I didn't even realize it was part of a collection until I ran across the second one. There it was in the dirty front window of an antique shop I passed every day on the way home from work. Why hadn't I noticed it before? It was almost calling to me. Bright red, the horse rearing up on its back legs. Its rider wields a huge sword in his uplifted arm. It had been broken off and reglued, but you can hardly see the crack at all. I talked the shopkeeper down to $35 for it. A steal, if you ask me.

After that, I decided to see if there were any others belonging to this set. I can't explain it, but I had an urge to own them all. It just seemed right. A friend, whose son spent hours playing video games and talking to his friends over the internet, told me about this website called eBay. I went to the library and looked it up. I typed in 'horse statue', and a couple hundred listings came up. I couldn't believe how much junk was on there. After some trial-and-error, I managed to find it: the third member of my collection. It was black stone, perhaps obsidian. The horse and rider had a menacing look, but it was remarkable in its craftsmanship. Polished to a perfect shine, and in mint condition, as the seller indicated. I signed up quickly and placed my bid. I was outbid right away, so I tried again. $62.75 (plus shipping and insurance) later, the statue was mine. I checked the mail impatiently every day until it arrived. I wasn't disappointed. It's beautiful, the most impressive piece so far.

I started checking eBay regularly from work, to see if I could find any other pieces. The set still felt incomplete. I could tell nothing about its origin or manufacture. There are no maker's marks of any kind, no artist's signature, not even 'Made in China'. They're a mystery to me, one that draws my fascination more and more every day. I found no indication that there were any more statues in the set, nor did I find duplicates of the pieces I already owned. I even called the shopkeeper at the antique store where I bought the red one, and not only did he not know anything about the collection, he didn't remember selling it to me. I called other antique stores in the area, and started searching the web for any reference to them. I've placed want ads in the newspaper. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've even started watching 'Antiques Roadshow' religiously, hoping for a glimpse, a mention of my collection. If they come to town, I swear I'll be first in line. Because, somehow, I just know. There's a fourth member to this extraordinary set. It's out there somewhere, and someday, I will find it.

He wandered over to his makeshift sink and splashed some water on his face. Never had he dreamed that he would have the opportunity to collect all four in a single day. Even in his most brilliantly laid out plans they had been spaced apart by days. It seems that when Opportunity shakes her ass in your direction, you'd better be ready to howl.

Marlon stirred briefly from the operating table and the fine doctor deftly kicked up the sleeping juice. Just one last exam of his other patients, then he would get down to business. The recovery area was next to the root cellar, a hazard light on an orange extension cord the only illumination in the area. Each of the 3 men was laid out on his stomach, fresh dressing applied to the base of the spine.

Tito had been the hardest, he'd grown fatter as his career disappeared. No matter, when you want something bad enough, you have to be willing to dig deep and grasp it firmly. Jermaine was almost too easy, so easy to find it, so easy to make it his own. And Jackie's operation was as unremarkable as his career.

Three jars filled and lined on the dusty shelf. One empty and calling his name. A box full of after care materials was carefully placed where they could find it when they awoke. He took care to inflate the doughnut cushions himself. He had to hurry, the neighbors would surely become suspicious if they saw the lights coming from the basement.

He lay the Steri-Drape over Marlon and left only the tailbone uncovered. "The final coccyx is mine," he muttered and made the incision.

why didn't i collect all four? are you kidding? you know what your problem is? your problem is that you think that people like me have time to waste collecting four anythings and that just simply isn't the case. i'm usually focused enough to collect half (two) but then things got busy at the shop, the holidays came up, we went to see your cousin in mississippi for a week and by then, the other two are no longer available. i'm as unhappy about it as you are, but whining isn't going to change anything. and it's not like we can't just check on the ebay and see if anyone else jumped in on the all-four collecting a little late and only wound up with the latter two. i'd rather not have to buy a whole set of john deere refrigerator magnets and have duplicates, but i guess i might have to. because sometimes life just isn't fair.