POTTERING IN THE GARAGE

Mary was as surprised as her gawking neighbours when the string of black vans pulled up outside her house with a screech of tyres and flashing lights.

Armed MI5 agents rushed across her perfectly manicured lawn and flowerbeds, surrounding the house.

‘Come out now. Hands where we can see them!’

Instinctively she raised her hands and stepped out the front door.

‘On your knees! Where is he?’

At that the automatic garage door began to open. The guns took aim.

Reginald sheepishly appeared, ‘If I could just explain…’

Behind him the ball of perpetual motion energy turned.

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.

My new novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is now available in Paperback and on Amazon Kindle – there’s still time to order in time for Christmas delivery – an ideal present!
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116 responses to “POTTERING IN THE GARAGE”

neilmacdon

12/12/2018

They’re arresting him for breaking the second law of thermodynamics? Fun story, Iain

LikeLiked by 4 people

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Possibly ‘disappearing’ him before he or his device falls into the wrong hands i.e. not their own. Thanks Neil
  
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Reena Saxena

12/12/2018

You kept up the tempo, and then the end … Wonderful!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thanks Reena 🙂
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

12/12/2018

Yes, the story had a sense of heading somewhere definite and did end on a very definitive note. Good writing Kelly.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thanks Neel
  
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robertawrites235681907

12/12/2018

Excellent, Iain.

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Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thank you Roberta
  
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Varad

12/12/2018

Maybe they did come for the perpetual energy device.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  I think if any government found one of their citizen’s had discovered perpetual energy they would most definitely come for it 🙂
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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rochellewisoff

12/12/2018

Dear Iain,

Oh, you left me with all kinds of questions. I can picture the whole scene. Well done.

Shalom,

Rochelle

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Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thanks Rochelle – amazing what you can discover tinkering around in the garage.
  
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  Reply
Keith’s Ramblings

12/12/2018

Makes the contents of my garage seem very dull! Excellent as ever Iain

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Indeed, I wish my shed had something exciting like this in there! Thanks Keith
  
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pensitivity101

12/12/2018

Love the way your mind thinks Iain.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thank you Di (I think!) 🙂
  
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  1. pensitivity101
    
    12/12/2018
    
    😀
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Kalpana Solsi

12/12/2018

This is a suspense until the last line came. good read.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thank you 🙂
  
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pennygadd51

12/12/2018

Teehee! Reginald didn’t expect that!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  He may not have realised the consequences of his discovery until now!
  
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ceayr

12/12/2018

Heaven forbid that the security services should overreact, hmm.
Fast-paced thriller in 100 words, pretty neat.

LikeLiked by 2 people

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  The security services are of course known for their tact and restraint…
  
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J Hardy Carroll

12/12/2018

All that’s lacking is the sure-fire formula to turn lead into gold! Well done.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  The government may set him to working on that one next…
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Rowena

12/12/2018

Great take which actually incorporated the prompt directly. Well done.
Best wishes,
Rowena

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thank you Rowena – of course I have no idea what that big grey thing actually is!
  
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  1. Rowena
    
    14/12/2018
    
    You must be from marketing then. You don’t need to know or understand what it is as long as you can sell it.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
joyroses13

12/12/2018

Great story! I could use some perpetual energy right now! 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Ha, couldn’t we all, I’m struggling on towards finishing up for Christmas at work – the energy is draining fast! 🙂
  
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Sascha Darlington

12/12/2018

Ha, your title is fun considering the direction of the story, which is excellent, btw.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thanks Sascha, amazing what you can do when having a potter around 🙂
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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  1. Sascha Darlington
    
    15/12/2018
    
    Evidently. Maybe I need to try to potter around. 🙂
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
michael1148humphris

12/12/2018

I hope he survives the hail of bullets

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Poor Reginald, I’m hoping they only arrest him and hold him in an undisclosed location for now!
  
