Title

If you hadn't noticed, the main title/picture has changed in honor of the new Smiling: The Four Seasons and to showcase the Smiling Art Work!

Glass

Walking on glass, it hurts the feet
Shattering lives of the people I meet

Smiling: The Four Seasons

The door flings open and Scats hands reach for my neck, grabbing my collar and thrusting me into the far wall. In a normal situation I would have fought back and ended the situation in a stand still. "HOW COULD YOU BETRAY ME!?" His hands grab me again and he chucks me through the coffee table. "Betray you? What the fuck you talking about?" He grabs hold of me and steadies his anger."You received his call without me, behind my back!You BETRAYED me! Of all people!" He throws my body into the near wall. I slide down. "I was told that only I could take the call." I get up and punch Scats smack in the gut. With his body bent over I leaned in to say "I didn't want to compromise us by screwing it up." I throw him into chair. "You were going to know sooner or later, I had too tell you regardless." His nose was bleeding. He struggles to get up, but as I offer help he pushes me away. He adjusts himself to sit up and speak. "Ya know, I want to be done with this worrying shit." I look over at him and ask "Once this is all over, will we be over?" He wheezes, "Yes." I adjustmy coat and tie and head out the door. Maybe later I can smile.

I head to a local restaurant to get a bite to eat. I walk in, grab the newspaper and pick a seat. This beautiful brunette waitress in blue denim jeans that hug to the thighs, glides to my table. Without even looking up this gift from God asks if I am ready to order. I tell her I'll take some pancakes with a side dish of sun side eggs. She looks up to confirm the order. Her eyes are a soft hazel. It was like running through a field on a clear blue sunny day. The door jingles as The Creeper and Santa Claws move in and grab table. The angel waitress moves to their table. They hardly notice she's there. Luckily, I'm close enough to hear.
"You got the money, Creep?"

"You have the letters, Sir?" A small envelope slides from Creeper to Santa Claws, while numerous letters slide to the Creeper.

"Ya know Creep,I'm Glad this is the end of the deal. Why doesn't your boss deal with me directly? Huh? Why can't Chuck bring his ass down instead of being some hot shot bitch? He ain't no Obi Scat Cat."

"Mr. Santa Claws, however Chuck handles his business is between him and those he works with. You know better than I do that our great leader Chuck is a busy man. One last thing, never bring up Obi Scat Cat, you know that upsets him." Santa gets up from the table.

"What is he? your Goddamn Jesus, or somethin'?" Santa says in confusion. The Creeper voice readies with anger."No...He is the future, sir." The Creeper doesn't make eye contact. The waitress places a plate of grilled cheese and bowl of tomato soup down before the Creeper. He doesnt look up to acknowledge her thoughtful service. Santa shrugs his head and leaves out the door. The angel waitress appears to my table with my order. "Will that be all sir?" She sings to me. I look at her carefully, losing myself to the thought of the heavens."Could you be so kind to bring my check?" Her smile lights up the room. "Right away sir." I keep my eye on the Creeper, curious as to which envelopes he has. The meal is delicious. "Your check, sir." I reply in aww to essence,"Thank you ma'am." I tip her well and make way for the Creepers table. He gets startled when I sit in the seat across from him.
"Creeper! What Brings you to this fine dining?" I throw my arms open as if showcasing the building to him.
"Hello, Sir. The uh, same reason your here I guess, for the fine food and the fine service. What brings you to my table?" The Creeper is anxious to veer away from suspicion.
"I happened to notice that you and Santa were here enjoying a meal. Care to discuss the fine details with me?" I leaned towards him, using my hands to hold my head. I pull a cig from my inside pocket and light it. I exhale the smoke in his face, "What, Scats got your tongue? Or maybe it's Chuck?" Creeper rose up in anger, ready to storm out. "You don't want to leave..." I open up my coat just slightly so he can see the handle of the heat. He sits back down and quickly looks away."What, sir, is it that you want from me?" He starts peering out the window anxiously. I jump the gun knowing that time is limited. "I want those envelopes you have and I want some answers." He looks at me then back out the window. "Regardless of what I tell you, it's too late." I respond,"Too late for what?" He looks at me deeply, "Chuck already has the rest of them, and thats all I am going to say. Now if you'll excuse me, I have business to tend to." I get up so I am face to face with him. "That is all your going to say." I quiet him with a silenced heat. I slowly lay him in the seat and swiftly take the envelopes from his pockets. I make my way out the door and start walking towards the downtown area. I lit up a stick and head towards Santa's workshop. As I'm walking, Chuck and his gang cart by me heading towards the Restaurant. They move so fast they don't even notice me walking. That makes me smile.

