IAIN KELLY

FIRST DAY BACK

Lily knelt down and started picking up the books, trying to block out the laughs and stares.

She’d got it all wrong. Sneakers when everyone else had shoes. Short summer dress when everyone else wore leggings and tights. New plain backpack and all the cool girls had satchels. Hair plaited when the season’s look was shoulder-length and loose.

And when she couldn’t find her new locker, the pile of textbooks slipped and crashed onto the corridor floor.

She could feel the tears forming when the scruffy sandals appeared on the floor in front of her.

‘You okay, kid?’

Copyright J Hardy Carroll

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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67 responses to “FIRST DAY BACK”

  1. Sadje Avatar
    Sadje

    This is a wonderful story

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Sadje 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Sadje Avatar
        Sadje

        You’re welcome 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

    It’s tough being young and trying to fit in.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s tough being middle-aged and trying to fit in, for teenagers it must be horrendous! Thanks for reading 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply
  3. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    At my forty year class reunion it was amazing to me to learn that the so-called popular kids had the same adolescent issues I did. Well told story of a traumatic first day.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    Reply
  4. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    That’s sweet, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  5. trentpmcd Avatar
    trentpmcd

    Very well done. It is hard to fit in.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Trent, it certainly is, and at the time it all felt so important. Looking back, it seems so trivial now

      Liked by 1 person

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

    A fine description of an angst ridden school first day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neel

      Like

      Reply
  7. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    I had a disastrous first day at grammar school. How this resonated… Very well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sandra.

      Like

      Reply
  8. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    Oh god, memories of my first day at grammar school…… grey ankle socks when everyone else was wearing knee highs, pinafore when everyone else was in skirts, mac that was the usual you’ll grow into it four sizes too big. Had I been a year later or my sister a year older, I could have had her hand-me-downs but we overlapped by a year. Mum and Dad did the best they could, I had good shoes and that mac was new.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      No matter what, I always managed to be out of step with everyone else at my school, but as Rochelle says, only later do you realise everyone is going through the similar feelings.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

    As someone who attended 7 different schools in 3 countries I can identify with Lily.
    Being different is the biggest crime for a child.
    I like that you conjured up a happy ending!

    PS Both Neil and you have used ‘Lily’ as the name. Is this coincidence or someone in the news?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil, felt like a happy ending was needed.
      If you look closely the girl is wearing a name tag on her top.

      Like

      Reply
      1. ceayr Avatar
        ceayr

        Ah, okay, I deleted her from my photo, so didn’t notice.
        And, sorry to be pedantic, but I ain’t Neil!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar
        Iain Kelly

        Whoops! It’s either because you mentioned Neil, or because I’m over 40 (by two weeks) now and starting to lose it…

        Like

  10. notestowomen Avatar
    notestowomen

    Wonderful story about a terrible first day at school.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, it got better in the end.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. notestowomen Avatar
        notestowomen

        You’re welcome. And yes, it did 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. bearmkwa Avatar
    bearmkwa

    Oh, you found my first and second grade memories. 2 schools in one year also had me in two grades. Moving mid school year made it very difficult. Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much

      Like

      Reply
  12. Danny James Avatar
    Danny James

    She’s not off to a good start but I think she will do ok.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Danny, seems like she won’t be alone for sure.

      Like

      Reply
  13. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    A friend in need! Great story 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Linda

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Dora Avatar
    Dora

    How many of us can relate to this! Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Dora

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    You’ve written that story with a lovely delicate touch. I loved the happy ending. I bet they’re still friends years later.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      For sure. Thank you Penny, always appreciated 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Ah! How fun that it seems we went for the same kind of ‘vibe’! 🙂
    Lovely.
    🙂
    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks, yep, great minds 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  17. HonieBriggs Avatar
    HonieBriggs

    Excellent, Iain. You just described my first day of junior high. That was a long, long, time ago, so, well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  18. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    Sometimes, that’s all it takes. A simple act of kindness can make all the difference. Well told. You’ve captured that real or imagined reality for a lot of us.

    Everybody’s protagonist is named Lily this week. 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. Merin K George Avatar
    Merin K George

    Good one, I can feel it have gone through similar situations

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, yes, and are going to be there for each other 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  20. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar
    theministryofshrawleywalks

    A friendly pair of shoes, Ken Kesey always said you could judge people on what shoes they were wearing, this person sounds like a saviour

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Nice, I like that 🙂

      Like

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

    So often those that stand out from the rest and don’t necessarily conform become the most successful in the long run.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      If only they could see that at the time. Thanks Keith.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    Hopefully, with a new friend like this, she will be okay. Nicely told.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Liz, I hope so too.

      Like

      Reply
  23. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    Her knight in shining sandals has appeared!

    And following on from Keith’s comment – who wants to be a sheep? (Well, I guess at school everyone who doesn’t want to get picked on, but still…)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Perhaps just pretend to be a sheep to get along and then… but why should they have to? Thanks Ali

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Oh this sets a first day scene perfectly. Great descriptions of the school group attitudes. She sounds like an individual. I hope the bullies don’t win.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

      Reply
  25. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    It’s amazing how many times those angels appear at the right time. I really enjoyed your story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  26. Russell Gayer Avatar
    Russell Gayer

    I was a farm boy in a school where my classmated fathers were doctors, lawyers, and highly-esteemed college football coaches. I can certainly relate. However, like Lily, there were a few kids who would reach out and help you to not feel so alone.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Russell

      Like

      Reply
  27. Girl in Niagara Avatar
    Girl in Niagara

    All that first day anxiety wrapped up in your lovely story Iain. I could feel it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  28. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    Great story! Definitely been there! Never fit in anywhere. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you – I hope you found those friends to help you through 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. ahtdoucette Avatar
    ahtdoucette

    What a beautiful little story. It almost brings healings to many terrible high school memories. Almost. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I tried! Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  30. subroto Avatar
    subroto

    Ah that awkward feeling in a new school captured so well. Nice one.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  31. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar
    Alicia Jamtaas

    Oh, just a hint of kindness always helps. You captured that well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Alicia

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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