Fluttering Finance

“A lepidopterist, Ryan.” Doris repeated to her brother for the third time, “Like, a zoologist for insects.”

“I’m still not sure that’s a thing, kiddo.” Ryan talked down to Doris, who was only a mere minute younger than him.

“It isn’t that difficult to understand, and I certainly wish that you would take just a moment to try.” Doris rebuked.

Ryan and Doris had avoided each other as much as they possibly could after their parents’ death. They had been on opposing paths for nearly a decade now and lived very different lifestyles. Ryan ran a slew of factories, manufacturing medical supplies, and was well on his way with finances. On the other hand, Doris, who dedicated her life to protecting butterflies and moths, hadn’t as much money.

“I know we aren’t close anymore, but look at it from a business point of view. I’m offering all of my savings… Just shut it down.” Doris was incredibly concerned about the environmental hazards of the first factory Ryan had built, which was near her home. “Carbon dioxide is only part of the problem. That factory was built before some of the new regulations were put in place. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to just let me purchase it?” She pulled a little black book from her aged, leather, cross-body bag and flipped through until she found a page that read:

BARTRAM’S SCRUB-HAIRSTREAK — Strymon acis bartram

Endangered

“And that isn’t all! There is a bewildering amount of threatened and endangered lepidoptera.”

“Lepidoowhat?” Ryan chuckled.

She begged for her brother to hear her out. “The butterflies and moths. You’re destroying their habitat…”

The large, bold word meant nothing to Ryan. He didn’t bother reading any more of Doris’ research before replying, “Ah, my poor sister… And when I say poor, it’s not out of pity. You’re 20,000 dollars short. Good day.”

“Goodbye, Ryan.” Doris sighed as she spun around and exited the building.

—

Arriving home, Doris wasted no time traveling outback toward her sanctuary with two watering cans. Here she found peace and felt purposeful. Following such a disappointing meeting with her brother, it was right where she needed to be.

Pouring water into each plant, she chirped, “drink up!” And documented in her notebook how well each botanical was.

This sanctuary held around 2,000 butterflies and moths, as well as numerous host plants for each insect that resided within. Watching the life cycle repeat was one of the most gratifying things for Doris. Seeing a new life begin provided her with hope for the future of their species.

After watering the host plants, she checked in on the lepidoptera. First the Karner Blues, a small butterfly measuring only an inch. Secondly, the Arched Hooktips, which were only slightly larger but had a completely different look. Then, the Florida Leafwings, which closely resembled the Arched Hooktips but were double their size. Doris proceeded to take notes while briefly visiting with each one that she saw. They all seemed to be surviving well.

While examining the Schaus Swallowtails, Doris noticed something on the ground next to her favorite torchwood plant. She approached the mysterious new addition that lay there and crouched next to it, investigating… It had the shape of a Schaus, which caused her to panic as she quickly, but carefully plucked it up and placed it in her hand.

Looking closer, Doris realized that it wasn’t a butterfly at all. It was a 10 dollar bill folded like one. Incredibly and intricately as to look exactly like the Schaus. While it was a tedious task, Doris was aware of every living thing in her sanctuary… There was a missing swallowtail. Her thoughts raced and things seemed strangely awry.

“Someone… Stole a butterfly and replaced it with money? No, that can’t be right. Who would do such a thing? Why did they want it? Nobody could have accidentally folded cash so complex… Right?” Doris couldn’t seem to think straight. “Could it have been… Ryan? No, no. He’s in his office. I could ask… Although that probably isn’t the best plan, considering I’m trying to get him to help me… I can’t accuse him.”

After checking in on the caterpillars and eggs, ensuring they were all doing well, Doris decided she needed to distract herself from what she found. She lost track of time, a usual occurrence, and it had gotten very late in what seemed like mere minutes. The sanctuary was her own world, a place that time often felt as if it stood still.

Doris drank a cup of chamomile tea, changed into her evening gown, and promptly headed to bed.

“Maybe…” she continued to ponder what had happened until she fell asleep.

—

Doris was suddenly awoken by something of great size, slowly crawling across her side. “Ah, must be a moth… She carefully rose from her bed. “Don’t hurt the moth, don't hurt the moth-” she whispered to herself.

She approached the mirror on her wall, knowing not to touch the creature at risk of ruining his wings. Looking into the mirror to see which one of her fluttering friends had traveled into her room, not expecting what she saw.

It was indeed the shape of a moth, but a moth it was not. Folded precisely to mimic the correct wing form, was yet another 10 dollar bill. Its slowness halted to no movement at all. It lost its grip and drifted to the floor.

Doris was dumbfounded. On top of trying to discover who would do it, she now felt that she needed to find out how it had been moving at all.

Panic struck her, “Oh no, what if-” She bolted to the sanctuary as quickly as she could manage. “Please, be okay…” she panted as she stood before her lepidopterist hideout.

Doris fell to her knees looking into the sanctuary. She had no strength to speak.

Hundreds of moths and butterflies covered the ground. All of them, money.

She then noticed that there were some still fluttering about, so she gathered herself as much as possible and approached them.

The group that was left was Mourning Cloak butterflies. She grabbed her little black book, which she had accidentally left there the night before, and went to their research page.

MOURNING CLOAK- Nymphalis antiopa

Not endangered

Lifespan-11 months (As an adult) Longest butterfly lifespan

Looking up from her book, Doris noticed the tips of all the mournings’ wings had turned a green color. The coloring progressed downward toward the body of the butterflies. They started moving around slower and slower until they ceased movement at all.

Tears streamed down Doris’s cheeks. She was dazed and confused.

Standing up, she gently grasped a handful of former moths. Then some butterflies. Doris traveled the entire sanctuary. All of the adult butterflies and moths were 10 dollar bills. The only ones left were eggs, caterpillars, and host plants.

“Wait…” Doris muttered. “2,000… Times 10… It’s 20,000! This is the 20,000 dollars I was short to purchase the factory! Is this what they wanted? Could the lepidoptera understand…?”

She flipped through her book slowly reading all of her research and then looking toward the deceased Lepidoptera. Tears dripped onto the pages causing the ink to blur, at that point, she didn’t care.

Hours upon hours passed as Doris read before she finally came to a decision. “Goodbye, my friends,” she said as she unfolded the various wing-shaped bills.

—

“BAM,” Doris had gotten up bright and early the next day and marched straight toward her brother’s office. She slapped the considerable stack of oddly creased cash onto Ryan’s desk.

Ryan flipped through the money and raised his eyebrows in surprise. All 20,000 she had lacked the day before.

“How? Where did you get this?” Ryan asked.

“Well, let's just say it was donated. Now that I have the proper amount, I demand that you shut down your factory. I have caterpillars to raise!” Doris felt empowered.

“Hmm,” Ryan pondered. “As much as I dislike your tone, it’s lovely to see my shy little sister show some moxie. Considering you now have the funds, I will cease operations this evening and relocate the current employees to other facilities.”

Doris could hardly contain her excitement. She pranced around Ryan’s office with glee before somewhat calming herself and asking, “how about we get some brunch?”

“My treat,” said Ryan.