I make a mad dash towards Santa's workshop, checking my nines along the way. I burst through the door only to be greeted by a bottom feeder employee, Johnny Shambalooza coming out from the office. "You aren't supposed to be in here!" He comes at me unarmed. Frustrated I respond,"Fucking Shit JOHNNY!" and I knock him out with the butt of my gun. I dash to the office and low and behold theres a woman tied to a chair and blind folded. She screaming at the top of her lungs, but her voice is muffled with a duct taped sock. I rip the sock out of her mouth and untie her from the chair. Her hands and feet are bound together. I throw her onto my shoulder and head out the office. The door burst open and its Santa Claws accompanied by Chuck and his gang. I don't have time to talk. I run the other way up the stairs. They follow close chasing and shooting at me. We reach the top floor only to find our exit is to go out the window and onto oncoming traffic or go out with them and hope hell is as warm as they say. As far as she's concerned, we only have one way out. I can hear the feet get to the top of stairs. I take a few steps back. Chuck shouts from behind me "IT ENDS TONIGHT!" I make a mad dash and we fly through the window. I position myself so that when we hit bottom, she'll land on me. It's just like the books. It seems so slow. You have the time in the world to fall.
BAM
God must like her a lot. We land in a garbage truck. A few moments pass and then the scream of a lifetime. The woman finally realized what might have just happened. I don't have time to remove her blind fold. I grab her and jump out of the truck as soon as it stops. I run with her on my shoulder. I run till the blood becomes acid. Till the shoulders are weak. I run till my legs collapse from under me. I fall throwing her forward. We happen to be at Scats place. He comes running out the door."What the Hell is going on? Who is this you got tied up laying on my lawn?" Before I can catch my breathe she speaks. "Scattie Cat, is that you?" Her voice was sweet and subtle. He collapsed to the ground."April, is that..."He removes her blind fold. He freezes, starring deep into her eyes. I pull myself up. "We dont have time to play remember who. They want it all and all is both of you gone." Just then a fast moving car turns the corner a few blocks down. I grab Scats and thrust him up,"Scats! two blocks west a man in a white house with a garage, is a man called Newbie. Go there tell him you two are my brother and sister. Tell him I need you to borrow his car for me and pick me up. When you get the car, you go. You go till the gas is fucking gone, till the sign says "Somewhere Else"." He looks at me in confidence and asks "Will you honor our deal?" I look at him and nod in agreement. "Hurry they're coming!" He quickly unties her and they run like hell. I walk into the door and tell the cats to leave and go home. I lock the doors and shut the windows. I grab as much ammo as I can and ready the house for war. Like rain, the men come pouring through the door. They come barging through the doors and windows. I kill as many as I can but soon the ammo runs out while they do not. Bullets rip through my shield of a table. Finally the gunfire takes me down to my knees. More shots to the chest. I can't even move anymore. Chuck stands above me and motions for two men to pick me up. He asks "WHERE IS HE!?" I just smile. I use all the strength left and start kicking. Soon the two men can't handle me. A third comes and whacks me till the lights turn off in my head. All I could do was smile.

I was tied to a chair in a room with only one light. The light was right above me. I was wearing my usual fancy tie, no shirt, suit coat, hole infested blue jeans mixed with the occasional blood splatter stain every time the two brutes hit me. They wanted answers and all I did was smile. Each time they would ask a question I would pull my head up and smile a pretty blood gushing smile. Then the two fucking brutes would look at each other, then me, then start punching again. Yes I'm fucking insane. Yes I have lost my mind. They want me to speak, and all I want to do is smile.

Opps...

Your heart is throbbing. Your breathe is intensifying. Your mind is in panic. Your arm hair is risen. Your screams muffled.
*BAM!*

Fade to black

To the bone

The wind is quiet.
The air is dry.
The night is old.
The snow dwindles from the sky.

