"Karl, in your church you preach understanding another human's needs. It is time you understood your wife's needs," I blurted out.

"I understand you needs well, woman, maybe too well," he replied. "I did let you buy a new dress just three years ago and now you want another one. Maybe you should read the scripture more often, where it says, 'The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty; but the thoughts of everyone who is hasty only to poverty.' Proverbs 21:5."

"Karl, you already have plenty. The quarter million dollars in the bank is already 'plenty' in my opinion. How much more 'plenty do you want Providence provide you?" I mocked him. Then I added a shocker.

"Karl, a woman's needs are not all material, like wanting another dress. And like you, I have a quote for you. 'Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord. --Proverbs 18:22. There are several needs I have and we will have to talk about them soon," I told him.

"I am a busy man and I do not have the time right now to get into another of those discussions. The Book is quite clear about those issues, but I will tell you again what it says in case you conveniently forgot. Let me quote for you, 'Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.' Genesis 3:16."

I looked him straight in the eye and my voice rose in pitch.

"I have heard all this before from you, but the fact is that I am not getting younger and life is passing me by. I have a certain dress in mind and I really want it. I should not have to beg for it. Please remember, I am the wife that you promised to cherish."

"Emma, you know that this is my inheritance money I brought with me into our marriage and I have no intention to squander any of it on frivolous requests. It will be used for my nephew's seminary education."

I was boiling inside, but I kept quiet. I had been brought up in a home where the Bible was read daily and where my father ruled just as my husband. Honest and convinced that they lived according to the right laws, the commands of The Book.

My brother and my identical twin sister had long ago freed themselves and stood on their own feet. It was only natural that Jacob changed his name to Bob. He lived only eighty miles away and visited or phoned often.

My sister now called herself Mary-Lou. She had risen to become the Pacific Rim manager of a global advertising agency working out of her office in Singapore. Being twins I and Mary-Lou were very close, understanding each other on a gut level.

The matter of a new dress kept me awake that night. My anger over Karl's refusal made me do something that for a long time had been simmering in a far back corner of my mind. I took stock of my life.

I compared mine to my sister's and decided that there had to be a change. But I was afraid also, the teachings of my parents and my Church were strongly ingrained in me and I wondered if I ever would be able to think for myself. But the other picture also pulled me strongly. The one where I saw myself as a butterfly, rising into the sunshine with wings spread, flashing iridescent colors.

Then I thought of the party we had been invited to. It was only a week away. Maybe I could borrow the money for the dress from my brother?

It was long after midnight when I made up my mind that the butterfly was more pleasing than being a wife under my husbands thumb. It was a momentous decision I had made and I was proud of myself. I am the New Woman I told myself over and over. No matter what he says, I will have a life of my own. I decided to tell my brother and my sister in the morning.

"Right on," said my brother, "any way I can help, Sis. I will see you after work tonight with as much cash as you want."

My sister was ecstatic. "It is time you come to your senses. Buy your dress, then buy some red nail polish for your nails and your toes, have your hair done and enjoy the party. One more thing, change your name. Maybe Betty-Lou? I would like that."

"Emma," my friends greeted me. "You are beautiful. I am glad Karl finally let you join the rest of the world. Did you leave him home?"

I did no answer that question, it was not necessary, everyone knew about preachers and they assumed that he would be joining us later.

Donna, Louise, and Nellie crowded me. "Tell us what happened. Did you run into a make-over fairy?"

"That is not all," I announced, speaking slowly to emphasize the importance of my decision. "I also changed my name. From now on I will be Betty-Lou."

"What did Karl say to this sexy dress, and the nail polish, and the way you did your hair? And a name change to boot?" they wanted to know.

"He doesn't know yet," I told my astonished friends. "I don't think he will say anything in your presence. He might even be ashamed to be married to such a hussy. I need a drink or two before he gets here."

When he arrived and entered the party room he froze for a moment when he saw me, his wife, the New Woman. But, as I had predicted, Karl held himself in check. His feelings showed only when he greeted me without any warmth.

I smiled as I stood in font of him, striking a provocative pose.

