IAIN KELLY

DICTATOR

He felt old. He felt tired.

Forty years leading his people, the Father of the Nation. Now they wanted rid of him.

How could they be so ungrateful?

He freed them from oppression. Didn’t they remember?

Resign, they cried. Perhaps he should.

Father Time was catching up with him.

The clock ticked relentlessly.

No. There was still much to be done.

He locked the clock away in the closet. Back to work.

***

They watched the old man shuffle across his cell. He banged his fist into his palm. He started addressing an imaginary audience.

No one listened anymore.


closet
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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.

86 responses to “DICTATOR”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    A warm portrait of Bob

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I wonder if anyone does call him Bob? I like to think so.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. neilmacdon Avatar

        Many people in Southern Africa call him Bob. Not so much to his face, though

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Varad Avatar

    Lovely bit of interpretation of the prompt, Iain. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Varad

      Like

  3. Sandra Avatar

    Great topical take on the prompt. A reminder that many who claim to free you from oppression are simply substituting another brand of it.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra. Alas, I fear that might be about to happen to the people of Zimbabwe again.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Good story, Iain. I like the way you use short sentences to emphasise the dictator’s loss of strength and vigour.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Penny.

      Like

  5. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    You’ve left much to read between the lines. A well constructed and multi-layered story. I love the way you went outside the closet. 😉

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle, and Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

      Like

  6. Susan A Eames Avatar

    I enjoyed your clever, topical and thought provoking take on the photo prompt.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susan, much appreciated.

      Like

  7. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    If only you could lock away time…Very topical story, indeed.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lore

      Liked by 1 person

  8. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    I like to think of Noriega throwing a tantrum because his prison toast is soggy.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It is nice to think of these tyrants being reduced to such small men.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. granonine Avatar

    For a second there I thought about Moses leading Israel out of Egypt. Guess I was wrong 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I certainly didn’t have Moses in mind! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. granonine Avatar

        No, I figured that out pretty quickly 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  10. k rawson Avatar

    Great take on the prompt!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. J. E. Kennedy Avatar

    This is a powerful piece of writing. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, glad you liked it.

      Like

  12. James Avatar

    I imagine Fidel Castro felt much the same way.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      And a few others. They were perhaps lucky (or unlucky?) to survive long enough to get to feel this way.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. James Avatar

        Yes, the delusion of every so-called “revolutionary” that they were on the side of good when after all, they just replaced one totalitarian dictatorship for another.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith

      Like

  13. Liz Young Avatar

    He has at least avoided the cell. Clever use of the prompt.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Although that may be his age rather than anything else. Thanks Liz

      Like

  14. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    Thanks for inspiring me to read about him, Iain. Leaders should realise their mission is to lead the country and its men to light( while still in power) .
    Wonderfully written.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Moon, so pleased you liked it.

      Like

  15. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Unlike his country, Bob was fortunate to survive into his ninety’s,

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Hopefully Zimbabwe will prosper in the future.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Lynn Love Avatar

    I’m sure it reflects badly on me as a person, but to think of men like Mugabe shuffling in their slippers, locked up and ignored pleases me. He’s lucky – he could have ended up like Musolini and I’m certain he would have deserved it. Well written Iain

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I don’t think it reflects badly on you at all – I would imagine many would want far worse for him. I agree he is lucky, I’m also amazed he managed to hold on for as long as he did at 93 years old. Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        All things must end – the bad as well as the good. My pleasure Iain.

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Brilliant and topical take on the prompt, Iain. Will be interesting to see what’s next for Zimbabwe… though…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      From the sounds of it, possibly much of the same, just under a different name. Thanks Dale.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Sadly…

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Vivian Zems Avatar

    Fantastic! Topical and apt. And now we await a crocodile to ascend the ‘throne’. God help humanity.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s not the first choice of name you would want for a President…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Vivian Zems Avatar

        Tee-hee!😂😂
        I just posted this on my FB page

        What’s in a name?

        Emersion from exiled immersion
        The crocodile appears
        Sangfroid, devoid of fears
        It’s cold dead eyes
        Survey the land of its people
        Now it’s great prize
        With some trepidation
        A crown is bestowed
        But will it live up to its name?
        Will it show us its death roll?
        Emersion from immersion
        We’ll see, as events unfold

        Liked by 1 person

  19. subroto Avatar

    The great liberator has fallen on bad times. As per news reports “former first family is pitifully depressed and lonely”. You’ve got the portrayal down pat.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. spicedmullings Avatar

    Beautifully poignant. I almost thought you were writing about Mahatma Gandhi. Until I saw the end. Two hundred out of one hundred👌👌👌

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – Gandhi was a very different person, although in the end he may have felt some of the same despair that no one was listening to him anymore.

      Like

      1. spicedmullings Avatar

        Yep he was different. The first part would apply to him.
        I wonder if he felt that way when Godse shot him. If you watch the movie Gandhi where Ben Kingsley is the main protagonist, you will note this.
        Thank you!

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly) Avatar

    I wonder if they are only shuffling one dictator for another. I hope not. Such a timely piece…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susie, I hope not as well, time will tell.

      Like

  22. draliman Avatar

    Nice one! Time for a change (overdue). I liked the style, with the short, snappy sentences.
    Any resemblance to any person alive or dead is purely coincidental 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks – I should have added that disclosure 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  23. ceayr Avatar

    Excellent.
    Love it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you CE

      Like

  24. Claire Fuller Avatar

    Very topical, and I can imagine the real man doing this – still talking even though no one is listening.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      In his mind I’m sure he still believes there are those willing to listen to him.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    From what I’ve heard on the news the people of Zimbabwe may be rejoicing prematurely. Good writing, Iain. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Suzanne, I’m afraid they may be too.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist Avatar

    Loved it. You almost had me feeling sorry for Mugabe about whom this story could have been written (if it wasn’t).

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It had him in mind, but I didn’t want to be specific – there are a few who it could apply to through history. thanks Irene.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    That is a wonderful take. Brilliant.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. bbryanthomas Avatar
    bbryanthomas

    Well done. All dictators should end up in prison with time to contemplate their crimes

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. If only justice was so properly served.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Woman walking Max Avatar

    Love the conciseness and the very real character of the old man – a recognisable figure – a well told story

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you very much.

      Like

  30. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Very timely tale here… I can hope that this will happen in more places.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Bjorn, so long as what replaces them is an improvement…

      Like

  31. rgayer55 Avatar

    Outstanding! Loved it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell

      Like

  32. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    Very topical and cleverly done. You almost have me feeling sorry for the neglected and past-it dictator

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Almost, but not quite. Thank you Sarah Ann.

      Like

  33. rachelmalik99 Avatar
    rachelmalik99

    Hi Iain, this is wonderful. I particularly liked all the different forms of confinement in the story : the man himself, time, the hiding of the clock, his cell, his madness (?). So impressed by how the story has a really sharp focus but raises so many issues. Cool!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Rachel, so pleased you saw so much in it 🙂

      Like

  34. Indira Avatar

    Excellent take. So pathetic end for him.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  35. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    Such a concise use of your words to say so very much. The purple Goddess would be pleased with your editing skills. Powerful story with a great deal to fill in … nicely done, lain.
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, I hope she is! Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Thoughtful piece.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dawn!

      Liked by 1 person

  37. creatingahome Avatar

    I like your interpretation of the prompt.
    Good one!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. anuragbakhshi Avatar

    Oh wow. Topical and philosophical. I like it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.