"This is a painting from a rising European artist," Mrs. Mitchell said. "There was little information about the artist, but as you can see, the work speaks for itself.A one-of-a-kind original painting. The artist states, 'The inspiration was the beauty that unfolds when I open my eyes in this town/ "
The audience whispered and sat up as if they were eyeing a museum piece,
"Bidding starts at five hundred/' the auctioneer began.
"Five hundred?"I heard someone say in front of us.
"I can't believe we're doing this. This whole thing is going to blow up in my face. I can kiss the Mansion and you good-bye," Alexander said in my ear.
"Five hundred is a steal," the person in front of me continued."I bid seven hundred."
I turned to Alexander in amazement.
"Eight hundred," another said, holding up their sign.
"Nine hundred,"' still another shouted.
"Do I hear nine-fifty?" the auctioneer asked.
"A thousand," the first bidder answered.
"Eleven hundred?Do I hear eleven hundred?"
The second bidder held up her sign,
"Fifteen hundred-"
The signs went up until it reached two thousand dollars.
"Sold for two thousand," the auctioneer proclaimed, and slammed his gavel.
I grabbed my boyfriend and hugged him with all my might. Even though I knew Alexander's art was priceless, I was so proud his pictures commanded so much money. The most money I'd ever made in sales was three dollars from my chocolate milk stand in the middle of summer.
And my dad paid for it.
The members couldn't contain their comments and began to buzz about the painting.
The highest bidder was the president of the country club. "I'd like to hang it here in the club for all to see," he said proudly.
I was not only flabbergasted because Alexander's artwork sold for so much money but because my ghostly gothic vampire boyfriend's work was going to hang in Dullsville's conservative country club.
A piece of jewelry was shown next. Now I was fidgeting in my chair, anticipating anotherSterling painting going on the auction block.
After a six-foot-high sculpture of a mother and child was sold, a narrative quilt was auctioned off.
Then another covered painting was placed on the easel. When it was uncovered, it was revealed to be Dullsville'sMain Street .
"Another beautiful piece.It captures the charm that is our town," Mrs. Mitchell said.
The painting was of the shops on the square.Shirley's bakery.The fountain.Children eating ice cream. Looking at it made me feel I was standing on the square with the townspeople.
"Lovely," the couple in front of us commented.
"Starting price one thousand dollars."Several signs immediately rose, "Fifteen hundred/' the auctioneer called. Several signs kept flying up at the same time. The bidding war increased and finally ended with a winning bid of four thousand dollars.
I squeezed Alexander's hand so hard I thought it was going to break off.
I made a quick note of how much Alexander had made.
When the next item was a mosaic mural, the crowd sighed.
They perked up when the following item was a covered painting. When it was unveiled to be a painting of the town from the "European artist/ everyone was on the edge of their seats; the blue bloods were anticipating a sign war.
This time it was the front ofHatsy's Diner, I could almost hear the fifties music playing and smell the aroma offrench fries cooking.
"Starting price one thousand five hundred dollars."
"He bid two thousand," Mr. Berkley said.
"Two thousand five hundred," another shouted.
"Three thousand," still another shouted.
"Do I hear three thousand five hundred? "
Mr,Berkley held his sign high,
"Do I hear four thousand?"
Another bidder raised his sign.
"Do I hear four thousand five hundred?"
Mr. Berkley raised his sign.
"Five thousand," Ruby White suddenly burst out. "Going once, twice...Sold for five thousand dollars." I cheered, but when the couple in front of me turned around, I tried to play it cool.
When another painting was put on the easel, the members became very excited again. They thirsted to get their hands on an original painting by this hot new artist.
When they revealed it, it was a portrait of flowers, obviously painted by an artist other than Alexander. Mrs. Mitchell went on to talk about this artist, but the bidding didn't start high, nor did it skyrocket.
The crowd waited impatiently for the next painting to be presented.
And when it was again one of the European artist's creations, the hands began waving.
It was now becoming clear to me after seeing these paintings one by one-the cemetery under the soft glow of moonlight; the rail yard, with its bright-colored boxcars andsunfire yellow weeds; the front of the high school, its American flag blowing in the wind; the swings underneath a blue sky at Evans Park; the drive-in running an old movie-that even though Alexander only visited these places at night, he was seeing Dullsville in brilliant colors and happy hues rather than the dark and dismal black and white I'd seen it in my whole life. These were the places we'd visited together. My heart melted seeing that I'd had something to do with Alexander's happiness here, and that his vivid impressions were of our experiences Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter,together. Finally they revealed the last painting. But this painting was unlike the others. It was a picture of me.
The members sighed,
"That's not the European artist," many of them said.
"No, that's not his work."
"Bidding starts at one thousand dollars."
No one raised their sign.
I quickly calculated my notes and realized we had fallen short of what Alexander needed.
My dad looked around. Here was a picture of his daughter and no one was buying it.
"Do I hear one thousand?"
"I'll bid one thousand," my dad said, waving his sign proudly.
Then Jameson got into the game. "One thousand five hundred," he called.
"Two thousand," my dad said.
"Do I hear two thousand five hundred?" the auctioneer asked. I peered around. No signs were waved. "Going once, going twice."
My heart dropped. We'd raised a lot of money, but we hadn't raised enough to buy the mansion.
"We're short," I said to Alexander. "Do I hear two thousand five hundred?" I shouted.
Alexander grabbed my arm.
"We have to get the bidding up," I whispered to him.
"Two thousand five hundred."Jameson raised his sign