With me, a word person, it seems to have a lot to do with word association.
When I stared at the prompt above – the beauty of the scene, the river and its banks – it’s the last word that struck me.
Banks…
And suddenly, for no good reason, the following wild scene, featuring a quartet of characters, poured itself out from my keyboard.
Rank Bobbers
Arlene, Bank Teller: “May I help you, sir?”
Lew: “Yeah. Here, read this note.”
Arlene: “Good heavens! You’re not kidding?”
Lew: “Not kidding, no. This is a holdup; I have a weapon. Make this easy on yourself and everyone else. Keep quiet and put all the money there in a bag, then hand it to me. No one will be hurt.”
Arlene (who is visibly trembling): “I’m so nervous.”
Lew: “Sure, I’m kinda nervous myself. But it’s real simple. Money in the bag, bag over to me.”
Vinnie, who’s standing next in line after Lew: “What’s going on here?”
Lew: “Nothin’. We’re havin’ a banking transaction. Be patient; it’ll only be another minute.”
Vinnie: “Hey, you’re Lew Bruschetta!”
Lew: “What? Who the hell are you?”
Vinnie: “Never mind who I am. You have no right to do this! This is our territory.”
Lew: “You’re with the Passaic family?”
Vinnie: “Right. And Edgemere Road is ours. So you better beat it.”
Lew: “We’re okay for Edgemere Road as long as we stay on the east side.”
Vinnie: “God, you’re dumb! This is the west side.”
Arlene: “Is it all right if I sit down? I feel faint.”
Lew: “What? Yeah, sure. Have a glass of water. Take some long, deep breaths."
Vinnie: “Just not while you're drinking the water."
Lew: “To get back to what we were talkin' about, I can’t go to the guys with nothin’. Tell you what we do: we’ll split whatever we get fifty-fifty.”
Vinnie: “Fifty-fifty? You’re the one who screwed up. Make it forty-sixty.”
Mr Cosgrave, Assistant Manager: “May I help you gentlemen?”
Lew: “We’re just discussing opening a checking account.”
Mr C: “I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm, but I’ve been listening to your discussion; it didn’t seem to have much to do with checking. (Lowers his voice.) Listen, I can be of real help to you guys; I have entrance to the main vault. All you can get out here are small bills.”
Vinnie: “And what’s in it for you?”
Mr C: “Split it three ways – we each get a third.”
Lew: “Whatever happened to honesty in this country?”
Vinnie: “Whaddya say? Let him in on it?”
Lew: “Sure, why not. He can lay his hands on some real dough.”
Vinnie: “Okay, it’s a deal. But – what about her?”
Mr C: “Who, Arlene? Don't worry; she’s smart. She knows it’ll be much safer for her if she says nothing about this to anyone. Right, Arlene?”
Arlene: “Right – as long as we split it four ways.”
(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)
