Ashley Enright and the Brand New Year (6)

They drove home to the Enright house. Josh thanked Gram for taking him to the estate sale.

“It was really cool, Mrs. Waterford,” Josh said. “Thank you for taking me.”

“My pleasure, Joshua,” said Gram. “I hope you enjoy your stamps.”

“Oh. I will,” said Josh. “I can’t wait to get home and show them to my Dad,” Josh’s father was an archeologist who taught at the university. Ashley thought it was cool that he was like Donnybrook’s very own Indiana Jones. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Ashes,” said Josh as he got out of the car.

“O.k.,” said Ashley. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”Josh left to walk up the block to his house. “Gram, are you going to come inside and show Mom and dad your painting?”

“I guess I will, dear,” Gram said. She got her painting out of the back seat and followed Ashley up the porch and into the Enright house.

“Mom, Dad,” Ashley yelled as they came into the house. “We’re home.”

“We’re in the kitchen,” her father yelled.

“How was the estate sale?” asked Ashley’s mother.

“It was great,” said Ashley. “Josh got some pages from a stamp collection book. I got this old-fashioned doll for me and a teddy bear for Kelly.” She showed the toys to her mother.  “I also got you a book on Donnybrook history and I got something for you too, Dad.” She handed the book to her mother and the ticket stub to her father.

Her father turned the ticket stub over and over in his hands. “This is absolutely amazing. This is from THE World Series…the miracle Mets of 1969,” her father said. He looked at Ashley and said, “I’m speechless. This is unbelievable. It’s a piece of history!”

“What are you going to do with it, dear?” asked Ashley’s mother.

“Well,” Ashley’s father answered. “I’m going to frame it and hang it in the living room. I may even put a spotlight on it!”

“I’m glad you like it, Dad,” Ashley laughed.

Her father gave her a big hug and said, “Thank you so much. But, you know, I’m not kidding about the spotlight!”

“Thank you for thinking of all of us, Ashley,” said her mother. “This book will come in quite handy when I work on the Donnybrook Days celebration later this year.  I know that Kelly will love that Teddy Bear and, as you can see, your father is completely gaga over that ticket stub.”

“Where is Kelly?” asked Ashley.

“She’s playing a her friend Ellen’s house,” her mother answered.

“And now,” said Gram. “It’s time to look at what I got at the sale.” She put the painting up on the table.

“Mom,” said Ashley’s mother. “That painting is beautiful.”

“I know, dear,” said Gram. “That’s why I bought it. I thought it would look great hanging over my fireplace.”

“I think you’re right,” said Ashley’s mother.

Ashley’s father gave a low whistle and said, “That is a great painting. But, it looks like it could use a cleaning.”

“I know,” said Gram.  “I think it got dirty from the smoke from the fireplace. I was going to ask Ashley’s friend, Kaitlyn, if she knew how to restore it.” 

“That’s a good idea, Mom,” said Ashley’s mother. “Why don’t you spend the night here tonight instead of driving home to Oakdale? It’s supposed to snow late this afternoon and I know you don’t like driving in the snow.”

“That’s true, dear,” said Gram. “But, really, Old Bessie is the one who doesn’t like driving in the snow. So, I’d love to stay over.”

“So, that’s settled,” said Ashley’s father. “Why don’t you call Kaitlyn and see when she can look at the painting?” He looked at Ashley.

“That’s a good idea, Dad,” Ashley said. She went into the living room and called Kaitlyn. She came back into the kitchen after a few minutes and said, “Kaitlyn said she can come right over and take a look at the painting. Is that o.k.?”

“Yes, dear,” said Gram. “That would be wonderful!”

Ashley Enright and the Brand New Year (5)

They walked in and out of the other rooms upstairs. Ashley picked up a teddy bear for Kelly, a book on Donnybrook history for her mother and a torn ticket to the 1969 World Series game for her father.

They came down the main staircase and crossed the main hallway into the living room. Gram stopped abruptly and said, “Look at that painting over the fireplace!”

The painting on the wall above the fireplace was of the Donnybrook Lighthouse at sunset.

”It’s beautiful,” Gram whispered.

”Yes,” Ashley agreed. “But it looks like it’s dirty.”

“Oh, that must just be smoke build-up from the fireplace,” said Gram. “I just love that painting! I wonder how much it is.”

At that moment, Estelle entered the room. “Were you interested in that painting?” she asked.

“Yes,” Gram answered. “How much is it?”

“Well,” said Estelle. “It’s truly a bargain. It’s a Donnybrook original by a local artist. The painting was done in the 1930’s and shows the lighthouse as it was in those days…

“O.k.,” said Gram impatiently. “That’s all very nice, but how much is the painting?”

Estelle looked up at the painting and saw a round blue sticker on the frame. “It’s $150,” she said.

“Wow,” said Josh. “That’s a lot of money for a painting.”

