IAIN KELLY

TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD

The power saw sliced through the panel at the wrong angle.

‘Dammit.’ The latest mishap during the garage renovation.

The myna bird laughed. Definitely a laugh this time.

Three days it had perched, mocking his every calamity.

‘Funny, is it?’ he asked. The yellow beak cachinnated.

He put some seed in his hand. The myna cocked it’s head and hopped towards him.

He grabbed it tight.

‘Think it’s funny now?’ he asked as he turned the power saw back on.

***

Two operations later his thumb was reattached.

There was a flash of yellow and a cackle at the hospital window.

myna-bird
Copyright Douglas M. McIlroy

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.

130 responses to “TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    Nemesis. Yes!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil, I sense there will only be one winner here.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  2. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    Painfully good. You taught me a new word. Cachinnate…and who does it last does it best. 😉 Great title.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Many thanks Rochelle, I do like ‘cachinnate’ – a shame it has fallen out of use.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. rochellewisoff Avatar
        rochellewisoff

        The pity is that, at least over here, is that proper use of the English language as fallen out of use. (two uses is one sentence…oy)

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        Not just over there I can assure you 😦

        Like

  3. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    Thumbs up to the bird! Nice one Iain.

    Click to read my FriFic!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Keith

      Like

      Reply
  4. James Avatar
    James

    Either way that’s kind of dark. He could have just shooed the bird outside. Ouch.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      That would have been the sensible thing to do…

      Like

      Reply
  5. beautyswot Avatar
    beautyswot

    Ha! Birds always win!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Of course 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  6. shehannemoore Avatar
    shehannemoore

    Brilliant

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Shehanne 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  7. Edith M. Field Avatar
    Edith M. Field

    How to kill a mocking bird? Not in the way he attempted! Such a shame he became a victim of his own deadly plan! A great story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I let him keep his thumb so hopefully he’s learned a lesson!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. J Hardy Carroll Avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    Birds are much smarter than people thing. This is wholly believable.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      And they have a plan…

      Like

      Reply
  9. Shweta Suresh Avatar
    Shweta Suresh

    Thanks to you, I learnt a new word today! Cachinnate. Great story, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      You’re welcome!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. justjoyfulness Avatar
    justjoyfulness

    Loved the use of cachinnate. Looks like a case of instant karma 🙂 Loved the twist and the mynah. Never mess with Nature.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Absolutely, nature will win everytime, Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. bbryanthomas Avatar
    bbryanthomas

    Cachinnate. Always keen to learn a new/old word. Got what it deserved

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Many thanks

      Like

      Reply
  12. Clare Hempstead Avatar
    Clare Hempstead

    Don’t mess with the bird!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Not this one anyway!

      Like

      Reply
  13. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    I echo the others! Thanks for Cachinnate! I know more of one person this applies to…
    As for the end result. Can’t say it doesn’t serve him right… 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      You’re welcome Dale, glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    This made me smile. And “cacchinate”? Love the word–never saw it before!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you – it sounds like the laughing noise a small bird would make I think.

      Like

      Reply
      1. granonine Avatar
        granonine

        I just looked it up. It means to laugh loudly and immoderately, like a kookaburra

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        That is exactly how I imagine cachinatting! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  15. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    Am I a bad person for laughing?
    Nice story, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Not at all, he deserves to be laughed at a little 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. trentpmcd Avatar
    trentpmcd

    Do not use power tools, or attempt aviacide, while angry… I watched looney tunes as a kid, I know the Myna always wins.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Sound advice, thanks Trent!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Liz H Avatar
    Liz H

    :-O

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Liz 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    I’m a bird-lover; the ending is perfect.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Susan, we;re all on the side of this little bird 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. scr4pl80 Avatar
    scr4pl80

    Wow. He could have just wrung his neck or something. Birds…never liked them as pets. Way too messy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I feel a bit sorry for birds that are kept in a cage when they could be out flying anywhere they pleased – or terrorising annoying humans!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. nonsmokingladybug Avatar
    nonsmokingladybug

    Karma, I suppose. Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you!

      Like

      Reply
  21. Vivian Zems Avatar
    Vivian Zems

    This is a demonic bird..eek!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He’s got a grudge about something, definitely.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. Rosemary Carlson Avatar
    Rosemary Carlson

    Great story, Iain!! I loved the way it was structured.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Rosemary, very kind 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Lynn Love Avatar
    Lynn Love

    Ha! I thought I knew what was coming, then you snuck that twist in at the end! Nicely done, Iain – that cheeky bird gets to laugh another day 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Lynn, glad I can still throw a surprise in!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Lynn Love Avatar
        Lynn Love

        Oh, yes indeed! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Sue Ranscht Avatar
    Sue Ranscht

    Lol! As scr4pl80 says, wringing was a logical option, but men and tools . . . I think the lesson here is to always use the proper tool for the job. I would have recommended the garrotte. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Wow, well I don’t think he was thinking logically at the time. If only he’d had a garrotte lying around in the garage! Thanks Sue 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  25. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    Wow! The bird really knew how to take care of herself .
    Brilliant, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Moon, yes, he’s not new to this game 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  26. Varad Avatar
    Varad

    Ouch! Hope it’s a painful lesson learned. One thumb up, Iain. (Other one’s not yet healed :D)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I get the feeling he’s too stubborn to have learned and that bird is still circling…

      Like

      Reply
  27. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar
    Alicia Jamtaas

