"There's three auction lots," Fred said. "Two are household goods and one's theater stuff. Sounds pretty interesting. The bidding starts at eleven o'clock, but you can look the items over any time after ten." It was beginning to sound like old times around Bird Song-Fred O'Connor hot on the trail of a bonanza of junk. Only his enthusiastic helper Martha was missing from the scene. His replacement early morning audience consisted of two old ladies from Indiana who'd just checked in, Pumpkin Green, and Paulette Dawkins. They were sitting around the dining room table, spellbound as Fred gave witness to past purchases and profits.

"The theater stuff sounds cool," Pumpkin said. "I can't jam much more in my shopping cart but if they had any interesting costumes, I might be able to dress up and attract more attention- generate a little more cash flow for the balance of the big trip." Dean was hoping so. Pumpkin's original deposit with Bird Song was overdrawn and requests for further funds were excused away, purportedly awaiting some expected but unexplained bounty via the mail. The clock was ticking on the young man's stay. The Deans' budget couldn't afford a freeloader, even a pleasant, philosophical guest, especially during a holiday week when the house was full.

"What play were they doing?" Pumpkin asked.

"Something called Boo!" Fred said. "My friend Mrs. Worthington saw it. I guess she was about the only one in the audience. The cast skipped town leaving a peck of unpaid bills."

"Maybe the advance press on Boo! scared the audience from coming," Cynthia said as she toted in more victuals, a Bride magazine under her arm.

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"I know that play!" Pumpkin said. "I was in it! I played the vampire in a summer stock production. I didn't have any lines but I got a mess of laughs. Some hick town newspaper said I was the best actor in the cast, but I think he was trying to be funny." Then he added, "Maybe I can buy my old costume. That would be a hoot, pushing my cart in a black cape!" Then he thought a moment. "But it would be hot as hell crossing the desert in Utah and Nevada."

Brandon Westlake was a late arrival to the table, missing Fred's sales pitch, but he was just as enthusiastic about the auction. Dean turned down Fred's invitation to accompany them but agreed to drive the group. The sale was to take place just walking distance away, but the Indiana ladies claimed the altitude exhausted them, so gallant Fred volunteered Dean. He would also ferry them back when the auction was finished, hauling home the spoils of the sale.




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