The television crew followed them through the narrow hallway and into the small lounge.

‘Welcome to my humble abode,’ Maggie opened her arms with a winning smile.

The camera caught the look of disgust on Lady Carrington’s face as she surveyed the room.

Ashtrays filled with cigarette stubs, used tissues and dirty plates littered every surface. A damp patch covered the ceiling in one corner. The carpet was marked with stains.

When she signed up to appear on ‘How The Other Half Lives’ Lady Carrington hadn’t bargained on this.

‘When does your cleaner arrive?’ she asked in haughty distaste.

Maggie stared at her blankly.

coffee-table-prior
Copyright Yvette Prior

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.

90 responses to “REALITY TV”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    Send a climbing boy up the chimney. Great fun, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  2. Reena Saxena Avatar
    Reena Saxena

    Good one 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Reena

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    Obviously neatness isn’t a priority for Maggie. Fun story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      You take Maggie as you find her, or not at all 😉

      Like

      Reply
  4. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

    Ha ha – now that was a great last line. Loved this!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Susan, much appreciated 😉

      Like

      Reply
  5. Varad Avatar
    Varad

    Lady Carrington will never get it. Very thought provoking, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think you’re right, she never will.

      Like

      Reply
  6. lisarey1990 Avatar
    lisarey1990

    Very fun. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Lisa 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    A superb story, Iain. I loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you kindly Edith 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. James Avatar
    James

    The cleaner. I wish.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Me too.

      Like

      Reply
  9. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    This is great. I want to watch Lady Carrinton doing the dishes. Brilliant, Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It would be strangely compulsive viewing 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. may hem Avatar
    may hem

    brilliant, it would be an instant hit

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      There are quite a few similar shows already out there I believe. Thanks for reading 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  11. Christine Goodnough Avatar
    Christine Goodnough

    Well done, Iain! Brings back memories of a woman I once knew, a sweetie but with various addictions. There wasn’t a clean, un-littered 4-inch square anywhere in her apartment. Wait til Lady C sees the bathroom. 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha, I can imagine her reaction!

      Like

      Reply
  12. yarnspinnerr Avatar
    yarnspinnerr

    🙂 This is such a neat take. So much said in so few words.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much, very kind 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    Brilliant!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Di 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    Excellent story about differing expectations. I loved the last two lines.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much Penny

      Like

      Reply
  15. Meha Sharma Avatar
    Meha Sharma

    This was fun Ian. Funny yet thought provoking. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Meha, exactly as it was designed to be.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. priyareflects Avatar
    priyareflects

    This is brilliantly done, Iain. I had a tough time stopping myself from photoshopping the image to make it a little less messy.
    😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha, thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  17. James McEwan Avatar
    James McEwan

    Really funny. How do you find anything after the cleaner has been. Perhaps, Lady Carrington will enjoy the challenge after a few weeks of afternoon TV.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Who knows, maybe she will turn over a new leaf! Thanks James

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Alice Audrey Avatar
    Alice Audrey

    Sometimes TV has entirely too much reality added.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Way too much. Thanks for reading

      Like

      Reply
  19. Russell Avatar
    Russell

    How the other half lives indeed! Nicely done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Russell

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Excellent! See how the other half lives (though they are not all slobs…)
    Great last lines!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Dale, of course not all are like this – relying on stereotypes for flash fiction again!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Of course! As writers, we allow ourselves that right 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  21. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    I have no sympathy for her. Signing up to reality TV indeed. Time for Lady Carrington to get the Marigolds on! Nice one 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Will it be a life changing experience for her though? I think not.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. Fatima Fakier Avatar
    Fatima Fakier

    I hope Maggie indicates upon Carrinton’s arrival, that the cleaner has just arrived! Then they clean up together. Time to get dirty and really see how the other half lives.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha, yes lovely idea, Lady Carrington is in fact the cleaner 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  23. anuragbakhshi Avatar
    anuragbakhshi

    I have a feeling, without the maid, Lady Carrington’s room would have looked worse.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Very true! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. jillyfunnell Avatar
    jillyfunnell

    Poor Lady Carrington. She will need a double sniff of her smelling salts when she finds out there is no cleaner. Great fun.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Jilly 😉

      Like

      Reply
  25. Russell Gayer Avatar
    Russell Gayer

    I hope this is one of those “Changing Places” type shows.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’m not sure she even realises what she signed up for.

      Like

      Reply
  26. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Love it! Wonder how Lady C. will survive 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I suspect she might leave the TV show early! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  27. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Bahaha the blank look got me!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      😉

      Like

      Reply
  28. abhiray59 Avatar
    abhiray59

    Room looks really dirty. Some reality, indeed!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yet people seem to want to watch it.

      Like

      Reply
  29. Akshata Ram Avatar
    Akshata Ram

    Poor lady dont think she can deal with this..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      She certainly can’t!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  30. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    This doesn’t bode well for the programme!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I hope they have a back up plan.

      Like

      Reply
  31. Piyali Avatar
    Piyali

    The hoity-toity Lady Carrington would take really long to get out of this shock. I am pretty certain about that 😉 Fun take on the prompt, Lain

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    Really like the contrast within the story – ‘bohemian’ lifestyle versus Lady Carrington & her expectations – chalk and cheese. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  33. prior.. Avatar
    prior..

    and then she picked up the phone and called in for a cleaning service to come…. at once.

    ha – nice take on this image –

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I bet the TV company would ‘phone in cleaners for her if she threatened to walk off the show 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. prior.. Avatar
        prior..

        yes – yes

        Liked by 1 person

  34. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I am not a fan of reality TV, I can just imagine your lady Charrington’s reaction.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Me neither, but plenty are it seems

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  35. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Maybe the dear Lady would like to put on some rubber gloves and start cleaning. Then she can really find out how the other half lives. Nice one Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I suspect she will try and get out of it! Thanks Susan

      Like

      Reply
  36. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar
    theministryofshrawleywalks

    Thats really funny, made me chuckle and so close to the truth i’d wager. I suspect Lady Carrington may be a bit short of cash to sign up for this TV show, could this be where her future lies??

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      She may turn out to be an unknowing star.

      Like

      Reply
  37. Kelvin M. Knight's blog Avatar
    Kelvin M. Knight’s blog

    Oh how the other halves live.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Exactly Kelvin

      Like

      Reply
  38. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    Is Lady Carrington daft or skint, or so full of self-importance she likes the idea of being on telly? Oh to see that face – wonderfully done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Or all of the above?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  39. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar
    Brenda’s Thoughts

    Why do people like tv shows such as these? To watch a Lady C look down on someone like Maggie with disdain, how is that entertainment? Well-written as always, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I agree, yet they keep making them, and people keep watching.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  40. Dawn M. Miller Avatar
    Dawn M. Miller

    Haha…I believe she is in for a rude awakening.
    Clever story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Dawn

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  41. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar
    The Reclining Gentleman

    Haha! Even if Lady C learns a bit about The Other Half, will she ever understand what it’s like?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      No, I fear she will take nothing away from this experience.

      Like

      Reply
  42. magarisa Avatar
    magarisa

    Love this, especially the last line. Obviously, Lady Carrington can’t imagine anyone not having a cleaner at their disposal!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  43. The Writer's Village Avatar
    The Writer’s Village

    Loved the blank stare,

    Randy

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  44. Jan Morrill Avatar
    Jan Morrill

    Loved your “behind the scenes” look at reality TV. I’m sure there are plenty of writing prompts from such scenes- a reality show in itself!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Oh definitely, I refuse to believe there are people in the world like those presented in ‘reality’ TV shows!

      Like

      Reply

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