Standing on the room balcony, Archie took a long puff on his pipe.
It was a quiet place of solitude after three weeks at sea with Agnes. She couldn’t stand the smell of his pipe.
He had gone through a lot of tobacco.
Another fine morning. Somewhere off the starboard side were the Indonesian islands.
‘Archie!’ Agnes screeched. He could make out the top of her head sticking out, down and to the right, where the restaurant was located. ‘Bring down my reading glasses, will you?’
He didn’t acknowledge her. He would say he didn’t hear her.
A moment later, he heard her scream. What now, he thought.
By the time he had ambled down, Agnes was cowering in the corner, wafting a pole about, fending off an angry-looking snake. A small crowd had gathered.
‘Where have you been?!’ Agnes glowered at him. ‘This snake dropped out the sky onto my plate. They say it’s a taipan. Deadly poisonous.’
Above the restaurant the small tender boat used to transport passengers to shore was suspended. It had picked up an unwanted guest while in port.
‘Sorry dear,’ Archie called, as the snake reared up. ‘I was looking for your reading glasses.’
Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Al Forbes. For more details visit HERE.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
More adventures featuring Agnes and Archie can be found here: THE AGNES AND ARCHIE STORIES.
Iain Kelly 
I think he might need to go back and look again. 🙂
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Of course, just to be sure 🙂
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Poor Archie is probably secretly rooting for the taipan 😉
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I don’t know if he’s that mean, but he’s certainly enjoying the moment I think 🙂
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He should take his time about those glasses.
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Best go back for another look…just to be sure.
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Absolutely. You never know…
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Poor Agnes. I think that Archie is a cad!
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Thanks CE 🙂
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There’s that selective hearing again.
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Hmmm, what’s that you say?! Thanks Janet 🙂
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Good story!
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Thank you!
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Iain, that’s absolutely brilliant! Loved it.
Click to read my PhoFic!
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Thanks Keith, very kind.
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Nice recovery, Archie. This time though, Agnes was really in trouble.
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Agnes armed with a stick is a match for anyone. Thanks James.
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Oh dear, Archie. Fibs generally come back to bite you (like some snakes, come to think of it). Great story.
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Thank you – I suspect Agnes already knows he’s not telling the truth!
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More than likely. I expect they’re both settled in their ways and more than familiar with each other’s foibles.
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Fun story, Iain. Considering the small, unhelpful crowd already gathered before Archie arrives on the scene, I think he can be excused for his own inaction. Although for appearances’ sake, perhaps he should summon a steward. Still, one can question the wisdom of arranging a dining area beneath a large, suspended ship. In the event of Agnes’s tragic demise, Archie should be able to win a generous settlement and free cruises for life.
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Ha, that was my thought when I saw the photo too Sue – what a dangerous place to hand a large boat!
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Quick thinking, Arch. Well done, Iain.
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Thank you.
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Oooh….that was good!
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Thank you 🙂
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Archie better root for the Taipan. Else, that stick is coming straight for him later. Btw, don’t you feel a ship is a great setting for the sequel to ‘Snakes on a Plane?’ Think of all the Anacondas and Boas running amock the deck.
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Definitely could be an idea,I bet someone in Hollywood has already tried it.
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I hold no hope for Archie. Being a woman, I wouldn’t buy that ‘looking for your glasses’ line one bit.
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I think Agnes may have heard that excuse before – too often!
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Selective hearing at its best!
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🙂
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Archie seems to be a very laid back person and poor Agnes was left alone to tackle with the snake.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/10/journey_18.html
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Archie just likes his alone time 🙂
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Think he should have gone to look for the glasses before going down to her second screech
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He might have to pop back to look for them again…
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