IAIN KELLY

JUST BECAUSE I’M PARANOID…

It’s just a tree. Nature at it’s most extraordinary. Why then does it look so menacing? Like an encircling web, or a tangled prison. Does it say more about my own character that I vilify it in this way? Is it symbolic of my own life? Am I trapped? Frustrated? Scared? My amble through the local woods has daily descended into to these dark musings. Time to return to burdensome reality. With a heavy step I turn my back on…

…bloody hell, who put that bloody great root there?

I pick myself up and brush off the dirt and leaves. The tree mocks me as I depart.

Copyright Liz Young

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.

Also linking to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge for today: Vilify

87 responses to “JUST BECAUSE I’M PARANOID…”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    An inkling of Ents here, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  2. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    Phew! Nothing sinister happened 🙂
    The tree read your thoughts & challenged you by surprising you with its cleverly put root!
    I believe trees do have lives and understand what’s going on.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      They certainly do, and they like to have a little fun 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  3. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    All those serious musings interrupted by clumsiness. It made me chuckle. Sounds like something that would happen to me. 😉 Well written.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rochelle, glad it got the intended chuckle 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  4. TheDreamGirlWrites Avatar
    TheDreamGirlWrites

    In your defense the tree does look pretty creepy!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It really does. Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Watch out Iain this is a tree that moves …Hobbits at dawn….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Now Hobbits – they are sneaky things!

      Like

      Reply
  6. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    A tree with a sense of humour… or malice.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A little of both perhaps. Thanks Sandra

      Like

      Reply
  7. Bear Avatar
    Bear

    Sorry, had to laugh at that ending. The rest of the story was so full of serious depth and introspection…then, pop, you twisted it. Oh, cruel one…. but, I did get a chuckle so all is forgiven. hehe!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      No need to apologise, I was playing it for laughs!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

    Now that tree sounds like a drinking buddy. I’m sure it laughed, strange world we live in. Enjoyed the thoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Yamini Ali MacLean Avatar
    Yamini Ali MacLean

    Hari OM
    LOL – oh you have to watch out for those trees… YAM xx
    (I bought your e-books… now to find time to read them, what with A-Z rising and all…cabin fever hit and have decided to do it on both blogs and Instagram!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks for reading and for buying my books, so very grateful 🙂 Don’t worry, you don’t have to have read them all by 1st April – the A-Z posts won’t give anything away 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    I saw it as having personality, too, Iain. I’m glad your character escaped!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Definitely has personality, a little bit of cheek I thought 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. granonine Avatar
        granonine

        More than a little 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Michele Jones Avatar
    Michele Jones

    Amazingly, nature can be both beautiful looking and evil in nature. It is all in how one looks at it, or in how one uses it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Michele, hope you are well.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    Trees are living things – be careful what you think when you’re among them!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Best to show them respect at all times.

      Like

      Reply
  13. Girl in Niagara Avatar
    Girl in Niagara

    Haha that’s a great ending Iain. What you get for mocking trees. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much, glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

    Aye, it doesn’t pay to knock Mother Nature.
    Nice sidestep into humour, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks CE

      Like

      Reply
  15. Mason Bushell Avatar
    Mason Bushell

    That’s a great fun short story and a wonderful picture. I bet that’s something like an oak being over run by a strangler fig. Well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Mason, glad you enjoyed it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Mason Bushell Avatar
        Mason Bushell

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    😀 A tree-mendous tale!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha! Thanks so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Well done – the tree that is! Nice one Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Keith 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    I saw the menace of the tree also, Iain. I love what you did with it!

    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

  19. jenne49 Avatar
    jenne49

    I hate a tree that has to have the last word! What a good twist at the end after the serious reflection. And I guess we’re all doing a lot of that these days.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Maybe a lot of us are spending too much time reflecting and not looking where we are going 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. jenne49 Avatar
        jenne49

        Yes, I think that’s a danger, but if we’re aware of the danger…

        Liked by 1 person

  20. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    been there and done that. now i always watch out for those roots when i walk in the woods. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s easily done 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. Russell Gayer Avatar
    Russell Gayer

    Ah, the tripping tree. I bet it shook heartily watching you go down.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      With a hint of a smile on its branches too.

      Like

      Reply
  22. Dora Avatar
    Dora

    There’s more to this tree than meets the eye, beware! Great take on the prompt, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Dora 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    I think you got off easy with that one. I wouldn’t recommend pushing that tree too far. It’s all fun and games until it gets angry.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Never does to upset nature too much!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    Back to reality with a bump! How nice to see the undignified interruption of pomposity!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Penny 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  25. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    At least his little trip-up pulled him from his dark thoughts. Though he probably has a persecution complex about trees now.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Just another thing to add to his list

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar
    Eugenia Parrish Author

    Man, I’m with you. I looked at that picture and thought, “That thing is scary — I’m not writing about that!” But you managed to put some humor into it, so maybe I’ll try again. Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Eugenia 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  27. Susan St.Pierre Avatar
    Susan St.Pierre

    A great ‘turn’ at the end. I liked this!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much Susan 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  28. ahtdoucette Avatar
    ahtdoucette

    We’ve been watching, and it’s not the tree, narrator. It’s you. Fun story that made me want to give a tongue in cheek answer to the unasked question.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Anne

      Like

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

    I think his musings offended the tree. He should be more careful next time. Very creative!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Brenda

      Like

      Reply
  30. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    I like this tree – he gave him a little what-for!
    That definitely got a chuckle out of me.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      The chuckle was the aim 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Success!

        Liked by 1 person

  31. Bernadette Braganza Avatar
    Bernadette Braganza

    I think that tree’s rooting for you 🙃

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      🙂

      Like

      Reply
  32. GHLearner Avatar
    GHLearner

    That was great. I can hear the tree laughing. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously, don’t we?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      We really do 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  33. Patricia Clair Avatar
    Patricia Clair

    I really felt like the tree was striking back! Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much Patricia

      Like

      Reply
  34. athling2001 Avatar
    athling2001

    Sneaky tree. I love this. Walking in the forest makes one prone to rambling thoughts and I like that the tree has a little bit of devil in it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A tree with attitude. Thanks so much 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  35. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Hahaha oh I love this. The deep thoughts of the meaning of life and then the tree’s revenge. Brilliant.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  36. oneta hayes Avatar
    oneta hayes

    Your story was comment maker for sure. I, like several others, had to laugh at the humbling end of this man and his philosophizing!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Sometimes we do need to be brought back down to earth. Thanks Oneta.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  37. Zelda Rene Avatar
    Zelda Rene

    It definitely looks like it would swallow you up if you got too near!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Zelda Rene Avatar
        Zelda Rene

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  38. subroto Avatar
    subroto

    Time to get the axe out 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Paranoid! You or the tree? Clever use of the prompt!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Or both! Thanks Neel 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  40. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    I like the musings style of the story teller, it rings bells for me of going for one’s lockdown walk grumbling to oneself.
    Apparently trees can communicate with each other through underground networks….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A walk in the fresh air is a good time to have these thoughts, just don’t over-indulge! 😉

      Like

      Reply
  41. joyroses13 Avatar
    joyroses13

    LOL!! Like that twist! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you!

      Like

      Reply

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