Gustav sat on his foldout chair, staring at the carved tree trunk.

The gathered crowd waited for his next movement.

The Monterey Wood Carving Festival had finished two weeks ago. The other sculptures had since been removed. Gustav had become a local celebrity.

He would leave when he was sure it was finished.

He picked up his chisel. The murmuring crowd hushed. He chipped away a tiny splinter of wood.

He stepped back, tilted his head and smiled.

Now it is finished, he thought, and walked away.

Somewhere in the crowd a voice shouted, ‘What a load of rubbish.’

js-brand-tree
Copyright JS Brand

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.

TAGLINEMy new novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is now available on Amazon in Paperback and on Amazon Kindle. Follow one of the links below to find out more and pick up a copy!

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91 responses to “PERFECTION”

  1. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Where there’s art there’s always a dissenter. Thankfully. Great story, Iain, you set the scene and the pace beautifully.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Sandra

      Like

      Reply
  2. jillyfunnell Avatar
    jillyfunnell

    That is so typical of life. You have encapsulated what we are all up against in a hundred words. And, of course, they do say a work of art is never finished.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      The trick is to finish it util you are happy and then walk away and leave it to others – not an easy thing to do.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  3. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    There’s always someone who says it’s rubbish. And there’s always someone (usually your Mum) who says it’s genius. How’s a body to tell?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Mum’s tend to be right about most things, so I value their opinion more…

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  4. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

    Eric Morecambe lives!
    Good story about a place we’ve all been.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you CE, some more than others!

      Like

      Reply
  5. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    A friend told me “haters are gonna hate.” It seems we went in similar directions this week. There’s a critic in every crowd…the negative voice of discouragement. Well done. Congrats and all the best on the novel.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Rochelle, we did indeed, perhaps it’s because I have sent my little novel out into the wide world and am waiting to see what the wide world thinks!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  6. JS Brand Avatar
    JS Brand

    Poor old Gustav. At least he had loads more fans than critics. Nice tale Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you JS

      Like

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

    How unfair – it’s not total rubbish!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      You should be there to shout back so Gustav can hear you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. joyroses13 Avatar
    joyroses13

    Well done to you with the story and to Gustav. Hopefully the “total rubbish” comment quickly leaves his brain as he listens to the voices that really matter!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think the most important voice is his own, so long as he is happy with it, he can ignore what others think.

      Like

      Reply
      1. joyroses13 Avatar
        joyroses13

        Exactly!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar
    neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

    Some act, others react. Very beautifully and succinctly illustrated. Good luck on your novel, LAIN.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Neel, do give it a look if you have time 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar
        neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

        I certainly would, Lain.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Edith M. Field Avatar
    Edith M. Field

    That last sentence came as such a shock! Such words can be so destructive because it’s impossible to ‘unhear’ them. The time that Gustav spent waiting and his smile when the work was completed to his satisfaction suggest that he may be able to disregard the ignorant statement of an unappreciative onlooker. I certainly hope so.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He has a thick skin, if only we all could be so…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

    Hah! Now that reminded me of the Yahoo! comments – there’s always someone out there to shout things down. Nicely done, Iain.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      And really, did they need to do it? If you have nothing good to say, maybe it’s best to say nothing at all.

      Like

      Reply
  12. James Pyles Avatar
    James Pyles

    Ha! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I imagine you may have been the one to utter that last line, James 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. Shweta Suresh Avatar
    Shweta Suresh

    There will always be someone who can’t truly appreciate the real beauty of something. And inside of admitting that, these people end up tarnishing it. It is unfair. But we can’t control what comes out of people’s mouth, especially if they are the kind who can’t appreciate art!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Very true, thanks for commenting Shweta

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Shweta Suresh Avatar
        Shweta Suresh

        You’re very welcome, Iain!

        Liked by 1 person

  14. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Sorry Gustav, but I would prefer that you carved ice. 🙂 I think that we may need all the trees to regulate our climate

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Poor Gustav, another dissenting voice! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Either it’s like the child saying that the emperor is naked or
    it’s just a dickhead who want to destroy the day of the artist.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I go with option B 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  16. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    it’s his work. as long as he’s happy with it, he doesn’t give a hoot about what other folks say. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think Gustav has some thick skin 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    There’s at least one in every crowd. In this case, I wouldn’t have yelled out my opinion because I was raised to be polite. But I have to say that this poor tree just doesn’t speak to me 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Another knock for Gustav – he’s learning to deal with the critics! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. 4963andypop Avatar
    4963andypop

    Perhaps Gustav is a bit of a ham, and what he lacks in artistic skill he makes up for in showmanship. They will remember him because he stuck it out till it was perfect. And as for the critic…the worst thing you can do to anyone, these days, is to make them wait!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      That’s true, perhaps if he’d just finished on time it may have got a better response!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. Russell Avatar
    Russell

    Don’t you just love it when people get in their heads what you should do, then talk junk when you do what you want to do instead of what they had imagined?

