IAIN KELLY

ROOM SERVICE

Otto peered out onto another misty morning. Fine drops of dew decorated his web, glistening in the sunlight.

Sounds of guests wakening echoed round the hotel.

He heard scurrying. It was Slater. He was well-meaning, but a louse.

‘Another attack last night. Cleo this time. Why do they do it?’

‘It’s in their nature.’

‘They built this place for us, then they kill us first chance they get. Or stick us in a jar.’ Slater scurried away.

Otto scuttled back into the dark corner of his room where Cleo was still struggling to escape the sticky silk.

Time for breakfast.

sandra-crook-stacks
Copyright Sandra Crook

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.

103 responses to “ROOM SERVICE”

  1. Jennifer Kennedy Avatar
    Jennifer Kennedy

    Please tell me he’s not going to eat Cleo! Ha. Great story.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think it is not looking good for Cleo… that’s nature I’m afraid 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. prior.. Avatar
        prior..

        Cycle of life indeed – well done

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        Thank you

        Liked by 1 person

      3. prior.. Avatar
        prior..

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    I liked “he was a louse”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’ll be honest, not that fussed about the rest of the story, but I was quite pleased with that line 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Great take on the prompt. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sandra.

      Like

      Reply
  4. jillyfunnell Avatar
    jillyfunnell

    Cleo for breakfast today then, Otto. I love the throwaway line about Slater. Made me laugh. Superb take.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Jilly, glad it gave you a chuckle 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Varad Avatar
    Varad

    Very clever play of words. Nicely done, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Varad

      Like

      Reply
  6. justjoyfulness Avatar
    justjoyfulness

    Bug-hotel? Well done on the imagination. Great voice, looking at the world from insects’ POV.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  7. hrh66 Avatar
    hrh66

    Really nice and a good twist too. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  8. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

    Ooh, loved this grisly little story – you used some very clever lines to lighten the tone. 🙂

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Susan, glad you enjoyed.

      Like

      Reply
  9. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Ew. I really don’t like bugs–especially spiders and centipedes!

    Like

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Spiders for me – too clever by half!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. J Hardy Carroll Avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    Slater the Spider. I like it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. joyroses13 Avatar
    joyroses13

    OOOH I can’t stand spiders, BUT I can’t deny that this was a very clever story. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you – I’m with you, not a fan of them!

      Like

      Reply
      1. joyroses13 Avatar
        joyroses13

        You are welcome. I can handle just about any other creepy crawly thing but the only spider I ever liked was Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Fatima Fakier Avatar
    Fatima Fakier

    This bug hotel theme is catching fire. Good twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Fatima, they are becoming a common site around the countryside and in gardens here. Good way to recycle material and give insects a place to stay, helping out nature.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    Grisly and entertaining. I, too, loved Slater the louse.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Penny 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Fandango Avatar
    Fandango

    The itsy bitsy hungry spider. Nice one, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar
    theministryofshrawleywalks

    Funny, really made me smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, glad it gave you a smile 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  16. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    A clever tale Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Di

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. James Pyles Avatar
    James Pyles

    The arrogance of spiders. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      They do strike me as pretty arrogant insects! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. James Pyles Avatar
        James Pyles

        Actually, they do a lot of good, but I still don’t appreciate them biting me when I’m trying to pull weeds.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Alice Audrey Avatar
    Alice Audrey

    Ah – so “louse” is literal. Or maybe both.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I was going for both 😉

      Like

      Reply
  19. 4963andypop Avatar
    4963andypop

    You have managed to lower my already low opinion of insect intelligence, while raising my already healthy respect for spiders. Fortunately (for insects anyway) what they lack in smarts, they more than make up for in numbers!entertaining and fun read.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you! It makes me more scared of them that spiders seem to be pretty smart…!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. J.A. Prentice Avatar
    J.A. Prentice

    Wonderful story!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

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

    Great to be able to put your blame elsewhere… it helps if you are hungry.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Smart spider, classic bit of mis-direction.

      Like

      Reply
  22. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    This is brilliant, I love every word of it. Poor Cleo though.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Gabi 🙂 That’s just nature though, I’m afraid!

