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Ubertines '07: Misery is a Butterfly (1098 hits)

Category: Romance
Labels: fiction

Rating: 1.96 on 31 reviews (Rate this item) (V)

Submitted by Sacrilicious (View user info) at 2007-02-04 20:26:29 EST

"Tag! You're it!" Amy screamed with a slap, her arms flailing about as she darted past the boy. Her cheeks were flushed apple red and her hair was a tangled mess as it trailed behind her in the wind.

"Just try and catch me now!"

"No, I don't want to play anymore, this is stupid." Billy shuffled toward the curb, kicking bits of broken green glass that lay in the street.

"You're just mad 'cause I'm faster than you!" Amy taunted, plopping down next to him.

"Nuh uh, I just don't feel like it."

"OK. You want one of my lollipops? I get the orange one, but here, you can have cherry." Amy pulled the candy from her coat pocket, offering one to her friend, as he replied with mumbled thanks.

As Amy unwrapped her treat and popped it into her mouth, Billy leaned forward, pulling at the tongue of his sneaker.

"So what do we do now?" the girl asked, looking at him intently. She dragged the back of her hand across her lips, leaving a sticky smear of orange on her cheek.

"Let's go play on the hills." Billy bounced up from the curb and started off toward the construction site at the end of the block, his playmate in tow.

Weaving in and out of all the secret spaces of their makeshift playground, the pair tired and momentarily reclined at the foot of a very large pile of dirt.

"Come on, let's climb it," said Billy.

"Aw, it's too steep!" Amy whined, as she sank her hands into the soil and clumsily started up the hill after him. Unsure of her footing, she nearly losing her balance a few times, but she made it. Scrambling to her feet, Amy dusted off her hands and checked out the view from the top. As she smiled wide, proud of her triumph, a brilliant blue butterfly floated past. She shifted her gaze to follow the delicate creature, when Billy called to her from behind.

"Hey Amy, guess what?" Billy asked, and without waiting for a response, gave the girl a shove, yelling, "I am king of the mountain!"

Caught off guard, the girl shrieked and lost her balance-- her knees met the dirt, and she tumbled down the hill. In a shocked and embarrassed little pile she laid, tears cutting their salty path through the sticky grime of her cheeks.

She rose, furious, and yelled, "I hate you Billy!"

"Oh, come on, I was just playing around.." a tinge of guilt in his voice.

"I don't care, that was mean and it hurt!" she retorted. "Leave me alone, I'm going to find butterflies and you can't come!"

Before the boy could apologize, Amy was off and running toward the woods. Billy sat, dejected, at the foot of the hill.

***

"It's going to be so badass," said Billy, pointing down at the tattoo book. I'm gonna get little drops of blood coming off the blade, too." He turned to face Amy, her cheeks flushed apple red and her hair a tangled mess as she reclined next to him. He took a deep hit off the glass bowl, and holding the smoke as long as possible, squeaked out, "So what's the deal, are you up for it or are you still scared?" He blew a thick puff of smoke at Amy and playfully swung a pillow toward her.

"No way, I'm gonna do it," she said, tapping the bowl and returning it to its little velvet bag in her purse. "I just haven't decided yet. I think maybe this one." Amy turned the pages and waved a finger toward her choice.

"A butterfly? Are you serious?" Billy quipped. "How original. And lame."

"Yeah, because a bloody knife is so fucking original," Amy replied, exasperated. "It's always meant something to me, OK? Why do you have to criticize me about every little thing?"

"Oh, god..here we go again.." he rolled his eyes.

"Whatever," Amy muttered, fastening the buttons on her shirt and sliding into her shoes. "I have to go, I'm late for dinner."

***

Bill walked boldly through the looming archway of the church, swallowing a sick feeling. It was the most nervous he'd ever been. He absently fussed with his tie, and felt like he was going to suffocate. And then, he saw her.

Amy was every bit the radiant vision of beauty he'd imagined she would be. She was perfect. If there was ever a doubt in his mind, he knew at that moment that he had always loved her. He would always love her.

Upon exiting the church, Bill stood with the rest of the guests, and an usher handed him a small, triangle of a box.

As he watched the happy couple waltz toward a life together, he loosened the silk ribbon, and opened the box. Bill watched intently as the brilliant blue butterfly made her escape, and soared up and away.

Remember when we found misery, we watched her, watched her spread her wings.jpg (42 kB)

Remember when we found misery, we watched her, watched her spread her wings.jpg (42 kB)

User Reviews

Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2008-09-29 02:40:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2

No Comment

Submitted by MudWhistle (user info) at 2007-11-21 07:43:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

awesome, I love it when i take time to read posts.

Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-12 11:44:09 EST (#)
Ranking: -2

You are the object of my affection.

Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-10-03 17:05:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2

No Comment

Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2007-03-15 20:39:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1

No Comment

Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2007-02-06 16:25:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

No Comment

Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2007-02-06 16:03:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

You write kids well. I could have been happy reading more about their adventures.

Not that the rest wasn't good, just saying is all.

Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2007-02-06 16:02:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

"We guarantee that you will receive vibrant, healthy butterflies for your special event. All orders include one extra butterfly per dozen in the unlikely event that one perishes during shipping. And of course, a deceased butterfly can be returned for a prorated refund."

The 'extra butterfly.' The poor dear.

Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2007-02-06 11:33:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

No Comment

Submitted by ripple (user info) at 2007-02-05 23:59:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

All yours, Lish. Sorry for the withdrawl- I know it's lame. But this week has been insane for me.

Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-02-05 15:56:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

snickerdoodle!

Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2007-02-05 15:45:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

what stag said. Still easily +2

Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2007-02-05 15:44:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

beautiful.

Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2007-02-05 15:43:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

No Comment

Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-02-05 13:11:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

this was purdy.

Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2007-02-05 13:01:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

that was great.

Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2007-02-05 12:24:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

I hated it, but the voices in my head really enjoyed it.

Submitted by ticklish_squirrel (user info) at 2007-02-05 12:17:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Very nice

Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2007-02-05 10:47:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Excellent piece, shame so many people will just skip over it.

Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-02-05 09:23:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Nice. Very nice.

Submitted by particle_man58 (user info) at 2007-02-05 04:55:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

outstanding

Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-02-05 02:52:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

ooooh I love that pic

Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-02-05 00:09:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Well done, Val.

Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-02-04 23:35:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2007-02-04 23:26:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

The end section not as good as the rest. The rest very good.

Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-02-04 23:14:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

No Comment

Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2007-02-04 21:34:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Honey, this was awesome...

Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2007-02-04 21:14:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

Love that picture.

Submitted by MichaelJackson (user info) at 2007-02-04 20:29:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2

+2 Blonde Redhead, I am seeing them in April :<)

Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2007-02-04 20:27:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0

Ubertines-

http://www.ubersite.com/m/98252