IAIN KELLY

STORM DAMAGE

The boxes of her water-damaged possessions took up three-quarters of the hotel room.

Until the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew was repaired this was her home. The restoration firm said they would gain access next week. Until then, all she could do was sit and wait.

The flowers of condolence sat on the table. They stared at her, a constant reminder.

Bill was missing presumed dead, a victim of the storm.

She prayed that the cement in the cellar had dried in time and held once the water receded.


flowers-and-packing-boxes-dale-r
Copyright Dale Rogerson

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.

102 responses to “STORM DAMAGE”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    I didn’t see that twist coming. Well done, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s a good sign, thanks Neil.

      Like

  2. Varad Avatar

    That’s a fantastic twist there, Iain. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. gravadee Avatar

    Oh God Bless. I really hope Bill isn’t dead

    Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think it’s too late for poor Bill!

      Like

  4. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    Hah, that was a great, surprising twist, made me laugh out loud.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Gabi, glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Sheena Avatar

    Wonder what Bill did to merit that!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I wonder if he really deserved it or whether she over-reacted! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Sandra Avatar

    I love an opportunist. Good twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra

      Like

  7. wmqcolby Avatar

    Ha! She threw him under the bus … or in the basement, in this case!
    That ending was great, Iain.
    Five out of five Casks of Amantillado (gee, I hope I spelled that right!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A fine sherry while she sits and waits… Thank you.

      Like

  8. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    Wow! That was amazing , of course ,not-so-amazing for Bill .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  9. J Hardy Carroll Avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    You remember Quincy? This man wasn’t drowned in the flood! It was MURDER! Kind of like the Tell-Tale Heart, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, I can picture the Quincy scene exactly 🙂

      Like

  10. James Avatar

    Did not see that one coming, Iain. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks James

      Like

  11. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    So much for the grieving wife. Great twist.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  12. Rowena Avatar

    Well done, Iain with a strong, unexpected twist in the last line.
    Bill, has been very busy and has died multiple deaths this week. My dead person was Bill and yours is the second Bill I’ve read so far.
    xx Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, all the Bill’s in the world must be getting paranoid!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Rowena Avatar

        I think I just saw one heading for the shrink.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Christine Goodnough Avatar

    Well told with an intriguing ending. I wouldn’t count on her secret being safe if I were her. She’d best leave for parts unknown before renovation work begins.

    And I agree with Rowena: poor Bill hasn’t fared so well this week. He should never have eaten Dale’s flowers.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Christine. She’ll have to hang around for the insurance payout first!

      Like

    2. rgayer55 Avatar

      Gee, Christine, now you’ve got me feeling nervous.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Natasha Avatar
    Natasha

    What a well told tale, Iain. Did not see that coming at all. Super job done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Natasha

      Liked by 1 person

  15. shehannemoore Avatar

    Hee hee… Quietly brilliant Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Shehanne 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Lynn Love Avatar

    Oh, you’re a dark and twisty man, Iain Kelly! Love the idea of the merry widow laying her cement as the flood waters rise … Great FF, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lynn, I think the first time I’ve been described as dark and twisty 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        Haha! Won’t be the last if you keep writing like that. Meant as a compliment, BTW 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        I took it as one 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  17. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    Ooooo…loved the last line. I was just reading and then…what?
    Great surprise there.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dawn, glad I can still manage a surprise!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Annie Avatar

    Boom! What a twist. Awesome story, Iain.

    Like

  19. scr4pl80 Avatar

    My husband’s name is Bill…good thing we don’t live in a hurricane path. Nice twist there!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sorry Bill! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Liz Young Avatar

    Clever twist – I was feeling sorry for her till then!

    Like

  21. shivamt25 Avatar

    At first, I thought she is the victim here, but nope. An amazing twist in the end.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Fluid Phrase Avatar

    Oh wow! Just when you begin to feel sorry for her. Great take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Jelli Avatar
    Jelli

    Storm damages indeed… and just when you want to send her more flowers… love the catch, fell for that bait way too easily. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, seems to have caught a few people out, which is nice 🙂

      Like

  24. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Great story with a very grim twist. That worked really well, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Penny 🙂

      Like

  25. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Here I was thinking: Poor lady, that sucks and then bam! Right between the eyes!
    Well done, sir, well done…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dale, most kind.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Indira Avatar

    I was going to feel sorry for her and the last line hit hard.Well written. Great twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much Indira

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Alice Audrey Avatar

    Talk about and opportunist!!

    Great story!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Alice

      Like

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

    Well done, I did not see that end coming.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    Oh! You are a very bad man! I did not see that coming! I was all happy you used the boxes in your story and feeling sorry for her…. So well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sorry to surprise you like that! 🙂

      Like

  30. granonine Avatar

    Oh no! Not a pleasant surprise there at all! Nice twist, though 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Maggie C Avatar

    Laughed out loud! Guess I’m assuming Bill had it coming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Maggie. I haven’t really decided if Bill was an innocent victim or truly deserving…!

      Liked by 1 person

  32. justjoyfulness Avatar

    Oh! You’ve got a twist story too 🙂 Didn’t see that coming, so, great job! I’m sure she’ll be collecting a lot of insurance money 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. Collect the money and then heads off to start a new life somewhere, if Bill remains where he should!

      Like

  33. plaridel Avatar

    i didn’t see that coming. what an ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  34. neeltheauthor Avatar

    What a superb twist. Well written, Lian.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure there’s a perfectly innocent explanation…

      Like

  35. draliman Avatar

    I had already composed a comment in my head while reading about how sorry I felt for her when… whammo! Great twist, nicely built up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, glad you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

  36. rgayer55 Avatar

    Well constructed story, Iain. You set us up beautifully before yanking the rug out from under us. Kudos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, much appreciated.

      Like

  37. Martin Cororan Avatar
    Martin Cororan

    You got in everything other than an alien invasion…

    ..Next time!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      105 words and I would have got them in too!

      Like

  38. Sarah Potter Writes Avatar

    A very sad twist to that tale D:

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sarah

      Liked by 1 person

  39. tedstrutz Avatar

    Damn, this is a good one, Iain. I felt sorry for till I read the last line.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, she seems to be losing a lot of sympathy…

      Like

  40. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oooooo great twist! I did not see that coming. So well told Iain. Hmmmm i wonder if she will be caught

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      All depends on what they find in her cellar… Thanks Laurie

      Like

  41. Kalpana Solsi Avatar

    Poor lady. A victim of the storm and husband missing till the last line changed everything. good story-writing.
    http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/prompt-dale-rogerson-she-practiced-neck.html

    Liked by 1 person

  42. beautyswot Avatar

    Ah i love a good twist 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Glad you liked it 🙂

      Like

  43. lily Avatar

    Doh! My eyes sure popped at the ending. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  44. Kelvin M. Knight's blog Avatar

    So topical. So many comments. So well written, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Kelvin

      Like

  45. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Well, wow. I read it once and was, so sad. Read it a second time and realized what you had slipped in with that final line. Brilliant! You have upped the game of subtlety.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sascha 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  46. Mrs. Completely Avatar

    Haha! Brilliant. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  47. patrickprinsloo Avatar

    I was starting to get angry with the restoration company when your ending hit me in the face. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Patrick

      Like

  48. Dahlia Avatar

    Superbly done Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dahlia 🙂

      Like

  49. creatingahome Avatar

    Yikes!!
    Well the storm might just carry him away and no one would be the wiser.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s what she’s hoping for!

      Liked by 1 person

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