"How do you like the new me, the New Woman. Last week I decided hat I was going to leave the nineteenth century and enter the twenty-first century. What do you think? Do I look more modern?"

He did not answer, just turned to Nellie and asked fort a glass of wine. When I asked him to dance with me he claimed he was too tired. Instead he watched me laughing, having another drink, and then another. He sat silently with his glass of wine watching me flirting and dancing with the other three husbands.

When I felt I had to rest up for a while I joined Karl on the couch, sitting down next to him. I made some small talk for a few minutes until Louise called me.

"Betty-Lou, we want you and Karl to come here, we want to take some pictures."

He was reluctant at first but finally relented and let me pull him up. As we walked over to the rest of the party he heard it again. And this time there was no mistake. Someone who directed the scene called me Betty-Lou.

"Nellie, you and your hubby stand right here. Betty-Lou, you and Karl will stand in the center,"

He was quiet until we were seated again next to each other on the couch. He stared at me as if I had just dropped down out of a cloud. I knew at once what the problem was and explained.

"With all the goings on I forgot to tell you that the New Woman also has a new name. Emma belongs to a time long ago. Now I am Betty-Lou. I hope you like my new name. Everybody liked it so much more than Emma. It is much prettier, don't you agree?"

He was quiet for a while and then said curtly, "we will talk at home."

I was not looking forward to the next argument, but I decided to toughen it out. I guess I had reached the breaking point. I loved Karl, he was an honest man who truly tried his best to understand and help his fellow man. He truly found a calling to the ministry, but he took everything in the Bible quite literally.

He excused himself soon after. The other three husbands also left around midnight, the poor guys had to go to work the next day. So it was just us four girls. We swapped husband stories, some of them getting quite frank. Then came stories about past lovers.

By this time I was getting drunk, nodding odd from time to time until someone proposed a dare. "Let's take turns and take some scandalous pictures." The next time I came to the surface, so to speak. Nellie was twirling her bra and Louise was clicking away with her camera. Then another girl stripped.

My head throbbed when I woke the next morning on the couch in the living room. I was nude, covered with a blanket. I smelled coffee, found my clothes neatly folded on a chair next to the couch. My crazy friends greeted me with a whoopee, almost splitting my head.

Two cups of coffee and some aspirin later I asked what happened after I past out drunk. Nothing much they giggled, we all took a few pictures, looked at them on the computer and then wiped the memory. I was glad I did not participate, or did I? I did not find out, they just laughed and told me that I was drunk.

Louise drove me home. When Karl came in for lunch I told him what had happened after he had left. He was furious when I told him about the pictures that were taken and that they were rather 'revealing'.

"Did you pose also?" he wanted to know.

"I was passed out on the couch most of the time," I answered him. "I don't think so."

"You mean to tell me that there is a possibility that my wife behaved like a cheap harlot?" he barked at me.

I let him rant and rave for a while before I stopped him.

"Karl, is there any reason why you did not compliment me on my looks last night? Everyone else did."

He opened his mouth but there was no sound. He could not think of a good answer. So I continued,

"From now on your wife will wear nice clothes, she will wear some makeup, some jewelry. I have looked like a second hand lady for too long. And if you can't provide the necessary money for my clothes, my hair salon visits and so on, this minister's wife will get a job. "

I was not yet finished but I let him stew for a while longer before I dropped the next bomb shell. I wanted to get it all out in the open at one time. I got up and stepped in front of him, putting my hands on my hips as a signal that I was serious.

"There is one more item, Karl, and it is important. I want to go on a cruise with you, to the Mediterranean maybe, or to Hawaii, it doesn't matter. You and I need some quality time together. I love you and don't want to lose you completely to the Church."

Karl's reaction surprised me. He did not explode with anger, he did not jump up and stalk out of the room. He just stared at me and then his facial muscles relaxed a bit. He stood op, put his hands on my shoulder before he spoke.

"I am not sure at the moment how I feel about the issues you raised, except for the cruise request; I will absolutely not allow this frivolous waste of time and money. At any rate I am needed here. Please let me have this afternoon to put my thoughts in order and we will talk again tonight. Right now I only know that I love you."

