IAIN KELLY

PEACE AT LAST

Agnes lay awake staring at the roof of the tent. She gave Archie a nudge.

‘What now?’ he grumbled.

‘Don’t you hear that?’

‘I didn’t hear anything.’ Archie rolled over.

‘This wasn’t what I had in mind when you said you had a surprise planned.’

A strange howl sounded in the distance.

‘Was that a wolf?’

‘Could be,’ Archie mumbled. ‘You can get them around here.’

‘That’s it, I’m sleeping in the car.’ Agnes spent five minutes extricating herself from her sleeping bag then fumbling to open the tent door.

Archie heard her footsteps fading away and the car door slam.

Peace at last, he thought.


campsite-jwf
© Jan Wayne Fields

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.

80 responses to “PEACE AT LAST”

  1. Al Avatar

    Haha brilliant. I love that. That’s a way to guarantee peace. Although I imagine the next day won’t be quite as peaceful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Al. I think you’re right – Agnes isn’t going to let him forget about this trip for a while! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    Tricksy Archie!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Neil 🙂

      Like

  3. ladybug278 Avatar

    That Archie is one naughty man.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A bit cheeky maybe 🙂

      Like

      1. ladybug278 Avatar

        all for a peaceful sleep, i think i can forgive him for that.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        🙂

        Like

  4. Henrietta Watson Avatar

    A very good story and a good picture. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks, and thanks for the link 🙂

      Like

  5. […] via PEACE AT LAST — Iain Kelly […]

    Liked by 1 person

  6. swritings Avatar

    Haha! Loved this! 😄

    Like

  7. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Call it a hunch, but I don’t think Archie will take Agnes camping again. Good one.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle – maybe it’s a ploy so he can get away camping on his own in the future! 🙂

      Like

  8. ceayr Avatar

    Clever and funny, a bit like Archie.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, glad it raised a smile 🙂

      Like

  9. Sandra Avatar

    There’s every chance he’ll be eaten by the wolf after that. Nice take.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, maybe he’d rather take his chances with the wolf than Agnes! Thanks Sandra.

      Like

  10. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    I remember reading a story about an owl that gripped the top of a tent, the boy inside reaching up to touch the talon that had pierced the canvas. This reminded me a bit of that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, in a good way I hope. Many thanks.

      Like

  11. Sightsnbytes Avatar

    Great story. Our stories are very similar.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks, look forward to reading your take.

      Like

  12. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    LOL, been there. Nice take!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haven’t we all! Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Yeah… some things just cannot be shared… Sounds like my sister and brother-in-law. He used to take her camping. Then he didn’t! 😉

    Like

  14. wmqcolby Avatar

    Haha! Very good, Iain. I like it a lot. That’s one way to tackle a problem, yes?
    Five out of five lycanthropic imaginations. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Lycanthropic, lovely word. Many thanks.

      Like

  15. creatingahome Avatar

    Hehehehe
    I can so see this happening.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It seems like a realistic scene to me too. Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I was expecting Agnes to be eaten by the wolfs,🙂

    Like

  17. Claire Fuller Avatar

    Liked this! Can see them remaining together for too long.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Claire 🙂

      Like

  18. Lynn Love Avatar

    Ah, that’s great Iain! Really good. I suspect she snores, does she? Or just fusses and fidgets over camping? Made me smile 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Probably all those things and more! Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        🙂

        Like

  19. Lizy Avatar

    Now if I could only get my husband to sleep in the car I wouldn’t have to put up with his snoring!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You could always suggest he goes off camping for a couple of nights! Thanks Lizy 🙂

      Like

  20. nonsmokingladybug Avatar

    You never disappoint.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, thanks. If only that were true for everything in life 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. nonsmokingladybug Avatar

        Oh dear. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I guess Agnes failed the test… either that or there will be a compromise with walls.

    Like

  22. Jade M. Wong Avatar

    LOL, well that’s one way to get a good night’s sleep.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Needs must 🙂 thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Louise Taylor Avatar

    This reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons (or is it Family Guy?) where it’s Homer who ends up sleeping in the car and getting a little more than he bargained for. In your take, I hope it’s Archie who gets more than he bargained for in the morning.

    Like

  24. mandibelle16 Avatar
    mandibelle16

    This made me laugh. This was my Mom when we’re camping. She thought it was bears and it turned out we were camping right near a farmers field –there were cows. Great piece Ian.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha I like that story. It could easily have been based on my mum too. Thanks Mandi 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. mandibelle16 Avatar
        mandibelle16

        You’re welcome 😂

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  25. dmmacilroy Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    A great tale about the lengths a man will go to get some peace. Well done.

    Yours,

    Doug

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks Doug.

      Like

  26. neelwritesblog Avatar

    Great piece Iain. Just loved the flow. Hope it was good riddance for Archie, but then i guess only until the morning.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks. Yes, peace and quiet but only until the morning 🙂

      Like

  27. draliman Avatar

    Ha! Poor Archie or poor Agnes? Hard to decide!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m on Archie’s side I think 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. plaridel Avatar

    now i wonder if she snores so loud the wolves could hear it. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha maybe that’s why they started howling 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    “Agnes spent five minutes extricating herself from her sleeping bag then fumbling to open the tent door.” That lines sums up camping perfectly. A nice take on the prompt and enjoyable read.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure 🙂 . Many thanks.

      Like

  30. rgayer55 Avatar

    Some people just aren’t cut out for the Great Outdoors. I hope he doesn’t have to walk home. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s true, she has the car keys…

      Like

  31. Michael Wynn Avatar

    This made me laugh and brought back memories of camping with my son. Just nodding off and “Dad! Dad!” “What is it?” “Tawney Owl!” “Great go back to sleep.” Me awake for the rest of the night.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. HonieBriggs Avatar

    “Silence, woman!” This gave me a chuckle.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Honie, glad you liked it 🙂

      Like

  33. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    I say “Poor Agnes” if you are not a camping person, you are not, perhaps this is something Archie should have known beforehand.
    Good dialogue Lain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  34. Dahlia Avatar

    Haha – Archie is quite a smart guy!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He knows how to get what he wants 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dahlia Avatar

        😀

        Liked by 1 person

  35. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    Made me laugh! Naughty Archie!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Clare 🙂

      Like

  36. momtheobscure Avatar

    Alice is probably thinking the same thing lol

    Liked by 1 person

  37. The Mom Who Runs Avatar

    LOL! What I’m wondering is: Was the surprise Archie finally getting some peace?? 😉 Funny, your’s is the first story I’ve read and we both had a similar train of thought with the disgruntled co-camper!
    Happy trails and peaceful dreams! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, he may have planned it as a surprise for himself, yes!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The Mom Who Runs Avatar

        Clever guy! 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  38. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar

    Haha well written Iain. I think his “peace at last” may soon last a lot longer, he and Agnes aren’t quite a perfect match!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks. That or they’ve been together too long and are past the stage of caring!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    I’m with Agnes. I wouldn’t tent camp where there were wolves or bears. At least wolves give a warning. With a bear, I wouldn’t even feel safe in a car. Good writing, Iain. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Suzanne. I agree with Agnes too 🙂

      Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.