IAIN KELLY

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

Archie stretched up and swung the hammer, managing to nudge the satellite dish.

‘How about now?’ he shouted through the window.

Agnes checked the television. ‘Still nothing.’

Archie sighed. He was not going to miss the first live football match in four months because the satellite signal was on the blink.

He made another lunge upwards. The hammer made solid contact. With a creak the dish toppled over.

Agnes watched the dish drop passed the window. There was some swearing. Then the ladders fell backwards and clattered onto the ground.

Archie’s feet dangled in air.

‘Everything alright, dear?’ Agnes called.


the-view
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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). After over three months, football (soccer) returns to the UK tonight – albeit in empty stadiums – another sign that things are gradually getting back to some sort of normality.

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.


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92 responses to “GETTING BACK TO NORMAL”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    Perhaps restarting the football was a mistake? Or perhaps the mistake was something else

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There’s a lot of ‘mistakes’ going around at the moment.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. ceayr Avatar

    Yeah, his team probably lost anyway.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He has that kind of luck.

      Like

  3. Tannille Avatar

    Some things just aren’t DIY. Had a good chuckle.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Excellent, thanks for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Reena Saxena Avatar

    A naive question? 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      An ‘I told you so’ question. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. justjoyfulness Avatar

    That happens to me when I obsess over something 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      LOL 🙂

      Like

  6. MrBinks Avatar
    MrBinks

    Brilliantly witty (though I’m not sure Rod Hull would find it as such!)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ah, poor Rod – still an inspiration to us all.

      Like

  7. Anita Avatar

    Hope he’s okay.
    Football match isn’t worth this trouble. They could have watched with their neighbour.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, true, or just peered in his window 🙂

      Like

  8. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    I’d say he’s doomed as far as the football match is concerned. You did give me a chuckle.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Job done! Thanks Rochelle.

      Like

  9. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Goodness, that was a very relaxed response from Agnes! Made me smile though.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Agnes is the queen of understatement.

      Like

  10. Sadje Avatar

    Oh what a bummer!
    Great take on the prompt

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sadje

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        You’re welcome 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Danny James Avatar

    I don’t think everything is alright.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not by a long shot! Thanks Danny

      Like

  12. Dragon Warrior Avatar

    A really great take on the prompt. You did make me laugh.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Then my job is done! Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. scr4pl80 Avatar

    LOL I’ve missed Archie and Agnes. I would feel that way about baseball. Have a great week!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You to Janet 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. notestowomen Avatar

    Poor Archie. It’s great to see this fun duo again. Thanks for the chuckle, Iain 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re welcome, thank you for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. notestowomen Avatar

        You’re welcome. Always a pleasure reading your stories 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  15. magickmermaid Avatar

    LOL Agnes is so calm. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She’s used to him! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Dale Avatar

    How long is she going to let him hang there, I wonder? 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      As long as she thinks necessary! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar

        Poor bugger.

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Gabriella Avatar

    Oops. There is a reason there are experts in all fields. Poor Archie!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      And there is a reason Archie is not one of them!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Rowena Avatar

    Great story, Iain. Really made me chuckle. Apparently, the hospital emergency rooms have been spared a lot of accident and drunken fight type injuries during lock down and there weren’t typical nights in emergency.
    We’re coming out of lock down here in Australia. There have been some cases in Victoria but largely no local cases ust people returning from overseas. We went back to church for the first time last weekend and that was great, although not everyone was social distancing and it felt weird dodging hugs. It’s the first time I’ve ever played hard to get.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, it’s hard to social distance when you see others not observing it, but I hope they understand. Glad you liked the story. Here in the UK hospitals did see a rise in DIY household accidents as those stuck at home decided to do home improvements – whether qualified to or not!

      Like

  19. Tina Stewart Brakebill Avatar

    Sounds like a perfect normal to me 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I know several men like Archie for sure.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Great physical comedy in this

    Liked by 2 people

  21. James McEwan Avatar

    We have all been there, adjusting that satellite dish. I wonder if Agnes was ever going to say the signal was good. Why would she want to watch the football?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’ve made Agnes more cunning than I had imagined her to be! But you could be right.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. pensitivity101 Avatar

    oh so funny. Makes me glad we haven’t got a TV anymore!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Di 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  23. msjadeli Avatar

    Not the best day for old Arch, is it. “Some days are better than others.” — U2

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Good song. Yep, not his day at all.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Whoops – oh dear! I hope there are bushes below to break Archie’s fall. Nicely written, Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Perhaps a neighbour’s trampoline will make a handy landing! 😉

      Like

  25. granonine Avatar

    Oh my word! I was feeling bad for poor Archie, but you made me laugh out loud with his wife’s question. “Everything all right, Dear?” Hilarious!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I imagine she said it with a raised eyebrow and a sigh! Thanks Linda 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  26. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Might have wanted to use a little less force. 😉 Great story!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Typical man, always lacking subtlety!

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    Poor Archie. Something tells me she is not a “football wife” …

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think she may have enjoyed the break from having to sit through the football! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

        “Enjoyed the break” !!!!!! (I’m laughing out loud!) Good one … 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  28. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    If customer service over there is anything like it is over here, Archie took the less painful path. A fall might break his body, but calling customer service will break his soul.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      True, no chance they would get it fixed in time for the start of the game!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    reminds me of the Rod Hull tragedy, good take on the prompt, I don’t think he would have complained missing the villa sheffield game!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      After 100 days of waiting – 0-0. 2020 at its finest there.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

        With VAR screwing up royally!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        At least some things never change.

        Like

  30. plaridel Avatar

    it must be time to call a pro to do the work. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s always the best way.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Is Agnes related to Hyacinth Bouquet?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Struck from a similar mould!

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Sandra Avatar

    Agnes sounds really, really concerned. 🙂 Thanks for some light relief.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She has a knack for understated reaction. You’re welcome Sandra 🙂

      Like

  33. draliman Avatar

    Well, Agnes doesn’t seem too bothered. Months without football, shame to spoil it now…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She could probably do without it for a while longer 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  34. wmqcolby Avatar

    I laughed out loud on this one, Iain! SO true, especially when it comes to adjusting antennae in the bad weather.

    You get my first “five out of five” for the week — Five out of five broken satellites. 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much, I am suitably honoured 🙂

      Like

  35. Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio Avatar

    Oh, that would be quite a predicament!
    Ronda

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      How will he get down?! Thanks Ronda

      Like

  36. Laurie Bell Avatar

    OMG comedy of errors! No TV at all now. Seems somewhat symbolic !

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It sums up 2020 for most!

      Like

  37. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    It seems that the only goal was a home goal.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  38. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    I had a nice chuckle at this slice of life. We’ve all had days like this, in one way or another. Oy!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Brenda, glad you enjoyed!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    Thanks, Iain, for the Saturday morning chuckle.
    It looks like he’s missed the game. He’ll feel better
    if his team loses and he missed seeing it. 🤪
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, true, maybe it was fate telling him not to watch! Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Kelley Farrell Avatar

    I think it’s a sign …

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It definitely was! 🙂

      Like

  41. Moumita De Sarkar Avatar

    Oops ! Is he okay now?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Well, he’s still with us so he must have got down somehow 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Woman walking Max Avatar

    Such an imaginable scene. The comical ending made me smile !

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Job done – thank you 🙂

      Like

  43. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    So true to life I could hear the lilt in the wife’s voice. Good job.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dawn

      Liked by 1 person

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