‘Is he still out there?’ Frank asked.
Agnes turned away from the window, ‘He won’t give in. I did tell him the weather forecast.’
It was admittedly crowded in the house, but it made for a cosy atmosphere for their annual reunion.
A howl of wind rattled the windows.
Outside Archie clung to the gazebo as it threatened to take off. He had paid for the damn thing, and he would bloody well put it up.
An hour later he stood under the twisted awning, drinking contentedly from his bottle of beer.
Everyone else remained inside the warm house.
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.
Read more short stories featuring Agnes and Archie: THE AGNES AND ARCHIE STORIES
I’m excited to announce my second novel, ‘State Of Denial’, a sequel to last year’s ‘A Justified State’, will be published on the 27th September 2019.
You can watch the teaser trailer for ‘State Of Denial’ below:
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au Amazon.in
The paperback version will be published simultaneously on the 27th of September.
Thank you to all those who have already bought and read ‘A Justified State’ and for the many kind reviews and comments. I hope you will enjoy the sequel and how the story continues just as much.
For those who want to see how the story begins, ‘A Justified State’ is available now on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle:
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au Amazon.in
Iain Kelly 
97 responses to “DEFINE OBSTINATE”
At least he’s not insisting on throwing meat on the barbie. Good character piece, Iain
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With more than 100 words, he may well have done. Thanks Neil
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Too stubborn for his own good. Everything is better with beer.
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One day his stubbornness will be a positive virtue – but not today 😉
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Archie has his own reasons for sure.
When he made his choice, he must endure!
Congrats for your novel! Best wishes 🙂
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Thank you Anita, I hope you get the chance to check it out 🙂
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This really made me chuckle. Thanks, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan, nice to spread a little chuckle 🙂
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I think I know a man like that. Oh wait… do I know any men who aren’t like that?
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And we are proud to be so 😉
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Dear Iain,
Some people won’t listen to reason no matter what. I could picture him out there with his beer and his attitude. Good one.
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Thank you Rochelle – this is of course based on myself! 😉
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Some people never learn. Great use of the prompt.
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Thank you Michele, much appreciated 🙂
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A little cutting off the nose to spite one’s face going on here! Love it. And we kinda sorta were on the same page, eh?
Oooh! Looking forward to Part 2!
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Thanks Dale, yep, similar themes this week!
Glad you are looking forward to it – hope it lives up to expectations! 😉
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I’m not worried 😉
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Love this character. You could really see him.
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Thank you, much appreciated
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Hilarious 🙂 I think your guy is related to my guy.
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I think most guys have a little bit of this in them 🙂
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I think you’re right 🙂
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You describe Archie so well! He sounds a bit like some really stubborn people in my own life. =) Cheers to him, following through and all. Even at risk to his own safety.
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He’ll view it is a task completed, just like he said he would! Thanks Brenda
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Away inside, ya numpty!
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You know that’s not the attitude when holding a West of Scotland BBQ 😉
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There’s one in every extended family … 😉
At least he’s out, doing his thing, rather than in, moaning about NOT doing his thing … 😉
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That’s true – keeps him out the house and occupied! 🙂
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🙂
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You have to admire his determination! At least he was drinking contentedly.
Enjoyed book one – looking forward to number two!
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Thanks Keith, hope it lives up to expectations – have a beer while reading it 😉
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Way to stick with it mate!
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Way to stick with it mate!
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There’s something admiral about his efforts! Thanks Danny
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LOL. I love your Archie stories.
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Thank you Deborah 🙂
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Ha ha. I’ve missed Archie.
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Thank you – it’s nice to be missed 🙂
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Could well have been us, we were determined to have our first BBQ in our new house, and it bucketed down, so we got an umbrella.
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It’s the British way of BBQ-ing! 🙂
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Our neighbours thought we were nuts…… this was confirmed with the snowman on Christmas Day when there was no snow. There had been at 6am when we first got up!
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Thanks for the chuckle, Iain. Got to love Archie who doesn’t give up. Good for him.
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Thank you so much, glad it gave you a laugh
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Humorous story, and I like the video on your new book.
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Thank you, hope you get the chance to check the book out too.
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You’re welcome, Iain.
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There’s a time to be stubborn, and there’s a time to have that beer on the couch. I hope Archie’s learning the difference.
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Never defeated is our Archie, even when he really should accept it!
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Maybe he was doing it just to be away from that crowd of ‘friends’ 🙂
All the best for your new book Iain.
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That could very well be his motivation! Thank you, hope you get a chance to check it out.