"Smiling"Act Two: Part Three-Take the Cheese

I woke up in a cold sweat bare naked in a half filled bath tub. Everything is blurry. I felt like I had been drunk for three days non stop. I hear someone talking in the other room. I can't make out who it is but its three guys. They had stopped talking. One threw on a coat and walked out. The other two turned to me and approached me. The bigger one said "He's awake." The smaller one grabbed a rag and got it damp. He then proceeded to sit next to me on the tub. He looked at me. My vision started to get worse.” Lay down, you need some rest" he said smiling.

I arose from the water of the tub. The pain strikes me till I am paralyzed on the back of the tub wall. C-Rag approaches me from the other room. "Relax, you need to be careful". C-Rag gets up and hands me a note. "You know that if that rat ain't caught soon, all hell will break lose?" I try to sit up as the pain shoots through me like knives. I tell him, agonized with pain, "Yeah. If we don't get to the bottom of this, everyone will get exposed." He looked at me and said, "We? No, No this is all you. No one else can. Scats says you’re the man who has to do it. No one else." I look at him pissed and confused,” Let me get this straight, I got to tend the motherfuckin' Garden while the rest of you watch drinking tea? What the FUCK!" C-Rag puts his hands on my face and holds me sternly. He gives me a straight forward look and slaps me hard across the face. "You motherfucker, we all tend the garden, you just pull the weeds." A harsh snap back to reality. Leave it to the doc to bring a demon a back to earth. C-Rag gets up and heads to the bathroom door. As he walks through the doorway, he says "Now get the hell up, you have weeds to pull." I reach for the pack of cigs next to the tub, and light up a stick. I exhale and slide deeper into the tub. The thought of what’s to come makes me smile.

It's late night and my cancer stick is lit and ready to go. I walk over to Vid's place to make the transaction. I approach the building and notice the lights are off. I toss my smoke to the ground and ready my nine. I exhale the smoke and walk slowly to the back door. I slowly grab the knob to the door when sharp pains shoots through my body. I wince and quietly grunt. I slam the door open and quickly duck to safe ground. Nothing. I get up and check the area nothing. I find my way to the office. Before I open the door I look down to see blood pooling below it. I quickly open the door with my nine leading the way. It was empty of living souls. But there on the desk lay the body and major parts of Vids head. His face still had a smile.

"Hello?" A voice answered

I calmed myself enough to say "Who is this?"

"This is fish, why what’s up?" Fish said.

"You with anyone?" I said calm as a Hindu cow.

"Cuts, why what the fuck do you need?"

"There's some clean up needed, bring what you can to the hardware store"
*click*
I thought to myself for a moment then I called Scats.

"Hello" His voice disgruntled like he just woke up.

"Vid's is dead. Shot in the back of the head."

"SHIT! FUCK! GOD FUCKING SHIT! Clean it up, and get over here!" He yells.
*click*
I help them get the body in the bag. I take a scan around the area and look for any clues of what to expect. I put a cig and suck it down like candy. Cuts approaches me and says "We got everything we need. What do you want to do with this place?" I look around and respond "Ya know..." Memories clog my thoughts. I look down at my cig then up at Cuts,"...lets burn this place down." The deep end just got deeper and the lifeguard is smiling.

