For those who don’t know, Friday Fictioneers is a challenge to write a 100 word story from a picture prompt. It’s hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and anyone can play. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle! Check out the link at the end of my story to see what other fictioneers did with this week’s prompt.
Thanks to Sandra Crook for the wonderful photo, which of course, immediately made me think of Bob Tambourine and his wife Windsock…
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It’s Pretty – But Is It Art?
As is often the case with Art, opinions were divided at the unveiling of Bob Tambourine’s latest creation.
Bob’s wife, Windsock, said it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and thought he should name it ‘Your Chariot Awaits.’
Aunt Agatha declared it an eyesore, and suggested the title ‘Con-junk-tivitis’, chortling at her own wit.
Aloysius Danbury-Smythe, who had more money than sense and had downed several glasses of Bob’s infamous dandelion wine, slurred something incomprehensible and offered him five hundred quid for ‘the funny metal contraption’.
Bob pocketed the cash without hesitation and named the piece ‘Kerching’.
(100 words)
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Like the title? It’s not mine, I stole it from a Rudyard Kipling poem: The Conundrum of the Workshops
Never heard of the Tambourines? Seriously? More here, here and here!
Need more Friday Fiction? Click the blue frog to read more stories from other fictioneers!
EL Appleby: Brain Fragments 
Very funny. Thankyou. Tony
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Thanks Tony. I popped over to yours for a peek – your X-ray art is fascinating. Maybe Bob should branch out, not sure where he’d get an x-ray machine from though!
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Strangely enough they aren’t expensive on the internet, though I wouldn’t recommend getting one unless you can ensure adequate radiation protection. Thanks for the comment. I do enjoy your 100 word fiction, will be visiting more often. Tony
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Strangely enough they aren’t expensive on the internet, though I wouldn’t recommend getting one unless you can ensure adequate radiation protection. Thanks for the comment. I do enjoy your 100 word fiction, will be visiting more often. Tony
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Another week of meeting my high expectations for your story. This is lots of fun! I love the Aunt Agatha sentence and Aunt Agatha makes me laugh anyway, thinking of Jeeves and Wooster, Aunt Agatha, the nephew crusher. 🙂
janet
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Ah thanks Janet! Not sure I can handle the pressure of ‘high expectations’ though, gulp! My Aunt Agatha is from another FF story I wrote:https://elappleby.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/friday-fictioneers-is-anybody-there/
I’m being green in my own way and recycling my characters!
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I think Bob should have given Aloysius more Dandelion wine and held out for more 🙂
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I think you’re right – but he was so overwhelmed with anyone wanting to buy his ‘art’ that he couldn’t think straight! Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Make several of them and your life goes:. Kerching. Kerching Kerching. 😉
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How true – but that’s a lot of junk for Bob to find 🙂
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But as Forest Gump might say, “Life is like a box of junk”
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Excellent! Outstanding, most especially the punch line (word)!
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Thanks Penny – what a lovely comment!
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LOL, love the puns and the eventual name for the creation 🙂
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thanks Carrie. Glad I made you laugh 🙂
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Brilliant, and so true… 4 individuals; 4 opinions… 😉
Well written, with a surprising burst of humour mid-way – Aunt Agatha..
You managed to tell so much about each character in so few words.. I really admire this. Well done..
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Thank you Carolyn – your comment makes me glow with pride 🙂
I’m finding Friday Fiction is a fantastic way to hone my writing – it really makes you think hard about the best way to put a story across in as few words as possible.
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I thought of the Tambourines as soon as I saw this photo. I’m so glad you did, too! As always, loved it!
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I fought it for a while, thinking maybe people had had enough Tambourines, but I’m glad I went ahead. Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
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I love the different reactions – so true to life, good old Windsock, so supportive
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Thank you – the original version had Windsock giving her husband a snog to show her love for him, but there were too many words so their little display of affection had to go – glad her supportiveness came across without it!
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Dear El,
You are the Duchess of Humor! I find myself looking forward to your stories every week. Kerching!!!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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HI Rochelle
Can I put that on my CV (resume, I think you call it?) – Duchess of Humor!
Sadly the only Kerching is in my stories – now if I can just find a way to make this pay real money in real life…
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once again a good job writing in the hardest of genre’s humor.
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Thanks Bill
I seem to find it impossible to do anything but humour – one of these days I’m going to surprise everyone by writing something serious and they’ll all spend ages searching for the punchline!
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I think I might seriously love you!
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I’m flattered 😀
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Ooh so smart and funny “con-Junk-tivitis” that is so witty, well done 🙂 looking forward to reading your next post.
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Thanks camgal – I’m glad you liked ‘con-junk-tivitis’ – I was originally going to call the story that, but am glad I put it in the text instead in the end. I’m not normally much of a punster so that one may have to keep you going for a while!
