. Thanks for reading 🙂

      Like

  29. Michael Wynn Avatar

    Great twist at the end, great humour.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, much appreciated.

      Like

  30. Dawn Quyle Landau Avatar

    A clever bait and switch, Lain. I think, frankly, you see this behavior from anyone, anywhere… depending on the circumstances. Nice job delivering the details.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very true Dawn, and you see it far too much. Thanks for reading and commenting.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Oh yes… this is so apt at these times….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It sums up a lot of things going on in the world…unfortunately. Thanks Bjorn.

      Like

  32. Margaret Avatar

    Helen’s a nice contrast for Roger. She’s got him all figured out, I think. Well told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Margaret. Yes, I think Helen knows exactly how to handle him!

      Liked by 1 person

  33. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    It seems the thought of food changed his outlook. His wife seems to be used to his changes in attitude. Great humor and good writing, Iain. 😀 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Suzanne – I think is wife knows he likes a moan… 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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