I knock three times. His cats open the door and lead me into the room. They're packing heat more than usual. Scats is sitting in his spot with his head in his hands. He's not crying he's frustrated. He looks up at me with his face red and his tongue tonguing his cheeks searching for the right words. He gets up from his chair and gestures for me to sit. He signals the cats to leave. I put my gun on the table and sit and relax. Scats sighs than says to me "Ya remember how we first met?" He looks over his shoulder to see me nod. "I grew up with Vids. Me and him used to always go to my dad's shop. My dad owned that mechanics place on main." He pauses for a moment and light up a smoke. "I remember how we both got into this business. My dad ran a small operation for the family. Every once in awhile my pa would take us with him on small runs. That’s how Vids got big on guns. He loved seeing my dad's stuff." I respond “You remember how you get into this?" He puts his hand on the wall and looks down. "When I was young I watched my dad flip his hundreds and fifties. Not one bill smaller. I wanted that. I wanted to feel that. I remember the night me and Vids say my ma with that fucker. Donnie was his name. They we're going "out to eat". He owned that bike repair shop across the street from my pa's shop. I was young, real young. Later Vids left and I went home. I got home and I heard yelling in my dad's office. It was my ma and pa yelling about my dad not giving her some money. She stormed out. I ran in there and told him what we saw." I ashed my cig and asked "Then what?" He looked at me and said "Then I met you. Uncle Joe or rather Big Toe Joe decided it was time I joined the family. I planned it down to a tee. All you had to do was ride along. My first big task and your first task." He looked at me. "We had done the recon extensively. Better than any other rookies. I remember the look on Donnie's face when I came bearing through his door. We drug him out and tossed him into the car." I add a little bit, "I think he shit his pants cause the car stunk when he got in." Scats responds "Ha yeah. Uncle Joe, the head honcho himself rode with us. Everything was going smooth. We went into the other side of town and brought him to a dark alley. You pulled him out and threw him to the ground. He said something like uh, god save my soul. I said something, what did I say?" I look at him, exhale and say "Something like, um, load something." He looked at me "Ya, ya. I said 'My ma took your load, now on behalf of my father, here's mine.' I remember jamming that gun down his throat and pulling the trigger. I had always thought that my first kill I would be shaking but I felt calm killing him. Then I remember right after you cleaned the gun, they started to come down on us. You shot as many as you could. I remember you pushing your foot on the pedal when that shot broke through the glass and landed right into Uncle Joe's upper chest. Inches from my own self. I watched my Uncle die right in my arms. Two days later my ma left my pa. The gang was crumbling and pa became ill. Two years later he passed away. Shortly after that the love of my life, April, dies saving children in some far off country. Now Vids?" He sits down and rests his head in his hands. Slowly he raises his head. His right hand pounds the table several times and says "Why is it that he has to take everyone around me? When the few get close, he pulls them away! We are at the point in life in which life starts taking rather than giving. HE TAKES AND HE TAKES,WHEN WILL I GET TO COLLECT!!? I CAN SEE HIM SMILING NOW!"

I look at him and ash my cig. He looks at me with a deathly stare. "We go to the ball, and pretend nothing has happened. Ya hear? We meet The Creeper and hopefully arrange a meeting with Cool Hands Luke. Spread the word amongst the boys to act accordingly. Be sure to wear your best by the way, you'll be on duty." Finally we can get the ball rolling. I can't hold back my smile.

I wake up to the sound of my ears ringing. It's the morning before the ball. My chest is in pain, and my breathes are short. I make my way back over to Scats place saying my greetings to Rosa. I get to his place and some old hag of a man is measuring him up and down. "Sit down for a moment" Scats says while motioning everyone else to leave us. I light up my cig and eye ball the room. Scats pulls from the inside of his tux coat a ratted envelope with the name 'Santa' on it. "It’s that time of the month again." He hands it to me and motions for the rest to come back in. "You know what to do with it. Oh and by the way, when you get back, there will be some clothes for you to wear." I got up from my chair and ashed the cig. I look at Scats and I hope its black and red. The thought of something that would blend in with blood and still look good makes my smile appear.

'Santa' is the name of a charity organization known for helping missionary work in developing countries. Since he first emerged in the business, Scats, has been paying the charity for two reasons: One to look like a more legitimate business. And most importantly, reason two: April. April was Scats love interest long before Limps came into the picture and long before we met. A long time ago, when he was rising up the ranks, he was left with two choices. Stay with his dying father, or leave to some far off war riddled country with his love April. He chose family over love. When she left, they promised to write to each other. He also promised to make monthly contributions to the Santa organization that would be directly sent to where she was. When she was gone however, he stopped receiving her letters. He wrote her everyday until the day after the death of his father. For two years he wrote, and received nothing back. Months later, "Santa Claws" brought him the horrible news. The country, for which she had been stationed, was attacked and burned. She was killed, but died in an honor cause . Scats was crushed, but preceded to keep his promise alive amongst pressure from his mind and from the Santa Claws pushed philosophy that continued funding keeps her dream alive along with saving lives. For years this has continued. For a long time the thought of her brought a smile to his face.