He hugged me hard and then disappeared into his study where he stayed all afternoon. During dinner we made only small talk. We hardly had finished dinner when he had to leave on an emergency.

This gave me the opportunity to call my brother.

"Bob, dear brother," I started, "the party was great fun. I danced all night with whoever was available. Karl obviously felt very uncomfortable watching his wife in a revealing, sexy dress. Then, to top that off, he was shocked with my changing my name also. And here is a real shocker for you.

The guys all went home about midnight and we four girls got a little more than tipsy. I really was drunk, not being used to the alcohol, and sort of drifted in and out. I remember everyone stripping and taken pictures. Problem is, I don't know if I joined the fun. When I told Karl about this he was furious.

I think he will accept the fact that I am the New Woman. But he was adamant about going on a cruise. At least I won one round."

"Would you go by yourself if he gave you the money, and where would you go?" asked Bob. I had not thought about this so far, but now that he asked I gave him a quick answer,

"I will book on any cruise that stops in Singapore. I have not seen Mary-Lou for ages. Sounds OK to you? In fact I am going to call her right now. We are exactly twelve hours apart, so now is a good time."

Mary-Lou got all excited and I had to calm her down, after all there was only a very remote chance that I would be able to get to Singapore.

U felt proud that I had had the guts to finally stand up to my stern husband and that he agreed to everything. Except fur us taking a cruise. But matters changed about one month later, when Mary-Lou phoned with some unexpected news.

"Sis, sit down," she told me in an excited voice. "You can come and visit. Uncle Bert passed away recently and left the three of us twelve thousand dollars each. We are rich. The probate court said it will take up to three months for all the paperwork."

"Hold it right here," I interrupted her, "I never heard of this uncle Bert."

"Neither did I. It his was a complete surprise to me," she explained. "But I found out why he was never talked about. He was an illegitimate child. In another month or two you can book your cruise with a layover in Singapore. I can hardly wait to see you."

Two weeks later another bomb dropped, it was a huge one. I noticed right away that something terrible must have happened, Karl was absolutely white in his face. He asked me to sit down next to him on the couch and then wordlessly pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket. He opened it and pulled three glossy 8x10 photos from the envelope and handed them to me.

I almost fainted. I was looking at myself, nude, in suggestive poses. I was speechless.

"This just arrived in the mail. They want fifteen thousand in cash to keep the photos from circulating in the congregation. I will pay them Monday night at the park entrance. The letter says that there will be a new red Chevy Corvette with a window part way down. The money should be in a sealed manila envelope, which I should throw into the car through the window.

He turned to me, put his arms around me and hugged me. His voice was steady, belying his emotions.

"I believe you that you did not know, but could have taken the dare, drunk as you were. We will not talk about it any further." He kept holding me tight for a few minutes before he released me. He looked at me and smiled ad he put the photos back in his jacket pocket. He started talking again.

"I want to tell you that the blackmail money will be well spent. Whoever sent these pictures opened my eyes. I will keep the pictures. How could I have forgotten how beautiful and how sexy my wife is?"

After dinner we sat on the couch and talked about the future, a future that definitely contained a long ocean cruise. I desperately wanted to call my brother and my sister to tell them what had happened, but I did not want to break the spell.

"I will make changes in my life so I can participate in your, Karl said with a smile on his face. You shocked me at the party but now I enjoy seeing you dressed the way you dress, even if it is quite daring at times."

The next morning I could hardly wait for Karl to leave so I could call my sister. She did mot sound as surprised as I expected, but was so happy with the way everything had turned out.

After Mary-Lou I called Bob and told him about the blackmail and how Karl had taken it.

"So what you thought might be loud and long brouhaha actually became a blessing, right? Is it not strange how everything falls into place sometimes? You wanted money for your cruise and inherited twelve thousand dollars, and I will add another three thousand to it as spending money. And Karl found a sweet, lovable, and sexy wife whose brain has been pickled by all the alcohol she has consumed.

I will not fault you for not telling the two identical twins apart in photographs. But you should have remembered my new red Chevy Corvette in which wee drove to Crystal Falls two months ago."