I stared at my nemesis.
Last night I had thrown the chair into the lake, shouting ‘good riddance’ as I heaved it as far as I could. I heard the splash in the dark.
Overnight the lake had frozen.
This morning there it was, sitting upright. Waiting for me.
Mum saw me looking out the window.
‘Did you put the chair out there?’
I nodded. Mum shook her head.
‘Then I think you should go and sit on the chair again. One day you will learn how to behave. Best wrap up.’
I swear the chair was grinning at me.

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 stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Mum is a disciplinarian of the old school. But at least she made him wrap up warm
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tough love I think they call it? Thanks Neil.
LikeLike
Haha, such a funny piece. That chair does seem to be smirking, now I come to think about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jessie 😉
LikeLike
Intriguing piece, Iain. Nice hook with the first line. Additionally, the starting ‘nemesis’ and suggestion of ‘grinning’ at the end lends the piece a somewhat insidious and malevolent feel. Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks David – an insidious and malevolent chair – I like that 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
I suppose if you have to sit on a chair for punishment, that beats sitting in a corner. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably quite a nice view to look at while sitting out in th open there too! Thanks Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great piece! Love the Mum. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this. Putts me in mind of Monty Python. “Oh, but you can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you! “
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol. Brilliant ending again
LikeLike
Great work, Iain! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dina, much appreciated ! 🙂
LikeLike
A cruel and unusual punishment! At least he’s warm – and the chair had the last laugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s got to learn somehow! Thanks Chris
LikeLike
The chair has the final word. I like that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The chair wins this round – I think there will be more to come. Thanks Sandra
LikeLike
Oh, how cruel fate is. Good writing this morning! 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
That chair sounds evil.
LikeLike
I know for a fact that furniture can make faces. I restore old furniture and some of them laugh at me. Great take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope they laugh in a non-threatening way 🙂 Many thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now THAT is a determined mother!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marvelous, Iain ! Love that last line!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Morgan, much appreciated 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved the idea of the chair ‘smirking’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike 🙂
LikeLike
Indeed we usually have to live by our deeds – mum taught him well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael
LikeLike
So much fun and we both used the chair as punishment! Not quite in the same way… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to read yours now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That had to’ve been the worst Time-out ever! Brrrrrr!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good chance to ‘cool down’ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why did he hate that chair so much? Mind, they’re not very comfortable, those things. Love how you give the chair personality – it almost looks smug now you’ve mentioned it 🙂 Love the tale Iain
LikeLike
Thanks Lynn. I think he was just fed up of being told to go and sit on the chair by his mum! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I’m sure you’re right – quite understandable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’ll teach him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lesson learned.
LikeLike
I can see it smiling, definitely! I wonder what he will do it next and how it will inevitably have the upper hand again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think a saw or an axe would certainly in handy next time! Thanks Clare
LikeLike
I’m rooting for the mom. He is reaping what he sowed. Great take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He will learn. Thanks very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never understood what sitting in the corner ver did for me, other than the fact it was an unpleasant experience.
Super story, Iain. Well-structured and perfectly ended.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sitting out in the open should be nice, so long as the ice is thick enough. Thank you.
LikeLike
Ah the poor boy. There’s just no getting away from that chair! It was funny but with a nice layer of the dark side in there too. I have a friend who was convinced a piece of furniture she inherited was possessed by an evil force. After one too many debates about how it could be exorcised, I suggested she just sell it. She took my advice and as far as I know, it never tried to come back – but who knows, it could be lurking out there somewhere, biding its time …. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary furniture! Hopefully it won’t return, and hasn’t caused any trouble for whoever she sold it too! Thanks Siobhan 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! This is funny. Good old mom, poor kid! At least she told him to wrap up before heading out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alicia. It shows she cares for him, even when giving him his punishment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It surely does. Reminds me of my mom. Lots of love wrapped around every punishment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
he he, fab! I think I see the smirk too…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks 🙂
LikeLike
this reminds me of the good old days. when somebody in the class misbehaved, the teacher told him to sit on the thinking chair. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly that, only an extreme version!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The punishment fits the crime!
LikeLike
Indeed! Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ye gods – what a mother – what if you fell through the ice?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then he would really have learned his lesson! 🙂
LikeLike
You have to admire a chair that lands on its feet. I guess this make you the Chairman, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose it does 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve given me a story that I can relate to as it shows so many emotions. Love this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lindy, very kind.
LikeLike
🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m picturing a naughty little boy in head. Lovely story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sarah. A cheeky boy I think, rather than too naughty! He’ll learn 🙂
LikeLike
Oh dear. Karma or just desserts! 😊 a fun piece Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bit of both. Thanks Laurie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A conspiracy between chair and mom… better behave, and don’t eat and talk at the same time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t thought of it as a conspiracy, that makes it a much darker piece! Thanks Bjorn 🙂
LikeLike
best wrap up… love it… good story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ted, good picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good old tough love parenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has to be done sometimes! Thanks for reading 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that’s one step on from sending your child to sit at the bottom of the stairs without his or her toys, which was how I punished my children. It’s called “timeout” in behaviour therapy, which is better than a shouting match. The theory is that you give them positive reinforcement with plenty of attention/praise/rewards when they’re behaving but ignore them when they’re being naughty. Personally, I think that was quite a reasonable punishment, provided there was a time-limit on it and steaming drink of hot chocolate waiting for him after he’d sat quietly for half-an-hour.
You made me laugh, as usual 😀
LikeLike
Thanks Sarah. We try that theory with our 2 but it fails because they love sitting on the stairs and are soon making games up there. Which is what they would do with a chair on ice as well! Thanks for the feedback, always appreciated 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I had to be punished by sitting in a chair, I wouldn’t mind sitting in that one with that view and fresh air!
Good story, nicely written 🙂
-Rachel
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it might be quite nice and calming 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very funny. A worse place to be punished inside then on the chair inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mandi 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is that Calvin? It sounds like something Calvin would do. The Nemesis Chair 🙂 Nice piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tamal 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe he threw the chair in the lake on purpose. So that he could go sit on the lake 🙂 Very well written!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true, I like that – a better view when he gets in trouble, smart kid 🙂
LikeLike
Some battles you can’t win.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard it going mwahahhaahaha too. Loved it Iain.
LikeLike
🙂 Many thanks
LikeLike
Hi, Iain! A great take on the prompt. You packed a lot into so few words. Great imagery and yikes! Beware of Mom!
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, glad you liked it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
As my son would say “You can’t let it beat you.”
LikeLiked by 1 person