FF – A Costly Mix-Up
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Kent Bonham, and you read the other stories by clicking on the blue froggy.
Copyright Kent Bonham
“I don’t understand, Michaelson. We’ve tried every glyph in this damnable book to no avail, by Gods!” snapped Trenchart in exasperation.
Michaelson regarded the book suspiciously. “Are you sure this book is the genuine article, old man? Three weeks we’ve been at this. Three damnable weeks!”
“Got it off some chappie in the market, cost a fortune. Swore it was the genuine article, what?” said Trenchart. “Same time as I purchased that colouring book I shipped home to my daughter…” He tailed off, and the intrepid explorers looked at the book in horror.
“Damn it all, Trenchart!” yelled Michaelson.
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draliman on life 
Just let me color that in for you! 😆
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You’ll have to be quick – daughter is a rapid scribbler 🙂
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I’m sure the child will SO appreciate the gift 🙂 Thanks Dad!
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It’s the most awesome and authentic-looking colouring book ever!
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Dear Ali
That little girl is going to have a great time coloring. He he. Delightful story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
She could hardly believe her eyes when such an amazing-looking colouring book arrived on the doorstep! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Ali
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lol, love it. I saw a colouring book at first as well 🙂
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Glad you liked it! Yes, it does look like something you’d buy in a newsagent for a rainy afternoon 🙂
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Coloring is relaxing and whatnot. 🙂
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It is, especially when you have an ancient artefact to colour in 🙂
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Incredible!
I started blogging this month, and it is a pleasure that I came across your blog.
It has inspired me to start my next article.
Thank you:)
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Thanks for your lovely comment! And many apologies for the late reply – I just found it in the spam folder. Not sure why it fell in there 😦
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ha ha ha.. this was too good! 😀
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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OOPS! No telling where that kid is by now! (Two thumbs up!)
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In a little corner with her crayons… 🙂
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I laughed
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Cool 🙂
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Excellent dialogue Ali, we certainly learned a lot about this pair from how they spoke. I love that it took them three weeks to work out they had the wrong book. That’s about how long it takes to colour in some of the pictures in those colouring books…
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Maybe the daughter won’t have scribbled all over the whole thing yet, then 🙂
They were pretty slow on the uptake. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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LOL I love the dialogue–it made it so easy to picture these two. Wonderful take on the prompt D-Man 🙂
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I have a clear picture of them in my mind too. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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😂😁
he sent the wrong one home, oh dear.
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He did, the silly fellow 🙂
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Hahahaha! Well, there is a plane leaving for the U.K. soon …
Great, Ali 😀
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Let’s hope it’s a direct flight and there are seats available. Maybe they can salvage something 🙂
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It still may sell on ebay, coloring and all. 🙂
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Yes, there must be some way they can “spin” it. “Coloured in by ancient tribes people…” 🙂
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Hilarious! Three weeks trying to decipher a kid’s coloring book, that had to totally crush their egos!
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I would imagine they’ll make a pact never to speak of it again 🙂
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Coloring is ths new thing…for adults. Funny, this is, though.
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Yes, at least they have something to help them while away the hours on the trip back home… 🙂
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Hahaha! Here’s some colored pencils for my old friend… *here you go*
Fun take on the prompt, Ali! XD
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Hmm, pencils are quite sharp – probably best to keep them away from Michaelson until he clams down a bit 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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Uh-uh.. no pencils then. 😀
It’s a good chuckle. Keep it up!
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🙂
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Somewhere in the world, a little girl is scribbling with crayons all over the next Rosetta Stone….
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These ancient artefacts and books can be quite dull and monochromatic…
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Actually that was my first urge when I saw the prompt… reaching for the crayons. Good one.
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Thanks! Definitely looks like a colouring book to me 🙂
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She’ll never receive another coloring book like that. A coloring book was the first thing I thought of when I saw that picture. Well done, Ali. 🙂 — Suzanne
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No, not everyone receives a priceless old book to scribble on 🙂
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LOL! Great story. I could “hear” those two old chaps talking in a crisp British accent. They are in a “spot of bother” now!
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Indeed they are, don’t ‘cha know!
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Really great story and pompous gentlemanly dialogue. That colouring book is definitely ‘cool’ -especially the church window, top left and the various wheels and cogs. Ah well, I hope the daughter’s having fun with hers! 🙂
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Who knows what wonderful tomb-opening glyphs the daughter is busily colouring in 🙂
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An easy mistake to make, from the picture!