“No, dear,” said Gram. “It really isn’t a lot to spend for something that will give me so much pleasure!” She looked at Estelle and said, “I’ll take it!”

“Oh,” Estelle clapped her hands in delight. “I just know that it’ll be in a good home. I’ll get some help to take it down.” She left the room to find help.

“Gram?” asked Ashley. “Are you sure about this painting? It still looks dirty to me.”

“You have to see the big picture, dear,” answered Gram. “You have to be able to see what it will look like once it’s been cleaned.”

“How are you going to clean it?” asked Josh.

“I thought I’d ask your friend, Kaitlyn, at the university if she can clean it,” answered Gram.

Kaitlyn was a talented local artist who worked as a lifeguard at Miller’s Pond during the summer. She helped arrange to have Josh’s Jupiter Shadow comic book to be printed by the university press.

“Gram,” said Ashley. “That’s a great idea. I’m sure she’d love to do it.”

Estelle came back with a tall young man, Justin, who took the painting off the wall and handed it to Gram.

Gram thanked him and spent almost a full minute gazing at the painting. “I can’t wait to get this home,” she said. “I know just where I’m going to hang it.”

“Where, Gram?” asked Ashley.

“Why, on the wall above my fireplace, of course,” answered Gram. “Come on, kids, let’s pay for our treasures and go home.”

They went to the front room and paid for their treasures. They also thanked Estelle for her help.

“My pleasure,” said Estelle. “It looks like you’ll all be very happy with the things that you’ve bought.”

“I know we will,” said Josh.

They walked outside to the driveway and Gram opened the back door of Old Bessie. “Joshua?” she asked. “You won’t mind sharing the back seat with my painting, will you?”

“Not at all, Mrs. Waterford,” said Josh.

Gram got in the car and started Old Bessie. Ashley couldn’t believe it when the engine started right up.

“Wow, Gram,” she said looking in wonderment at her grandmother. “Old Bessie started right up. You usually have to pump the gas pedal!”

“I know, dear,” said Gram with a big smile. “I guess she likes being parked at an estate!”

Ashley Enright and the Brand New Year (4)

The first room that they walked into was the master bedroom. There was a magnificent four-poster bed in the center of the room.  A desk by the front window had four pages from a stamp collection book on the top. Josh couldn’t contain his excitement.

“Look! “ Josh almost shouted. “The sign says that you get all of these pages for only $10.”

“Is that a good deal, dear?” Gram asked .

“Sure!” answered Josh.

“Are those valuable?” asked Ashley.

“I’m not sure,” said Josh. “I’ll have to check my stamp book at home. But, my dad says that you should always get stamps when you see them and hold onto them.”

“Why?” asked Ashley.

“Because, they’re sure to increase in value over time,” answered Josh.

“Do you want to buy them?” asked Gram.

“You bet I do!” said Josh as he picked up the pages. “I’m glad I brought money with me. This is awesome!”

“Gee,” said Ashley. “You’re the one who was reluctant to come and you’ve already found a bargain!”

Josh blushed and said, “I know, sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, my boy,” said Gram. “That’s what estate sales are all about – finding bargains!”

They crossed the hallway and went into another bedroom. There were children’s toys all around the room.

Ashley picked up an old-fashioned baby doll that had a porcelain face and eyes that opened and closed. “Oh, this is so precious, Gram,” she said to her grandmother.

“It reminds me of a doll that my mother used to have,” said Gram.

“Do you still have it?” Ashley asked.

“Hmm,” said Gram. “Now that I see this one, I remember that I do still have my mother’s doll. It’s in a trunk n the attic.”

“Maybe you should get this one,” said Ashley. “Then you’d have two porcelain dolls.”

“No, dear,” Gram answered.” I think it’s probably better if you get this one and then we’ll both have dolls. ‘

“Really?” asked Ashley.

                “Absolutely!” Gram answered. “We’ll take the doll with us and pay downstairs.

Ashley Enright and the Brand New Year (3)

 

At precisely 11 a.m., they heard a ‘beep, beep’ coming from the driveway.

Ashley laughed as she looked at her father and said, “Gram’s right on time. We’d better go, she only beeps the horn when she’s in a hurry.”

                “That’s right,” said Ashley’s father. “She must want to be the first one at the sale! You’d better go. Have fun and I’ll see you later!”

                “O.k.,” said Josh as he followed Ashley out of the kitchen and out the front door.

                When they got to the driveway, Ashley laughed as she saw that Gram was about to honk the horn again. “O.k., o.k.,” she said as she opened the passenger door. “We’re here!” She sat in the passenger seat and leaned over to give her grandmother a kiss on the cheek.

Josh got in the back seat of the car.

“I’m sorry, dear,” said Gram.  ” I just want to get to this sale and, well, you know how old Bessie gets temperamental.”

Old Bessie was Gram’s old blue Chevrolet that didn’t always start up the first time that Gram turned the key in the ignition. She usually had to pump the gas pedal furiously before the car would start. She’d always say that “Old Bessie always get me where I need to go…eventually.”

