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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Genre: Whimsy
Word Count: 100
BUMBERSHOOT
Dark clouds gathered, threatening to spoil Eric and Alistair’s sightseeing.
After months of emails and planning, the two blog buddies decided to meet in London since Eric had never been away from the States.
“Did you think to bring a brolly?”
Eric’s brow furrowed. “Why would I bring a trolley?”
Rain pelted Alistair’s forehead and dribbled into his eyes. “Are you deaf? I said ‘brolly.’ Not trolley. You know. A gamp.” He sputtered. “Can’t you Yanks understand plain English?”
Eric shrugged. “It certainly rains a lot over here. As you Brits say, it’s a good job I brought an umbrella.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Great fun, Rochelle. I’m a big fan of cultural misunderstandings as a basis for stories
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Dear Neil,
I’ve heard it said that we are two countries divided by a common language. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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rochelle, frankly, never knew brolly stands for an umbrella. learned something new today 🙂
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Dear Deepa,
I just learned brolly myself. I always love playing with language. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Neither knew brolly nor gamp. Learnt some new Brit words. A good story on cultural misunderstandings. Shalom, Rochelle!
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Dear Anshu,
One of the things I enjoy most about Friday Fictioneers is the cultural exchange. A few years back two fictioneers had quite the argument over the word “smelt.” The writer who used it as the past tense of smell was British. Her critic, a rather arrogant American English teacher, pointed out that it was incorrect. She should’ve used “smelled.” She did shut him down, because in the UK smelt is correct.
Gamp and brolly were new to me as well. A fun write. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think umbrellas are often useless though… I think a mac and wellies are better suited for a windy city,, next step after mastering the lingo.
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Dear Björn,
Good to keep the mac and wellies in the boot for emergencies, 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An interesting play on words, I think these two hit it of better on line.
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Dear Michael,
Of course it’s fiction with factual characters 😉 I think they will probably educate one another.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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American~to~British can be trying. I work with an Englishwoman in a soup kitchen. One day she asked me for a trolley. She wanted a shopping cart. Things can get colorful/colourful
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Dear Larry,
I’ve learned a lot from our British writers in FF and have had a lot of fun doing it. Colourful indeed. 😉 For that matter going from the Midwest to the East Coast can be ‘interesting.’ I spent the summer of 1965 with cousins in Monticello NY. That was my first encounter with the word valise and a few others. Thanks for dropping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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having spent a lot of time in northeastern PA, ~my parents were both from there~I understand that kind of thing quite well.
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Hope one umbrella will serve the purpose of the two buddies 🙂
Our world uses so many different words to refer to the same thing- that too in the same language!
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Dear Anita,
I’d say one or both of the buddies is liable to get wet. It seems that Eric is a little slow getting out his brolly. 😉 I love playing with language. Even within the States there are different slang words. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A cute story about confusing names for an umbrella. I’ve seen so many films made in the U.K. I know most of the names. Good writing, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I’ve learned quite a few British terms in Friday Fictioneers. How fun. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, vernacular. I like when they sound the same but are spelled differently. “That’s colour with a U, and gaol with a G.”
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Dear Josh,
Don’t forget my favourites. 😉 They are our neighbours across the pond after all. I have three great nephews in Liverpool who have dual citizenship. I asked our niece if they will have to learn to spell both ways. Fun with words. Verbiage is my friend. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing separates us more than a good common language. A lot of fun.
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So true, Trent. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I thought brolly was universal, but had never heard of gamp! Something tells me they will be lifelong friends.
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Dear Iain,
In all honesty I picked up brolly and gamp on Wikipedia. I love brolly…think I’ll adopt it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is more common here in Scotland than using ‘umbrella,’ try saying it with a Scottish accent 😉
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Ah, fun and games with English. I recently read a novel set in New York City with all American characters (except for the aliens), but it was written by an Australian, so he occasionally called a car’s trunk a “boot.” Oops.
