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

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Yeah, his team probably lost anyway.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. He has that kind of luck.

      Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Excellent, thanks for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. A naive question? 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. An ‘I told you so’ question. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Ha, true, or just peered in his window 🙂

      Like

  8. 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. Job done! Thanks Rochelle.

      Like

  9. 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. Agnes is the queen of understatement.

      Like

  10. Oh what a bummer!
    Great take on the prompt

    Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  11. I don’t think everything is alright.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Not by a long shot! Thanks Danny

      Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Then my job is done! Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You’re welcome, thank you for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

        Liked by 1 person

  15. LOL Agnes is so calm. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. She’s used to him! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. As long as she thinks necessary! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Liked by 1 person

  18. 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. 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. Sounds like a perfect normal to me 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I know several men like Archie for sure.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Great physical comedy in this

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Good song. Yep, not his day at all.

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Like

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Typical man, always lacking subtlety!

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

        Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

      1. With VAR screwing up royally!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. At least some things never change.

        Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It’s always the best way.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Is Agnes related to Hyacinth Bouquet?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Struck from a similar mould!

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

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

      Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. She could probably do without it for a while longer 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  34. 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. Thank you so much, I am suitably honoured 🙂

      Like

  35. Oh, that would be quite a predicament!
    Ronda

    Liked by 2 people

    1. How will he get down?! Thanks Ronda

      Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It sums up 2020 for most!

      Like

  37. It seems that the only goal was a home goal.

    Liked by 2 people

  38. 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. Thanks Brenda, glad you enjoyed!

      Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

  40. I think it’s a sign …

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It definitely was! 🙂

      Like

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Job done – thank you 🙂

      Like

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

    Liked by 2 people

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