    Nice read!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Russell

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Jade M. Wong Avatar
    Jade M. Wong

    Pffft oh my gosh, that ending dialogue! I suppose one man’s art is another man’s rubbish? Lol!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Well , it would be dull if we all saw things the same 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. Prior... Avatar
    Prior…

    Really like the way he finished with such attitude – and the crowd comment – abhhh
    We cannot please everyone – just can’t!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Best not to even try and please everyone

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Prior... Avatar
        Prior…

        Well Said – but In
        Life we often forget
        Even a taco cannot please everyone
        I like the little meme going around: “I’m nkt for everyone “

        Liked by 1 person

  22. syncwithdeep Avatar
    syncwithdeep

    some people hate to appreciate.. haters gonna hate always.. beautifully said Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    Ha, after all that 🙂 I’m sure it was beautiful really, though.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It was beautiful to Gustav at least.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. JoHawkTheWriter Avatar
    JoHawkTheWriter

    Thick skin and the ability to shrug it off are hard skills to learn. Nicely written.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It takes a lot of experience to be able to pick between constructive, good criticism and the comments to just ignore!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. JoHawkTheWriter Avatar
        JoHawkTheWriter

        Well that is one comment I think I’d ignore 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  25. Abhijit Ray Avatar
    Abhijit Ray

    Not many can appreciate an work of art. Poor Gustav!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Not Gustav’s anyway 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  26. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    An artist is never appreciated in his home town.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Or in his lifetime.

      Like

      Reply
  27. Russell Gayer Avatar
    Russell Gayer

    Probably the same critic who said Rochelle’s book was clunky. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He gets around, doesn’t he?

      Like

      Reply
  28. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar
    Alicia Jamtaas

    I love how you built the anticipation of the crowd, the final stroke of the knife and the exhale. Then … the unpleasant comment. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Alicia 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  29. James McEwan Avatar
    James McEwan

    I had to laugh, art they say art is a mystical and personal taste. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Glad it gave you a laugh James.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  30. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Love it Iain. Perfection of course.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Laurie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. magarisa Avatar
    magarisa

    Ouch! One can’t please everyone. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ain’t that the truth. I have given up trying.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  32. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar
    theministryofshrawleywalks

    I love the Monterey Carving festival, I’m going to believe it exists and not google it, a brilliant take on the post

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      If it doesn’t exist, I think I shall start one, and it won’t even be in Monteray.

      Like

      Reply
  33. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Love the way you paced this, Iain. And no, we can’t please everyone. One must take satisfaction in one’s work and if others appreciate it, then, cool…

    And, when I got home from my getaway, I had a package… Will be reading it shortly!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Dale, I shall remember your comment when I hear what you think of my novel! Really hope you like it and thank you so much for giving it a go 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        After reading Michael Wynn’s comment… I would not be overly worried were I you..

        Liked by 1 person

  34. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    Beautifully crafted story, saying so much about celebrity, admiration, and envy. Like the way you build the scene, then ‘spike it’ in the last sentence.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  35. elappleby Avatar
    elappleby

    I loved the tiny alteration he made in the name of perfection, and then the last line made me laugh out loud. Great stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, glad it raised a laugh 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  36. Indira Avatar
    Indira

    Nice take. All artists have to be little thick skinned otherwise one cannot survive. You can’t please everyone.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Certainly can’t. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Indira Avatar
        Indira

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  37. subroto Avatar
    subroto

    Nice one. There is always a splinter movement where artists are concerned 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha 😉

      Like

      Reply
  38. jwdwrites Avatar
    jwdwrites

    This one tickled me, and quite a lot of other people judging by the other comments. Nicely done. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  39. lisarey1990 Avatar
    lisarey1990

    You captured this scene incredibly well Iain. Fantastic read.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Lisa

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Everyone’s a critic! (lol)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Aren’t they just!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  41. Fatima Fakier Avatar
    Fatima Fakier

    This echoes Rochelle’s take in a unique way. This is the reality though that we face as writers. And bring it on, I say! 🙂 Well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I like your attitude! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  42. michaelwynnauthor Avatar
    michaelwynnauthor

    That last little splinter is all important, nothing is finished until the last little detail is complete

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      All important, as is knowing when to stop tinkering and be done with it!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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