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Jade M. Wong

12/12/2018

Oh Reginald, you brilliant man, you just had to get yourself on the government’s radar.

A fun story and well-written as always, Iain! 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thank you Jade – if only he hadn’t bragged about it on Facebook, eh?! 🙂
  
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granonine

12/12/2018

Wonderful take, Iain. So imaginative. My mind tends to run to more literal lines, where so many of you are SO creative. Fun to read 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thank you – there is plenty of room for all kinds of takes, that’s the fun. I think I sit somewhere in the middle – not as far out as some 🙂
  
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  1. granonine
    
    12/12/2018
    
    True. The variety of viewpoints is truly the fun. I’m always amazed at the differences.
    
    LikeLiked by 2 people
Dale

12/12/2018

Started feeling like a scene in your book (of which I’ve a mere 25 pages to read)!

Poor Mary, probably had no clue her hubby was up to stuff…

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Thanks Dale – the home stretch – look forward to hearing what you think of it! 🙂
  
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  1. Dale
    
    12/12/2018
    
    Love it!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Danny James

12/12/2018

So that’s what that thing is. Now I know.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  I bet no one thought that’s what it would look like in the end!
  
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  1. Alicia Jamtaas
    
    13/12/2018
    
    It does look a bit scrappy.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda’s Thoughts

12/12/2018

It is amazing how much of a story you tell in only one-hundred words. I could picture the scene and feel the tension. Then Reginald sheepishly walks out of the garage where he discovered the impossible. Hopefully, they’ll take care of him, he’s got a lot going on in that brain, and in a garage to boot. His poor wife! 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  I’m not sure Reginald or Mary are ready for what will happen next! Thanks Brenda 🙂
  
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

12/12/2018

Breaking the laws is a serious thing… especially the laws of physics.

LikeLiked by 2 people

Reply
1. Iain Kelly
  
  12/12/2018
  
  Ha, quite. Who knows where this will end up.
  
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anuragbakhshi

13/12/2018

Ha! Poor Roger, and more importantly, poor Mary, her carefully manicured garden might never recover from the excesses of those MI5 brutes 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/12/2018
  
  I’m glad you picked up on that – all that hard work ruined!
  
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  Reply
i b arora

13/12/2018

we need a sequel to know the end

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/12/2018
  
  I will let you decide what happens next!
  
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Abhijit Ray

13/12/2018

What was Reginald doing inside the garage? Hope MI5 did not shoot him.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/12/2018
  
  The last line tells you Abhijit.
  
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  1. Abhijit Ray
    
    13/12/2018
    
    Somehow I always end up missing the message.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  2. Abhijit Ray
    
    13/12/2018
    
    What does the ball in perpetual motion energy do?
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  3. Iain Kelly
    
    13/12/2018
    
    If anyone ever cracks the secret to make perpetual energy a lot of our problems would be solved. Unfortunately, it’s impossible due to the laws of physics – but some still dream! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion
    
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draliman

13/12/2018

Can’t have the ordinaries running around the place with such world-changing achievements. That sort of thing belongs in the safe, trustworthy and capable hands of the government… 😉

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/12/2018
  
  Yes, because they never make a mess of anything. Strong and stable…
  
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Sandra

13/12/2018

Perpetual energy… that sounds enticing. Oh wait, I’ve a grand-daughter that fits that description. Good one, Ian.

LikeLiked by 2 people

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/12/2018
  
  Thanks Sandra – can we hook her up to the power grid?
  
