4 Letter Words

BLUE SOFA, Metairie LA 2005

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

Shannon told Todd, “throw it all out of the house”! “I want everything that belongs to him out - now!”, she screamed at the top of her lungs. The neighbors next door, were having a new roof put on, after the hail storm, and the Mexican labors on the roof could hear it all. The ruckus scared them because they were all working as illegal alien day labors. If somebody called the police, they might decide to do some investigating next door.

Allen was out of town on another “business” trip to Las Vegas. He had no idea all his earthy possessions were being relegated to the front lawn. The sprinkler system, which cycled on at 3 am everyday, would also render it wet!

Todd , was Shannon’s gay sidekick, like a girlfriend only a gayfriend. Todd wondered what was going on? Shannon, finally calmed down enough to explain she had found photos of her twin sister on a trip, to what looked like Las Vegas on his cell phone! How could she do this, how could Todd do this…… Todd had lost his little phone before he left, Shannon found it between the washing machine and dryer. Curious, she decided to take a look at his texts (nothing) and the pictures (something).

The phone had a four digit lock code, Shannon guessed it, E V I L. Shannon always thought of her sister as the evil twin, now she had proof.

END OF THE ROAD

Parking Lot, Baton Rouge LA 2009 from Land's End

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

Lucy drove thru this parking lot all the time, almost weekly, visiting Lowe’s, Pets r Us and the Walmart. She had been driving for 60 years, a span of time which included owning 12 different cars, involvement in 4 auto accidents (1 serious and none her fault), 6 speeding tickets and 100’s of parking tickets. Lucy always wanted convenience and parking illegally, although not cheap, was convenient.

All in all, she was a good driver. Her kid’s, all middle aged adults, wanted Lucy to stop driving. Her eyes were not that good and seeing at night had become difficult. However, Lucy liked her independence, liked the fact she relied on no one to take her grocery shopping or to buy her pet supplies. Yet today, she found herself lost in a familiar place. Today she found herself at a de-facto dead end, with nowhere to go but backwards. She realized she was lost, dazed and confused. Lucy knew it was the end of the road.

PEACE

Peace Children, New Orleans LA 9/11/1991 from Perilous Pilgrimage

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

Violence and Hate will not save this world!

Love and Peace will.

In remembrance of 9/11/01

Happy Birthday Sarah

US Open, Flushing Meadow NY 2011

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

Sarah plays tennis and she is really good. She was a starter on her high school team when she was just a freshman. In her sophomore year, the team won the state championship. Sarah is the fastest girl on the team!

When she heard about try outs for ball kids at the US Open , she jumped at the chance. Sarah was a natural, given her speed and understanding of the game.

The show courts are usually reserved for the veteran kids, in their second or third working the tournament. However, Sarah was so good she was regularly assigned to Arthur Ashe stadium. Ashe is the largest tennis venue in the world, seating almost 24,000 people. Just to be sitting in the place, during a match is electrifying. Sarah now stood on the court almost daily, in her designer Ralph Lauren uniform. She was proud, proud to play this great game and proud to be around such great talent.

Watching tennis on tv as a kid, she was inspired to play by watching Serena Williams. Williams has proven to be one of the greatest women players of all time; hard working, hard hitting and a killer instinct. Sarah wants to be the next Serena Williams.

Working the courts at the Open is hot and grueling, that is probably why they mostly choose athletic teenagers for the job. For the women’s quarter finals, Sarah was out there, out there with no other than Serena Williams! It also happened to be her birthday. What a great gift this was. Serena cruised in her match, beating her opponent in straight sets.

Serena dutifully signed autographs for fans, as the players are expected to do. As she walked off the court, with tennis bags in hand, she hesitated for a moment. She looked back at Sarah, and with a wink and a half smile, it was as though she was saying “you will be out here one day”, with not just the balls but a racket. Happy Birthday Sarah!

Fairy Tales

Couple in Central Park, New York NY 2011

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

Ric and Sophia met on Spain’s version of eHarmony. They answered all the questions, supplied the most pleasant snapshot each had and hit the send button. They both said they had a sense of humor, enjoyed following the Madrid football (soccer) team , both played basketball and each had a parent in education. He was 26 and she was 24. A perfect match!

There first date was for drinks at a popular bar in Malaga. Malaga is not a big town but big enough that they did not know each other. The attraction that first night was instant, fueled by loneliness, hormones and nerves. The relationship sort of stumbled along , like walking down a step hill, it was the easiest direction to head.

Six months into the relationship, they planned a trip to New York City. The airlines were offering super cheap Fall fares. By now, they disagreed on just about everything. Sophia liked a lot of sex, Ric preferred to sleep late. Ric liked to eat out, late. Sophia enjoyed cooking and staying home.

It was clear, they both knew it, the relationship had taken it’s course. Ric and Sophia went their separate ways when they got back home. However, neither had given up on online dating. Each reapplied , answering all the questions, and supplying the most pleasant snapshot before hitting the send button. This time, Ric and Sophia, were matched with people the other one had gone to high school with. Each married their respective matches, it all ended just like a fairy tale.

On a Carousel

JFK Airport, New York 2011

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

It was almost midnight. I had waited for my bag until the last bag was retrieved by another traveler. I am always hoping my bag will be the first off the plane, or at least one of the first. However, the longer I waited, I just hoped I would get my bag.

When the low hum of the stainless steel conveyor stopped, with nothing else in sight, I knew I was not getting any luggage, at least tonight.

Did someone steal it? Maybe it somehow missed my flight, even though I checked in the required one hour ahead of departure. It wasn’t one of those ridiculously expensive Gucci or Louis Vuitton cases. My God, those things cost a small fortune. I started inventorying what I didn’t have or would need.

I had a tooth brush in my brief case, but that was about it. Just as I resigned myself to the situation, I turned to see a small Hispanic woman walking towards me. She was wheeling what looked like my nondescript off brand red cloth suitcase behind her.

She half smiled as she apologized, explaining that she had mistakenly taken my bag. She kindly handed it over, as I said, thank you. When I looked back, she just stood there, and I wondered if she at least had her toothbrush.