FOR HIRE

Exhausted, dehydrated and sunburnt, they let the tide sweep them in for the final nautical mile.

They slouched on their recliners and held hands.

‘We made it,’ he said, ‘I told you we could.’

‘Four months on this contraption. Next year, let’s have a walking holiday,’ she replied.

On the shore, the gathered crowd awaited – the media, family, friends and interested spectators.

The journey of the couple attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean on their sunbathing recliners had captured the imagination of the world.

It had started by accident when the tide and wind had blown them out from Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England. Now they approached Boston Harbour, USA.

Terry Roberts, owner of ‘Pleasure Beach Recliners for Hire’ stood amongst the crowd. He had flown over the day before.

The recliners bumped onto the jetty, family and medical staff rushed forward. As the exhausted couple were helped through the media scrum, Terry saw his chance.

He waved the bill in their faces: ‘£10 for every 15 minutes,’ he explained, ‘that’s £432,000 you owe.’

The bedraggled couple stared at him dumbly, Terry pressed on.

‘Plus a £20 late return fee.’


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Copyright Susan Spaulding

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Susan Spaulding. For more details visit HERE.

To read more of the stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

50 responses to “FOR HIRE”

    1. I hope they have some savings.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They can write a book and sell the film rights!

        Liked by 1 person

  1. Reblogged this on crjen1958 and commented:
    Another day at the beach?

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Damn, just for but a moment, you really had me going…

    cheers

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It does sound so silly it could really happen!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Like the take, but what a bastard! He would have got more from the publicity of being the owner of a recliner with such resilience! Good one Iain. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m sure he’ll try and cash in on that too 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Haha…. Hilarious take. Super cool.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad you liked it 🙂

      Like

  5. Great story Iain. If Terry received his ill-gotten gains, he must have blown them … I’m pretty sure he now works at my local council’s Foreshores office.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha, yes we’ve all met someone like Terry!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Pity they didn’t just make do with a donkey ride on Blackpool Pleasure Beach!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. In hindsight yes, although getting a donkey to swim the Atlantic would be tricky 😉

      Liked by 2 people

  7. You stretched credulity to trans-Atlantic limits here, Iain!
    Nice one

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sure Terry would just point at the sign on his hut clearly showing the price of hiring a floating recliner and shrug.

      Like

  8. It’s just business.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Absolutely. They agreed to the hire price.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Life is a beach…indeed!
    (I almost spit my morning coffee out my nose, reading this!)
    😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Liz, glad you enjoyed 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. LOL I almost thought it was an Archie and Agnes adventure. Can you imagine the two of them on that little thing for four months? Nicely done again, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It could well have been them, but perhaps in their youth, a couple of decades ago! Thanks Janet!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Can someone please push Terry in the drink? I don’t care if he can’t swim. Hell be demanding the cost of his flight and accommodation next.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha, he may put that in as a recovery charge for getting the floating recliner back!

      Liked by 2 people

  12. Terry should have followed them with a camera. He would have made more money selling the video.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He might write the film screenplay!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Nice fiction. Great twist at the end. I think they should sue the owner / renter of raft for being blown away. Why did he not go searching and what right he has to charge them for late payment.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you – I get the feeling Terry doesn’t care too much about his work, until there’s money to be made!

      Like

  14. that must have hurt them terribly!

    Like

  15. Cool tale, but the logic part of my brain immediately asked what they ate and drank for four months. 😸 But that rental guy, Terry, is a right idiot. He could have made so much money if he had congratulated them and emphasized to the press the quality of the beach recliners he carried..He had to be an arse, instead.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You are right Barb, as this was a lighter piece I deliberately ignored the real world logistics involved – perhaps they had a support boat with them once they decided to keep going across the ocean!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Not a happy ending to their adventure when the bill was shoved onto their face. they can extricate themselves by writing a book of their journey.

    https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2018/09/holiday.html

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Absolutely – I get the feeling it will end up in the courts!

      Like

  17. Oh man! XD
    Brilliantly funny! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  18. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    I do wonder if will they be allowed to set foot in the USA under new immigration rules. 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. A very valid point Michael – they didn’t bring passports or visas for a start!

      Liked by 2 people

  19. four months is a way long.. and their next expedition is by walk.. wonder how adventurous it would be. gosh! the bill! plus the mean late fee..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There are some who do crazy things like this!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I felt that one coming. The late fee was the icing on the cake. Nicely done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Ha ha ha, not to forget that they’ll now be classified as illegal immigrants and jailed in America for traveling without their passports 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m surprised they were allowed to land!

      Liked by 1 person

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