[1] It was then included as a bonus story in Blockade Billy, a novella published on May 25, 2010, and later collected and re-introduced in the November 3, 2015 anthology The Bazaar of Bad Dreams.
Chad hopes to supplement their income by writing a book based on his experiences as a substitute teacher, while Nora, a nurse, works full-time for a retired clergyman named George Winston, who is partially paralyzed and uses a wheelchair after suffering from a stroke.
However, he is unable to leave his house given his current condition, making committing any worthwhile sin impossible without aid.
After discussing the pros and cons of the offer with Chad—and reasoning that with the money they would be able to pay off all their debts and move to Vermont—Nora agrees to the proposal.
Chad blames the failure and poor quality of his book on guilt and Nora's lack of faith in his writing talent.