RAIN DELAYS PLAY

Bob tapped in on the 9th green. Level par halfway round.

The children packed off to their grandparents, a romantic weekend ahead with Helen and a quiet round of golf while she finished up at work. This was the life.

As he teed off on the 10th the sunshine faded. Bob looked up. The clear blue sky had filled with ominous clouds.

**

‘How was golf?’ Helen asked over their dinner at the expensive hotel. ‘Did you get caught in that downpour?’

Bob sneezed into his plate. ‘I’ll sleep on the sofa.’ He blew his nose into his handkerchief.


clouds-above-the-trees
ยฉ Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Written as part of theย Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more detailsย HERE).ย 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 weekโ€™s prompt, visitย HERE.

107 responses to “RAIN DELAYS PLAY”

  1. Bang goes their romantic weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sure Helen can still enjoy a relaxing spa or two! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Oh dear! I can’t escape the image of Bob sneezing into his plate – YUK!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Takes the romance out of their weekend certainly ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

    1. Sums up my life generally ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 3 people

  3. That’s how it goes their romantic night. Haha. ๐Ÿ˜€

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks for commenting

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I somehow can’t work up much sympathy for golfers. Must be deeply ingrained class hatred.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow, I didn’t know golf was a class issue.

      Like

      1. Depends where you’re from, I suppose.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I think in Scotland, although perhaps not exactly working class, it is more prevalent and accessible than in some other places. There are still the expensive members only clubs, bit a lot of public courses too that anyone can use.

        Like

      3. As you say, Iain, it certainly isn’t in Scotland. There are any number of public courses, including some 9 hole, and a 13-hole masterpiece at Port Bannatyne, as well as free pitch and putt sites in public parks across the country.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Smiling. Loved where you took the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Michael, glad you appreciated it.

      Like

  6. The best laid plans…lol

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There’s always something that doesn’t go to plan, and usually it’s the weather in Scotland ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Liked by 2 people

      1. In Ohio it’s the flip of a coin. There’s a saying, “If you don’t like the weather in Ohio, wait a few hours.” We can have bitterly cold winters and scorchingly hot, humid summers. (This year winter has alternated between cold and warm.) Tornadoes occur, but are pretty rare.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. More dramatic than Scotland, four seasons in one day is common here, but rarely at the extreme end of the scale, so a sunny day having a heavy shower of rain is pretty common. Thanks for commenting.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Clever piece, well done, as usual, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Dear Iain,

    So much for that romantic weekend. Fun story though. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Rochelle, a lighter piece this week.

      Like

  9. I suppose her weekend will be more relaxing than she’d like. Fun story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Plenty of time to relax on her own at least. Thank you.

      Like

  10. Nothing worse than when plans go awry. Stolen weekends are few and far between for parents of young children…
    Then again, with him laid up, she can do whatever she wants…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Always a silver lining ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks Dale

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Shame on you, Dale. ๐Ÿ™‚
      I suppose their lovemaking would have been such a chore that she would have preferred cleaning the toilet with a toothbrush to lying in bed with him.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Ha ha! No, but…one must look at the silver lining in this case. She is not going to waste this precious time sitting on her duff – unless that is exactly what she wants to do! Definitely no cleaning gonna go on here…

        Liked by 3 people

  11. The moral of this tale? Never play golf! I’m sure she can find something to do while he sneezes his head off … Nicely told tale Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Lynn, I think she’ll have a great weekend! He can at least rest up in comfort… ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Very true. If you’re going to be ill, be ill in style ๐Ÿ™‚

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Life can be such a wild thing. There we are thinking we figured it all out, and she decides to rain on us…

    Like

    1. Exactly! Thanks for reading and commenting ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  13. Very clever piece, Liain.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Boom! The end of romance. Fun story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. And everything was going so well in the first part. Sounds like true life!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, just when you think you’ve got it figured out!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. It’s always right to blame the golf… never mix romance and golf.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sound advice ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  17. Never plan a romantic time for two! Especially if it involves making arrangements for children. Great story – it made me giggle. How unkind is that?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Edith, glad it made you laugh, although (apart from the golf) that’s basically my life ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

      1. It’s mine too! That’s why I laughed. No matter how careful the plans, there’s always a little something lying in wait …!