    So very fun! I thought “Poor bird!!!” then laughed. Does that make me a bad person? Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Not at all, everyone seems to be enjoying it, so unless we’re all bad people…?!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  28. Jelli Avatar
    Jelli

    And the bird wins! Yeah! Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Jelli – I couldn’t bring myself to let the man win!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    The last to laugh gets the worm… I shouldn’t laugh but I do

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      You are not alone, thanks Bjorn

      Like

      Reply
  30. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover Avatar
    Life Lessons of a Dog Lover

    Love the tittle! I wasn’t sure if I should laugh but I did. He deserved what he got. Nice writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Everyone else seems to be laughing, so join in I say! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. joyroses13 Avatar
    joyroses13

    At first I thought I wasn’t going to like the ending… but then I smiled! I think he learned his lesson! 🙂 Sorry, no pity here!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He’s not getting a lot of pity from any direction! Thanks Joy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    poor chap. obviously, his lack of sense of humor did him in.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Or his poor DIY skills! Many thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  33. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    I laughed, I cried, I laughed again 🙂
    I also had to Google “cachinnate” – it’s the first time I’ve seen the dictionary describe a word as “rare”.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Glad you liked it, an emotional rollercoaster. It’s a lovely word, a shame it is not used more.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  34. hombrehompson Avatar
    hombrehompson

    Never mess with nature.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Definitely not. Thanks for reading.

      Like

      Reply
  35. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

    Fun story, Iain, and a new word for me too.
    Bad news is I think your title might have been used before.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks CE. There is an added ‘space’ in the title that changes the meaning of it from the more illustrious original. It’s the little things that make me smile 🙂

      Like

      Reply
    2. rgayer55 Avatar
      rgayer55

      Perhaps, To Maim a Mocking Bird

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  36. Sightsnbytes Avatar
    Sightsnbytes

    I think I seen the title somewhere before, but I like your story better. Great take on the prompt, made me chuckle.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, I don’t think mine comes close to the original – a true masterpiece!

      Like

      Reply
  37. JS Brand Avatar
    JS Brand

    Loved the story, with the surprise funny ending. I’m going to buck the trend and side with the DIYer, though, mainly because I hate anyone watching and offering “feedback” when I’m trying to be a handyman. Also, I lived in South Africa for a while (post-apartheid) and the mynah is an introduced species which has become a pest, wreaking havoc with native birds. I think the same problem affects Australia.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I know what you mean about someone watching you while you work, so annoying. I think the mynah has a bad reputation in quite a few countries for being introduced and then causing problems.

      Like

      Reply
      1. JS Brand Avatar
        JS Brand

        Funnily enough I got the sharp end of my wife’s tongue tonight, for hovering while she was printing some photos. I should practise what I preach.
        The mynas are in a similar position to the grey squirrel, I suppose.
        That said, after I’d posted my earlier comment, I realised the irony of a white European like me commenting on the impact of introduced species on indigenous ones. Best to move on?

        Liked by 1 person

  38. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Oh hahaha i was worried for the bird then… well back to its mocking best 😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He’s a crafty one 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  39. LucciaGray Avatar
    LucciaGray

    Great title for the flash and the picture and great flash 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  40. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    Oooo, creepy and good!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Jennie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Jennie Avatar
        Jennie

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  41. Sascha Darlington Avatar
    Sascha Darlington

    I don’t think our protagonist has heard of the Darwin awards. 🙂
    I’m always wondering if I should be laughing at these…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Absolutely, I was when I wrote it 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  42. kindredspirit23 Avatar
    kindredspirit23

    Ah, how good it is to see someone as devious as myself in writing.
    Horror, or close to it, loved it!
    Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/birds-of-a-feather-flock-me/
    Scott

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Scott, glad you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. kindredspirit23 Avatar
        kindredspirit23

        Yes, I did!

        Liked by 1 person

  43. Fluid Phrase Avatar
    Fluid Phrase

    Got me hooked on the title. Can’t tell you how much I worship that book.

    And then I read your story! Very clever use of the title and great take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you – I also love that book 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  44. rgayer55 Avatar
    rgayer55

    I recall a similar incident when my son was about eight. He was misbehaving and I went to cut a switch. Damn near cut my finger off.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Never do DIY when in a bad mood id the lesson here.

      Like

      Reply
  45. Norma Avatar
    Norma

    Ouch! That hurts! Of course, he didn’t see that.
    But the bird gets to fly, live and play mischief for 1 another day.
    Enjoyed the story Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Norma.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  46. Tracey@MyBajaKitchen.com and TraceyDelaplainMD.com Avatar
    Tracey@MyBajaKitchen.com and TraceyDelaplainMD.com

    Oh dear. Classic case of cutting off your thumb to spite your bird.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      🙂 Ha, exactly.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  47. prior.. Avatar
    prior..

    well I loved it even without the ending twist – amazing how so much was already in there at that point.
    and ouch!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  48. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    LOL. Hoist by his own, methinks. Okay so the bird was annoying, but a bad workman is always a bad workman. I loved seeing your fun side in this. And thanks for the new word; now where to use it….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      You’re welcome. Thanks for reading. A bad workman always blames his tools, and the annoying mynah bird!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  49. Fatima Fakier Avatar
    Fatima Fakier

    Serves him right! Well written tale Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you.

      Like

      Reply
  50. Liz Young Avatar
    Liz Young

    Throwing a cloth over the cage would have been a better idea!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Too easy!

      Like

      Reply

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