Catching Idle Butterflies

A draft so rough you need a 4-wheel drive to get through it

Isn't that a great title?

I came up with it during an email conversation with susanL . In my previous entry she wrote: I've had that very same itch...I mentioned it to Thomas and we came up with providing prompts to each other...just in case you'd like one, I'll challenge you like I did him. Try writing a 1000 word short story in a genre you've never tried before. It could be fun and enlightening!

I accepted her challenge, but said I needed a deadline otherwise I'd never do it. Generous lady that she is, she gave me until tonight at midnight. I still liked the idea, but warned her it would likely be incoherent.

She smoothed over my angst by saying she understood it would be a rough draft.

"Rough?" I wrote back. "Sweetheart, this story will be so rough, you'll need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get through it!"

Well, I made it with just over 12 hours to spare. I'd edit it more, but I have plans for the rest of the day. I also broke one of the rules. She required a 1000 word story, but mine ended up 1744. However, I like the story enough -- and at this point don't forsee cutting any words and still make it any good -- I'm hoping she'll let that part slide.

For your reading, um, pleasure, here it is:

Bought and Paid For  (18+) No one could love Gwen now, especially not her husband. #1251809 by vivacious

She said to write in a genre I never tried, so I gave Romance a shot. You're welcome to give me reviews, but mostly I want you to look for something in particular.

Though not religious, I based this story on a book in the Bible. 2,000 GPs to the first person to guess the correct one.