IAIN KELLY

RELEASED

Vince reached the familiar streets of the old industrial area. The factories lay silent and rusting.

Sitting on the same bench he had used for forty years, he sat and had his lunch, looking at the workplace he had devoted the best years of his life to in the distance.

A siren sounded, followed by a countdown. The power of the detonation made the ground shake. The dust settled to reveal rubble where the factory once stood.

He wrapped up his litter, placed it in the bin and smiled as he walked away. The robots were welcome to his job.

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Copyright J Hardy Carroll

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.

83 responses to “RELEASED”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    We had similar thoughts, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Henrietta Watson Avatar
    Henrietta Watson

    A very good story. Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Henrietta

      Like

      Reply
      1. Henrietta Watson Avatar
        Henrietta Watson

        You are welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    They’d certainly have been welcome to mine, but even robots have their standards. Good one, and topical today. 😉

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sandra – I personally can’t wait until a robot can take my job from me – although unfortunately I picked a career that they won’t be taking over any time soon 😦

      Like

      Reply
  4. Henrietta Watson Avatar
    Henrietta Watson

    Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.

    Like

    Reply
  5. Varad Avatar
    Varad

    I wish robots can take over my business (with the profits coming back to me, of course) so that I could spend more time dreaming. A very good story, Iain. With the concepts like Industry 4.0 around the corner, such a day is not too far ahead.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Certainly a lot of jobs are heading that way, and then what will we all do with our days?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. pennygadd51 Avatar
        pennygadd51

        WRITE!

        Liked by 2 people

  6. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    I would gladly have turned my job over to robots since management expected us to be just that. 😉 A social statement this one. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Rochelle – me too, I’ll take the early retirement thanks very much!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dahlia Avatar
        Dahlia

        Two years ago I chucked my job and happily settled down to writing and blogging but then as they say ‘there’s no rest for the wicked’. I got re-enlisted. I am still on the lookout for the escape button 😀 This one really resonated with me – nicely crafted Iain

        Liked by 1 person

  7. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    I’m glad he had the satisfaction of watching his factory implode 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He doesn’t seem to be too sentimental about it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. J Hardy Carroll Avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    Ned Ludd’s old argument! Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Josh, nice prompt too.

      Like

      Reply
  9. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    I’d like a robot to do my jobs for me. I’ll look on Amazon.

    Click to read my FriFic!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      If only I could invent one to do my job, then I could keep the money too.

      Like

      Reply
  10. bbryanthomas Avatar
    bbryanthomas

    A clever one. congrats

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  11. Jelli Avatar
    Jelli

    Oooo. that was gooood! Love the ending! Poof!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Jelli. Glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. shehannemoore Avatar
    shehannemoore

    Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Shehanne 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. James Avatar
    James

    This is hardly fiction since robots do many of the jobs people used to do decades and generations ago. On the other hand, watching the demolition of an old building can be an awesome experience.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s certainly going to happen more and more, and not just to factory jobs. And, it certainly is, a lot of high-rise apartments around my city have gone in recent years, always a spectacular watch.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. James Avatar
        James

        Best guess is that humans will take jobs that don’t exist yet or that are in the process of being created, jobs that AI isn’t good at.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    The Iron law of wages now includes robots as well… actually the word sabotage can be traced back to weavers in France who protested against the machines by throwing their clogs (sabo) into the machines. For exactly the same reason.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Bjorn, great little piece of knowledge.

      Like

      Reply
  15. Christine Goodnough Avatar
    Christine Goodnough

    Well done! The only thing missing is that he’s taken up writing and is now a bestselling author. But what will we do when there’s a glut of them?
    🤔
    At least in your tale they’re blowing up the old factory and not all the excess workers who’ve been replaced by robots.
    I don’t want to be selfish but people so in favor of immigration should have to find jobs for the newcomers.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ha, this is fiction, but not that unbelievable that he gets to be a successful author too!