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Dear James,
LOL. We do have a variety of ways to say thing…even between east and west…don’t we? Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How fun. Your cultural language differences are both, a learning experience and a bridge for understanding. I often have to stop and think about some of the words my New Zealand friends (Kiwi’s) use. Good story.
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Dear Jan,
I love learning the different ways we say things. I suspect Shane has a few of his own words. 😉 Happy you enjoyed, m’luv.
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Delightful whimsy, Rochelle. As a Brit, I recognise our need to clutch a brolly and take a mac wherever we go !
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Dear Francine,
Thank you for your delightful comment. I was hoping I was true to form with my Brit speak. Love it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Entertaining, Rochelle, and well written as always. Thanks for introducing me to the word bumbershoot!
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Dear Penny,
Actually, Wikipedia was my source for the words. I’d never heard bumbershoot before either and that’s supposedly American. Hmm? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A good story rich in cultural misunderstandings and the humorous spinoffs thereof.
As usual, superlative, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
There are so many nuances and regional slang words even within one country, aren’t there? Glad you enjoyed my silliness. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I always feel weird saying I speak English when I can’t understand those in England.
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Dear Alice,
I think the feeling’s often mutual. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Thumbelina W(T)F,
Ah, I see you are having a little fun at the expense of our fellow fictioneers–especially those across the pond. Well done!
Ten thumbs up,
Tom
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Dear Tom Thumbthing,
What’s fun if you can’t have it at someone else’s expense? Thankyouverymuch.
Shalom,
Thumbelina W(T)F
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I thought everyone called them brollies! Mind you, I’ve not heard umbies called gamps for many a year! A delightful little tale Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
It seems gamp is quite archaic. Perhaps I should’ve left it at brolly. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I didnt know gamp. .another word could be parasol.this story made be smile. the cultural difference of vocabulary is hilarious.
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Dear Kalpana,
Two countries divided by a common language. 😉 I’m glad my story made you smile. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really enjoyed this Rochelle; I love stories with linguistic mix-ups. With the ageing process gradually depleting my vocabulary, I was pleased you’d taught me a new word, ‘bumbershoot’ and reminded me of one I’d forgotten, ‘gamp’ (I must read more Dickens).
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Dear John,
Languages on the whole fascinate. I find myself these days using slang that the younger crowd doesn’t get. On the other hand, ‘groovy’ did make a comeback for a while. Glad you enjoyed my silliness and took the time to say so. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I know what you mean Rochelle. The coolness of “cool” has waxed and waned several times since I was a teenager (a long time ago).
Ironically, I recently used a colloquialism from my childhood in a (positive) comment about someone else’s flash fiction story. Unfortunately it was taken as meaning something completely different from what was intended. The vitriolic response left me stunned. My explanation prompted an apology, which I’m sorry to say I didn’t take with the graciousness that I probably should have. I’m now seeing the not-so-funny side of linguistic mix-ups. Ah well.
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Oh, how fun! This was delightful!
Have left my contribution at the Link-a-thing thing, but here’s the link, copied here, as you know I tend to do …
Gmar Chatima Tova
Na’ama
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You gals kill me with your link-a-thing thing!
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What, you don’t put the thingie-maggies in the what’smacallits?! 😉
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Buahahahaha! Nope!
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🙂
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Na;ama Y’karah,
Glad you enjoyed my silliness. 😀 Thanks for living your thingamabob in the whatchacallit.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome. I like things in their place … 😉
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Ha. Rochelle, I had a similar discussion with a friend just last night. Except it wasn’t English it was Sim, you have captured moments like this perfectly.
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Dear Pandora,
So glad you liked my story and that it rang true for you. I think any language has the same issues depending on regions. At any rate, thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fun story, m’lady, but I confess that I have never heard the word gamp in my life. Awfully English, perhaps? Perhaps one carries it when one visits for tiffin and cucumber sandwiches?