Ashley patted the dashboard and said, “I’m sure Old Bessie will be just fine!”

“I know,” said Gram. “I just like to be sure we have enough time.” She looked in the rear view mirror and saw Josh in the back seat.  “Hello, Joshua.”

“Hello, Mrs. Waterford,” Josh said. “Thank you for taking me to the estate sale.”

“It’s my pleasure, Joshua,” said Gram. “I hope we all find great things to buy!”

“I’m excited, Gram,” said Ashley.

It didn’t take them long to drive to the McDoogan estate. When they pulled up to the house, there were quite a few cars in the parking lot.

“It looks like quite a few people are excited about this sale,” said Gram as she parked Old Bessie under the shade of an oak tree. The three got out of the car and walked up the front driveway toward the front door.  They were awed by the size of the McDoogan estate.

Josh gave a low whistle as he looked at the front of the mansion with all of its windows and said, “There must be a hundred rooms in this place.”

“I don’t think it’s quite a hundred rooms, dear,” said Gram.  “But, it is one of the biggest houses in Maine!”

They walked in the front door and were greeted by a grey-haired woman wearing a long blue dress and a white apron.

“Good afternoon,” she said. “My name is Estelle and I’m one of the volunteers handling the estate sale. Please take your time and look around the entire estate. Everything is tagged with a price. If you see anything you’d like to buy, just bring it to the front room here.” She pointed to a room to the left of the main staircase.

“Wow,” Josh exclaimed as he looked up. “Just look at that chandelier.” There was a magnificent chandelier above them in the front entry way.

“Oh,” said Estelle. “Are you interested in buying the chandelier?”

Josh turned bright red and mumbled, “No, Ma’am.”

Ashley laughed and said, “We’re just kids and we certainly couldn’t afford anything like that! He was just admiring it!”

Estelle laughed and said, “O.k., I just get excited when anyone expresses interest in anything in the estate.”

“That’s understandable, dear,” said Gram.  “I’m sure we’ll find things that we simply can’t live without!”

“I’m glad,” said Estelle. “Take your time and make sure you see everything.”

”Don’t worry,” said Ashley. “I’m sure that my grandmother won’t miss a thing!”

They thanked Estelle and started walking up the main staircase. Gram had suggested that they start ‘at the top’ and work their way down.

Ashley Enright and the Brand New Year (2)

    “Pick who up at what o’clock?” asked Mr. Enright as he walked into the kitchen.
    “Hi, Daddy,” said Ashley. “Gram’s coming at 11 o’clock to pick us up to go to an estate sale with her.”
    “Oh,” said Ashley’s father as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “And, are you in the market to buy yourself an estate?”
    “Don’t be silly, Daddy,” Ashley laughed. “You know very well what an estate sale is!”
    “You’re right, sweetie,” said her father as he sat down at the kitchen table.
    “I still wish  I knew what it is and why I’m going!,” said Josh.
     Ashley groaned and rolled her eyes. “I’ve already explained what it is!”
    “Don’t worry, Josh,” said Mr. Enright. “You’ll have a good time. There are usually a lot of old books for sale and some old coins. There’s lots of interesting things.”
    “What if it’s just full of ‘girlie’ things?” asked Josh.
    “Well, then,” said Mr. Enright. “You’ll start the New Year off with a lovely new dress.”
     Josh looked horrified until he heard Mr. Enright and Ashley burst out laughing. “You’re just kidding, right?” said Josh.
    “Duh,” said Ashley. “Of course, he’s just pulling your leg.”
    “That’s right, Josh,” said Mr. Enright. “I always like to start off the New Year by pulling someone’s leg!”
    “I guess, then, that I’m happy to oblige,” said Josh.
    “Seriously, do you know anything about the estate?” asked Ashley’s father.
     “Not a thing,” said Ashley. “I just know that Gram was looking forward to it.”
     “I’m not surprised,” said Ashley’s father. “Your grandmother never can pass up a good sale. Let’s see if there’s anything about it in the paper.” He turned to the business section of the Donnybrook Globe and said, “Here it is, ‘Estate Sale at the McDoogan House’.” He gave a low whistle and said, “That should be some sale!”
    “Why do you say that, Daddy?” Ashley asked.
    “Well,” answered her father. “The McDoogan family goes way back in this part of the country. In fact, I think they were one of the wealthiest families in all of Maine.”
    “What happened to them?” asked Ashley.
     “I guess, like so many old families, all of the members died without leaving any heirs,” said her father.
     “Oh, that’s sad,” said Ashley.
     “Yeah,” said Josh. “But, it might mean that we can get some great stuff!”
     “Is that all you’re interested in?” asked Ashley. “Stuff?”
     “Sure!” said Josh. “I mean, I’m sorry that they don’t have any family members left, but we can get some good stuff!”