Here's why:
* The vowel sound is short: The "y" in "fry" makes a short "i" sound, like the "i" in "fit" or "spin".
* The vowel is followed by a consonant: The "i" in "fry" is followed by the consonant "y".
Short vowels are often followed by one or more consonants. Long vowels are typically followed by a vowel or a silent "e".