How they had mocked him at Right-Angle Brick Co.: What’s wrong with an old-fashioned rectangle?
A deformed brick gave him the inspiration, he had to make order out of its irregularity. And here it was, laid out across the town square, each polygon snugly slotting together (debate still raged about whether they qualified as hexadecagons).
What was that? Lying in the middle of his masterpiece? With curves! A discarded piece of string. How dare they? It was sabotage. He screamed and ran across the square in fury.
As soon as he removed the string, he felt calm once more.
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.
Iain Kelly 
64 responses to “AESTHETICALLY PLEASING”
And yet, the string promised infinity! Still, infinity is abhored by physicists. It makes the maths messy
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He will be infinitely annoyed, if that’s any consolation.
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[…] AESTHETICALLY PLEASING — Iain Kelly […]
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Dear Iain,
It’s rather like a fly stuck to a Rembrandt. Or a picture cockeyed on a wall. For a perfectionist with OCD these things are sheer torture. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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There’s nothing like an episiode of OCD to start you off on the wrong foot for the day. Great take, Iain.
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Can’t things just be the way they were meant to be though! Thanks Sandra
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I think your guy needs a chill pill, Iain.
Made me grin.
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I’ve tried telling him to relax and go with the flow. Thanks CE
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Now, this guy takes pride in his work. Makes me wonder what else is going on in his life, he’s rather up tight.
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Too much pride, before the inevitable fall.
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I agree with him, those rectangles are quite boring. Maybe the string will make him think of some new shapes 🙂 Nice take, Iain.
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Yes, for his next project! Thank you 🙂
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OCD! 🙂 Great lesson from the bricks.
String also teaches us -“no strings attached” 🙂
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Very true, thanks Anita
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And I see those bricks as dog biscuits…what does that say about me? 😆😆😂
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I wouldn’t like to say Liz!! 🙂
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😹 Probably wisest.
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Nothing wrong with a little change now and then. 🙂
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Rectangle bricks can be so boring! 🙂
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Nice piece of characterisation. I wouldn’t want to work for him!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan
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Hoo boy. Classic case of OCD. He’d be really hard to live with!
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And work with too I can imagine!
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Must admit, that would really annoy me too!
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I’m the same, but not to an OCD level thankfully!
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An OCD inflicted character. Gosh! How many stories here so full of them.
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It does make for good character.
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How interesting, yours is number five this week and there is already so much reference to OCD type behaviour. Shh! don’t tell the others, but I like yours more! 😉
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Does seem to be a theme, along with infinity, this week. Shucks, you’re only saying that! 🙂
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I get that way when someone fiddles with my records! Good stuff Iain
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I can’t imagine anyone ever fiddles with your reecords!
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Wait till people start walking on it. He best take a picture now and never again glance at his masterpiece.
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Agreed, better to remember it how it was!
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Order and chaos, they seem to go hand in hand. I hope he seek help, but he may loose his creativity
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It’s a trade off for sure. Thanks Michael.
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I like how you focused on the bricks. This is the great thing about writing prompts that are images…we all see different things. That is the beauty in diversity. 🙂
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Thanks Ashley 🙂
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Gawd.. what’s he gonna do when a bird poops on it?
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Tell me about it, and the litter, the tiny cracks… perhaps he better never look at it again!
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He’s done for!
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What a wonderful take on the photo prompt Iain. Your protagonist is a masterful creator, and also a perfectionist. Well done.
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Thanks so much
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full-fledged surrealism here. he can’t stand precisely lined up paving stones but his OCD is comforted by wavy-lined uneven ones, BUT a tiny piece of string sends him ballistic. he is either a madman or a genius — and is probably both 😉
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Bringing order to the wavy uneven lines is what saved him – only for it to be ruined! Definitely a bit of both 🙂
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🙂
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OCD seems like a hard thing to me, but you portrayed it so beautifully and realistically. I loved it!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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It sounds like order rules his life, though he did come up with a great “out of the box” idea.
And thanks for making me spend several minutes counting edges. They do appear to be hexadecagons!
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Haha, glad someone else counted them too! 🙂
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A sweet, funny little tale this week. Brought a much needed smile. Thanks. I can just envision his flip out… a bit like me when Hubby touches my quilt pieces that I’ve laid out in a particular order.
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Hubby should know better! 😉
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the guy needs to chill and relax for his own sanity. 🙂
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I’m not sure he’s able to do that! 🙂
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Glad he picked it up. Everyone knows lines and circles don’t belong together. Order must be maintained. I love the quirkiness of your story. Nicely done!
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Thanks so much Brenda
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Oh. This is a fabulous insight into a focused mind. I love the string reaction. All curves! Nicely done
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Thanks Laurie 🙂
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I warm to the story teller, and his wish for ordered curved bricks. He might be hard work at a social gathering perhaps ?
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Oh yeah, I think he will avoid them!
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He’s quite the perfectionist! Great take.
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Thank you
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The string might not be the only thing unravelling… Great story!
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Thank you 🙂
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