FF – A Fun Day Out
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by J Hardy Carroll.
Copyright J Hardy Carroll
“I still don’t understand why they call it an ‘amusement park’. I’m not very amused.”
“Oh, stop being such a grump.”
“Half an hour to park and twenty minutes queuing to get in. I treated myself to an ice cream which a small child knocked out of my hand.”
“Oh God.”
“Then we queue forever for the ‘Terrific Twister’ only to find I’m half an inch too short.”
“Ughhhh, ‘forever’. It was ten minutes. Cheer up!”
“Fine. If you love it here so much let’s go on the ‘Rocky Rollercoaster’. I can feel yesterday’s curry churning. You can sit behind me.”
“Let’s go home.”
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draliman on life 
At least they quit before yesterday’s curry came back up.
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A lucky escape.
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I could not stop laughing! 😀 Grumpy extraordinaire!
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He’s not having a very good time of it, mind 🙂
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A real glass half empty trip to the fair!
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He’s not in the right head space for this trip I think!
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Ha ha – I’ve been to fairs with grumpy chops too! 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Ha! I hope they didn’t threaten you with yesterday’s curry too 🙂
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Definitely the opposite of my guy! Some just cannot be pleased…
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I’d be just like my guy 🙂
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i guess he knows his limit. 🙂
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Fortunately 🙂
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Yikers! I would not want to be behind yesterday’s curry. I’d go home too.
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Yes, a wise decision I think.
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Never take a grumpy guy for a joy ride .. and all that curry churning is mmmm. But, frankly, I am not a fan of these amusement parks.
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I’m not either. Though I’d never make such an awful threat 🙂
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I’ve never been much of a fan myself.
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Me neither. I’d be happy just to watch, if I really had to go.
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I am that grumpy guy at such places usually 🙂
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Me too, though I’ve managed to avoid fairgrounds for many decades now 🙂
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He’s determined to enjoy himself, isn’t he? Perhaps he’d be better suited with a trip to a museum.
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I fear even a museum could be too exciting for him!
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If the one guy wants to oops on people below, they must be teens. Either that or he never grew up. I’d want to sit behind him too, way behind. Good writing, Ail. 😀 — Suzanne
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I’m not sure anywhere is far enough behind 🙂
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She should have parked him in front of a booth and let him try throwing darts at balloons. A game of skill might be more his speed. Though genders are unstated here. Why do we assume it’s the man who’s complaining? 😉
I’ve a question for a British writer/reader: Is the tag-on expression “don’t you know?” still as common as it was in the old novels? Like: “We can’t be late for the luncheon. Lady Snootwich insists on punctuality, don’t you know.”
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‘Don’t you know’ is rarely heard outside Buckingham Palace these days Christine!
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In my mind it was the man. It always seems to be the men who are the grumpy ones 🙂
As Keith said, it’s not used. Only if we’re taking the Mickey, then we’d (I anyway) pronounce it “don’t’cha know”, in the kind of posh British accent you hear on certain TV programmes (like Jane Austin dramatisations) which I have also never heard in real life. Sorry 😦
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Thank you. Working on a book written by a fellow from Rawenstall, and I need to know if that would have been used back in 1960s.
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Probably not in general use but maybe in upper class circles. I don’t have any first-hand experience of the 60s, though. I was waaaay too young!
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Haha! The dark side of amusement park 😀
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Yeah, the grumbling and bodily fluids 🙂
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A wise decision methinks! Excellent
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Thanks, I think so too!
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If he’s suffering the after effects of yesterday’s curry, I’m not surprised he’s grumpy!
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He probably had a few pints and a kebab too 🙂
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Hahahahaha! Too cute!
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I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Short? I once went on a roller coaster while pregnant only to see the “don’t ride this if” sign afterward. Come to think of it, no wonder my son is wild.
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Quite the pre-birth experience for him!
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That’s one way to escape the park! Amusement parks–I think you love ’em or you hate ’em.
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For sure. I hate ’em 🙂 Too many people, too much noise and too much risk of dying horribly in a freak accident.
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Dear Ali,
I certainly wouldn’t be amused spending the day with him. She should leave him home next time and find a friend to enjoy it with. Believable dialogue. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
He’s bringing the whole day down, for sure. He can stay home and watch the footie next time. I’m glad you liked it!
