Ironing done, dinner cooking. Time to put the kettle on and rest for ten minutes before she got home.
It was hard work keeping his house in order, not that the women who ran the world understood. Just because he didn’t go out to work, didn’t mean he wasn’t working.
Just as he sat down the baby woke with a gurgle and a cough and the inevitable cry. Up he got.
It was never ending. He just needed a break, some space, time to himself for once…
Geoff woke with a start and wiped sweat from his brow. What a nightmare.
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 novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is available now
Iain Kelly 
99 responses to “ROLE REVERSAL”
Haha! A good one Iain. Loved the punch the ending carried. Never under estimate the work of a homemaker ☺️
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Absolutely, thank you 🙂
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For a moment I thought I was reading about an alternate state. Good one.
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Thanks Colline, that was my plan – how different things could be!
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I sometimes think the breadwinner has the easy option! Nice one Iain.
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It’s certainly nice to be able to escape for a few hours of peace at work! 🙂
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Love this! Great job! I still rememeber the days my husband came home from work and 6 kids under the age of 5 were running around and he would just look at me wondering how I was still sane. LOL! They were our 2 kids and our neighbor’s 4 kids. Our children became best friends, but they were definitely some wild years!
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I do the same when I get home to my wife and our twins! Thank you Joy 🙂
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Oh wow! You guys have your hands full with twins!
My pleasure! 🙂
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Fortunately, Iain, it seems the ladies are much more capable at this than we mere men😀
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They do say stereotypes have a certain amount of basis in truth…
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Think it would be difficult for anyone. Odds are it won’t be his fate but at least he might have empathy.
Wait for the labour pain… 😀
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Haha, that’s one nightmare he will want to avoid 🙂
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Great story! I hope Geoff keeps this in mind during waking hours 😉
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Thank you, I’m sure he will! 😉
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Dear Iain,
I hope that Geoff woke to be a more understanding and helpful husband. At least he could wake up from it. 😉 Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle, I think he may well learn to appreciate his wife more 😉
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Ha a nightmare indeed,
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Thanks Michael
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I hope Geoff now takes a fairer share of the housework! Nice gentle humour, Iain; I enjoyed it.
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Thank you Penny, much appreciated 🙂
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Good story Iain, though for some it’s a reality they don’t mind. Glad Hubby and I like to share the housework etc!
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Thanks Di
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Let’s hope he now has a fuller appreciation of both their roles in the household. Nicely done.
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Thanks Sandra
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The role reversal should make him realize that housekeeping isn’t easy. and he has realized it.
good take on the prompt.
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Thank you
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LOL great one, Iain.
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Thank you Janet 🙂
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Ha ha! Fantastic role reversal.
I think more men (at least, more enlightened men) are becoming aware of the realities women had been expected to juggle all these centuries … but there are still many who are absolutely totally clueless … even in ‘modern’ countries.
They should read your little story … 😉
Na’ama
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Thank you – I agree, some get it, more should!
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🙂 In time … It is a short history of women having any rights, especially when measured against millennia of oppression and control and minimization. Change takes time, and we are barely into a half-century of it, if that, and with much push back already, and many countries where even the first steps hadn’t yet been taken … With time …
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I really enjoyed this one and the last line was perfect! =)
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Thank you Brenda – it does seem to have been popular with the female readers this week! 😉
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This is brilliant! I hope men realize how lucky they are.
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Thank you Sadje – some do, more should 🙂
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Yes more should.
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“Egalia’s Daughters” is a novel with all traditional gender roles flipped. You might enjoy it. Probably not though 😉
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It may give me nightmares like Geoff 😉
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It sounds like he is on the verge of understanding… maybe it’s time he did some housework before it all explodes.
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You think he would have got it by now!
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That’s my life, except it’s three dogs instead of a baby, and I don’t cook.
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I hope you have someone who appreciates all you do 🙂
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I’m the appreciative one. I appreciate that she works and lets me live in her house and stay home to write.
