Willie Nelson has written many great songs, performed a great many more written by others, and in each one he's made it his own in his way. The following story is part of a series. This story is the beginning of larger things, things that can happen and, like a chain of events that get going, sometimes unstoppable.

The song I chose is "To make a Long Story Short, She's Gone."

"To Make A Long Story Short She's Gone

I see nothing to be gained by explanations No need to try to say who's right or who was wrong No need to enter into lengthy dissertations To make a long story short she's gone I won't attempt to explain the things that happened To put in words why she's not here would take too long And it's all too far beyond the realm of understanding To make a long story short she's gone The way you look at me you don't believe she loved me But she once loved me with a love so sweet and strong I won't try to give the reasons why I miss her so To make a long story short she's gone To make a long story short she's gone"

Thank you, Willie Nelson for writing and performing this song. Thank you, Jake for the invitation to play in your invitational. Thank you reader for putting up with this man's writing efforts.

Spontaneous Combustion

She stood waiting patiently for the hotel clerk to finish coding her room key card. Actually it was a key card for her husbands room, but he was unaware she was at the hotel ... yet. Flying all morning, having to rent a car and then driving directly to the client's office to spend four hours troubleshooting their system had taken it out of Danielle.

Tired as she was, she knew she had some work still ahead of her before she could take a long awaited shower. She thought back to last week and the conversation she'd had with her husband of four years.

"Bored" He'd said. "I'm bored with our so-called sex life. There's no spontaneity any more. We've become our parents and we haven't even been married that long."

"What would you want to do to fix that honey? What is it you're asking me?"

"Well, I'd like to have us doing different things once in a while. Just getting in bed and me getting on top, pumping for a bit and then finishing ... just ain't cutting it anymore."

His look was one of distraction, which bothered Danielle more than she could say. He could barely pay attention to her during this important discussion? If it was so damned important, why couldn't Robert look her in the eye and pay attention to her? He thought she was the problem? Really?

"What do you suggest then Robert? Trying different ways? Different rooms? What?"

She tried ... wanting to somehow show Robert that she was willing to try to fire up their sex life too. She'd also felt like they were in a rut, so she was open to suggestions.

"I don't know Danielle. If you have to ask, then we have larger problems than either of us thought."

She shook her head negatively as she remembered, unaware of the outward motion. She remembered his statement and knew that the problem was not hers alone.

'No ... I'm not going there again. It's much too late for that now.' She thought.

Her eyes fell on the clerk who was giving her a strange look.

"What?" She hoped she didn't look as confused as she felt. She'd missed something he'd said she supposed.

"Here's your key card Ma'am. He's on the sixteenth floor, room 1618. Enjoy your stay. Would you like someone to carry your suitcase for you?"

"No ... I'm fine ... really. Thank you."

As the doors closed, she leaned tiredly against the elevator wall while she quickly and smoothly traveled up to her floor.

'I'm amazed that things have ended up as they have. It will be interesting to see what Robert says when I talk to him though.'

Her thoughts jumped around and landed on her husband. She wasn't angry any more. Actually, she was too jet-lagged and tired to even try to think straight.

As she approached the room she saw something sticking half under the door. She used the key card and opened the door, bending down as it swung open, she picked up the card, one of the 'do not disturb' signs. She hung it on the outside door handle, thinking that her husband had placed it on the outer doorknob.

Since her vision picked up where things in the room were, she didn't bother with the front light. She stopped at the desk near the TV center, she glanced at the over crowded desk.

"Damn, this looks like an advertising mans' dream world." Her voice cut through the silence in the room.

She noted some things piled near the ashtray, she picked them up as she absently walked towards the clear table in the corner of the room. Longingly she looked at the bed before sighing.

"If I don't get ready now I'll be too busy later to get it done right." Again, her voice was loud in the silent room.

Her suitcase behind her, its handle extended upright, had a slight desire to fall over due to the weight of the clothes it held within, so she moved it closer to the bed letting it lean onto the inviting mattress.

She set her briefcase on the table top moving the lone ashtray to one side. Several books of matches and some business cards were nearby and she picked them up reading with undisguised curiosity.

Her briefcase opened with one hand as she tossed the match books into the case as she removed a couple of things at the same time. On the desk she placed the manila envelope, face up. She moved over looking closely until her eyes fixed on one small object. She picked it up and rolled it around her fingers lost in thought feeling its weight.

She moved back over to the table and sat in the high-backed comfortable looking chair that begged her to get off her feet. She took another item out of her briefcase and as she leaned back she closed her eyes.

'Only for a moment.' She thought. 'I just need to rest my eyes for a moment.'

Later she became aware of voices in the hallway, just outside her room door. She set up, ready for anything but not sure what was going to happen now. Her hands busy in her lap working buttons furiously.

The door opened suddenly and two bodies moved in. A man and a woman were silhouetted in the hall light, embracing each other as they maneuvered awkwardly in. The woman's hand shot out clicking the front light switch and light flooded a large portion of the room. The corner where Danielle sat was still in semi-darkness.

Danielle could hear the moans, the kissing noises, and the heavy breathing coupled with soft laughter. The laughter was one of desire ... anticipation.

A third body came up behind the woman and hugged her from behind as the man in front reached up untying the one strand of cloth that held her slinky silk dress from falling. Pulling the string, it came untied, allowing the dress to puddle at her feet. She was naked underneath save for the garter belt and stockings she wore.

The man behind her was nuzzling her neck, kissing and sucking her apparent soft skin while his hands came up from her sides, cupping her breasts and his fingers pinched her nipples.

The man in front still had his lips pressed against hers, and one of his hands drifted between her legs and cupped her bare and obviously wet pussy. She moaned through his lips, desire sounding like a deep throated growl.