Gram and Ashley were amazed at all of the things that were for sale. Gram picked up a beautiful leather case.
“Look, Ashley,” said Gram. “Isn’t this case gorgeous?”
Ashley felt the leather on the case and said, “It sure is.” She opened the case and said, “Wow, it looks like it’s loaded with letters.”
At that time, the owner of the house came over to the table. He introduced himself as Mr. Peabody.
“I see that leather case has caught your eye, little lady,” he said to Ashley.
“It’s beautiful,” said Ashley.
“Yes,” said Gram. “You have so many beautiful things for sale, Mr. Peabody.”
“Thank you,” said Mr. Peabody. “My goal is to sell everything I can and move down to Florida.”
“Don’t you like Maine?” Ashley asked.
“Oh, I like it,” said Mr. Peabody. “But, I’ve been here my whole life, it’s time for a change.”
“I guess Florida is quite a change from Maine, dear,” said Gram. “How much is this portfolio case?”
“Oh, I guess $30 would be o.k.,” said Mr. Peabody.
“Really?” asked Ashley. “It’s only thirty dollars?”
“Ssh,” Gram whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “