IAIN KELLY

A BOOT IN THE…

Talk about kicking someone when they’re down.

No job, no money. Now the car had packed in. What next?

He aimed a kick at the car door and felt the bone in his foot crack.

‘Sonovabitch!’ He crumpled in agony.

‘That’ll be a fracture,’ said a voice from above.

He looked up at the postman.

‘Expert, are you?’ The postman shrugged. ‘Not going to help me up?’

‘Sorry mate, got my rounds to do.’ The postman handed him a letter and walked off.

‘Bastard.’ Letter from a publishing house. Another rejection no doubt.

He opened it:

‘We would be delighted to meet you with the view to taking this forward to publication.’

‘Sonovabitch,’ he smiled.

Copyright Stayinclayjars

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 more stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

‘The Barra Boy’ is available now, and is the perfect Christmas gift for the readers in your life! You can find all the information for getting a copy HERE.

68 responses to “A BOOT IN THE…”

  1. Forestwood Avatar

    Yay! A promising letter at last. Excellent interpretation!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  2. Sadje Avatar

    Well something positive happened too. 👍🏼

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He was due some good news 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        Definitely

        Liked by 1 person

  3. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    That boot certainly has a silver lining. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  4. Shweta Suresh Avatar

    Well it looks like he has something to look forward to. Great take, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, hope you’re well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Shweta Suresh Avatar

        You’re most welcome. I’m good. I just got back to blogging after a very long hiatus.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Good to see you back 🙂

        Like

  5. Sue Avatar
    Sue

    Great twist. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sue 🙂

      Like

  6. Sandra Avatar

    There’s always something to look forward to. Sometimes good fortune finds you, sometimes you reach out and it’s there.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra

      Like

  7. trentpmcd Avatar

    Hopefully he’ll survive to see it in print…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, yes, hopefully his bad luck has passed!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. neilmacdon Avatar

    Just the medicine he needed

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      We all do need some medicine at the moment

      Like

  9. britcanwrites Avatar

    Haha. That was a fun read. Loved the way it turned out in the end.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    A chastised foot, fortunately it was not the hand

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He’ll need them for all the edits! Thanks Michael

      Like

  11. David Stewart Avatar

    Now that would make my day, broken foot or no. Actually, I’m sure most writers would volunteer for a broken foot if it got them a letter like that. 🙂 Great job.
    David

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, worth the pain!! Thanks David

      Like

  12. Andrea Robinson-Decorating Pumpkins Differently Avatar
    Andrea Robinson-Decorating Pumpkins Differently

    I hope the fractured foot part is fiction but the publication part is true. I saw one book cover so I’m thinking it is. Great story and love the creative spelling. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Andrea, no broken bones here, and one published book 😉

      Like

      1. Andrea Robinson-Decorating Pumpkins Differently Avatar
        Andrea Robinson-Decorating Pumpkins Differently

        Oh good! Happy to hear both! 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  13. creatingahome Avatar

    Lovely take.
    Hmmmm, that postman is not very friendly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  14. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Bootiful! His writing career just got a kick-start!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 Thanks Keith

      Like

  15. Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden) Avatar

    Happy to know this one publisher didn’t give the story the boot. Alana ramblinwitham

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 makes a nice change!

      Like

  16. Bill Avatar

    I could relate to your protagonist, Iain. I have felt all of that, except no acceptance letter. Is there such a thing? 🙂 Well told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’ve never seen one myself, but I’ve heard they exist somewhere out there!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Nice twist, some good news to go with the bad foot!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Swings and roundabouts.

      Like

  18. msjadeli Avatar

    Feels like it could be (loosely?) autobiographical? And that’s just how it goes. Nice slice of realism, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      No broken foot here, thankfully! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    I loved this! The timely yet unexpected good news made me smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Brenda 🙂

      Like

  20. Rowena Avatar

    Great story, Iain and I’m so glad his luck is changing. Perhaps, he’d like to go on a date with my ballerina with the broken foot. Might be a match made in heaven.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rowena 🙂

      Like

  21. poetisatinta Avatar

    Good twist when he thought the day was just getting worse 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  22. plaridel Avatar

    most definitely, the good news will ease the pain and the discomfort the fracture my bring. congrats! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    That would definitely improve even the worst of days.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Wouldn’t it?!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Dahlia Avatar

    Off to kick the car door….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      See if it brings you luck!

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Some good luck at last! And it sounds like it’s very needed

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

  26. DIYwriting Avatar
    DIYwriting

    A letter I would like to get one day!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Wouldn’t we all!!

      Like

  27. trishsplace Avatar

    Laughed. Liked the good news story and kicking the car (tyres) seems to be a theme this week 😁

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Bernadette Braganza Avatar

    Finally a ray of sunshine 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      At last 🙂

      Like

  29. granonine Avatar

    This is quite believable, Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Linda

      Like

  30. susanrouchard Avatar

    Thank you Ian for this very entertaining piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Indira Avatar

    Nice take.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Indira Avatar

        My pleasure,.

        Liked by 1 person

  32. starsinclayjars Avatar

    Oooh ouch! They say you have to hit rock bottom to bounce back up, right? Glad the upturn was quick!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Life can come at you quick!

      Like

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