The surprising auction

 “Why are you selling your old items when you could just give them away? Mind if I take this fruit shake machine? I want to make a mango puree in hot summer afternoon”. That was Leanne, my neighbor and vice-president of the Parents and Teachers Association. “That looks nice, and it appears to be new,” I chimed in. Rose grinned and added, "Yes, it was hardly used, we still have the box, and it's 50% off from the original price." With a sorrowful yet longing look, Leanne urged, “Oh is that so, may you gift it to me instead?”. I hear Rose say nervously, “Maybe we can take another hundred off the price tag instead”. Her face is crimson. But Leanne then took the empty box and the fruit shake machine saying, “oh common you know it's pandemic with the COVID-19, we can use this at home”. Some of the parents did the same thing, I heard Betty said, “this bread pin can help me achieve a soft and doughy bread please give this one to me”. Rose stayed motionless and quiet while others collected various items. Rose, like myself, was never a talker and was constantly on the sidelines. When we saw each other, her husband Rob was the one who started the conversation. However, even Rob kept mute as the rest of the gang rummaged through the goods they discovered. The buzzing attracted a large number of parents, including parents from other classes. Then a woman came, approached Rose and the group, and said, “look, they even put effort into the price tags. This is very nice who made these glittery stars as price tag it looks fantastic”. Joy, Rose’s daughter smiled back shyly but proud of herself. The woman picked an item and asked Joy’s name then she shouted, “who is up for auction for Joy, who has fashioned dazzling price tags on all these items?”. With her powerful confident voice and beautiful heart-shaped face, she was able to draw the crowd in. I don't recall seeing her around town, but she has a lot of courage.

“We're having an auction because Joy has a school assignment,

which is why we're having this garage sale, but it seems boring, don't you

think?”, the woman shouted. There were murmurs, but the woman hushed them.

“Common it’s a fine new day and since we are all here for this Parent-teacher

the thing why can’t we become motherly and fatherly”, she cajoled. I'm Joy's

teacher, and I'm not sure if I gave her an assignment or not, but I didn't say

anything.

The woman began the auction with the fruit shake Leanne was

holding, and because no one was betting, I assumed everyone was still

perplexed, she grinned and winked at me. I smiled as I shouted "100"

and winked at Liam, a new co-teacher who had just joined the group. Liam was

able to take up the message just like I did, and as a result, he was able to

wink at other teachers and who joined enthusiastically as well even though they

do not know what was happening. One by one, the parents began to join in.

Leanne also participated, and she won the fruit shake machine.

Looking across the audience, cheerful faces were laughing at the

losers and cheering for the winners. The cost of the items has increased by a

factor of two, more than twice the original cost. I looked at Rose, who happily

handed the items to the winners. Rob, Rose’s husband, and their two children

Katya and Mario joined in handling the items. The woman arrived at the final

item after two hours.

“Okay for the last, we have a beautiful stuffed bear”.

Joy, who was holding the bear, caught my attention. I realize

how important the stuffed bear was to her, but I'm not sure how she could part

with it.

I constantly see her carrying and hugging the bear when we have

our Sunday school. I recall her telling me that the bear had been given to her

by her grandmother before she died a year ago.

“100 for the bear,” I shouted.

“We have 150 Liam here.”

Another mother yelled, "160," and so on until it was

sold for 300 pesos.

“This is for you, Joy. I know how much you love it.” She took it

from me and hugged it and me at the same time, like a typical child. I took a

whiff of her delicate perfume.

The woman approached me, “we are like sisters already, with just

a winked and we clicked” she told me with a big smile.

“I am kate, I don’t recall meeting you.”

“Yes, I am Miriam, and I am not from here. I am a real state

agent and was just around the corner when I saw the garage sale”.

“The auction surprisingly worked.”

“With this pandemic, we never know why our neighbors are selling

their belongings.”

Her words caught me but never had the time to ponder cause Rose

approached us.

“Thank you for giving back the bear to Joy, it means a lot to

her”. We used our savings and emergency money to pay our remaining six months

mortgage. We believed we were through paying, but Romy was laid off from work

two weeks ago.” Her words had a razor-sharp sting to them. I understand how

tough it must have been for her to tell that story.

“I’m sorry, we didn’t know”, I told her.

“Well, this pandemic is having a significant impact on our

lives, and with baby number four on the way, Rob and I must act. "Thank

you so much, both of you," says Rose.

“Did Rob lose his job? Leanne, who had overheard our chat, said,

"I didn't know I'm sorry."

Other females walked up to Rose, who was now scarlet red,

because of Leanne’s loud voice.

She hugged Rose and apologized for insisting on receiving the

fruit shake machine for free.

We turned to Miriam, a real estate agent who had recently passed

through our small village and had taught us to be sensitive to the needs of our

neighbors.

Rose wrapped her arms around us as the sun sets in a golden

glow.