It was really windy. My flower pots had blown over and Norman the Gnome was flat on his back.
Suddenly Gail’s gazebo hurtled past. A couple of cars swerved to avoid it. Gail was trotting along behind, swerving between the swerving cars. It was like a scene from a cartoon! Suddenly it took off and landed in a tree.
I had warned her. ‘Gail,’ I said, ‘it’s going to be windy, take it down’. Did she listen?
Gail called the Fire Brigade. They rescue cats from trees so why not tents? But no, so I said I’d help her – when the wind dies down!
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle and our picture prompt this week is by Jon Wayne Fields.
Catch the frog to join in the fun!
Dear Keith,
Oh my! The next thing you know they’ll land in Oz. Delightful story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS The frog’s adorable and I’m taking him captive. 😉
Now that would take a strong wind! I’m sure Froggie will appreciate a change of scenery! Thanks Rochelle.
Ha ha – loved the name connection – gale & Gail. Nicely done, Keith.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I wondered if anyone would notice! Thanks Susan.
Usually it’s those big trampolines everyone has in their gardens now that come sailing by during a storm! I hope Gail has better luck when they get the tent back. Good work on the frog too 🙂
Now you come to mention it, they do have a habit of bowling along in the wind! Cheers Iain.
Reminds me of a Fourth of July storm many years ago. A neighbor’s screen house was picked up by the wind and was sent flying into their metal fence. Both were ruined!
That’s a Forth they’ll never forget! Cheers Denise.
Well told. Perhaps when the wind dies down the gazebo will tumble down without help?
Reminds me of the storm that took down our vynel car shelter. We had several days of steady wind, one day 90 kmph gusting to over 100 kmph.
Wow, that really is windy! Hard for a person to stand upright let alone a gazebo!
I admit I come here for the Froggy almost as much as I come here for the story!
🙂
Both are fun!
Love this. … I can almost see her trotting behind the wing-spanned gazebo … 😉
Na’ama
That’s very kind of you Na’ama, thanks so much.
This week’s poor Froggy needs some ankle weights … 😉
You really are a master of adapting the amphibian to all manner of ‘moods’ and circumstances. 🙂 I love it.
Stories are good, too!
🙂
He does! Hopefully I’ll find where he’s landed in time for next week’s FF!
🙂 I’ll be eagerly waiting to track his mood and well-being… 😉
Oh, dear, i hope there were no accidents because of it, and that she takes it down next time!
Some people never learn – we’ll see!
Love it, and love what you do to froggy every week!
I spend longer on froggy than I do writing the story! Cheers.
😀
What brilliant no-sense, loved it.
A bit of light relief I hope! Thanks Carole
Appropriate name for the windstorm…
I thought so! Cheers.
Such a fun story, Keith. All’s well that ends well, and once the wind leaves, I’m sure it will.
I’d like to think so! Thanks so much.
You are very welcome.
LOL! I saw the photo prompt but just swamped with other stuff and nothing really popped into mind. This was great!
It took me a while! Glad you like it Donna.
Ha ha ha…she can always use her umbrella(or the froggy’s) to fly up to the tree (with the help of the gale), and rescue her gazebo herself 🙂
Now why didn’t I think of that?!!
Very entertaining scene, and wise to wait until the wind dies down. Poor Norman!
I certainly would! Thanks Brenda.
And then said to her, “I told you so?”
😀
Exactly!
Oh my, I loved this one, the fire brigade rescuing a tent from a tree is priceless!
It was worth a try! Thanks so much.
A tough job, but someone has to do it.
Indeed! Thanks Abhijit.
Hope the rescue mission was a success.
Wind has great power. Hope it brought it down from where it had taken it 🙂
Have a great week!
Powerful and unpredictable! Thanks Anita.
They never listen, do they? How the heck did I miss your story, especially since you’re my direct neighbour on the squares!
I don’t imagine the fire brigade would be happy at receiving this call so it is a good thing the narrator helped her out!
You are a master with the froggy!
Sometimes things are so close you don’t see them! As for Froggie, I spend more time fiddling with him than I do writing my stories these days!
I don’t doubt it!
Ah, ha, ha. I love the alliteration of Norman the Gnome and Gail’s gazebo, Keith. I hope she got it back from the tree. I love, love, love the frog and the umbrella. Well done. 😀 — Suzanne
Thanks and thanks again! That’s so kind of you Suzanne.
Oh, I’m cackling at the scene… and yes, I can see this as a hilarious cartoon strip! I’d cut it out of the paper and hang it on the fridge… just for the laughter!
Complements don’t come better than that! Thanks so much.
so nice. It reminds me of me horrbily windy neighborhood. With Gail’s gazebo and Norman the Gnome, are you and Dale taking alliteration classes or what?
Haha! Thanks for taking the time to read and remark!
Oh Gail. Caught out by a gale.
A wise decision, waiting for the wind to die down.
Exactly! Thanks so much.
gail is actually rosie, isn’t she? 🙂
Nothing like a disaster to seal friendship = well up to a point.
A mild disaster! Cheers James.
Maybe Gail should spell her name Gale… funny story… and maybe after a while even Gail will laugh.
I did consider that! She’ll never be allowed to forget it!
I have been the victim of many of the wind’s cruel pranks but never anything that bad. It doesn’t sound like much fun.
Not for Gail but it made me smile!
I can see the Fire Brigade trying to take down the gazebo LOL!
It’s not all smoke and flames! Thanks Tessa.
I’m sure the fire service have had worse requests for assistance than this. Kudos to their patience and dedication.
I’m sure they have! I wrote a story a while back about when my friend Rosey trapped her hand in a letter box slot and requested their services!
That’s some windstorm there.i too was reminded of Oz. Pay attention ifyou find any striped stockings under the gazebo! Te flying monkey will be next!
Thanks for the advice! Cheers!
Wonderful story, Keith. So funny to imagine the gazebo, the chase, the tree 🙂 Well done!
I’m delighted you liked it Linda, thank you.
I have seen a few tent flying away, usually ending up in the sea. Good old English weather, just like today 🙂
As a seasoned UK camper I’ve seen a few take off – including mine! Thanks Mike.
Watching the weather forecast before erecting such structures whould be included in the instructions.
It certainly should be! Cheers Liz
Fun read Keith!
Thanks Russell
Yes I would wait for the wind to die down too
No use trying to tell Gail that! Gail by name Gale by nature! Cheers Laurie
Well, it doesn’t make sense to pull it out of the tree if the storm is still blowing – Golly Gee, It’s dangerous out there! Great stormy story!
It certainly is! Thanks Nan
Very entertaining & fun.
I’m pleased you liked it, thank you.
Yes….def wait till the wind dies down. lol
That would be very wise! Thanks Dawn.