Wednesday 10 July 2019

JEAN'S LITTLE HELPER - 100 word story

Hello, I'm back from a trip to Africa and was looking forward to writing some fiction again. This week's Friday Fictioneers gave us a photo of giant plugs. I scribbled down a story, but decided it was a bit predictable, so re-wrote something a little more surprising. Hope you like it.

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

JEAN'S LITTLE HELPER


Jean contemplated the ironing with a sigh.
Her dog yipped. 'What's up?'
'I hate ironing.'
'Take me for a walk.'
'Okay, come on.'
When they returned Jean sat down. She'd start the ironing soon.
'I could help, you know.'
'Don't be ridiculous.'
'You never take me seriously.'
'That's because this conversation is a figment of my imagination.'
The dog sighed.
Jean looked at the ironing pile.
'I could help, you know.'
'Shut up.'
Jean pushed the iron's plug into the socket. There was a small bang.
The dog looked guilty. 'Um... that wasn't supposed to happen.'
Jean stared at him.






I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 


If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE


If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 


- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.


On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been redirected to your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign into wordpress first. 
Please check and amend your settings. Thanks.




47 comments:

  1. At least she's also projected her chagrin onto the dog

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    1. He he - my dog takes the blame and the kudos all the time! :)

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  2. Dear Susan,

    Perhaps I should think about getting a dog. I'm afraid my ironing tends to pile up until I absolutely have to have something in the pile. Love the conversation that's a figment of her imagination. Amusing story. Welcome back!

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Thanks, Rochelle. Glad the story amused you.

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  3. I need a dog. And I need one now. Great story :)

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    1. Thanks, Sandra. I'm glad I decided to re-write it. :)

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  4. Haha I love the wacky humour in this piece! Great response to the prompt!

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  5. This is funny...always good to blame the dog because they never talk back. As for ironing....what’s that??🤪

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  6. Highly amusing, Susan, but I think the dog should have a name.
    Maybe Insanity or Voicesinsidemyhead or Rover, something like that?

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    1. I thought it worked better by keeping the dog anonymous, but perhaps I was wrong. Thanks for commenting.

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    1. Perhaps dogs know best? Thanks for the comment, Iain. :)

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  8. My roommate has three dogs. They get blamed for everything, especially bodily functions.

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    1. He he - yes, that's one way to describe it, Jade. :)

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  10. Sure. Blame the dog ;-) I do it all the time! :D

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    1. Price they pay for being man's best friend? :)

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  11. At least she doesn't have to do the ironing now her iron's blown up :-)

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    1. Yes, maybe I should have called this story 'Reprieve'. :)

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  12. Talking dogs! Magic realism and it is funny without trying (especially when the poor chap keeps chanting "I could help, you know..." :D:D)

    I never thought of that one. I also like how your entire story is show (through conversation) and not tell. Good one Susan :)

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    1. Glad you enjoyed my story, Rekha. Thanks for your kind comments.

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  13. I love your story!! My dog would do the same for me. xo

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    1. He he - thanks, Darlene - glad you liked my story. Whenever my dog looks at me with her head cocked to one side I like to believe it's because she's trying to work out how to help me. :)

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  14. Hahahahhahaa
    Oh I love this, very funny. I often held conversations with my dog. Now, the cats just ignore me. I guess I am not sufficiently entertaining.

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    1. He he - yes, dogs definitely want to engage with us, don't they?

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  15. Don't all dogs talk to their people? Welcome back from Africa - and I agree about the Wordpress blogs.

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  16. Well I know my dog talks to me! :)

    I get very frustrated when I can't comment on a Wordpress blog because the settings want me to sign into Wordpress! If I had a pound for every time I write out a comment and then find I can't post it...

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  17. I don't have a dog, but I have similar conversations - with myself!

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  18. I like the gentle humour of your story.

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    1. Thank you, Penny. The story wrote itself really.

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  19. Oops... Maybe the dog did have something to do with it?

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    1. It's open to interpretation by the reader. My interpretation is that the dog's attempt to prove it could help her went wrong and he accidentally blew the fuse. :)

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  20. it looks like everything's going to the dogs (pardon the expression.) she probably needs a boyfriend. :)

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  21. Hope your trip to Africa went well. I love the banter between the dog and its owner. Dogs are so expressive and if they could, I bet they would help with the ironing. =)

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    1. Thanks for the feedback, Brenda.
      (Africa was wonderful - Kenya for the second time.)

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  22. What a fun story! I do the same thing with my cat. Welcome back, Susan!

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    1. Thanks, Magarisa. Isn't that what pets are for? :)

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  23. I don't know what I did wrong, but I never had an animal offer to help me. They just wanted attention. Well done, Susan. ---- Suzanne

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    1. He he - my dog is very good at grabbing my attention too, Suzanne!

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  24. Dogs always give the best advice. Mine doesn't iron though, sadly. Cute and original story.

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Many thanks for commenting. I appreciate your feedback.