Much thanks to
Neuroparenthetical
for his excellent editing skills. The story is far more interesting because of his help!
The infamous George Anderson tale has piqued interest at a record rate. On Literotica, over 100 other authors have taken a stab at an alternate ending or sequel. The premise -- celebrity steals a loving faithful wife right out from under the husband's nose while out at a club with a group of their friends, is ludicrous. It's outrageous. GA's talented writing; his every word wreaks havoc with our senses. As the scene unfolds, you feel the endless gut punches, and that's the hallmark of a world class-writer. The first time I read it, I couldn't even go to sleep that night.
As mentioned, many other top-shelf writers have taken a stab at their own ending. The problem I have had in reading all of them is simply, "how do two sane, loving people get through something like this? Is it even possible?" Well, the original premise dictates it is. As we know, the story came about as a result of a real life conversation. All of the so-called friends in the story told the husband he shouldn't make a big deal about it. It was only one night, and it was the famous {use any celeb name}. Moreover, in real life, couples sometimes talk about their own celebrity 'hall passes'. We are a society driven by fame and fortune.
To be honest, I'm pretty slow on the draw. Every time I think I have a coherent, unique ending some other author beats me to it. So, here's one that's been circulating in my head for the longest time.
Anytime I add to someone else's story, I follow these guidelines: first, I read and re-read the story so I can capture the spirit of the characters as the original author intended them to be - how they act, think and behave. I do not take license with someone else's work, just so I can make it end the way I want it to. We leave that to the anonymous commenters. Finally, I always search the original story for 'crumbs' left by the original author as clues and hints, or to set the scene for other writers. I believe I found a big one here, that others missed. You'll see! I hope you enjoy my meager attempt at another version of this remarkable tale...
I've included 'the conversation' and the beginning of the original story in italics up until I veer off course.
I urge you to read the original story by George Anderson
https://www.literotica.com/s/february-sucks
first.
The conversation:
Many years ago, I was out of town at a conference. About 20 of us, half men and half women, almost all married, went out to a watering hole one evening to decompress. The local fauna were hitting pretty heavily on the women at our table. We guys were wincing at the crudity of the locals' attempts, while the women laughed and rejected them. One particularly bad approach drew the comment, "He's lucky I like this beer, otherwise he'd be wearing it."
"So what if it had been [famous football player: call him Jocko] saying that to you? Would he have scored?" another woman asked with a flirty little smirk in her voice.
"Hell, yes!" "Absolutely!" It was clearly unanimous.
"What if it meant, you know..."
"Especially if it meant that!" The women's laughter was genuine; the guys' was a little forced.
Understand, these women weren't dogs who couldn't get a date: they ranged from pretty to downright hot. They were in their late twenties and early thirties, and dressed for a night out.
"Um, what would you tell your husband?" one of the guys asked hesitantly.
"Um, why would I tell my husband?" The reply was instantaneous, and greeted with laughter and head-nodding from the women.
"What if your husband was here?" the guy persisted. We could all hear the anxiety in his voice.
One of the women leaned forward with her elbows on the table and looked him dead in the eye. I remembered her from lunch; she'd been showing off pictures of her husband and their perfectly adorable five-year-old girl. "I would tell him that he knows how much I love him, and he knows I'll always come back to him, but I'm not going to pass up this opportunity, and I'll see him sometime tomorrow." She spoke calmly and kindly but with determination. None of us could doubt that she meant exactly what she said.
Several guys' jaws dropped considerably; I know mine was one.
"No, you wouldn't," the guy next to me muttered. The woman looked at him pityingly.
"Yes, I would, and I think every woman here would do the same."
"You might leave with him tonight, but if I was your husband, you sure as hell wouldn't see me tomorrow." He was as serious as she was.
Another woman tried to fix things. "Listen, I love my husband, I wouldn't trade him for anything. Jocko doesn't mean anything to me and never will, and he probably wouldn't even remember my name the next morning. But spending a night with him, just one night out of our whole marriage, would be something I could remember for the rest of my life. An event, you know, with a capital E? It would have nothing to do with the way I feel about my husband. Afterward, I would go home to the man I love, and everything would be like it was before."
