IAIN KELLY

THE COLLECTOR

I love to collect all sorts of things – badges, stamps, books, tacky souvenirs, even clothes and shoes. If I see something I like, I have to have it. With the cost of living crisis and losing my job, I can’t afford to buy all the nice things anymore, but when I see something I want, I still have to have it. That’s when the shop lifting started. Burglary is a bit risky, so now, if I see someone wearing clothes or shoes I like, I just invite them back to my house. And I’ve found a new thing to collect, although the bodies do take up a lot of room in the garden.

Copyright Ted Strutz

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 State Trilogy and The Barra Boy available now.

All We Cannot Leave Behind coming February 2024.

60 responses to “THE COLLECTOR”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    Nicely chilling, Iain, with an impeccable chain of causation

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil. The cost of living crisis has affected us all, even the serial killers.

      Like

      Reply
  2. Michael Humphris Avatar
    Michael Humphris

    What can I say… You nailed the prompt

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Michael

      Like

      Reply
  3. James Pyles Avatar
    James Pyles

    So that’s where all those shoes came from.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Sadje Avatar
    Sadje

    A chilling story

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sadje

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Sadje Avatar
        Sadje

        You’re welcome Iain

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    Now that is a hoarder of another sort!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      More interesting than stamp collecting anyway! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        True dat!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Liz H-H Avatar
    Liz H-H

    Makes perfect sense to me.
    And it’s all about the SHOES!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Some will kill for their Jimmy Choo’s!! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    Makes perfect sense!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Linda, they are nothing if not logical!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. GHLearner Avatar
    GHLearner

    Sure, burglary is a bit risky so let’s collect bodies instead. What a fun read.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. joyroses13 Avatar
    joyroses13

    Oh gosh! LOL! Good one. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    Good stuff Iain. Don’t think I’ll come back to your place though!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Invite is open to all – wear your best footwear! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. pensitivity101 Avatar
        pensitivity101

        haha!!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Bear Avatar
    Bear

    Bear, here. This, is both funny and scary! At first I had to remind myself that you’re writing fiction. So many people out of work with strikes and such these days. Someone actually stole my ink pen and steno tablet last week at Mcconalds while I filled my cup… talk about sick!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Poverty is certainly a driver when it comes to crime- necessity breeds it.

      Like

      Reply
  12. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    Quite the collector. Chilling and funny at the same time.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

      Reply
  13. elmowrites Avatar
    elmowrites

    That “Burglary is a bit risky” line is perfect given what comes after. You’ve nailed a particular mindset, wonderfully unemotional.

    Jen

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you!

      Like

      Reply
  14. athling2001 Avatar
    athling2001

    A different kind of collector. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply
  15. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    2nd attempt at commenting. Cannibalism is a form of sustainable development.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks for persisting Sandra!

      Like

      Reply
  16. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Some say I am a collector. I say, an accumulator. Spouse says, a gatherer.

    But yes, I may need a larger garden.

    Nicely done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      🙂 Thanks Bill

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Liz Young Avatar
    Liz Young

    Eeek! Remind me not to come round for coffee!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      All are welcome 😉

      Like

      Reply
  18. jlennidorner Avatar
    jlennidorner

    Excellent work in so few words.
    What book did you most enjoy this year?
    May joy, peace, and goodwill be with you this season and always.

    J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you – so many this year, think I will go for Killers of the Flower Moon as a top pick!

      Like

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

    Another day another body, a minor inconvenience but worth it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s all about the shoes! Thanks Keith

      Like

      Reply
  20. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    Chilling!
    That’s an expensive collection with a huge price to pay

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Anita

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar
    Inside the Mind of Isadora

    A bit unsettling that he’s switched his colectables to something
    more ominous. But, I like the way the story unfolded. I wanted to
    know more. Gret one, Iain.
    Have a good weekend … Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you, you too!

      Like

      Reply
  22. poetisatinta Avatar
    poetisatinta

    Well Iain I did not see that coming 🙌

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Nice to catch you by surprise!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. The Sicilian Storyteller Avatar
    The Sicilian Storyteller

    Well, this certainly took a sharp unexpected turn.
    What an ending! I loved it, Iain!

    Like

    Reply
  24. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    But they fertilize so well. It’s really a win/win.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yep, garden’s looking lovely.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  25. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    Iain, what a chiller! I wonder how many start out in just such a convolutedly rationalized way…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think we all rationalise our actions – even serial killers!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        Good point, Iain.

        Liked by 1 person

  26. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    No-one’s immune from economic fluctuations. You’ve got inside the thinking of this character (psychopath maybe???) very convincingly. Chilling, particularly because of the matter-of-fact voice. I love what you’ve done her e,Iain. This was one I had to read to my husband. He loved it too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ah, lovely, thanks so much Margaret – glad husband enjoyed it too!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  27. Dawn M. Miller Avatar
    Dawn M. Miller

    Yikes!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Indeed!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  28. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    Well that took a dark turn… not a collection I would want to see. Hope the freezer is a big one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Laurie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. thisobscurelife Avatar
    thisobscurelife

    They say great minds think alike. We have similar stories. You have more backstory and motivation well done

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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