Everyday Santa Claws would work the same corner on Main Street. He'd stand there ringing a bell holding a pot for money and wearing a Santa suit. Hence the name Santa Claws. I approach him with the envelope. He looks like a drunken Santa and smells like dead rabbits. I swear every time I see him, his looks get worse along with the smell. Oddly enough, however, his organization is the most respected in the city. I drop the envelope in the bucket when he says, "I see the business gots the money to help others, why don't you empty ya pockets and share the wealth?" I look at him sternly and say "You want my money? Clean yourself, then maybe you'll get my money. I don't give to an organization of people who smell like dead rabbits." I slowly start to walk away when he grabs my shoulder. "Listen here, the charity is having some uh…shortfalls financially, tell your boss Scats, he should put a little more in next time. In fact tell him he has too, or we might go under." I look at him and walk away. I can feel his smile two blocks away.

(to be continued)

"Smiling" Act Two: Part Two 'The Ballroom'

I open my pack and light up a cancer stick. The smoke fills the room. I pull a chair over to the phone so I could sit and enjoy the smoke. I pick up the phone and make a phone call.

"Hello?" he answer scared.

"Ned Toys? It seems you got information I want."

He responds quietly.
"What information are we talking about? All I got is a story of Jack and Jill go up the hill to fetch a little more than a pail of water."

"I have a story here of friends, friends who want to be your friends. But they can't be your friends if you talk publically like that."

"My story has pictures to go with the words, all of which come with a price. Let me see, the words alone are worth 250 gs. The pictures, well, they a little more. I say no less than 500 G's. And I think the ball's coming up two nights from now. I also think that if the story gets out tomorrow night, It'll be the talk of the town. What do you think. I want some today to make sure this is real"
The little kid had done his homework. I pulled my nine up to the phone.

"That makes me think that if I don't see you down in your hotel lobby by 3pm today, you'll be showing up(I pull the hammer back)to the ball in a bloody bullet tuxedo. The money will be separate and in your mailbox before hand no later than noon. If your a good boy your tux might be looking extra nice."

His voice trembles.
"I-I-I'll be there early and waiting."
Him being scared adds a little more jazz to my morning. It makes me smile.
*click*

I walk over to Obi Scat Cat's place to tell him the news. As soon as I walk in Scat gestures to a chair. I pull up a seat next to him. Chuck walks in, with a cigar puffing, from the other room and pulls up next to me. Chuck says sternly "This Ned Toys problem, you got a solution?" I look him in the eyes, then I look around to make sure no one else knows. "I meet with him at 3. We give him 250,000 now he'll keep mum. We give him the rest later." Scats looks at me and says "So the deal is done. Good, now more important things. I'm looking to expand operations. Any ideas on who to initiate?" I look at Scat's, "How about The Creeper, ya know Creeper has got some talents we could use." Chuck adds in, "I like it alot. When it comes to the forced fight, I want to be the one he fights." Scat nods,"Than it's agreed. I'll throw the idea out to the Creeper at the Ball." Chuck gets up from his chair and ashes his cigar. "Today's a good day. In fact great day, but I can't stay. They need me at this ball rehearsal." He looks at us and smiles from cheek to cheek.

I made my way to the lobby of Toy's apartment. To make sure its not a set up on his part, I look around. There's the usual, cars are parked out front. The only person I see is a man walking outside with a big hat and briefcase. He's wearing sunglasses and a long coat. For a moment he looks around. Then enters a black car. Moments later a lady in a white and purple dress walks fast out and crosses the street. She enters a taxi that just pulled out. An older man appears from the corner of the street and walks in the building. I follow seconds behind him. I grab a paper, light a cig and take a seat. The lady at the lobby desk is old and tired. My voice gets gruffy and I refuse to make eye contact for long periods of time. "Listen here ma'am, I got a letter for a Mr.Toys. He said he was going to come down in twenty minutes. If he doesn't come down, could you bring it up to him?" She doesn't even look up to acknowledge me."I'll be sure he gets it." Her voice is nasally and depressing. It's 3pm and no sign of him. Five minutes later and he's still not here. I walk out to the phone booth around the corner. No one is smiling.

