
Arms outstretched like a superhero, there was my Doug preparing to bungee jump. Seems it wasn’t all work at that conference. I hit the reply button, and my phone offered “how fun!” as an instant response. Though ungrammatical, I accepted.
Doug’s next message came. “Having a great time apart.”
“Real class,” I typed, “dumping me over the phone. Whatever. I’ve been wanting you out of my life anyhow.”
There followed a long pause. Then “Screw you. That was autocorrect. Meant to type at Pat’s, not apart. I’ll collect my things next week.”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
I wonder how many relationships have foundered over auto-correct or predictive texting. That made me grin – good one.
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Thanks, Sandra
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Indeed, auto-correct can get you in trouble. Like the difference between “wi-fi” and “wife”. Believe me!
DJ
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Grate comment, Danny
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I turned autocorrect off for English. (I just sometimes hit the wrong keys on my phone, or the suggestion changes before I hit it.)
I still use autocorrect for other languages.
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Haha a really funny story!!! Classic autocorrect!
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Thanks, Jessie
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Hahaha! I LOVE it! Spot on, Neil. As always, carefully constructed and executed well.
Five out of five “Spellcheck, I’m tired of your shirt.” 😀
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Thanks, William
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Dear Neil,
Restaurant assured I dislocated my automobile, now all my textiles are clear as bird. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hate to ass this but could you tranplant that for me?
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Ha, ha! Brilliant – the joys of predictive text and auto-correct. A pertinent take on the prompt and present day society.
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Thanks, Clare
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Well done, Neil. My solution to auto-correct is to forget to charge your phone, leave it at home or simply ignore it. Another solution of ours to go on holidays off the grid without mobile coverage. With my husband working in IT, it’s been quite a blessing.
xx Rowena
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Yup. If they really want to see you, they’ll call round. Hste the things
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Humph…I guess no one wants to see me…LOL. My husband’s gone out to help his mate with his Morris Minor. We have one ourselves. You meet a lot of people driving one of those.
BTW, I thought I’d better revisit the people dropping round thing because while people haven’t popped round to my house, they’ve visited my blog, which is my second home. Speaking of which, thanks for the visit!
xx Rowena
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Oh yeah. Too true. I guess the only way to save that would be to text “Oh sorry, that wasn’t meant for you.” If you’re burning down the house, may as well REALLY burn it! Well done!
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Thanks so much
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Ah, texting so often makes the texter sound abrupt, rude even. And being dumped by auto correct? Probably for the best if he’s bungee jumping at ‘conferences’, leaving her at home. Great tale
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Thanks, Lynn
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My pleasure 🙂
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So well constructed and thought out as usual Neil. Great writing.
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Thanks, Derek
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I have not thought about the possibility before… reminds me of a colleague who signed of a a business letter with “Best Retards”… but I think he managed to resolve that one.
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Great take. Auto correct si a great addition to the world’s humour. If someone hasn’t already, they should collect the examples into a book.
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Thanks, Michael
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I’ve been saving all the wacky ones from my sister. They crack me up!
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Great writing as usual. Very craftily executed.
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Life lived over the net is so fragile.
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And that’s why I leave my autocorrect turned off. Great story!
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Thanks so much
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I do wish that I could blame the auto correct for my poor spelling. But I did love the images you painted for me.
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Thanks, Michael
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Oh, possibly this was in the works all along and autocorrect just let it happen! Fun take.
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Thanks, Alicia. I think the thing that helps fiction writers is that almost everything is in the works all the time. It’s just a throw of the dice that determines which possibilities ripen.
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Ha ha oops. Better to find out now, I guess! Funny 🙂
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I loved the story, Neil. It made me chuckle and then made me shudder because it reminded me of when words came out all wrong from my mouth! At least with texting there’s a distance between you and the recipient. Face to face it’s even more embarrassing! Thanks for your take on the prompt and for prompting some amusing (even though somewhat uncomfortable) memories.
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Thanks, Edith
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Auto-correct, the bane of so many text conversations. Great little story.
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Thanks, Carol
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Auto-correct is my enema!
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No Dare Deal, the fact that you cannot tepy is your real anemone!
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Oh you, Acer! I can tepy fien
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Ah, the perils of autocorrect. Great idea for flash fiction and very well crafted
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Thanks Siobhan
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Love the story for our age and the comments.My phone changed ‘lie down’ to ‘lieutenant’ so I sent it anyway as, I’m having a lieutenant. I have a very understanding husband.
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Thanks so much
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Funny in a way, though one does have to watch autocorrect like a hawk!
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Thanks, Liz
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Neat little storey…whoops, there it goes!
My tale is called ‘Oh Bother!’
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Thanks, Keith
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Jumping to conclusions- never a good thing. But apparently, what the one text-er wanted anyway? They both are probably better off?
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Their relationship was probably more fragile than either of them had acknowledged
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Rather overreacted, hmm.
Neatly worked tale, sir.
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All she needed was the push
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I had to laugh, I hate the autocorrections.
Happy New Year!
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That’s hilarious, but also rather sad. Well written and an interesting take on the prompt.
I switched predictive text off on my phone, having written something so ridiculous to the wrong person once that I’ve blanked it from my mind since. Can’t for the life of me remember what it was. It must have embarrassed me so much, that my brain has shoved it at the back of the filing cabinet, locked the drawer, and lost the key!
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Thanks, Sarah
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Oh autocorrect how I love/ hate you. Funny Neil.
Happy New Year,
Tracey
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Thanks, Tracey
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Well … it looks like the computers are in charge. YIKES … what a way to end a relationship…!!!
And … so it goes. We should call people more. Me thinks …!!!
I loved this, Neil. A very timely piece of not-so-much fiction.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
May your 2017 be filled with peace, good health and LOVE.
Happy New Year 🎉 Cheers 🍷
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora, and you
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Maybe they’re both best out of this one. As long as they get new phones before embarking on the next liaison! I’ve not sure how you got from the picture to this, but that’s one of the things I love about FF, and this is a great example of how it works.
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It summoned up non-communication to me
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I am sure this is why I don’t text! Made me laugh out loud!
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Thanks, Julie
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Oh that darn auto correct. Ruined so many of my messages too. Luckily those on the receiving end didn’t jump to conclusions as the woman in your story. Nice one, Neil.
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Thanks, Fatima
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Ouch, ah well, it’s probably for the best. I wonder how many other relationships autocorrect is responsible for ending? Or maybe beginning too?
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Perhaps they balance out
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People like me who ate all thumbs can relate. Mice one.
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Thanks so much
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Can’b begin to count how many times autocorrect has gotten the best of me! Nicely done, Neil!
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Thanks, Dawn
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Damn phones!
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Another victim falls to autocorrect. Great story, Neil
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Thanks, Lori
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My pleasure, Neil 🙂
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Blame the autocorrect! Too funny. Hope this happened *after* the bungee jump. Wouldn’t want him distracted. 😉 Happy 2017!
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Yup, afterwards. She saw the picture
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Suck a goad. Stiry. Such a paw ropey. Sag.
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