THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE

He was sweating. His back ached. His arms couldn’t carry the heavy parcel much further along the pedestrianised street.

4300, 4301, 4302… Almost there.

He didn’t think about the walk back to the start of the street that awaited. His car was parked outside house No.1.

4376. He had made it. He dropped the parcel and slumped on it, catching his breath, letting his muscles recover.

He rang the bell on the gate.

No answer. Please God, no.

He tried again.

And again.

Sonuvabitch.

He took out a slip and checked the box: ‘Delivery attempted. Will try again tomorrow.’ He popped it in the mailbox and despondently picked up the parcel.

4376, 4375, 4374…

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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78 responses to “THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE”

trishsplace

15/07/2020

Poor baby! 😦

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  It’s a tough job being the delivery man on that street 🙂
  
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neilmacdon

15/07/2020

Who knew delivery drivers were more important than footballers?

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Don’t worry, normal service will be resumed shortly.
  
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Sandra

15/07/2020

The world we live in, on-line purchases and interminably long streets. Nice take, Iain.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thanks Sandra. Only in America have I found streets going up to No. 4376, but I’m sure they exist elsewhere too.
  
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MrBinks

15/07/2020

Brilliant. You wrote the story I attempted but failed at. I just couldn’t find the words so went in a different direction. I’m glad I did, because this told it better than I could 😀

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thank you, too kind. Look forward to reading your story.
  
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rochellewisoff

15/07/2020

Dear Iain,

You made me feel it all: the heat of the day, the weight of the parcel and the frustration of the delivery man. Well done.

Shalom,

Rochelle

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thanks Rochelle 🙂
  
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pensitivity101

15/07/2020

Note to self, bring trolley! When my delivery arrived, if no-one was here they would just leave it by the door, and take a picture of it as it didn’t need to be signed for. Who would be to blame should it go awol? Weren’t happy with that at all, so made sure we were home all day!! good post

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Moumita De Sarkar

15/07/2020

They should have an option to call the customers before attempting any delivery. Poor guy.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  It’s good exercise for him, and a good honest living!
  
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ceayr

15/07/2020

Well, this made me laugh.
I don’t know why, but I felt he was a miserable sod!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Aren’t all delivery people? You have to laugh…
  
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Tannille

15/07/2020

Damn, he’s getting fit!
Some days are about pushing crap up hill. 😀

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  For him it seems it’s most days! 🙂
  
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J Hardy Carroll

15/07/2020

An emotionally unstable delivery driver?

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  We’ve never had one who looked particularly happy to be honest 🙂
  
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granonine

15/07/2020

Oh my goodness, Iain. This is beautiful. The count back down is pure genius.

Wonder why the poor guy didn’t drive the package up to the house. Was he carrying mail, used to walking his route? And in the USA, package delivery is done without contact these days. No more friendly greetings, chitchat, signing for the box. COVID has changed us all.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Same here Linda, although I don’t think the UK has many streets that go up to the 4000s, that’s definitely more a US thing. I made the street pedestrianised so he couldn’t take his car – using the writer’s privilege to make the story work!
  
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  1. granonine
    
    15/07/2020
    
    Of course. I read that without really seeing it. Yes, writing is just about the ONLY thing in my life over which I have total control 🙂
    
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Anita

15/07/2020

Car parked at No.1. Oh no!
He should first call and then attempt delivery.
Here, they do that!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Some do that here, but it would ruin my story!!
  
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Anisha

15/07/2020

Poor postman!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Indeed 🙂
  
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  1. Anisha
    
    15/07/2020
    
    Just after reading your post, I read about a postman who trekked 15 km everyday for 30 years, to deliver letters in a remote area. He retired last month.
    
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  2. Iain Kelly
    
    15/07/2020
    
    I bet he needs the rest!
    
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  3. Anisha
    
    15/07/2020
    
    He surely does.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadje

15/07/2020

I feel sorry for the guy.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  He is the sort of guy who would just moan if you gave him sympathy 🙂
  
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  1. Sadje
    
    15/07/2020
    
    Still it’s a hard job.
    
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Sascha Darlington

15/07/2020

I could feel that frustration.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Yeah, it could be a good metaphor for a lot of struggles.
  
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Keith’s Ramblings

15/07/2020

I sympathise. My delivery guys have to climb 70 steps to my door and I bet they hate it when I’m absent!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  I’m sure you wouldn’t pretend not to be in just to see their reaction, would you Keith?!
  
