Do I Hear 149?

“Do I hear 149?”

Clive, the Auctioneer, was warmed up.

Unfortunately, there was a fire in a trash

can that set off the sprinklers and the venue

had to be evacuated before transactions 

could continue. The attendees turned to the

hot dog vendors on the street, making the best

of the situation. 

“Do I hear 149?”

Clive had stayed at the podium. There wasn’t enough

smoke to make him sick. He was going to see this

one through, like the Captain of a ship.

Two uniformed people came up to Clive, on either 

side, they lifted Clive without a word and carried 

him away from the room.

An half an hour past. It turned out to be a minor

incident. The people slowly filled back into the

room. A different man stood behind the podium.

When the people had settled, he lifted his white

gloved hand.

“Do I hear 149?”