204 words!

Keith's Ramblings

.

.

“It’s over a hundred years old”. I picked it up. “Careful you don’t drop it, it’s worth a fortune”.

“Are you sure Granny?” I asked, “it’s weird”.

Why anyone would want a plaster model of a horse standing on its hind legs with a miserable expression on its face I couldn’t imagine! 

It had a maker’s name scratched on the base. Carter or Carver or something. “He’s famous you know”, said Granny, “up there with Rodin and, erm, that other chap”.

Granny had decided to sell it. She agreed it was somewhat unattractive  and thought the money might come in handy. She asked me to take it to the auction. So I did.

“Lot seventy-five”, yelled the auctioneer, “a miniature by Carter… or is that Carver? Whatever. I’ll  start the bidding at one hundred pounds”.

I was amazed. Bids from my left, bids from my right. A hundred and fifty, seventy, ninety, two hundred…..

‘”Two hundred and eighty pounds. Going…going…gone“, he shouted swinging his gavel downwards.

Bang! 

Bits of the little plaster horse flew everywhere. Its head landed in someone’s lap, its belly in someone’s hair!

“It’s a Carver by the way”, called someone from the back as he studied a piece of the base.

.

© Ayr/Gray

.

Thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E.Ayr for hosting The Unicorn Challenge

29 thoughts on “204 words!”

    • ceayr's avatar ceayr May 17, 2025 / 13:35

      £280, not exactly a fortune, Violet, I’ve spent more on a round of drinks!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  3. Christine Goodnough's avatar Christine Goodnough May 16, 2025 / 17:57

    I sure hope that auctioneer has breakage insurance! And, since it’s just been evaluated, they can’t haggle about the compensation.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin May 16, 2025 / 18:37

    Uh oh, a costly accident. Well told, Keith. I was rooting for the horse to raise some funds for granny.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Dale's avatar Dale May 16, 2025 / 20:41

    Auctioneer busted it, Auctioneer pays! Dang… And well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. pensitivity101's avatar pensitivity101 May 16, 2025 / 22:48

    Whoops!
    The host on Bargain Hunt dropped the stopper of a crystal decanted and chipped it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. ceayr's avatar ceayr May 17, 2025 / 13:37

    I think, me old clanger, that you have the most accident-prone blog on the whole interweb thingy!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. jenne49's avatar jenne49 May 17, 2025 / 14:45

    Well I hope he still got his £280 and sued the auction house for emotional stress!
    Still laughing at this, Keith – I seem to say that to you quite often, you keep my spirits up in this crazy world.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings May 17, 2025 / 15:24

      I’m sure it ended well!

      They do say laughter’s the best mecine, which is why I like to offer a spoonful now and again!

      Thanks so much, Jenne.

      Like

      Reply
  15. clark's avatar clark May 19, 2025 / 03:07

    ruh roe

    hopefully someone is insured…]

    (not for nothin’ but that was a fate most deserving to paraphrase a familiar saying, ‘when all you have is a hammer, everything is a sale’)

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment