IAIN KELLY

THE BALLOON

Here he comes, full of bluster, just like his president.

He wasn’t ruining the holiday exactly, but every time that bellowing voice approached the pool area, the patrons visibly slumped.

‘Mornin’ y’all!’ He hefted his great bulk onto a lounger. ‘S’cuse me, boy! A little refreshment over here!’ The pool boy reluctantly answered the beckoning call.

‘I can’t take another day of this,’ I said to Cassandra.

We had come to relax and recover from the start to the year.

‘Hot air balloon?’ Cassandra raised an eyebrow.

I had resisted, now I agreed.

Might as well make use of all the hot air blowing around.


ronda-pov
Copyright Ronda Del Boccio

Written for Friday Fictioneers 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.


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94 responses to “THE BALLOON”

  1. Anthony North Avatar

    There’s a lot of it around at the moment. Nice one.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A pandemic in itself. Thanks Anthony.

      Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    At least he said “scuse me”. Manners maketh the man

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      True, it’s more than most can manage these days.

      Like

  3. Tannille Avatar

    Now that’s recycling! Great last line.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. ceayr Avatar

    I like that your title doesn’t refer to the thing that flies!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m not sure it is just a Scottish insult, or whether the rest of the world would use it in the same way, but it is a Scottish use that I am quite proud of!

      Like

  5. justjoyfulness Avatar

    Hahaha 🙂 Good one! I too took up the hot-air theme. I suspect there will be a lot of those 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The picture does suggest it, doesn’t it! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Dragon Warrior Avatar

    Your writing style is great and I especially loved the last line.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

  7. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Like it Iain. We’ve all met them!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Glad it’s not just me who seems to think I am cursed to always end up with them!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. pensitivity101 Avatar
  8. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Full of hot air is definitely a universal term. I’ll have to remember balloon. Rhymes with buffoon, doesn’t it? Good one.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle. It’s perhaps a Scottish (or even Glasgow) thing that we would call someone who is full of hot air a balloon, always preceded by an expletive. We also apply it equally to those we dislike and between friends if they disagree on something! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. rochellewisoff Avatar

        It works. It just might become part of this yank’s vocabulary. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Lynn Love Avatar

        Oh, love that! Never heard it before but I’ll gladly use it now 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Perhaps it only works in the harsh West of Scotland accent 😉

        Like

  9. Sadje Avatar

    Ha! Good one Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        You’re welcome 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  10. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Boy I hear you there! Well done

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 😉

      Like

  11. Lynn Love Avatar

    Nicely done, Iain. Definitely worth the price and the slight risk to balloon away from this ‘balloon’ 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Lynn 🙂

      Like

  12. magickmermaid Avatar

    Great story! There’s quite a lot of hot air from a certain orange balloon…… 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There’s a few about at the moment! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Anita Avatar

    That’s smart usage of the hot air around!
    We need more such resourceful persons for our world! 🙂
    Stay safe!
    A Whole New World – Anita

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Anita

      Like

  14. joyroses13 Avatar

    Ooh yes! LOVE it! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

      1. joyroses13 Avatar

        You are welcome! I like how your stories may be fiction but they have really in them!

        Liked by 1 person

  15. granonine Avatar

    I am more than ready to be done with the hot air circling the globe. A cool-down would be wonderful!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Wouldn’t it just, but it seems to be non-stop at the moment.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    Well played.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. msjadeli Avatar

    Incisive and entertaining, Iain. I think he should go up in the balloon, get real high in the sky, then have a projectile-assisted malfunction over shark-infested waters.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Wow, harsh, lol 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  18. MrBinks Avatar
    MrBinks

    They’re everywhere aren’t they. Nice take!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m surrounded! Thanks for reading 🙂

      Like

  19. EagleAye Avatar

    Haha! Love it. I took my story in the same direction. I guess you can’t pass up an opening like that. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  20. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    LOL! Perfect! Yep – if we could harness all the hot air going around here now, we’d be able to lift off the world into another galaxy …

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  21. michael Avatar

    Iain that is a great use of hot air, but what happens when he takes nap

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure there are plenty of others who could take his place. Thanks Michael

      Like

  22. Tina Stewart Brakebill Avatar

    If only that hot air actually could be put to good use 🤣

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Think of the energy we could generate!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Dale Avatar

    Hah! Good one.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  24. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    I’ve met people like that, rings perfectly true, good stuff.

    Liked by 2 people

  25. JoHawkTheWriter Avatar

    I didn’t know that meaning for balloon. Learn something new every day.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. draliman Avatar

    Ha, a welcome break. Clever use of “hot air”. If they could stand it, they could take that chap along and save fuel!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      If he had a mute button, sure!

      Liked by 1 person

  27. plaridel Avatar

    i love the sneaky kind of humor. well done. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    If he bumps into a gasbag there’ll be an almighty explosion!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 Thanks Keith

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Gabriella Avatar

    I think I might have agreed to a hot air balloon ride myself. Some folks can ruin anything.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Gabriella 🙂

      Like

  30. Liz Young Avatar

    I’ve felt like that on many an occasion – ‘Beam me up, Scotty!’

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      When you need a holiday from the holiday! Thanks Liz

      Like

  31. Laurie Bell Avatar

    I’m with them, get away while you can. Hopefully the two and a lovely peaceful time floating around

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie, any peace is welcome at the moment!

      Like

  32. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Bad enough to be on holiday with the balloon, but just suppose you were on lock-down with him? Nice story, Iain

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That would be a nightmare. I imagine there are a few people re-evaluating relationships after lockdown! Thanks Penny.

      Like

  33. ahtdoucette Avatar

    Oh my. I’ll admit, I was thinking of this metaphor too. That’s not the only issue I have with the idea of flying via heated air, but … yeah. I like down to earth people, people with whom I may not always agree but at least they’re willing to stand for something. It’s important to stand up for things. Like civil rights, including my right to never get into a hot air balloon. Hope you have a great week!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, thanks Anne 🙂

      Like

  34. trishsplace Avatar

    Loud people spoiling the peace, got it. Full of hot air, got it. Beam me up Scottie, in a balloon!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There’s no escape! Thanks Trish.

      Like

  35. James McEwan Avatar

    The trouble I notice is the Americans who are all bluster and loud don’t know other people exist. I stayed at a holiday hotel in Aruba and I noticed that even the wife of a particular US person kept away from him at times.
    I will point out that this was an isolated case.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks James. I should add I think the British can be just as bad!

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Russell Gayer Avatar

    I’ve always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, but I’m afraid if the air came from a politician it would have a terrible smell.

    Liked by 2 people

  37. Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio Avatar

    Good story. I had such fun riding in that balloon.
    Ronda

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Ronda!

      Like

  38. Woman walking Max Avatar

    Lots of hot air at the moment ! I like the witty way you tell the story .

    Liked by 2 people

  39. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Alas .. this hot air will not make you fly, it will bring you down like a Lead Zeppelin

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s the feeling about the whole world at the moment. Thanks Bjorn.

      Like

  40. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Haha…that’s one way to get away from it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dawn 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  41. magarisa Avatar

    The last line is priceless! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  42. tedstrutz Avatar

    Good one. Stakeout. But, was it really the old lady across the hall?

    Liked by 2 people

  43. that little voice Avatar

    Welcome to that little voice and thank you for following my blog.

    Like

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