      Like

      Reply
  16. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Our titles are polar opposites! Yep… robot, take over my job so I can write, and photograph and cook….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      So they are – my original title was ‘Freedom’, even more at odds with yours, but I changed it to released to tie in with him being ‘released’ from his job.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Loved it

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Lynn Love Avatar
    Lynn Love

    Well, there were certainly a lot of jobs that were too risky to people and much safer in the hands of a robot. Nicely told, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Lynn Love Avatar
        Lynn Love

        My pleasure 🙂

        Like

  18. JS Brand Avatar
    JS Brand

    I’m happy to say that retirement IS all it’s cracked up to be. If they blew up my old workplace I’d want to push the plunger, never mind watch. Good luck to Vince.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. pennygadd51 Avatar
      pennygadd51

      I quite agree. Retirement is great!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    2. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha, glad that you’re enjoying life 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. Edith M. Field Avatar
    Edith M. Field

    I love the way Vince can watch the destruction of the place to which he has devoted the best years of his life and walk away with a smile on his face. I’m guessing he has a good plan for the next phase of his life now he has been ‘released’.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Absolutely – spending his time doing what he wants to do, when he wants to do it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar
    Alicia Jamtaas

    A delightfully happy ending. I love how Vince puts his garbage in the trash after seeing the building implode.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Alicia 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. justjoyfulness Avatar
    justjoyfulness

    I’m sitting here with a smug smile thinking, the robots can’t have my job 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Lucky you! They are welcome to mine 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  22. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    Nice on many levels – I can see how this could happen (as it did during the Industrial Revolution), I like his calmness after the fact as he tidies up after himself, and presumably very few if any humans died in the explosion.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A controlled demolition rather than an act of terrorism, although you can interpret it either way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    Nice story. I doubt it was Vince who set the explosives, but it must have been most satisfying to see the dilapidated building crash down.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I didn’t have it in mind that it was Vince who blow up the factory – although a few have interpreted it that way. It works either way.

      Like

      Reply
  24. Clare Hempstead Avatar
    Clare Hempstead

    Revenge is sweet! 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  25. Fluid Phrase Avatar
    Fluid Phrase

    A futuristic , yet not so much in the future…. Wonder what’s in store. This is a refreshing spin on the prompt. Good one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. Rosemary Carlson Avatar
    Rosemary Carlson

    Yes, Iain, we had similar ideas with really different endings! Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rosemary 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  27. Alice Audrey Avatar
    Alice Audrey

    If this goes on it will be robots blasting robots.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Robots taking each others jobs, then destroying each other!

      Like

      Reply
  28. Liz Young Avatar
    Liz Young

    That was some revenge!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Revenge or just karma, depends on how guilty you feel Vince is for the explosion. Thanks Liz.

      Like

      Reply
  29. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    it seems like history repeating itself. it reminds of the dawning of the industrial revolution in the 18th century.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      We are certainly going through a similar revolution and will be over the coming years.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  30. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar
    lingeringvisions by Dawn

    I’ve worked in manufacturing most of my life. I can imagine feeling this way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Dawn, I certainly wouldn’t mind if my work disappeared 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Watching the world change or at least a little part if it. Sounds like he’s happy in a bittersweet way

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Exactly that – can’t change the past, but the future to look forward to.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. neelwritesblog Avatar
    neelwritesblog

    The old order changeth giving way to the new. The horrors of the pink slip and being made redundant are well expressed. Good story writing on display, Kelly.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neel

      Like

      Reply
  33. prior.. Avatar
    prior..

    love the duality of the rubble and the wrapped litter – sounds of the words and trash aspect – also fun twist with robotics

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  34. Vivian Zems Avatar
    Vivian Zems

    Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Vivian, much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  35. Martin Cororan Avatar
    Martin Cororan

    This is an automated like…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Automated thank you reply.

      Like

      Reply
  36. Fatima Fakier Avatar
    Fatima Fakier

    Most of our day jobs make us feel like robots anyway. Good characterisation.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ha, very true. Thanks Fatima.

      Like

      Reply
  37. Norma Avatar
    Norma

    A tale soon to turn to reality. Nicely written Iain. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Norma.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  38. anintrovertedblogger Avatar
    anintrovertedblogger

    I guess it’s an optimistic future for him?
    Nicely done!

    Like

    Reply
  39. rachelmalik99 Avatar
    rachelmalik99

    Hi Iain, really liked this, especially the ritual aspect – he sits at the same bench, packs up his litter neatly, it suggests both his earlier life and also how important this moment is to him.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rachel, glad you liked it 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  40. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    The only way I see this could improved is if Vince had been pushing the button. I hope his optimism continues into his new role.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sarah Ann – he’s not the destructive type, just happy that things have worked out in his favour for once.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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