Ali
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Good stuff. Glad I stopped by!
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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There’s an amusing quality in this character’s unamusing tone and bent. Great work, Ali.
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He has a dry sort of humour. I’m glad you liked it!
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Being 4′ 11′ I totally understand the height restrictions. Last time I went to King’s Island in Cincinnati, the only ride I could ride was the carousel, and even there, they wouldn’t let me on a horse because on that ride only, I was a 1/2 inch too tall. It was a total waste of $60+ dollars admission. I spent the day following hubs around and watching HIM enjoy the rides.
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That’s quite a bummer. Too tall and too short 😦
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Ha! This is super fun. When I read the title, I thought, Oh Goody! A fun day, and was treated to the exact opposite. Kudos.
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Never let it be said that I do the expected 🙂
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Great dialogue, Ali. Some grumble bum (in more ways than one) will always spoil an outing like that. I haven’t been to an amusement park for at least forty-five years (did I really just admit to that? 😮 )
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I haven’t been to one for around 35-40! Not a fan.
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And here I pictured you being in your early 30s, but then 35 years would take you back a l-o-n-g way!.
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Sadly my 30s are long behind me 😦 My profile pic was taken in my early 40s, when I started my blog 🙂
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I second the “great dialogue”! What a grumpity-grump. Just goes to show, be careful who you choose to go to the fair with — having someone with the same attitude makes ALL the difference!
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Yes, he really brought the whole day down. She needs to go with a friend next time, he can go down the pub and depress his mates instead. “Uh, this beer has a funny taste, the crisps are stale…”
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Sounds like a better plan. I’ve had the same experience myself — going to the fair with a grumpster can bring even *me* down. At the fair! 🙂
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It’s just not right!
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Very amusing. He has the voice of people I know (to remain nameless). Hehe
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Hee! I suspect it could even be me 🙂
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The grumpy part I mean. =)
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You’d be surprised how grumpy I could get if someone forced me to go to a fairground 🙂
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Haha. =)
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When the ride warns that passengers may get wet, I’m pretty sure they weren’t referring to yesterday’s curry…
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The warning is pretty non-specific, to be fair.
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Hahahaha. Lovely story, Draliman.
I could relate to it .🙂🙂
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Oh dear. Were you the fun-lover or the grump? 😉
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Not much of a fun- lover when it comes to roller coasters and such.😀😀
I really liked your story’s title too.
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Thanks!
I’m not a fan of the fair full stop. I’d be my grumpy character 🙂
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Just when you thought the curry was behind you it comes back for yet a visit….
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And then visits the person behind you on the roller coaster 🙂
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Love the dialogue! I get the feeling that Mr. Grumpy Pants complains everywhere they go. 😉
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He does seem that sort of person 🙂
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When one thing goes wrong…MOL 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend 🙂 ❤
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It’s all gone wrong 🙂
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Haha good timing on leaving, last thing you or anyone else for that matter is getting sick on a ride
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Yeah, it’ll go everywhere. Yuck!
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Never take a grumpy guy to an amuse…meant park. 😉
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She’s starting to realise that 🙂
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What a grump! And didn’t he know how to curb his enthusiasm! Sounds like someone I know too well 🙂
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From the comments, many people know someone just like him 🙂
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The threat of yesterday’s curry would be a motivator. My guess is that the grump does not get invited out to much. Well told.
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He’s certainly not getting invited to the fairground again!
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Parents can be unpredictable.
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Nice read
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
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Thanks!
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Like the dialogue only style – worked really well for this story. Nicely done
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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🙂
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LOL…I’m not much for amusement parks either but I don’t think I have ever threatened to vomit on someone.
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But have you ever actually vomited on someone? 😉
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My kids when the fair is in town: ‘Yay, great fun, loads of rides, get candyfloss and win a teddy’
Me when the fair is in town: ‘Noisy, horrible rides that cost a small fortune, kids covered in candyfloss and me paying €3 each so they can win a teddy I could have bought for €2’
I’m definitely in the grumpy camp!
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Ha, me too! Fortunately I have avoided fairs for many many years 🙂
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Great pic. And what’s great about your story is we’ve all been there … in the one role or the other 🙂
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I think one of the other participants reckoned the picture was taken in Guatemala.
We’ve all stayed somewhere which was… less than expected!
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