      Like

      Reply
  23. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Ian,

    Hey, Cleo, guess who’s coming to dinner. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

      Reply
  24. Edith M. Field Avatar
    Edith M. Field

    The ‘louse’ line – genius! A great story, Iain. I loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Edith 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  25. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Sounds like that metropolis needs a few guards, perhaps they might hire Horace the hedgehog and his wife Nettle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ha, a hedgehog police force – not sure how they would get on keeping everyone in order 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. Sascha Darlington Avatar
    Sascha Darlington

    Love it. So Slater is LITERALLY a louse! Breakfast awaits.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sascha, he literally is 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  27. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    i feel sorry for cleo, but such is life.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s what makes the world go round.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  28. shivamt25 Avatar
    shivamt25

    That was one of the most creative take on this prompt. I wish I was as good as you are in playing with words.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Too kind, thank you so much.

      Like

      Reply
  29. ellenbest24 Avatar
    ellenbest24

    Super scoffing spiders ! Good job.😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Ellen

      Like

      Reply
  30. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    Yum yum! Now I feel hungry! Nice one Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Keith

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. Jan Morrill Avatar
    Jan Morrill

    How creative to write from the POV of a spider. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Jan 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  32. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    I’m guilty as charged, I’m afraid 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  33. anuragbakhshi Avatar
    anuragbakhshi

    Ha! Hope he gets some strong coffee to go alon with Cleo!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He enjoys the finer things in life, does Otto 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  34. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    I feel there are going to be a lot of spider stories – mine, yours and one other I have read already!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      They are the boss of the bug world 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  35. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    I love this. A slice of life for the bugs!
    That louse line was terrific.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Dale,glad you liked it 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  36. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Aha! Love the hotel vibe… this was fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

      Reply
  37. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Crafty one that spider. Very creative, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Susan

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  38. Dawn M. Miller Avatar
    Dawn M. Miller

    LOL…excellent!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Dawn 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  39. Piyali Avatar
    Piyali

    Don’t eat Cleo, please. I liked the descriptions.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  40. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    Love these characters. Slater, it would seem is also a it dim as well as a louse. Otto definitely comes across as top predator.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sarah Ann, I had in mind that Slater wasn’t the sharpest either! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  41. Rowena Avatar
    Rowena

    Humph! Don’t think this is the sort of hotel I’ll be staying at, even if a few vacancies have just cropped up.
    Well done, Ian. I’ve been enjoying the various takes on the prompt and should’ve thought of something along these lines. I really wasn’t sure what that structure was and thought of it as some kind of shed project.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rowena, not one I would stay in either. Having kids, these insect hotels are quite common, on a smaller scale good fun to make with them and let them explore bugs!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Rowena Avatar
        Rowena

        You clearly don’t live in Australia having one of those in your backyard! There are even poisonous red backs in our own backyard and while I haven’t seen a funnel web at large, they are around and it’s not uncommon for them to turn up on the bottom of a backyard swimming pool. There is also the added bonus of snakes.
        By the way, my kids’ scout group’s patrol for Jamboree have called themselves the “Bin Chickens”. Don’t now if you’ve heard that term before but a bin chicken is an Australian Ibis. Thought you and kids might be interested and here’s a link: https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-humble-bin-chicken-is-headed-for-a-moment-in-the-spotlight-20180801-p4zuuh.html
        Best wishes,
        Rowena

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        Very true, very few insects here to cause us this much harm.

        Liked by 1 person

  42. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    A delightful and inventive story Iain – you create an alternative world ! Love their names.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  43. yarnspinnerr Avatar
    yarnspinnerr

    Great wordsmithy and a very neat take.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  44. prior.. Avatar
    prior..

    Your choice of tale felt like I was peeking into one of those tube things in the photo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks, glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. prior.. Avatar
        prior..

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  45. Russell Avatar
    Russell

    Very well done! I think Otto has everyone fooled.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Too smart by half 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  46. subroto Avatar
    subroto

    Har! Har! I loved the reference to Slater the louse. Bugalicious story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, that line seems to have gone down well 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  47. James McEwan Avatar
    James McEwan

    Clearly, Otto knows where his next meal is coming from. (I wish I did).
    I enjoyed the story telling here, the interaction between the characters and the anthropomorphism that gives a this a classical feel. Almost like wind in the Willows or more like the ‘the bugs in the tiles’.

    Missed out this week on a flash story – time constraints.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks James, especially taking the time to read, hope you’re back with a tale soon 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  48. lisarey1990 Avatar
    lisarey1990

    That leaves a lot of questions of what’s going to happen next!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Well, it doesn’t look good for Cleo! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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