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Dear CE,
I found the words in Wikipedia. I figured there are enough FF’rs to keep me on the straight and narrow when it comes to Brit-speak. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Interesting & fun.
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Thank you, Lisa.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fun stuff Rochelle. You taught me some new words in case I ever make it to England.
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Dear Susan,
We have enough British FF’rs to help us out there, don’t we? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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glad i’m not the only one that has that problem. 🙂
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Communication breakdown is universal. 😉 Thank you, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Umbrella is actually quite a long word. Brolly goes well with the object, though. A Fun and a playful word.
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Dear Priya,
Thank you for your kind words. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Gamp, Umbrella, Brolly, Bumpershoot
And while we’re at it:
Sofa, Chesterfield, Divan, Davenport…
Gotta love language, eh? Or Huh? in your case 😉
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Language is fun, eh? Loving the feedback with this one and slow to answer this week. Valise and Suitcase come to mind. Trolley, shopping cart, basket. And the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round. 😉 Thank you, my friend. Keep the sunroof closed and stay dry. (Wisoff grin).
Shalom and hugs,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Language is wonderful! Ah yes… those are all good.
Sunroof, rain-repeller, noise-reducer – all new terms I’ve given this extra I’ve no idea why I’ve paid for ..
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Brollie vs. Brella fighting over some alphabets, when the idea is not to get wet.
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Dear Abhijit,
Yep…we do want to stay dry. But a bit of banter is always fun. ‘) Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never heard it called a gamp before. Now I need to find out the reasoning. Brolly I get. Fun drabble.
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Dear Stu,
Gamp seems to be an older word, at least that’s what I’m gleaning from the comments. Personally I’ve never called it anything but an umbrella. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice nod to the English weather. Brollies are still good, but does anyone wear wellies any more? Language issues reminds me of the time when we moved to a different state in India. My mother asked the cook to get a kilo of meat. He did. Only meat in his language meant salt.
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Dear Subroto,
Oh…a kilo of salt. Guess she didn’t run out of it for some time. 😉 Communication breakdown is definitely universal, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha, when I wrote my story I changed one vital “brolly” to “umbrella” just in case it wasn’t widely used… I’ve never hear “gamp” before, though!
I like your choice of Brit character’s name – very strong, very distinguished, I thought 😉
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Dear Ali,
I like to write what (and whom) I know. I’m glad you liked my choice of character. 😀 Fun stuff, but no one’s mentioned my use of “It’s a good job.” Not at all American. Ah well. Fortunately our weather’s been clear here. No need for a brolly. Love it. I’m going to have to adopt it. I’ve already borrowed a few phrases. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha ha ha ha ha, rofl!
Reminded me of Gordon Ramsay!
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Dear Sabina,
Glad to make you laugh. 😀 The result I was going for. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah the language barriers within the same language. An interesting read.
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Dear Bernadette,
I’m finding from the comments that it’s a universal issue. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As I recall, the word ‘gamp’ comes from the character Sarah Gamp in the Dickens novel Martin Chuzzlewit (because she always carried an umbrella). I think there’s another interpretation of the word these days, but I’m out of my comfort zone there. 😉
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Dear Sandra,
I appreciate your swinging by to read. I’d never heard any of these words before. But it was fun to poke fun with my brolly. 😉 No one said a word about my use of “It’s a good job.” Definitely not used in the States. Must be common enough to go under everyone’s radar.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A fun story, Rochelle, and I learned something new as usual! =)
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Dear Brenda,
I’m glad you enjoyed and learned. Always a high compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The humour of and in language.
Chuckled a lot, for I could imagine the scene!
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Dear Sabina,
Two comments on one story? I’m doubly blessed. Thank you twice. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😊👍
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A gentle, softly-delivered nudge and wink to the verbal confusions generated by the “English” language. Super stuff, Rochelle.
