IAIN KELLY

AESTHETICALLY PLEASING

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.

Copyright CE Ayr

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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64 responses to “AESTHETICALLY PLEASING”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    And yet, the string promised infinity! Still, infinity is abhored by physicists. It makes the maths messy

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      He will be infinitely annoyed, if that’s any consolation.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. AESTHETICALLY PLEASING — Iain Kelly | THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON... Avatar
    AESTHETICALLY PLEASING — Iain Kelly | THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON…

    […] AESTHETICALLY PLEASING — Iain Kelly […]

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

      Reply
  4. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    There’s nothing like an episiode of OCD to start you off on the wrong foot for the day. Great take, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Can’t things just be the way they were meant to be though! Thanks Sandra

      Like

      Reply
  5. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

    I think your guy needs a chill pill, Iain.
    Made me grin.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’ve tried telling him to relax and go with the flow. Thanks CE

      Like

      Reply
  6. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

    Now, this guy takes pride in his work. Makes me wonder what else is going on in his life, he’s rather up tight.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Too much pride, before the inevitable fall.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. justjoyfulness Avatar
    justjoyfulness

    I agree with him, those rectangles are quite boring. Maybe the string will make him think of some new shapes 🙂 Nice take, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yes, for his next project! Thank you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  8. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    OCD! 🙂 Great lesson from the bricks.
    String also teaches us -“no strings attached” 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Very true, thanks Anita

      Like

      Reply
  9. Liz H Avatar
    Liz H

    And I see those bricks as dog biscuits…what does that say about me? 😆😆😂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I wouldn’t like to say Liz!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Liz H Avatar
        Liz H

        😹 Probably wisest.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    Nothing wrong with a little change now and then. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Rectangle bricks can be so boring! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Susan A Eames Avatar
    Susan A Eames

    Nice piece of characterisation. I wouldn’t want to work for him!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Susan

      Like

      Reply
  12. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Hoo boy. Classic case of OCD. He’d be really hard to live with!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      And work with too I can imagine!

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Must admit, that would really annoy me too!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’m the same, but not to an OCD level thankfully!

      Liked by 1 person

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

    An OCD inflicted character. Gosh! How many stories here so full of them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It does make for good character.

      Like

      Reply
  15. jwdwrites Avatar
    jwdwrites

    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! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Does seem to be a theme, along with infinity, this week. Shucks, you’re only saying that! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar
    theministryofshrawleywalks

    I get that way when someone fiddles with my records! Good stuff Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I can’t imagine anyone ever fiddles with your reecords!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    Wait till people start walking on it. He best take a picture now and never again glance at his masterpiece.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Agreed, better to remember it how it was!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Michael Humphris Avatar
    Michael Humphris

    Order and chaos, they seem to go hand in hand. I hope he seek help, but he may loose his creativity

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s a trade off for sure. Thanks Michael.

      Like

      Reply
  19. AshleyDannie Avatar
    AshleyDannie

    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. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Ashley 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  20. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Gawd.. what’s he gonna do when a bird poops on it?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Tell me about it, and the litter, the tiny cracks… perhaps he better never look at it again!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        He’s done for!

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Girl in Niagara Avatar
    Girl in Niagara

    What a wonderful take on the photo prompt Iain. Your protagonist is a masterful creator, and also a perfectionist. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    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 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Bringing order to the wavy uneven lines is what saved him – only for it to be ruined! Definitely a bit of both 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  23. Dragon Warrior Avatar
    Dragon Warrior

    OCD seems like a hard thing to me, but you portrayed it so beautifully and realistically. I loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  24. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha, glad someone else counted them too! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  25. bearmkwa Avatar
    bearmkwa

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Hubby should know better! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    the guy needs to chill and relax for his own sanity. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’m not sure he’s able to do that! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much Brenda

      Like

      Reply
  28. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Oh. This is a fabulous insight into a focused mind. I love the string reaction. All curves! Nicely done

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  29. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    I warm to the story teller, and his wish for ordered curved bricks. He might be hard work at a social gathering perhaps ?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Oh yeah, I think he will avoid them!

      Like

      Reply
  30. magarisa Avatar
    magarisa

    He’s quite the perfectionist! Great take.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  31. J.A. Prentice Avatar
    J.A. Prentice

    The string might not be the only thing unravelling… Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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