An old lady answers the phone.
"Hilltop Estates, Mrs. Berman speaking. How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a old friend of mine. His name is Ned Toys. He told me he lives here but I can't remember the room number."

"The room number is 558. Sir should I tell him your coming?"

"No thanks. He'll be anticipating my arrival."

I walk into the lobby and head straight to the elevator. I make sure my nines are ready and waiting. The doors open and there's this little old lady and her poodle. The dogs barking and the old lady has tucked herself into a corner. "Going up?" I ask. She just shrivels up. *Bing* Fourth floor and the door opens. A short self proclaimed distinguished man walks in with a delicate woman. He's wearing a smaller coat. Nothing is concealed. His delicate woman friend is too proud to look my way. All they can do is talk about how the city needs to rid of the scum. She says, "Thank God Hilltop Estates doesn't allow street scum." *Bing* Fifth floor, my floor. I lit my a cig and turn slightly. I flip my coat back a little to let my little friends breathe. I turn to her and say "Seems as if that scum of yours runs deep here." The door opens and I know that its the time. I dream of those nights when I get to get interrogate a fool or hunt him down and hold a gun to his beat up ass. It makes me feel so good I smile.

The door closes and I exhale. The puff of smoke is slow. I pull out my guns cock them and head to his room. My hands are steady, and my mind is focused. This is fun for me. I can feel the adrenaline pump through my veins. I get two doors down from his when I hear some shouting coming from his room. I can hear Ned's voice. It's scared like he's begging for something. I get to his door. My guns are out and ready. Then I hear it. A 8mm sounds off twice. Then the room is silent. Fuck. I kick the door, and I soon as I do guns are blazing my way. They had been waiting for me. I dart across the room into the kitchen. Bullets graze me and one finds its way into my lower chest. There are three guys in the living room and one in the bedroom. I am sitting behind the counter island holding my position. Just then a guy from the living room, bearing a shotgun, charges me like a dumb ass. I pump a clip into his sorry ass before his body barrels to the floor before me. His shotgun slides to my feet. I pocket my guns and grab his shotgun. I jump up and pump lead into a friend of his. But his other friend nails my right arm. I pop up again and rattle his brains with bullets. The last one had barricaded himself into the bedroom. I bust the door and jump the sorry ass. We tussle for minutes. He throws me into the wall and starts to strangle me. I eye ball him to see if has any colors as I gasp for air. Nothing. He pulls himself close to my ear and whispers. "We were expecting you." Just then I pull my gun from my pocket and drop a bullet in his heart. We both drop to the floor. I have no time to gasp for air. I am bleeding really good. I look around but there is nothing. No pictures, no story nothing. The envelope that had the money was empty. This is no time to smile.

I hear some voices come my way. More guys are coming to clean me out. I dart out the door and head the opposite way. They don't notice me. I make my way to the lobby. The lady seems to be oblivious to what has just happened. Gasping for air I tell her as I walk by, "He won't be needing that letter." I walk out the door and head to the phone. I call Scat's.

"Hello?"

"Scat's is that you?" The gunfire has caused a ringing in my ears that pounds louder than I can hear his voice. The blood loss is starting to get to me.

"Yeah this is, what's wrong!?"

"We've got a big rat on the inside!" I am starting to get woozy.

"What the fuck is going on!!" Scat yells.

"I'VE BEEN FUCKED OVER!!!"
*click*
I put more quarters in like a bar drunk way beyond his control. I call C-Rag. He's the doc we go to. I can't go into a hospital like this. Those doctors ask questions, questions lead to investigations. Investigations lead to time. Time we would all have to spend. I hear the phone receiver pick up. I am getting delusional.

"Heyyyy C-Ragggg"

"Where are you?" He sternly asks.

"I am at The Hilltop Estates calling my good ol' pal. That's you."

"You must be getting bad. I'll be on my way."

"They fucked me C-Rag. I just been fucked over real good. Yessirre." I drop the phone and slide down to the bottom of the booth. I lay there in my own pool of blood. All I can think about is what just happened and what is going to happen. All I can do is smile.

Heartly Earth

The world is round and the heart is curved.
The earth has been around before the heart.
Man was born with a heart with on the earth.
Yet oddly know one understands both .