The Saga of the Headless Mannequins

Joplin, MO

Next door to Nate and Marley is a rent-a-house that just got unrented by some people. The slumlords have been cleaning and repairing it all day, and I’ve been watching them from the porch here (avoiding the cats inside).

This morning, I heard Slumlord A say to Slumlord B, “Let’s take out Nestor and Hestor.” Having gotten my attention I turn around, with camera at the ready. Out comes Slumlord B with two headless, armless, genetically incorrect mannequins wearing white t-shirts. They prop them up against the front of the house and leave them there. Needless to say, RB and I both shoot them.

Now, this afternoon, we come back from exploring the Greater Joplin Area to find Nestor and Hestor out on the curb, in an inverted 69 position. (applying DEET to repel skeeters.) More photos. Half a phone call later and I get a brilliant idea – use the fireworks we bought earlier to explode the fuck out of Hestor and Nestor. So I yell this idea to Rob, also on the phone, and I start going over to drag ’em here to the porch.

One street and two houses down the block, some older lady yells out, “What are you doing?!”

Me: “We bought some fireworks earlier, we’re going to use them to blow them (the mannequins) up.”

Lady looking consternated

Me: “Safely, of course.”

Lady: “Well those are mine! You can’t blow up Fred and Sally!”

Me, still with cell phone in one hand: “Oh, I didn’t realize. I saw them come out of this house.”

Lady: “Well, you can’t have them, they’re mine!”

Me, horribly disappointed, “Sorry, I’ll bring them back.”

(Applying more DEET) So I dragged Hestor/Fred back to were I found them. Three mins later the Lady and her Man come out and bring them to their house and I grab my camera and shoot them the whole time.

Photos to follow at some point during the Aftermath.