        Liked by 1 person

  18. I hate it when a cold ruins my romantic plans!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Always happens at the worst time too! Thanks for reading.

      Like

  19. Drats! Those precious weekends away upended by cruel fate. I booked in a night at a cheapish hotel for my husband and I after his work party when our kids were small. I accidentally booked twin share and then developed a violent bout of gastro. I’m sure cupid must have an evil twin.
    Great story.
    xx Rowena

    Liked by 2 people

  20. She really is a ‘golf widow’. I giggled because I do recognise this tale. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I thought we were supposed to write fiction, Iain?
    Obviously, this is a true story with only the names changed to protect the embarrassed. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Scripted reality I think it’s called these days ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  22. See, if he’d stayed in and watched Netflix like me he’d have been ready to go ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Nothing like a good potential game of golf ruined by weather. One of our broadcasters in America is Dave Feherty, one of the funniest golf commentators. One of his comments during the game is something like this — “Watching Phil Mickelson play golf is like watching a drunk chasing a balloon near the edge of a cliff.”

    Five out of five bogeys.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That sort of commentary would make golf more entertaining to watch anyway.

      Like

      1. Oh, listen, Dave’s the best!

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Golf and for him while she was at work the whole day. And then dinner. A treat! After that, the excuse. Hmmmm. Was he actually being nice and giving her some much needed space? ๐Ÿ˜€
    So much in just a 100 words! Great work, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Very devious thinking! Thanks for commenting ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  25. So much for romance! Mind you, that was the quickest cold ever recorded. Author’s licence!

    Like

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

    This made me laugh. I think it is a tale all parents recognize.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Definitely, thank you.

      Like

  27. As someone who always tries to ignore the rain and spends most of the year sneezing, I found this story a little too relatable. Excellent story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. I try to avoid the rain too, but it’s not easy in Scotland!

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Bloody golf, hey! It never seems to get a good press.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. For such a simple game as well!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. I’m not sure I’d let a sneeze get in my way. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Isn’t that just the way, though? You finally get away for a real vacation to do all those fun things, only to collapse and spend the entire time making up for lost sleep. Ah well, as others have said, at least she can do something relaxing — and he can be sick in peace and quiet, for a change.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Always happens that way, never get ill when it’s work, only on the holidays!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yep. I’m coming down with a bad cold right now — not bad enough to keep me from work (not with this crazy deadline we’re working on), but probably it will hit just in time to ruin my weekend. SIGH.

        Liked by 1 person

  31. i think he was enjoying himself too much the gods got jealous. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Cruel gods! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  32. They say golf is a good walk spoiled. You’re proven them right again!

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Shame! He caught a cold. Romantic plans all ruined. Well isn’t that life?! Clever story.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Maybe the kids cast a spell. In pique ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  35. what a way to blow a weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Poor bloke, suffering for his sport. She’s probably not best pleased either

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No one wins ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  37. Oh dear, things don’t always work out as planned:( just a small bump on the road ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hopefully they get another weekend away soon! Thanks for reading ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m sure they will๐Ÿ˜€

        Liked by 1 person

  38. I enjoyed the transition of time ** Peace

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, at least you liked that bit ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ๐Ÿ™‚ cheers

        Liked by 1 person

  39. LOL! Had to laugh at him, though I do feel a bit sorry for him. But hey he should have known. A romantic getaway doesn’t mean you leave your wife and go play golf. I think he learned his lesson! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think so too! Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Well done. Plans awry. Do you think she got “teed off”?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ๐Ÿ™‚ ha ha, very good!

      Liked by 1 person

  41. Oh dear! That’s their romantic weekend scuppered! Very fun, Iain. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Haha! Great story Iain. The unpredictability of weather can spoil so many plans. And I loved the title too ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, you’re the first to mention the title, glad you got it!

      Liked by 1 person

  43. The Murphyโ€™s law of romantic weekends, when you have kids.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Oh no. A downpour on his plans. Rain washed away his play! So realistically funny!๐Ÿ˜ž๐Ÿ˜ž๐Ÿ˜ž๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, glad you found it funny ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Not so much funny as the irony of it! And so realistically close to real life!

        Liked by 1 person

  45. Oh dear, a golfer with man flu. What a combination D:

    Liked by 1 person

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