To the Victor Go the Spoils

I held my breath then let it out slow. Must keep cool, mustn't let them see the excitement. Poker face. Poker face!

The auction truck was pulling up along the row, two lots down from my potential prize. My breath caught and I gulped, desperately trying to stay calm. Cool, stay cool.

My heart was beating out a staccato as I considered the possibility that the tandem auctioneers on either side of the would reach my two targets at the same time, forcing me to choose to bid on one at the sacrifice of the other. 

Lot 256: a pile of household things: a wooden bread box, a variety of wicker baskets, an iron butter churning crank, a strange wooden "file organizer," an old wooden swivel chair, a vintage electric Remington sewing machine, and an Underwood Universal typewriter.

Lot 119: A used, heavy-duty bush hog that Husband asked me to bid on (up to a certain price.)

The sounds of the callers and the swift, lilting song of the auctioneer engulfed me and I saw that my household items were starting to be bid! I glanced over to the progress of the other side of the auction, and the bush hog was safe with a lot between where the man was selling. I focused on the task at hand, frowning slightly in an attempt to keep my composure.

The bid started at $100, but jumping in too early is the mark of a greenhorn, besides it was more than my limit. In his classic style, the auctioneer called the bids lower and lower until a lady beside me opened at $25. Back and forth, until she bid to $55 - the caller looked at me and I shook my head "no." I had had $50 in my head, and by Jove, I was going to stick to it! 

"Beautiful face, but so stingy!" the auctioneer ribbed. It's only ten more than you told yourself - just once more and then LEAVE IT ALONE. I threw up my hands in a violent break of character, and yelled, "Sixty!" He called back to my rival, and she conferred with her husband and then shook her head and withdrew. It was mine! I might have danced a very small jig right there in the grass...

It turned out that the woman had recognized me from the First Responder class Husband and I had taken at a neighboring fire department, and she was only interested in the old swivel chair. She asked how much I would take for it. I said $15, and it was hers. Then a man came up beside me and asked how much I would take for the strange cylindrical, wooden file cubby thing - to which I replied that I'd take $20. Done! 

I was thrilled beyond thrilled, because even though I had ended up going over my budget, more than half of the lot had been paid for! I was primarily interested in the sewing machine and typewriter; the chair and cabinet thing were insignificant to me. 

Adrenaline high, I realized that the auction truck was moving on....the bush hog!!!

I raced through the crowd to the other side, where they were just beginning the bids on the bush hog. I hung back, gathering my wits and waiting to see what the implement would bring. It went just below my prefixed amount and started stalling...so I jumped in, my poker face restored. Back to the previous bid holder, upped once and back to me. I held a half second and then nodded. It was my limit. I prayed. The auctioneer asked my rival again, who thought a moment, spoke to his companion, and withdrew. Again, the lot was mine! 

Ah! Sweet victory. I had prayed over those two lots, and He answered me - in abundance for the household items and exactly for the bush hog. I gleefully trotted back to the Big House to tell Husband that I had won his bush hog, and he and Boromir came with truck and tractor to claim the spoils. 

Eeeeee!!!