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Dear Jilly,
We are two countries separated by a common language, aren’t we? And then there are so many variations within each country. Confusion indeed. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If it rains, it rains – Umbrellas are fine until the winds blows. I enjoyed your snapshot of life.
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Dear James,
I don’t often carry an umbrella. Just something else to carry and if I get wet I get wet. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Brilliant! As soon as I saw the photo I thought, “Oo, brollies!” and immediately wondered if non-Brits would know the term. Your story answered that one for me! I must admit though, I’ve never heard the term ‘gamp’ before – it’s always been a plain old brolly to me!
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Oh, hahahahaa, the King’s or is it Queen’s English can be quite a jig to git at times. Love it! Wasn’t sure I’d get out with our new little addition there hasn’t been a lot of sleep this week.
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I have just treated myself to an umbrella with vents in the roof that claims to prevent it from blowing inside out. I have yet to test it.
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That’s very similar to the conversations Terry and I have sometimes. Same language, aging ears 🙂
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Bahahaha clever piece. The same with the aussie accent I think 😊
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Brolly or gamp = umbrella. Who knew? A fun read Rochelle!
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A lovely tale of language and misunderstanding. Let’s hope any more are as innocuous. We had it as an umbergamp when we were kids, which I think might be a Midlands expression. The UK-US different usage that always gets me is bonnet vs. hood (on a car). And what’s a ‘thong’ in the US? Because they are mighty different in Australia from the UK version. 🙂
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Language fascinates me and I love the sharing of vernacular that we have in FF. Boot and bonnet were new to me. As for thong…when I was growing up thongs were what you wore on your feet. (My brother and I found them fun to chuck at each other 😉 ) Suddenly I find that what I used to know as thongs are now flip-flops and a thong is…well, something else entirely. Not sure when that came about.
Even across the US there are those lingual differences. In New York a suitcase is a valise. And so on.
Thank you re my silly story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for teaching us a new word with your funny story. Never heard of Brolly before, Rochelle. By the way, I am still waiting for you to read my story.
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Dear Piyali,
I usually get around to all the stories by the end of the week. This week has been a little slower than usual as I had a two day art fair to prepare for and participate in. 😉 Brolly was a new one on me, too. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hope you had a great time exhibiting your craft there.
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I hadn’t even heard of bumbershoot 😀 Teaching history to English and of course story telling – thank you Rochelle!
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Dear Dahlia.
Bumbershoot and Brolly were both new to me, too. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I doubt you’re the only one who saw umbrellas and thought of England! I live in the driest county but it’s welly weather yet again here. Good thing I’ve got my brolly 🙂
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Dear El,
We do have our wet seasons here in the middle of the United States. But we do think of Merry Ole England as rainy and foggy. 😉 Thanks for sloshing by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rains alot? What do you mean? I’ll have you know there has been no rain at all here in my part of blighty for a good two hours now 🙂 No brolly needed, or wellies or a mac!
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Dear RG,
From the sounds of that, perhaps you need to set sail. 😉 Thanks for sloshing by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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☔
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I love the differences in our English language. I’ve learned most of them rightt here in our group. Good job, once again.
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Dear Dawn,
Friday Fictioneers does seem to almost be a mode of travel, doesn’t it? I’ve learned a lot from doing it. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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lol…great fun!
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Thank you, Sascha. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Haha I’ve never been to England, but I was able to understand him right off the bat. In my mind Eric is just messing with him. That’s definitely something I’d do haha especially with a close friend. I enjoyed it 🙂
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Dear Jacob,
it’s very possible that Eric would mess with Ali, Both of them write humorous stories primarily. I would do it to a close friend as well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was hilarious, Rochelle! Loved the sense of humour in this one. I love it when two people can come together despite differences in culture and language.
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Dear Fatima,
I’m happy you were humored by this story. It was fun to write. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Backpacking for the picture prompt :
http://scraps-from-life.blogspot.com/2018/09/baby-steps.html?m=1
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