The Magic Umbrella, also known as Stormy Weather, is a mystery short story by Isaac Asimov.
Part of the Union Club series, it was first published in the May 1983 issue of Gallery magazine. It was later collected in The Best Mysteries of Isaac Asimov.
Summary[]
In the Union Club library, Griswold tells a story about two elderly men, Levy and Myerson, who were lifelong friends and constant chess partners. Their friendship was shattered by a quarrel over an umbrella. Myerson had purchased a cheap, folding umbrella and began boasting it was "magic" because it never rained when he carried it. Annoyed by this, Levy bought an identical-looking umbrella for a lower price and claimed his was magic, too. The rivalry escalated when Myerson was caught in a rainstorm while carrying his umbrella but refused to open it, getting soaked. He then accused Levy of having switched the umbrellas so that Levy would possess the "magic" one, and he stopped speaking to Levy.
Levy, missing his friend, sought Griswold's help, vehemently denying he had switched the umbrellas. Griswold arranged a meeting with the estranged Myerson. He proposed that Myerson inspect the umbrella from Levy's portfolio, betting that Levy was telling the truth when he claimed he had never even touched the umbrella after its purchase.
Griswold's gamble succeeded. When Myerson examined Levy's umbrella, he found it still had its original price tag attached. Since Levy had paid three dollars and fifty cents for his umbrella, while Myerson had paid four dollars for his, the price tag proved it was Levy's original purchase and not Myerson's. Myerson admitted his error, and the two friends reconciled immediately, resuming their chess games and never mentioning the magic umbrella again.
Characters[]
- Griswold
- Club Member (the narrator)
- Baranov
- Jennings
- Mr. Levy
- Mr. Myerson
Historical Figures Mentioned[]
- Aesop
See Also[]
List of short stories by Isaac Asimov