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Alicia Jamtaas

13/12/2018

What fun! But poor Mary! I also love the title. Well done!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/12/2018
  
  Thank you Alicia, are you a potter-er too? 🙂
  
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  1. Alicia Jamtaas
    
    13/12/2018
    
    Indeed!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Laurie Bell

13/12/2018

Brilliant. I loved this. Hilarious piece. Love his sheepish reaction

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  Thank you Laurie 🙂
  
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plaridel

13/12/2018

i wonder if i should root for him. that device could be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  Extremely so.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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Violet Lentz

13/12/2018

Very nicely done Iain, you had me on the edge of my seat. And now you’ve got me researching perpetual motion… Good work!!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  See if you can solve the problem 😉
  
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D. Avery @shiftnshake

14/12/2018

Sure hope he gets that chance to explain!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  Plenty of time for that during ‘interrogation’…!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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Russell

14/12/2018

Ya gotta keep all that fancy new tech under wraps, ya know? It would upset all the energy companies otherwise, not to mention the crashing economies. Nice read Iain!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  You’re sensing conspiracy here Russell? 😉
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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  1. Russell
    
    15/12/2018
    
    You bet!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Ira

14/12/2018

Technology is a two way sword but here his efforts are being doubted. Mary must be angry too as gardens are not that easy to maintain… 😉

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4963andypop

14/12/2018

Maybe Mary ought to make it out to the garage more often. 😊

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  She doesn’t want to know what he gets up to in his garage! 😉
  
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lisarey1990

14/12/2018

This is really intriguing. Would love to know what happens next!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  A long spell away for Reginald I imagine! Thanks Lisa
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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JoHawkTheWriter

14/12/2018

Glad to know the authorities are monitoring for the illegal use of perpetual motion energy. LOL Nice one Iain.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  Thank you Jo 🙂
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
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Russell Gayer

14/12/2018

Great use of the prompt, Iain. I wonder who ratted him out?

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  Good point – a fellow garage inventor perhaps?
  
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liz young

14/12/2018

Ah, yes – the government wouldn’t like that!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  14/12/2018
  
  Unless they could have it and control it and no one else got it…!
  
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theministryofshrawleywalks

15/12/2018

Great stuff, you got the number 1 spot, dead jel, I shall now google ball of perpetual motion, i’m familiar with the ball of confusion!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  First time I’ve made no.1 in a long, long time 🙂
  
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Priya

15/12/2018

Wow.. He must be a genius to pull it off.

Too much drama and suspence for a 100 words story.
Take a bow, Iain.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  Thank you Priya 🙂
  
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jillyfunnell

15/12/2018

Another wonderful story full of plot and laced with a bit of wry humour. I will look at people’s garage doors with more interest now.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  You never know what’s going on behind closed (garage) doors!
  
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Indira

15/12/2018

How did they sniffed his invention? Excellent story.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  They have spies everywhere!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. Indira
    
    17/12/2018
    
    🙂
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
StuHN

15/12/2018

Liked this. So much more story to be told here.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  Thank you Stu
  
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Woman walking Max

15/12/2018

Loved the high octane surrounding of the house, confronted by the sheepish Reginald & his hobby – perpetual motion. Clever stuff, and nicely done.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  Thank you 🙂
  
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magarisa

15/12/2018

I have a feeling the authorities are going to take the ball away for investigation. Great use of the prompt!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/12/2018
  
  Yep, I don’t think poor Reginald will get to keep his work…
  
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subroto

15/12/2018

It’s probably the blokes from the power company and not MI5 😉
Nice fast paced flash.

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/12/2018
  
  Or at least them working together. Thanks.
  
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michaelwynnauthor

16/12/2018

I enjoyed the humour in this Iain, sounds like he’s stumbled on something he shouldn’t have

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/12/2018
  
  Yep, and is perhaps ill-prepared to deal with!
  
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Ellie Scott

16/12/2018

Tense one! The neighbours will be going into gossip overload.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/12/2018
  
  Oh yes, that’ll keep them going for a couple of weeks 🙂
  
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Dawn M. Miller

16/12/2018

I love the tension in this one but the first sentence/paragraph is choppy. Is it just me or is there a typo?

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/12/2018
  
  Reads okay to me Dawn, not sure what you’re seeing there. Thanks for reading.
  
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  1. Dawn M. Miller
    
    17/12/2018
    
    Okay…I got it now. lol
    Sorry about that.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person