Iain Kelly

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…

the-gate
Copyright Jean L Hayes

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”

  1. trishsplace Avatar
    trishsplace

    Poor baby! 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s a tough job being the delivery man on that street 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  2. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    Who knew delivery drivers were more important than footballers?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Don’t worry, normal service will be resumed shortly.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

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

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sandra. Only in America have I found streets going up to No. 4376, but I’m sure they exist elsewhere too.

      Like

      Reply
  4. MrBinks Avatar
    MrBinks

    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 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, too kind. Look forward to reading your story.

      Like

      Reply
  5. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rochelle 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  6. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Moumita De Sarkar Avatar
    Moumita De Sarkar

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s good exercise for him, and a good honest living!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Aren’t all delivery people? You have to laugh…

      Like

      Reply
  9. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      For him it seems it’s most days! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. J Hardy Carroll Avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    An emotionally unstable delivery driver?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      We’ve never had one who looked particularly happy to be honest 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  11. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      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!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. granonine Avatar
        granonine

        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 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Anita Avatar
    Anita

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Some do that here, but it would ruin my story!!

      Like

      Reply
  13. Anisha Avatar
    Anisha

    Poor postman!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Indeed 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Anisha Avatar
        Anisha

        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.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        I bet he needs the rest!

        Like

      3. Anisha Avatar
        Anisha

        He surely does.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Sadje Avatar
    Sadje

    I feel sorry for the guy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He is the sort of guy who would just moan if you gave him sympathy 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Sadje Avatar
        Sadje

        Still it’s a hard job.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Sascha Darlington Avatar
    Sascha Darlington

    I could feel that frustration.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yeah, it could be a good metaphor for a lot of struggles.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’m sure you wouldn’t pretend not to be in just to see their reaction, would you Keith?!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
        Keith’s Ramblings

        Me? Noooo!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

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

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Susan

      Like

      Reply
  18. Tina Stewart Brakebill Avatar
    Tina Stewart Brakebill

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Mine too – a lot of them do! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar
    neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      When we went to the shops ourselves? I don’t see those days coming back anytime soon.

      Like

      Reply
  20. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you – nothing worse than missing the delivery person!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. notestowomen Avatar
    notestowomen

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  22. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Bill, no guns this week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Gabriella Avatar
    Gabriella

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think he would always find something to complain about! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    Oh dear! He needs a Segway with a trailer 😉

    Like

    Reply
  25. Danny James Avatar
    Danny James

    Bet he gets in his 10,000 steps.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Definitely good exercise – better than a desk job like I have!

      Like

      Reply
  26. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar
    Alicia Jamtaas

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think he’s resigned to it 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  27. draliman Avatar
    draliman

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Less cars, better for the environment. Just don’t order anything heavy online.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  28. justjoyfulness Avatar
    justjoyfulness

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yeah, good exercise. Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. Liz Young Avatar
    Liz Young

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I wonder how long he will take such pride in his work!

      Like

      Reply
  30. Bernadette Braganza Avatar
    Bernadette Braganza

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Good idea, I’ll let him know 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  31. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ha, true!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  33. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar
    Brenda’s Thoughts

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Brenda 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  34. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Noooooooooooo

    This is hilarious ! That poor package delivery man.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Some days are just like that! Thanks Laurie

      Like

      Reply
  35. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar
    Na’ama Yehuda

    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? 😉

    Like

    Reply
  36. Girl in Niagara Avatar
    Girl in Niagara

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

    Like

    Reply
  37. wmqcolby Avatar
    wmqcolby

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

    Like

    Reply
  38. subroto Avatar
    subroto

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

    Like

    Reply
  39. ahtdoucette Avatar
    ahtdoucette

    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.

    Like

    Reply
  40. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    I felt his weariness, so well depicted Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply

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