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A very familiar British BBQ scene well told! Funny as it is true! BTW I just finished reading A Justified State, and am delighted to learn the second of the trilogy is out soon, I very much enjoyed the book and am eager to learn what our characters get up to next. I’ll write an Amazon review when I get back from holiday.
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Excellent, thank you so much for reading it, and look forward to your review, always like to get a bit of feedback. Hopefully the 2nd one will live up to the first!
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Maybe he was just looking for a reason to get away from the reunion!
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Very true, a good way to look at it! 🙂
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Someone has to protect the gazebo. Not everyone can stay in the warm and cosy room.
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Very true, thanks Abhijit
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Well, as long as he was contented …
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He’s a simple man with simple needs 🙂
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A good story, Iain. If the wind blows any harder he’ll be searching the area for pieces to put back together. Well written. 🙂 — Suzanne
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He wouldn’t let that stop him! 🙂 Thanks Suzanne
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😀
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I’m with Archie. Can’t let a bit of weather stop you, especially in this country!
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We’d never start camping or BBQs if we let the weather stop us!
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I’d call him a D* fool. Then again, I’ve watched things fly that should never be able to be airborne.
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One man’s fool is another’s hero…or something like that! 😉
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i sure hope he got his money’s worth. 🙂
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You can bet he made sure he did!
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LOL…I think I know that guy!
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It seems everyone knows someone like him! 🙂
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A relatable character…good job!
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The very definition of obstinate. But as long as he is onlt harming himself, let him be!
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Very true, no one else was harmed 🙂
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This made me laugh. I can remember how often our BBQ party ended up standing the garage waiting for the rain to stop. so true.
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And usually it is the man who is left alone in the rain to cook the BBQ while the guests wait in the dry for the food to arrive! Thanks James.
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Well.. at least he had his version of fun… maybe the company wasn’t that great anyway
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Like many, I think he prefers his own company. Thanks Bjorn.
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Haha talk about stubborn. But he made it work for himself. This gives a real sense of reality, Iain.
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Thank you Laurie 🙂
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I can sympathize with the man. He did pay for it, and I’m certain he had plans when he did. Plans that nothing, not even Mother Nature, was going to put a stop to!
So great that the second book is coming soon! I’ll be picking it up for sure.
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Thanks Russell – can’t let a bit of inclement weather ruin the BBQ!
Glad to hear, hope you will like it as much as the first. Just putting the finishing edits to it now 🙂
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I know this fellow well. He’ll eventually be vindicated.
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In his own mind, he already has been! Thanks Jo 🙂
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A drink in the hand softens can help during a storm. So what if you lose a canopy that you rented, Have another drink and you won’t be so sad about all the money this is going to cost you! Fun story!
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Thank you Nan 🙂
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Loved this, Iain. LIke other readers, I felt like I knew Archie. Couldn’t exactly attribute him to someone I know but he’d fit in real well. I could well see myself being a bit like that. You fork the money out and hook or by crook you’re not going to waste it. I have this problem cooking for parties and having all these homemade cakes etc left over at the end and it almost makes me feel sick having so much waste and I try to eat what I can but shouldn’t. Put stuff in the freezer. Give it away. There’s defintiely a bit of Archie in me.
Congratulations on the book.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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I too am a bit like Archie – this is slightly based on a real time when we had a full house of guests, bad weather, and a gazebo I still managed to put up in the rain and wind. Fortunately it didn’t end up in such a bad state as the one in the prompt!
Hope you might get a chance to check out the book, looking forward to hearing what people think of it, Best, Iain
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Having one’s own personal space is a very valuable item, I am off to the garage, no beers unfortunately
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Thanks Mike – enjoy your own space 🙂
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Great character. Best of luck with the book. Will check it out at some stage for sure. 🙂
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Thank you Lisa, hope you will enjoy it as much as the first one 🙂
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Ah, the joys of the British weather and the gazebo. Why do we do these things to ourselves when it rains so damn much? Made me smile, Iain. And best of luck with the new book launch – fantastic news
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Thank you Lynn – this summer seems to have been particularly ‘British’ in terms of weather! Hope you get the chance to check out the new book when it arrives 🙂
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Hasn’t it, though – pouring with rain, scorching hot, all over the place! I’ll be watching. come the end of September – very best of luck with the new book, Iain. Well deserved 🙂
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Thank you Lynn 🙂
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My pleasure, Iain 🙂
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Some people are truly just so stubborn to their own detriment. I hope he doesn’t regret his decision to stay outside!
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I think he will decide he has been proved right in the end! Thanks Jade 🙂
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