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Exactly. I can’t believe it’s not a colouring book 🙂
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Oh what fun! An other absent-minded professor takes the heat!. Made me laugh, thank you!
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Absent-minded professors the world over are probably used to it by now (as are their colleagues)! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Tenchart doesn’t make mistakes, until he does, but then they’re worth it, LOL: Great stuff, love the idea and the dialogue. My first thought was zentangles, not colouring books when I saw the picture.
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I had to Google “zentangles” – yes, it does look like those. I’m glad you liked my story!
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It was great. Zentangles are fun, very relaxing.
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Ha! It’s like when “Indiana” Jones accidentally hands his father’s diary to Hitler and Hitler signs it. Well, not quite . . . but I wonder what the little girl will conjure up with her ‘colouring’ book (Necronomicon?!)? Look out, Bruce Campbell! 🙂 Great story, as always, Dr. A.
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Thanks! I’m guessing she’ll make a bit of a mess of it, but hopefully not in a horribly sinister way 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Hahaha! They have been following the directions of a coloring book! Costly mix-up!
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Yeas, what a pair of idiots 🙂
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Haha! True!
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That is some expensive colouring book. Maybe try out the path of an artist 🙂 nicely done draliman
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I received an adult coloring book for Christmas and I love it. When the grandchildren are coloring – I whip out mine too! They love it too! Cute story! Nan
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Funny story. The real challenge will be getting the book back from the kid. Good luck with that guys.
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Yeah, if there’s even anything left of it! It’ll be her favourite book now 🙂
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Perhaps the kid deciphered the glyphs? They’re certainly clever at computers.
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Ha, yes! By the time they get back she’ll have already had a paper accepted to “Archaeologist Monthly” journal 🙂
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Oops. Perhaps the glyphs will work better in psychedelic, waxy colors….
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That’ll really make them “pop” 🙂
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Haha! Cute. 🙂
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I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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ha ha. that’s really funny. good job. 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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MOL…maybe they can still sell it after coloring…MOL 😀 Pawkisses 🙂 ❤
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We can only hope 🙂
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As someone with four adult colouring books on her shelf… I definitely saw one too! Love where you went with this one!
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I hope no-one grabs it from its display stand and starts colouring it in 🙂
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Oh dear….
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Ha! (Need I say more?) 🙂
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You need not 🙂
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Never mind old boy. Sent my daughter the colouring book of doom one birthday by mistake – did her the world of good.
Would Trenchart and Michaelson like to come round to dinner – they sound a hoot.
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I hope there were no inadvertent casualties when the “wrong” glyph in the colouring book of doom was coloured in 🙂
They do sound like fun dinner guests!
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Sorry, have to wipe away the tears of laughter to type… Love it! Excellente’ as usual!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks!
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Oh, good one! I wonder how much coloring she’s done by now….
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Too much, probably 🙂
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Oh dear! I hope the little girl hasn’t finished coloring her new book.
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I’m sure she just popped in on the shelf for later. Not 😉
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Ha.. How was it.. The coloring book was the one in his left hand.. Or was it the other way around
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Hee, whichever hand it was, it wasn’t the hand he thought!
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Oh, oh. If his wife wasn’t mad at him before, she is now.
But his daughter might have some great adventures.
Great story—as usual. ;0)
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Yes, who knows what might happen when she starts to colour in? Thanks!
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The colouring pencils are probably sharper than these explorers. Nice one.
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Ha, yes! They’re certainly not the sharpest tools in the box.
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Oh, oops!! I hope his daughter didn’t color the book already? Aww, made me laugh. Maybe it’s not too late.
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I think she probably did 🙂
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Okay that literally made me LOL
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I’m glad 🙂
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oh my good gawd! great writing, as usual, and hilarious.
Ellespeth
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I’m glad you liked my little piece of comedy 🙂
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Hilarious! Just like a parent! Harried and hurried and ends up in a hullabaloo!
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Ha, nice alliterative sentence there! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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I hope their book is not lost for ever in the magical world of colouring books, you made me smile great.
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Hahahahahaha! Yup!
A costly mistake – but at least, it’ll stay in the family!
(And I too, thought it was a coloring book when I saw it – how COULD he have made such an error?! Great pair of gits, they sound like!)
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Old Trenchart may be intrepid, but he lacks a little something upstairs, by gum. Love your story. Very entertaining.
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Yes, very brave and whatnot don’t ‘cha know but sadly a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic 🙂
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