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Kerching ! hahaha loved it.. “con-Junk-tivitis” funny 🙂 great story 🙂
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Thanks Shreyank. I’m secretly quite proud of ‘con-junk-tivitis’!
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Yee-ha loved this! Brilliant and witty – thank you!
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No, thank YOU for commenting 🙂
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Never tire of hearing about the Tambourines! I think their alternative lifestyle can give us all a laugh for a long time yet!
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Thanks Trudy – I love writing the Tambourines – they’re naturally funny 🙂
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I like it! But am I the only person on the planet who doesn’t know what “kerching” means?
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It comes under the heading of onamatapoea Perry, (or however you spell it :() It’s supposed to be the sound of a cash register or a fruit machine paying out.
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Oh. Ker-CHING! i’ve heard of that.. Never heard it used as an actual word.
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Hi Perry – thanks for commenting – I wasn’t sure how universal ‘kerching’ was. thanks to Sandra for providing an excellent definition 🙂
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Nice one! What an evocative word ‘kerching’ is. What did we ever do without it? 🙂
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Hi Sandra – it’s a great word, isn’t it? Glad you enjoyed this week’s silly tale!
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You generate so much personality in the characters just with their names! Nice story.
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Thank you – I love these characters, so glad you like them too 🙂
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Clever, well written, great punch line.
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Ta very much!
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Didn’t see the ending coming and it’s a great little vignette (as opposed to a whacking great big vignette, obviously). I especially like con-junk-tivitis – a new one on me (I don’t get out much). Thanks!
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Thanks Trey
Glad you liked my silly tale – and I surprised you too! Con-junk-tivitis is my favourite bit too 😀
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As soon as I read Tambourine I started to smile. By the time I got to Windsock I was giggling and by the end my cheeks were aching, and all in a hundred words and no footnotes! My only criticism would be that such a hard act to follow should come at the end, and you should be made to wait until Friday to post. 🙂
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Hi jwd – yep, no cheating this week! Thanks for your lovely comments – you’re too kind 🙂 I think Windsock is my favourite character ever – we may see her again very soon!
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Excellent! Loved this. Funny. I agree with Rochelle you are the Duchess of Humor. KERCHING! Hat is off for you!
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Thanks Tom – you’re lovely!
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Kerching. That’s great. 🙂
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thank you 🙂
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These characters just grow and grow. I love them.
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Thanks claire
I love them too – so glad you enjoyed my story 🙂
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Thanks for the laughs, man. You created a neat set-up with different people’s opinions on the artwork and their names for it. “Kerching” is brilliant!
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HI zooky
I’m glad I made you laugh – thanks for commenting 😀
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“A fool and his money” that is what I take from this tale. It is funny and a good take E.L.
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Hi Joe
It seems it’s much easier to part a fool from his money when there’s copious amounts of dandelion wine involved! Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Hahahahaha! I can think of another word, too … Excellent! Super word-age, pun-age and other “ages” I can think of! As we say here in America, “Way to bowl.” Thanks, El. BTW, I shared your previous story with a friend and he just cracked up!
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“Con-Junk-tivitis” HA HA was a knee slapper. The Aunt was my favorite character.
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I started laughing at Con-junk-tivitis’ and haven’t stopped yet. An amusing story.
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haha great humor as usual. i too chuckled at Aunt Agatha’s wit. ^^ lol
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Love those names 🙂
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I’m with Windsock as far as loving the sculpture–it’s a great piece. However, I can’t get away from Aunt Agatha’s creative title which I think should stick. Well done and fun, too.
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When I saw Sandra’s photo I immediately thought recycling and the Tambourine’s. I’m so glad you went with them. I love aunt Agatha’s play on words – clever woman – but I think Bob should have held out for more lucre. Danbury-Smythe can afford it. Maybe he’ll commission a whole series of Bob’s sculptures.
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I really like it when a piece makes me laugh out loud.
Thanks for your visit.
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Loved this story. The humour unforced and working well within the thread of the tale. I wouldn’t fancy riding Bob’s creation. My Dad always told me to keep away from junk yard cogs were dangerous!
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Fantastic character names! 🙂
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Oh I love it! ‘Kerching’
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Oh you made me smile as usual El! Really good. I love reading about the Tamborines. Kerching! 🙂
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I think you hit the jackpot with this one; kerching!
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Hi there – I’ve been reading several of your stories – most enjoyable, I love your writing style! Thanks for visiting my site.
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Thanks Jenny
I loved your stone story – a bunch of us did something similar with a sock when I was a student – I’d forgotten all about it until I saw your post 🙂
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[…] Need more Tambourines? Try Cinnamon Sky Sees The Light or It’s Pretty But Is It Art? […]
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