ch. 19 I'm surprised... an auction arc

May 2, Saturday Morning. 7:05am

"Bye Nana. Wish me luck." I waved goodbye to my Nana as I exit the house. There's a bit of chill in the air but nothing i couldn't manage. I have a thick sweater and my backpack full of cash.

I walk down the street and on my way to Jeanne's house. I took a quick look back to see if my new neighbors will make an appearance but theres none, 'huuuuu...I almost lost sleep last night thinking about them. But as Nana said ...'naturally'.' I thought. I'm not gonna seek them out.

After a good 30 min walk, I arrived at the farm. I been here before and I had screened through thier heard if they have any possible candidates for my Beast Stace. Sadly nothing came up.

"Oh well. I'm aiming for a chicken with a phoenix today!" I said outloud when no one was looking. I walk pass the main gate and whent a little further in and so Uncle Ben loading a big brown bull to a trailer. As the animal got inside they locked the door.

I waited for them to finished before greeting him, "Hi uncle Ben are the others here yet?"

"Hey kid. Just Kyle, he is in the truck. Just go in." He said and got back in to the house for something.

I went by the pickup truck and open the passenger side door. Kyle is laying down sleeping. I nudge him awake and said,"Dude, open the window a little will you. You'll kill your self from carbon monoxide poisoning. Move over a bit."

"...ah. what... carbo.. what not?" Said by the still groggy Kyle. As he adjusted to a sitting position I can see thers a bit of drool in in mouth.

"And wipe you drool before uncle sees you." I've taken a seat and rolled down the window.

"Ok..ok..jeez.. you're like my mom sometimes. Always nagging. Why did you want to go to the cattle market anyway. My Dad said he came there once and watched an auction happening. He didn't understand a single thing the people said." He was being grumpy. I forgot he is not a morning person.

"Oh com'on, let's just do something new. We don't have practice today anyway. And baside, we can tease the lovebirds a lot today." I said with a smile on my face.

He chuckle ,"Heh, will they really come? Luke's mom is not very fond of activities with animals."

"Maybe, but her son is very fond of Mei so he'll definitely come. And Mei is.... you know Mei ..I just really hope they don't bring Turtle. Seeing an obese Shih tzu being drag around by her is horrible. " i recalled our park outings with Turtle. If I didn't sneak some diluted Spring water to the poor creatures mouth from time to time, I'm pretty sure that dog will always be at the vet.

A moment later MeiMei and Luke arrived. "Hhhaaa. Good morning people." Mei said before a yawn. Luke just gave the two of us a nod. 'Oh he knows he's going to be so red today.. hahaha' i laught internally. They both got in the back seat of the truck.

Then uncle Ben and Jeanne got in. She sat on the front passenger seat and greeted us. Like Kyle, she is not a morning person. Uncle said, "seat belts kids" and drove out of the farm and into the road.

I was thinking on how to tease the lovebirds, but seeing as everyone is still sleepy, I just kept quiet. When we pass by the local cricket club the view opened up to a vast fields of green with forested areas. Oddly, I can see a shimer of magic above the tree line from afar. I think it might be caused by wards from homes of local wizards and witches.

I never did seek them out. I don't need to. It was a pain thinking of lies to say. Besides now, one just moved in next door. 'NANA's student, huh. I wonder who could it be... bah. No..I'll gonna stop thinking about it.'

We arrived at Madford center at Exeter at 9:30am. And I have to say... it's not what I'm expecting. It looks like a huge storage house or a closed factory. I think I got confused by county fairs I saw in tv. I'm expecting the atmosphere to be festive with some food stalls and banners with people walking in cowboy hats. All I sees are trailers in the parking lots. There is a hint of manure in the air. Really not what I'm expecting.

As we parked and got out from truck. I can already see my friends faces. Yeah, we were thinking the same. I already hear MeiMei's " Where are the rides?"

Uncle Ben explain that theres no rides. Its just a place to buy and sell animals. I laugh. I was ok with it as I have a purpose to see the animals but the other three are looking for the "fun stuffs". Jeanne look like she's been here before.

"Ok kids. Feel free to look around a bit. Just be careful ok. Jusk look! Don't reach and pet the animals and be careful around the big ones . They kick. I'll just check-in my bull for the auction."reminded Uncle Ben.

*cricket*cricket *

I sigh but just roll with it and said, "Oh well, Ok people formation! Jeanne, you lead. To the chickens first. Mei hands IN your pocket. Don't pet anything. Luke, keep an eye on your girlfiend. Kyle and I will cover rhe rear end."

I always become a drill sergeant when it's just the five of us. Specially in such occasions were we could get hurt or get lost in a crowd.

As we move along and see the the inside of the building, what greeted us are neatly rows of scaffolding fences. Some low upto the waistline of an adult while some high as six feet.

We make our way to the poultry sections. There are small boxes that are stuffed full of chicks. The roosters are caged individually while the hens are group together. Mei almost lost it and want to dive into the box of chicks. Good thing Luke stopped her.

I just used my Eyes of Siri on the roosters. If I go by all of them I'll get a headache. I already know from experience that animals with sleeping bloodlines tends to be more attactive specially for my magical eyes. Sadly nothing...

Same goes to the sheeps and the cows. Nothing caight my 'eyes'.

Then we saw people gathering in an area so we got closer. I realize this is the auction Uncle Ben was talking about. Its like the Roman colosseum. There are a group of sheeps corralled by a fence for everyone to see. There is a guy at an elevated platform talking really fast and was holding a gavel.

I try to understand what the guy at the elevated platforn in talking about. But all i hear are numbers. Then at some point he hit the gavel down and yelled "sold to....".

I see that the sits are elevated so I told rmy friend to take a sit at a higher vantage point.

The sold sheeps exited the viewing area and another group arrives. The same thing happened. After some few batches, I somewhat got an Idea on how things work. The only thing I dont get is how people bidding. I dont see people raising a hand or something. Is the guy mind reading?

Then a lone sheep enters the viewing area. It has horns so its a male. I checked with Siri and nothing came up. But the number the bids reached is higher so I realized it was a pedigree.

Another pedigree ram appears. It has a thick coat with light almost yello yew. The horns are circular with the tip reaching the animal'scheeks. And it is very energetic arourd the viewing area. I checked Siri..

Me. Siri, is there anything special or magical in this sheep's ancestry?

Siri:....!...!...Trace of Golden Sheep bloodline detected.

'F*ck!.. What's a golden sheep? I dont remember a golden sheep in Harry Potter? Are there?' I'm trying to recall through my memories but I realized the bidding has started. I panic so I raised my hand. The guy calling the bid look at me but turned away immediately. I can hear the numbers going higher.

'Fuck, he is not taking me seriously '. I run down the flatform and climb the scaffolding for the viewing area and raised my hand. He looks at me again, he was going to look away so I asked in a loud voice, " Whats the current bid, dam'it!!"

The place was silent. There were a few chuckles from the crowd.

The gavel guy let out a sigh but surprisingly answered "kid the amound is at £7600."

I blurted " Fine!.... £10,000!!!!!

There was silence again but this time no one is laughing.

"Kid, this is no joke. Who are you with?" Gavel guy sternly warned me and ask among the crowd.

My friends raised there hands. Now 5 kids are raising there hands.

Seeing me looking serious he finally said, "..£10000 going once.... going twice..... tric- SOLD TO THE RED HEAD KID!

*cricket *cricket *

Applause rained in the auction. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

I quickly jump over the fence. The people got scared. I run to the elevated platforn with the gavel guy. He has a look of surprise.

I asked, "Where do I pay?"

~end chapter ~