Leona, Dear – Flash Friday 55
.
Leona, dear, mascara-plated,
Whiplash voiced, hair Grackle-lated,
Post christened her the Queen of Mean–
Her building’s pink now, sometimes green.
Yet she so loved her little Trouble
That bit of woof and fluffy bubble
She left twelve million for his care–
Excessive dough to wash dog-hair,
said the Judge, reducing it to two
(million).
*****************************
55 (not including the hyphens) memorial words for Leona Helmsley, whose building I walk through nearly every day in mid-town NYC. She’s been on my mind a lot because they have recently taken to lighting the building in dramatic colors. Pink for Valentine’s. Plus, I’ve also been thinking about love and/or the dearth thereof–she left $12 million to her dog, Trouble, causing a certain consternation among family members. Leona’s life was not without its difficulties, as she was convicted and served prison time for tax evasion; the testimony of those around her–particularly staff–was not terribly flattering, I’m afraid. Tell it to the G-Man.
Tags: Flash Fiction 55, Going to the Dog, Helmsley Dog "Trouble", Leona Helmsley, manicddaily, The cost of groomers
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
ManicDDaily 
February 15, 2013 at 7:06 pm
God I love your tours of the Big Apple Karin.
I’ve been there a few times, but when you are not with a local, it can be very overwhelming.
But you make it sound so ‘normal’.
Loved your Leona 55
Thank you once again for honoring us all with Top Notch entertainment. Have a Kick Ass Week End
February 15, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Ha. Thanks. I should have picture of it in green too. I will repost sometime.
February 15, 2013 at 10:22 pm
How sad….to have all that money and nobody to love but a dog. I could have taken some of it off her hands. Hell, I would’ve taken little bubble foo foo too, and given her a bath every week!
February 15, 2013 at 11:45 pm
I agree with Yvonne ~ it’s so sad to have all that dosh and but a little dog to leave it to ~ there again, if little dog looked like the one in your pic … 🙂
February 16, 2013 at 7:44 am
ha i rather like the color…wonder at the judges ruling if that is what was in the will…if the dog loved her and not family, i say let them eat cake…
February 16, 2013 at 7:48 am
I think $2 million was deemed an ample amount of cake. She was a very rich woman – a trust set up by her husband had billions. This was her personal money and I think there was some concern that she was not mentally fit. I realize that she was much more famous in NYC than probably the rest of the country. She was very well known here because her husband (third) owned a great deal of real estate and a hotel chain. k.
February 16, 2013 at 9:45 am
People suck, so I can definitely see leaving 12 million to the dog.
February 16, 2013 at 9:56 am
Yes, I can too. Though Leona was honestly a pretty tough cookie herself. k.