ISN’T IT ALWAYS

~ Iain Kelly

Jean-Louis watched the person in the water.

He had piloted his small coal barge for thirty years, travelling back and forth along the canal between Arles and For-Sur-Mer on the coast.

The canal was straight, had only one lock, and passed through farmland and a nature reserve. It was unusual to see anyone on the paths alongside the canal, let alone jumping into the water to meet his barge.

He picked up his pole with the mooring hook attached and held it out to the incoming swimmer.

The man gratefully grabbed the hook and Jean-Louis pulled him aboard.

‘Merci,’ the man said, having regained his breath. He wore only a shirt and underwear.

‘Pas de problème,‘ Jean-Louis replied.

‘You must think I am crazy.’

‘The thought had crossed my mind,’ Jean-Louis said, taking hold of the tiller.

‘There is a good reason for my strange behaviour.’

‘It is none of my concern,’ Jean-Louis shrugged.

‘Problème de femme,‘ the man explained.

‘Ah,’ Jean-Louis nodded his head. ‘N‘est-ce pas toujours.’

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Copyright BarbCT

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

Translation:
Merci – thank you
Pas de problème – no problem
Problème de femme – woman trouble
N‘est-ce pas toujours – isn’t it always

Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

39 thoughts on “ISN’T IT ALWAYS”

    1. Funnily enough I wasn’t going to include a translation because I thought everyone would get it – until I wrote the last line, then I thought I better just to be safe 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. I loved the story Iain, but I think if une femme had overheard the conversation, she’d have followed on with “et vice versa”. Three languages in one sentence – I’m feeling like a veritable polyglot.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Well, there are 2 ways to read this. You could take it at face value – 2 men having the old moan about woman trouble, or you could see in his reply a note of sarcasm – ‘isn’t it always’ – as in that is always the excuse, when we really know that the trouble is caused by men and not women!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Thanks for the little translation there, Iain. I didn’t get the last bit at first but on scrolling further got my answer. A catchy last line.
    Makes me wonder the what and where that made him land in a minimal state. A whole new direction to wander.

    Liked by 1 person

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