A Year in the Life of Two Mannequins
Just outside of Whitewright, on Hwy 69, live two mannequins. I noticed them this summer, on one of the rare days we were expecting rain. One mannequin was on a bicycle with a rain slicker on, the other was wearing a matching slicker but standing.
As someone who has spent many hours trying to rip the clothes off of a mannequin only to spend equal time trying to redress it, I was riveted by the fact that 1) someone was willing to change their outfits at the slightest hint of rain and 2) this same person thought that mannequins could/ should be used as yard art. Of course, with that said, I must mention that I have never actually witnessed anyone disrobing or re-robing these two and so it isn’t quite a stretch to believe them to be like the mannequins in the Twilight Zone episode, “After Hours”. One day I may get out of my car to snap their picture, only for my family to drive by days later and see me added to the collection of ensemble changing mannequins… wearing a rain slicker and holding my camera.
I drive past this house on a regular basis. I always crane my neck, as I speed by at 70mph, to see what wardrobe choices are being made. Me, now intrigued by these two, thought maybe others might be intrigued as well. So I present… A year in the life of two mannequins…. (I will add pictures as the year continues)
New Year's Eve photo:
On New Year's Day I drove by and noticed that they each had a cold compress attached to the top of their heads. Unfortunately, I couldn't get close enough to photograph it.
January 5th, 2012:
I am concerned. The male mannequin is no where in sight. She has changed and has her luggage packed. Is there a plot twist so early in my diary of the mannequin couple? I feel the matching vest and fancy hat might suggest that she is now single and on the prowl.
January 7th, 2012:
He's back. How could they have ever parted when they both share such an affinity for vests?
January 21, 2012:
Lovers quarrel?
I am working to compile a list of questions to ask the people who own the house, whose yard these two mannequins inhabit. It starts like this:
1. Do the mannequins have names?
2. Do you have a mannequin story for them going on in your head?
3. Are these your family's clothes or do you buy clothes especially for the mannequins?
4. Do you suffer from any panic disorders or are on medication to allow you to deal with people?
5. Are you aware that they make clothes for pets and it might be considerably easier for you to throw a sweater on a chihuahua then to keep dressing two mannequins?
January 27, 2012
My two year old son, watching me from the window of the car, actually said, "Mommy, what they say to you?" It got me thinking... what if this actually is a message for me?
February 1,2012
Question #6: Are these mannequins symbolic of any situations in your life?
Perhaps the title of this blog entry should have been, "A Month in the Life of Two Mannequins".
February, 2, 2012
Do not worry.... he is not dead.
February 8, 2012
After the attempted murder of the male mannequin I started to concern myself with the mental health of the person living here. I carefully approached a friend about it, wondering if I were the only person who noticed the saga that was playing itself out on the front lawn of this home. "Is she sane", I asked.
Her response sounded very casual, "Sometimes I wonder."
February 15, 2012
I fear that I have failed you all. This morning the battery on my camera was dead so I wasn't able to take a picture when the sign read, "Will you marry me, Roxy?" It is considerably more work keeping up with Roxy and ??? than I thought it would be when this intentionally started. (A special thank you to my husband who took this picture for me.)
February 18, 2012
Hell, I don't know. This isn't really what I was expecting when I started the blog. Something about the handwriting isn't so much informative as it is depraved. Somehow, reminiscent of the letter in I Know What You Did Last Summer.
February 22,2012
I am buying a zoom lens so I no longer have to get out of my car to take these pictures. I can't stand the apprehension that this blog is causing me. Even though everything appears calm on the surface, I am convinced that someone is watching me from behind those drapes.
February 26, 2012
The change is subtle but can you spot it? What does this change mean?
Is this like the Liam Neeson movie, "Unknown"? Is this man just impersonating her fiancee? Or in an act of desperation, to win back her two timing heart, has he decided to get some Rogaine and a Schneider mustache?
March 1, 2012
Kim Kardashian eat your heart out.
March 14, 2012
I do not have enough time to go in to detail, about if I were a crazy person with mannequins in my front yard, how much differently I would have done this vignette. Happy Saint Patty's, everyone.
April 1, 2012
Meanwhile, all seems peaceful in mannequin world.
April 26, 2012
In an attempt to steal my thunder the local Whitewright paper has done a write-up on the mannequins and their visionary, Martha. The caption under this photo actually reads, "Martha gives instructions to Roxy and Billy to clean up the yard." This article has done nothing to convince me that the owner of this house is mentally stable. It actually says that SHE has a website about these guys and a huge storyline... such as: the other day Roxy's wig blew off revealing that she is actually bald. This prompted Roxy to confess that she had lost all of her hair recently while trying a radical new diet.Seriously.
Sadly, I have combed the internet and found nothing.
May 2, 2012
Out in the front yard in a tank top, no bra, and curlers... they simply must be in small town Texas.
May 9, 2012
My informant has told me that something big is in the works for this weekend... I will keep you posted.
May 14, 2012
My informant was wrong. Roxy mocks me...
May 21, 2012
May 30, 2012
Roxy and Billy are boring these days. On a side note, this is the car Martha (mannequin visionary) drives.