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  1. Keith’s Ramblings
    
    16/07/2020
    
    Me? Noooo!
    
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Susan A Eames

15/07/2020

Poor chap. I could feel his frustration and fatigue. Nicely done, Iain.

Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thanks Susan
  
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Tina Stewart Brakebill

15/07/2020

Ha! My delivery person would have tossed it and ran. 🤣

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Mine too – a lot of them do! 😉
  
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neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

15/07/2020

Poor guy! Makes me wish for the good old days!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  When we went to the shops ourselves? I don’t see those days coming back anytime soon.
  
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magickmermaid

15/07/2020

I’m always home for important deliveries. 🙂 Great take on the photo!

LikeLiked by 1 person

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thank you – nothing worse than missing the delivery person!
  
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notestowomen

15/07/2020

Poor man. His frustration comes across very vividly in your story.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thank you
  
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Bill

15/07/2020

Good one. I wanted to add, “and that’s when he pulled out a gun (America, right?) and ended the story.” enjoyed it and all the comments.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  Thank you Bill, no guns this week!
  
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Gabriella

15/07/2020

Maybe he should ask for an easier route. Unless he just gets tired no matter what.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  15/07/2020
  
  I think he would always find something to complain about! 🙂
  
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msjadeli

15/07/2020

Oh dear! He needs a Segway with a trailer 😉

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Danny James

16/07/2020

Bet he gets in his 10,000 steps.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  Definitely good exercise – better than a desk job like I have!
  
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Alicia Jamtaas

16/07/2020

He actually seems to have a pretty good attitude about it all.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  I think he’s resigned to it 🙂
  
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draliman

16/07/2020

Looks like the planners of that street didn’t quite consider everything while planning their pedestrianised utopia…

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  Less cars, better for the environment. Just don’t order anything heavy online.
  
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justjoyfulness

16/07/2020

At least he got a workout 🙂 Just kidding! You described his angst very well.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  Yeah, good exercise. Thank you 🙂
  
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Liz Young

16/07/2020

He’s more concientious than those postmen who leave a note saying. ‘Left on front porch’, take a photo of it, and scarper/

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  I wonder how long he will take such pride in his work!
  
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Bernadette Braganza

16/07/2020

Time he got something to cart such parcels to their destination.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  Good idea, I’ll let him know 🙂
  
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plaridel

16/07/2020

if there was any consolation, there were no dogs chasing him. 🙂

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  16/07/2020
  
  Ha, true!
  
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Nobbinmaug

16/07/2020

I might feel bad for the guy if he couldn’t just drive. If Sisyphus had a crane, he wouldn’t be out there pushing that boulder.

Here they don’t always ring at all. I go out for my hike the next day, and there’s a package on the porch. If I lived in a different neighborhood, it might not be there that long.

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Brenda’s Thoughts

16/07/2020

Oh my, so well described I felt his pain and weariness. Poor guy!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  17/07/2020
  
  Thanks Brenda 🙂
  
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Laurie Bell

16/07/2020

Noooooooooooo

This is hilarious ! That poor package delivery man.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  17/07/2020
  
  Some days are just like that! Thanks Laurie
  
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Na’ama Yehuda

17/07/2020

This was VERY realistic! I could literally feel his poor arms aching! 🙂
In my building (though it is not at all a pedestrian street … ;)) we tend to buzz the delivery and parcel persons in for each other. Because by the time the UPS or USPS or FedEx people lug stuff out of their truck, onto the cart, up the stoop, to buzz the outer door … well … it is just sad if they’ll have to do the whole thing again another day. So, they know to buzz some other bells if the addressee isn’t in … Small kindnesses all around.
Poor dude in a LONG LONG LONG pedestrianized street. May I suggest a hand-cart? 😉

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Girl in Niagara

17/07/2020

Oh dear! I guess sometimes the postman has no choice but to ring twice. Good story Iain. Can definitely feel his pain.

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wmqcolby

18/07/2020

I think the guy would have had more luck counting pollen grains under a microscope … as long as he didn’t sneeze!

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subroto

19/07/2020

I feel for the postman and his repeated attempts, I thought the Postman always rings twice 😉

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ahtdoucette

19/07/2020

There has got to be a better way to do that. Like throw the package over the gate and if they want to fire you good luck finding someone else. I mean…. That would be wrong.

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Woman walking Max

21/07/2020

I felt his weariness, so well depicted Iain.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  22/07/2020
  
  Thank you
  
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