Since my days studying visual arts long ago, I've been a huge admirer of artist Cindy Sherman. In 2015, while living in Barcelona, I created several characters and penned "Unfortunate Moments of Misunderstanding" a series of micro-stories depicting fictional characters experiencing moments of misfortune, each portrayed by me.
Carlos Roderigues
Carlos Rodrigues works as a fax machine salesman at MediaMarkt. Although he is convinced to be one hell of a passionate seller, he hasn't managed to sell a single fax machine in weeks. Colleagues are whispering behind his back that it's due to his deplorable dental hygiene and unpleasant smell. Needless to point out, that is the main reason why his wife left him last month.
In one hour, Carlos has to meet his superior. He confidently assumes it is about a promotion which will enable him to fix his teeth finally. But in fact, he is just getting fired with immediate effect.
Florence Bluetit
Florence Bluetit is a private nurse for over twenty years now, she started nursing when she was 18 years old. She has been unemployed for six months, so she registered with an employment agency. Within days, she was sent to a retirement home to care for the elderly. She thought it was a bit strange to send her there with her qualifications. But a job is a job, she said. On her first day, she was told to start feeding in the male department of the senior citizens. A bit confused, she went to the department. Approached an old man sitting in front of the window, took out her left breast and pushed the plumb breast into his mouth.
The employment agency never knew that she was a wet nurse.
Beatrice Hopper
Beatrice Hopper just got back from her weekly tennis lessons. She was surprised and delighted to have a brand new, very young tennis instructor full of energy. He was so strikingly handsome that he took her breath away as she trembled on her legs. Unfortunately, he hit her in the eye with a tennis ball at the first serve because she was staring at the massive bulge between his legs. Beatrice was unconscious for a while, but she dreamt the tennis instructor took her passionately. That was worth the pain.
Dolores Shufflebottom
Dolores Shufflebottom is working her first day at the Bath & Bedding department at Marks and Spencers. She wanted to work in the women's fashion department, but her superior told her she needed more experience for that. Nevertheless, her floor manager of the Bath & Bedding department told her: "Just think of this floor as a fashion department and treat it that way". So Dolores took all the sheets and towels she liked and draped herself in a fashionable gown and headpiece. Needless to say, this was her first and last day at Marks & Spencer's.
Antony Allan
Antony has been the concierge of the local swimming pool for over twenty-two years now. His colleagues Martha and Jessy found it was time for some recognition, so they bought him a lovely shiny tiara for his utterly extreme loyalty. Ever since he got that tiara, Antony refuses to take it off, but we must say it does suit him very well. He never knew it was just a joke. Martha and Jessy were afraid to tell him.
Els Heimer
Els Heimer, unfortunately, lost her dear husband of twenty-seven years. He always took care of her because Els’ memory is not the best, to say the least. She keeps forgetting who she is, where she is and what is what. One morning, Els felt incredibly lonely and decided to buy herself a cat for company. At the animal shelter, there was no hesitation. There she was, the perfect cat, precisely the one she had in mind. So she pointed out the little creature. She was so convinced and excited that the people of the shelter didn’t want to argue with her. Although she finds it rather hard to train her cat to use the litter box, they are very happy together.