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LOL. However, his nightmare is the reality for some men.
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Very true. Thanks.
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Roll reversal is not easy to accept, is it!
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It can be an eye opener!
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Haha, poor Geoff 🙂
Maybe (if he has a wife who takes care of things at home) this will teach him to appreciate her all the more!
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I certainly hope so!
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With more experience comes more tolerance and patience.
We feel more compassionate rather than judgmental, for we now know just exactly how much pain those little ones can cause.
Nice work!
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Thank you Vernon
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Satire at its most classic, Iain
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Thanks Neil
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Maybe he’ll have more empathy after that dream?
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You would hope so. Thanks Liz
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Women have to live through that ‘nightmare’ everyday.
But, some men have chosen this life and role-reversal too!
Keeping a house in order is really tough.
Three Musketeers – Anita
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Thank you Anita
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What a nightmare indeed. Sometimes I envy my sister with four kids, a lot of times I don’t. 🙂
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I feel the same about my wife and our kids! 😉
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he must be relieved that it’s just a dream. for what it’s worth, it gives him an idea what every homemaker has to go through everyday. 🙂
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Hopefully he understands a bit better now!
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As a dad of twins, I’m thinking you know of what you speak!!
Good one.
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Oh yes, it is written from experience this one! 😉
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🙂
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Nice one, Iain. Now he has an idea of what it’s like to be a homemaker.
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Hopefully he will empathise more now!
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Nice twist, Iain!
https://authorshutterbug.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/fridayfictioneers-the-fortuneteller/
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Thank you DB
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Brilliantly done. Role reversal for the ages. Well done. And good to see happening with some fabulous families
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Thank you Laurie, glad you liked it 🙂
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Ah, ha, ha. This was both funny and well written, Iain. That would no doubt be a nightmare for many husbands. 😀 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I really enjoyed this. Punchy and plausible. Maybe we were on a similar theme, though, Iain.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Cleverly done Iain. for the first few lines, I assumed he was a woman. A witty way to consider gender roles. Nicely done.
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Thank you, glad you spotted my intention 🙂
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“” and rest for ten minutes before she got home”” these few words added a sinsiter element for me.
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Thanks, good spot, I wanted to hint at a domineering, even abusive spouse. Glad you picked up on it.
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Oh, Iain, this is a total treasure. The world turned upside down, for sure.
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Thank you Linda 🙂
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Don’t we wish it were real? Next night he dreams of having to work and do the housework, and tend to the kid while his wife feels she deserves rest. And the night following he’ll dream of being a single parent… And men in general can do everything women do and vice versa. Most men just don’t see the need to change things. Good one, Iain.
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Thank you, fortunately I think many men’s attitudes are changing, but it will take time 🙂
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That’s true. A lot has changed over the years. More needed, but there’s hope.
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To me, that would also be a nightmare… I admire homemakers who do so much and manage to stay sane! Nice one.
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Thank you 🙂
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I forgot to mention that I finally posted a brief review of your novel:
https://detoutetderien2015.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/a-justified-state-a-thriller-by-iain-kelly/
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Thank you so much for taking the time and so pleased you enjoyed the novel. Halfway through the sequel so far 🙂
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You’re welcome. Glad to hear that! ☺
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Ha! Poor guy. Good one Iain
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Thank you Kelley
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lol Funnily enough I just read a similar scene in a book where the father had to deal with his three children for a day. Quite an awakening. Well done! 🙂
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Thanks Sascha
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A big shock for him, I’m sure. Isn’t it funny how household tasks cause such problems in relationships. I think they should put that in pre-nuptial contracts, never mind the financial arrangements. I love this story – poor Geoff.
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It would keep everyone right if it was written down in law! Thanks Margaret
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Excellent role reversal there, Iain. Parenthood’s tough, no matter how you cut it. Great take on the prompt
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Thanks Lynn 🙂
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Haha, very relatable Iain. Fortunately for me, we had ours before the world had changed too much. 🙂
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Lucky you! 😉
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