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“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.
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© Ayr/Gray
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Thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E.Ayr for hosting The Unicorn Challenge
Oh No! His fortune gone right before his very eyes!
£280, not exactly a fortune, Violet, I’ve spent more on a round of drinks!
Sadly, yes! His dreams shattered!
I’m pleased it’s your round, not mine C.E!
Great story, Keith! I enjoyed it.
I’m so pleased, thank you!
I sure hope that auctioneer has breakage insurance! And, since it’s just been evaluated, they can’t haggle about the compensation.
I hope so too! Thanks, Christine.
oopsie! such a funny ending
…for us, but not for him! Cheer, Beth.
well…..)
Uh oh, a costly accident. Well told, Keith. I was rooting for the horse to raise some funds for granny.
Me too! She’s due some compensation methinks!
Auctioneer busted it, Auctioneer pays! Dang… And well done!
He’d jolly well better! Thanks, Dale!
Whoops!
The host on Bargain Hunt dropped the stopper of a crystal decanted and chipped it!
Oh no, I must have missed that one! I often hold my breath when they handle fragile items!
Well, that was a costly mistake. I hope Granny gets more than 280. 😁
Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she does!
Carver for the win, and the auctioneer loses, or at least loses face.
Indeed! Thanks, Mimi.
Ouch! Hope he made it count in court.
You made me laugh! What a great twist!
That pleases me! Thanks, Sally.
I think, me old clanger, that you have the most accident-prone blog on the whole interweb thingy!
You think so? Whoops, now look what you’ve made me do!
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.
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.
Oops! No money then???
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’)