Bill took Agnes’ arm and steered her to the pavement. ‘One too many prosecco?’
‘Come on, follow the white lines home,’ Archie called back to them.
‘Remember that time you followed the wrong white line…’
‘…all the way off the end of the boardwalk.’ Bill and Archie finished off Agnes’ story.
Archie took Agnes’ arm. ‘Another holiday over.’
‘Same time next year, Bill?’
‘Of course, wouldn’t miss it.’ Bill waved them off.
He felt the pain in his midriff.
He didn’t want to ruin a perfect evening. He would tell them later that he wouldn’t make their annual get together next year.
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.
Iain Kelly 
102 responses to “LIFELONG FRIENDS”
This brought tears to my eyes. Such a sad story, beautifully told.
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Thank you Jennifer.
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elegant and spare, Iain
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Thanks Neil
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O Bill. I hope he makes it to next year.
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Thanks Sheena
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Sweet story, expertly told, and with excellent sting in the tail.
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Thank you CE, much appreciated.
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What a poignant story – of course I hope he recovers and joins them next year. So well told.
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Thanks Jilly
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Oh sad, but at least he had this year.
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Thanks Di, and many happy ones beforehand too.
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That’s what matters, the memories.
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Sharp magical story writing.
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Thank you Michael, much appreciated.
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Beautiful and touching story, Iain. I really do hope that he will be there for their annual get-together next year.
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Thank you
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Sad story, beautifully told. Hopefully, things look up for him and he’s there next year.
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There is always hope. Thank you
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A sad tale well told Iain.
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Thanks Mike
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So well told. It is bound to happen eventually. Sadly, we don’t live forever. Beautiful friendships to be treasured.
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Thanks Dale, unfortunately, that’s life.
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It is. So best take advantage of every moment you do have… you never know…
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Good sense of foreboding in this piece. Cancer? Suicide? Could be either of them.
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Thanks. My thought was cancer, and he had already had bad news about it…
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Dear Iain,
Sweet but sad tale. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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A sad tale, but well told
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Thanks Trent. Congratulations on your book 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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It was a roller coaster ride of emotions. Nicely done!
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Thank you
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Great take, Iain. My parents are in their 70s now and there have been those people they’ve known for years and those reunions and they’re starting to drop off. In a few weeks time, they’re celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. There’s such a hotch potch of people coming and quite a few who have passed away. We’ve also been revisiting old photos lately. It’s a great time for reminiscing and catching up.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks Rowena. It’s sad looking ahead and knowing this time is coming to us all, but as you say, a chance to look back and think about a lifetime of memories.
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Oh so sad! At least it seems they had many good years together.
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they made the most of the time they had, who can ask for more?
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Poor Archie. One hope is that it’s just really bad gas. But, a slim hope.
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Clutching at straws, but you never know!
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You paint the picture expertly; the three friends who have so many shared memories that they first prompt and then complete each others anecdotes. And having shown us this beautiful friendship, very delicately you show us that it will be broken within twelve months.
Grief and sadness are the inevitable companions of joy, alas. Let’s be thankful for the joy while we have it, and even more thankful for the memories later.
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Thank you Penny, you sum it up nicely.
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I can fully understand why you don’t want to destroy that last evening together…. I hope there will be a lot of Prosecco at the funeral…
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They certainly will give him the appropriate send off.
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It rings very true, the sick friend choosing not to spoil the mood of the others. Maybe they should get together more often.
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That may be one of their regrets. Thank you
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Oh, no. How sad, and how kind of him not to burden his friends at that moment.. I hope, though, that he will contact them soon and let them be with him as much as possible.
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Thank you
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Oh! And yet, I understand why he wouldn’t want to spoil their evening, hopefully he will let them know soon. Well done, Iain!
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Thanks Sascha
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Humorous right up until that last bit. Very sad, nicely done.
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Thank you
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Maybe he will surprise them and himself by living longer than expected. One more holiday, it just has to be.
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You are an optimist then 🙂
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Hopelessly so…
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So very sad Iain. Well done.
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Thanks Sandra
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A touching write. Beautifully crafted,
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Thank you
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Expertly done, like something from the Hallmark movie channel.
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I think that’s a compliment… 😉
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thats a wonderful ritual and you had to end it with a twist.. life is fragile. Liked this one Ian
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Thank you Aks
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Poor Bill. There’s such a melancholy in this. Reads wonderfully.
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Thank you Carol
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i appreciate him for being considerate not sharing bad news to his friends. at least, for the time being. hopefully, he’ll make it next year.
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Thank you, I suppose he has a little hope he might make it.
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Oh no, sad ending. It’s was lovely and sweet and then foreboding… well told
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Thanks Laurie
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That’s sad. Maybe there is a miracle in his future.
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Not sure if Bill believes in miracles – maybe he will now!
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Some people are considerate like that, they will never let their personal tragedy intrude upon another’s happiness. Nicely done.
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Thank you, good to see you back 🙂
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He was fortunate to know, I think.
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Some prefer to know, others prefer not too.
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Hope he recovers and joins them for their annual get together next year. Very sad and beautifully written story.
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Thank you so much
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Aww… this was sad, yet quite good.
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Thanks Jennie
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You are welcome, Iain.
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A nice build up that makes the ending so much better, although sad. I don’t go to many reunions, they mostly seem to be about ticking the attendance sheet to check who has died.
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That’s one way to look at them! Thanks James
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Ouch! Nuf said. Oh! Except so well done.
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Thanks Alicia
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I have a sense Bill is going to keep putting off telling them what he needs to.
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He may well never build up the courage to tell them, or the desire.
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What a bittersweet ending. Nicely told.
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Thank you
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Ha! I see. Yes, we do have a similar theme to our stories. Great minds think alike. Nicely done.
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A well told tale! I feel for Bill and wish him well, though I doubt it will do him much good.
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I fear you are right. Thanks
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Oh, that was a punch to the gut (Pardon the pun!) towards the end. Great buildup to the unexpected end, Iain. Well done.
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Thanks Varad
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Sweet and sad! I was walking along with them until the end 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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So emotional. You wrote it gorgeously.
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Thank you Lisa, lovely compliment 🙂
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😦 Lovely and warm story of a lifelong friendship, Iain. Then, I got to the last line, which made the story even more beautiful, but oh, so sad. Even so, it made me want to read it again, to treasure even more, such a friendship.
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Thank you Jane, very kind comment 🙂
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Ah so sad and so very well told
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Thank you Dahlia
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What a beautiful story and so sad.
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Thank you Deborah
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