Tag Sale Reflections

"TAG SALE"

He had seen these signs before but never had paid them any attention. This day something in his head said this was a must see sale.

Turning down the driveway, following the arrows, he soon found himself parking on the grass with over a dozen other observers.

It was an old house. He learned that the origional owner had been a carpenter and had built the house over one hundred years ago. Family had upgraded it over the years but with the death of the last remaining occupant, the surviving family had opted to sell. Thus the tag sale.

Almost everything that had been in the house was now outside with tags attached. People were milling about looking and asking questions. He joined them.

There seemed to be quite an assortment of dishes, books, tools, clothing, dolls probably collected by the lady of the house, and die cast Fords beginning with one from 1901 to a Cobra from just a few years ago and five tables of assorted Fords in between. nThen there was furnature. As he was looking it all over he overheard someone telling how most was hand made by the origional owner. Most pieces were quite unusual. He became taken with a bureau with a mirror that attached. The craftmanship was extraordinary.

Walking around looking at everything he found himself back at this bureau. He visualized exactly where he would put it but would it be okay with his wife. He worked up the nerve to actually look at the tag.

Wow! Was there gold hidden somewhere inside? Guess they were just trying to get as much as they could for everything. Should he or shoulen't he.

He decided he would hang around and keep an eye on the bureau. If someone else showed any interest he would have to decide quickly how bad he really wanted it.

As the afternoon began to wind down he found himself thinking he was glad he had driven his F150 thinking about possibly getting this bureau home. He watched as items were bought and carried away. Soon the bureau seemed to be standing alone but that made it stand out.

Finally he decided it was time to act. Glad he had brought extra cash he walked over to the person who seemed to be administering the sale and collecting for the sales.

"Think I want to buy that bureau. I have some cash and my checkbook if that woll be okay."

"Cash only I'm afraid."

'Who carries around this kind of cash?' he thought to himself.

"Sure would like it but I cannot afford the three thousand on the tag."

"What? You must be mistaken. The only items here close to that price are over at the barn and the Corvair Monza in the garage."

"I'm sure that's what the tag says."

"Let me take a look then" and they both walked over to the bureau.

The lady began to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Guess you didn't see the decimal. The tag actually says thirty dollars."

He was elated. No wonder everyone seemed to pass it over if they thought it was three thousand. But did that mean there was something wrong with it?

"That I can do. Is there anyone who can help me get it into the back of my pickup?"

"We have two men at the barn. One of them will be happy to help."

Fifteen minutes later he was on his way home with the bureau safely strapped in back and it's companion mirror in the halfcab behind im.

Remembering his wife would still be out grodery shopping made him feel better about bringing his new purchase home. He saw his neighbor, Owen, out mowing and elicited his help unloading and getting it inside.

"This is a very well made piece of furnature. Can't believe you only paid thirty dollars."

"Funny. I thought the tag read three thousand but she insisted there was a decimal and that it was only thirty."

"I think you got a super deal. Judy will be excited."

"She doesn't know yet. Thanks for helping."

"You're welcome" and he returned to his mowing.

After attaching the mirror and making room for where he thought it should be located he sat back to admire his bargain. The longer he looked at it the more he thought there was something odd about it he had not noticed before. It was the mirror. It did not seem to be reflecting any image at all.

He sprayed some glass cleaner on a paper towel and wiped it down. Still nothing. Was it not actually a mirror?

The sound of Judy returning from her shopping turned his attention away from the bureau and he helped her bring in the groceries.

"Were you able to accomplish what you set out to to this morning?"

"Actually, no," he admitted. "I kinda got sidetracked."

"What do you mean?"

"Saw a TAG SALE and since I had never been to one I stopped."

"Okay. What did you buy?"

"Let's get the groceries put away first. Then I'll show you."

Minutes later they both stood in front of the bureau.

"What made you buy this?"

"Not sure but at first I thought it was three thousand..."

"What!"

"No, no. It was actually only thirty."

"So who is the girl in the picture?"

"What girl?"

"It's almost like she is standing where we are but we are not in the picture."

"I don't see anyone. It's supposed to be a mirror but I didn't see any reflection so I washed it thinking that it may have been that dirty."

"Well I see a young girl, maybe ten or eleven. She is wearing her Sunday best and seems to be standing in front of a mirror. Her reflection is in the background."

"So why can't I see this?"

"Maybe try a different angle."

So they traded spots.

"Still nothing."

"I still see her plain as day. Wonder who she could possible be?"

"Maybe I should take it back."

"No. I like it."

"Maybe I'll go back and ask about it's history. And maybe find out why you see her and I don't."

"If it's not too far away that will be okay. I'll get dinner started."

Soon he was back at the TAG SALE.

"What can you tell me about that bureau I just bought?"

"Is there a problem with it?"

"Not sure. I attached the mirror but to me it seems to be just plain glass. But my wife sees a young girl standing in front of a mirror that shows her reflection. What gives?"

"It was definitely a mirror when we put the tag on. I do recall hearing that the origional family had a young daughter fall off their buggy on the way to church. Seems she died within a week. But that doesn't explain her being in that mirror or only your wife being able to see her."

"When there was no reflection of any kind at all when I attached to to the bureau I washed the glass with Windex but still nothing. Then my wife looks at it and asks who the girl is. It has be baffled."

"Do you want to bring it back?"

"No. I like it and I think my wife likes it as well. Guess we will keep it for a conversation piece. You know, who can see what in it."

Upon returning home he was met with another surprise.

His wife was carrying on. He did not understand.

"What are you saying?"

"About ten minutes ago that girl I was seeing simply vanished. Now it seems to be a perfectly good mirror."

He proceeded to tell his wife about the death of the builder's daughter.

"Maybe she was trapped it in the bureau's mirror until it found a home."

"So do we keep it?"

"Yes and I will take care of it personally."

"I think she would like that." But he was not sure he believed what that was inferring.

Once again they stood looking at the bureau and it's mirror. Both saw themselves reflected butsmiling behind them was the face of a happy young girl dressed for church.