WRITER'S NIGHTMARE
Andrea and Tauna were bored of writing the same old way and their professors had just set deadlines they needed to meet. So, the two sisters decided to swap their manuscripts and see how they could improve each other's work. They wrote in different genres: Andrea loved Regency England and Pride and Prejudice, while Tauna enjoyed westerns and crime stories inspired by Adam 12 and Big Valley.
Andrea was sitting with her feet up on a small table, leaning her chair against the wall, with Tauna's laptop open. Tauna was doing the same with Andrea's laptop.
"Tauna, your story is full of clichés, repetitions, and stereotypes. You need Fred back; this one is a dime a dozen. The hero is too rugged, the heroine is too boring, and the villains are too generic. And what kind of name is Buck McGillicutty?" Andrea burst out laughing.
Tauna threw a nerf ball at Andrea and glared at her. "You don't know anything about westerns, Andrea. Buck McGillicutty is a great name. It's strong and memorable. And my characters are realistic and complex. Unlike yours."
She flipped through Andrea's latest work, a romance between Thomas Bennet and a spirited lady. She rolled her eyes as she read the first draft.
"Andrea, this is drab and predictable. Mr. Bennet is dull, the lady is a rebel, and they hate each other at first but then fall in love. And what kind of name is Fitzwilliam Darcy? Who is he and where does he even fit in?"
Andrea tossed another ball at Tauna and huffed. "You don't know anything about romances, Tauna. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a classic name. It's elegant and refined. And, for your information, he marries Mr. Bennet's daughter, read the book. And, as to my original characters in this one, they are witty and charming. Unlike yours."
They continued to argue and criticize each other's work, until they heard a knock on the door. They opened it and saw two men standing outside. One was wearing a western hat and a badge, and the other was wearing a top hat and a cravat.
"Hello, ladies," Sheriff Madden said. "I found this gentleman outside; he said his name was Thomas Bennet and that he was the owner of Longbourn. I guess we are here for similar reasons."
"And what would that be?" Andrea asked.
"To take you to the dance at Pemberley as I promised, why else would I have come?" Mr. Bennet looked at Andrea with a twinkle in his eyes. "I thought this fine couple could surely come; you could find proper attire for them, could you not?"
Andrea and Tauna looked at each other in disbelief. Then they looked at the men, screamed, ran up the stairs, slammed their bedroom doors, and dove under the covers. There was no way they were going back downstairs.