Ultimately treasonous

The last temptation is the ultimate treason:
To do the right thing for the wrong reason.

That's one of my favourite quotations (Eliot, should I need to say so), and I've used it more than once in my work, and far more often than that in my life. It's one of my specialities, tho' I do sometimes try to disguise it as simple serendipity.

As, f'rexample, today. I am Gloomy and Depressed, and do not want to work. Not that it's impossibly difficult, I'm not stuck or anything, I'm just cast down. So I remember that I have to post a copy of Phantoms at the Phil II to an eager customer (hi, Ben!), which could entail a trip into town. On the other hand, there's a post office round the corner from here...

But if I went into town, I could buy some more padded envelopes, for future customers (I hope). But I don't actually have any others at the moment, and I couldn't post any more books till Monday, when I have to go into town anyway...

But I've got no cash in my purse, and if I go into town I can get some. That's a decider: two weak excuses don't carry it, but third time pays for all. Besides, I can think about the SF story I'm writing while I walk, the time won't be wasted, I'll be more energised by the time I get back...

So off I go, and five minutes from my door, what happens? I am struck by title and setting for my next play. Structure is waiting about fifty yards further down the hill; so is theme. By the time I reach town, I have characters and as much plot as I need. Eek...!

I still have to write the bloody story, though. Now. Not even going to make notes for the play, no. I am not a note-taking man, despite the subtitle to this journal. The play can wait. It can. Story. Yes. The story's the thing...