My Twist on Fan Fiction

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Fan fiction is typically when an über fan of a popular and published piece of work (movie, book, TV show) extends the story by creating new fiction with the same characters and background. I’m not really sure how all that works legally but apparently some writers have been discovered as a result of their penned homages.

For my piece of “fan fiction,” I decided to asked my followers on my Facebook page and on Twitter to give me the start of a sentence and let me write a story around it. Mainly, I was feeling that my creative well was a little dry.

I imagined starting an intricate story much the way Meryl Streep (as Karen Blixen) did in Out of Africa when Robert Redford gave her the start of story:

There was a wandering Chinese named Cheng Huan…
living in Limehouse…
and a girl named Shirley.

In case you haven’t seen it, this is absolutely one of my all-time favorite movies for so many reasons: the music, the scenery, the style of British East Africa, Meryl Streep. Definitely a must-see if it’s never made it onto your list.

In Karen Blixen style, I got several starts to a story and they all seemed to magically weave together…

There is just something about the start of summer that makes me…

loosen up my normal intense routine. The clothes are lighter and looser. The days are longer. And the weekends just feel freer. It’s a season of being carefree and only twelve months ago, I couldn’t have been happier.

This time last year I was…

excited about the prospects of summer. I envisioned long days at the pool and short trips to the beach. Romantic dinners as Rob and I relaxed from our day to day schedule of work, eat, sleep, repeat. We’d promised ourselves that we would take time to build our relationship. But that was a year ago and a lot can change in a year.

I don’t really like the emotional sides of me but…

sometimes there’s only so much a person can take. When Rob took a business trip to Denver last Spring, I had my reservations because I knew Becca would also be accompanying him on the trip. While their fling had never amounted to anything and I was quick to pass it off, I could help but act like the needy girlfriend desperate for reassurance that Denver wouldn’t change anything. Until I called his cell phone late one night.

When there was no answer, my mind raced and thought the worst because that’s what women do. Rob, never one to lie (but occasionally embellish the truth), told me that they had gone out for dinner and drinks with their client. The client, known for his wild antics, insisted they go to a club after dinner.

I questioned him. Was Becca there the whole time? Were they drinking too much? Did they dance together.

Rob told about the evening and I knew he was telling the truth when he said

“She wasn’t much good at dancing.“

Believe it or not, this was all the reassurance I needed. His heart and soul are connected to music and our love of dancing is part of what brought us together.

After Denver, we turned over a new leaf. We were starting to gear up for summer again. It was going to be our time for play. Our time to rediscover what we loved most… sun, sand, and music.

This day started out like all the others….

We were headed to our favorite spot, a little alcove tucked away on Long Beach Island, known only to locals. Rob spread out the blanket, set up our beach umbrella, and I broke out our basket of gourmet goodies from Whole Foods. As I opened a bottle of our favorite rose, I poured a glass and swirled it close to my lips as Rob took off his shirt and got ready for our day in the sun.

What I didn’t expect was when he pulled off his pants. He was wearing a BAG Bikini Thong. I spit out my wine in a classic cartoon fashion and ran as fast as I could to throw a towel over him.

He was surprised by reaction thinking I’d be thrilled with his attempt at being fashion forward.

“What’s the matter?” he yelled.

“451 people bought this!”

“Well, I hope they have a return policy!” I screamed, while I secretly hoped that the return policy would involve a highly flammable liquid and a match.

We haven’t been back to the beach since then and frankly, Rob’s taste in fashion has been making me rethink how well we know each other. So this summer, instead of our carefree trips to the beach, I’ve decided to take on a big project at work and I’m spending less time at home.

I’ve been in a really foul mood lately…

as a result but I just can’t get that bag bikini out of my head and I may never head out in the sun again.

Thanks to everyone who helped contribute to the story. Just in case it’s not obvious, this is a fictional story. First of all, I’m married. Secondly, I’m a horrible dancer. Also, I decided to use the name Rob because I’m in the middle of an older season of Survivor where Boston Rob is in the lead! All similarities to incidents real or fictional is purely coincidental.