FF – Man Flu
Here is my little story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Dale Rogerson.
Can anyone tell which dialogue belongs to the man in this tale? 🙂
To read the other stories, click on the blue froggy.

Copyright Dale Rogerson
“All these damn boxes and a plant as well. I can hardly see the telly!”
“Well, dear, you could always get up off your backside and help me unpack.”
“Go straight for the nuclear option, why don’t you. ‘Get up, shift stuff’. I’m not well and I’ve already had a hard day at work.”
“Well so have I! And I’m not complaining.”
“You’re not ill. I’m ill. I’m probably dying.”
Oh please, God, let it be true…
“What? What was that?”
“Nothing, dear. Now, if you want to watch the telly, move the boxes.”
“Stuff this. I’m going down the pub.”
“Men!”
Well if he gets run over by a truck en route we won’t cry much. 😑 Well done scene of domestic un-bliss.
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Then he really would have something to complain about 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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hehehe A very familiar scene! 😀
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For sure 🙂
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No, sorry, I have no idea which is the man’s narrative, and, by the way, I can’t get to the fridge to get a beer!
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I’d go down the pub if I were you.
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It’s a hard life being a man sometimes.
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We are oft misunderstood.
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Boy am I glad my other half is not one of these
… erm … types! 😁
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Sounds like you got one of the good ones 🙂
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Yep, a needle in the haystack. (No, I didn’t find him in a barn. 😉)
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🙂
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May I poison his beer? Fun take on the prompt. I like the fact that you used the boxes instead of the flowers.
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Yeah, go on, make him actually ill 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Not ALL men, thank god. Not all of them.
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You struck it lucky from the sounds of it 🙂
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Oh it was rather easy to tell which was the whiner – I mean man – in this dialogue!
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I thought it was fairly clear 🙂 And, hey!
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😘
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Lol.. story of our lives :D. He is probably dying but can go to the pub. Hahaha
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Sounds like he is dying… dying to go to the pub 🙂
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Superbly written, fun read
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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Dear Ali,
That didn’t take too much brain power to figure out who was saying what. Man Flu…perfect title. Too sick to move boxes but not too sick to go join his mates at the pub. He’ll probably tell everyone what a shrew his missus is. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I hope she stacks all of the boxes in front of the telly. 😉
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Dear Rochelle,
That’s about the size of it! That’s men for ya 🙂
Ha, or she could repack the telly in a random box and then he’d have to unpack them all to find it 🙂
Ali
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Oooooh, even better!!!
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Bwahahaha 🙂
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Such a fun story! Loved it.🙂
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Hahahaha! Typical grumpy old man!!
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Yep, that’s us 🙂
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Yeah, I could tell which was the man of the piece. I have a cold this week and I’m miserable. Fortunately, I have learned not to complain too much, even though I live alone. Maybe that’s why. 😀
Fun story read, Ali!
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Yeah, I’ve tried complaining and waiting for soup and whatnot but since I too live alone it came to nought 🙂
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Yeah. Thats; when you find the dishes don’t wash themselves! 😀
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I know, right? I keep telling Alexa to wash the dishes but it appears all she’s good for is playing music and turning the lights on and off. Which is good, because the light switch is a good 5 metre round trip…
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😀
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Too sick to work, but not to sick to do the pub.
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Never too sick to do the pub 🙂
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Yep, I could easily tell who was speaking. Funny and good writing, Ali. 😀 — Suzanne
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it, and spotted the man 🙂
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I do think I can guess who is whom! They are pretty arrangements, though.
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Yeah, but they’re in the way of the telly…
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Great dialogue, it took me into their world.
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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Good idea – I’ll meet him there for a pint. Women!
Click to read my FriFic
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Yeah! Boxes tend to unpack themselves naturally within a year or two of moving house anyway. And I hear the pub has a 60″ TV…
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what a lucky guy. he’s got an understanding wife. 🙂
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She’s long ago come to terms with his little flaws… 🙂
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It would be a shame if he walked all the way down to the pub only to find out they had junk blocking their telly as well…
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Haha. I suppose there’d be consolation beer…
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That please God let it be true line made me laugh out loud! I love the title too. Man flu – perfect!
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She’s a long-suffering wife, I think. Man flu can be quite selective regarding which activities may be safely undertaken 🙂
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Seems like a regular day!
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Sadly for the wife, it is!
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Pretty accurate. Having moved 17 times in 22 years, I can vouch for that. I’ve packed the house, packed the truck, unpacked the truck, unpacked the house I’d say 99% of it each time. Annnd, I’m looking at a possible move again in the next few months as Hubby is seriously pursuing work back in our home state, nearer to our friends. Move #18 is on the horizon. Packed the first box last night… but it keeps meowing.
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Wow, that’s a lot of moving. This time, unpack your stuff and leave his in boxes. Or does that mean it would never get unpacked? It would with me 🙂
Save the cat!
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I would pack my bags and leave and leave him to do all the unpacking 🙂
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Good idea. A nice relaxing time in a hotel while hubby does the work for a change. Or would he… 🙂
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Ah, funny how he feels well enough to go to the pub!
Good story!
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Yeah, weird that 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
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Hehe. The nerve to put stuff in front of the telly. Under the circumstances going to the pub might actually safe his life (and give his wife some rest)
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It might be for the best, for sure. A bit of a time out!
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The pub was probably on the doctor’s advice. Man flu is real. Requires a lot of love, nurturing and chicken soup to help the man pull through. And sports on the telly.
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You have the treatment exactly! Are you a doctor? 🙂
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My heart bleeds for him. At least, I think it does.
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Poor chap, he deserves our sympathy. I can hear very tiny violins playing…
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A prime example of a caring sharing man. Hardworking all the way to the remote, or his pint. Preferably both. Easy to distinguish character through this dialogue.
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Let’s hope the pub will deliver drinks to his table. The bar is so… far… away…
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Oh man flu is the worst! Some men (not all!) turn into total whiny babies when they get sick. Great characterization through the dialogue — I could picture the couple’s dynamics very well (sadly for them!).
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Man flu is the worst! I just want to stay tucked up in front of the telly and have people bring me stuff 🙂
She sounds quite the long-suffering wife.
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I feel you, I want that when I have the flu too! The key is to find someone who fully reciprocates and takes care of his woman when she’s sick, too. That way, nobody has to be long-suffering. 🙂
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Give and take, that’s what it’s all about 🙂
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Agreed. That way, the most either has to be is “short-suffering.” 🙂
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Geez what a grump ass!
You’ve portrayed him well.
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He is! Thanks 🙂
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This was so real 😀
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He’s dying?
And he can get to the pub?
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Exactly. The very definition of man flu 🙂
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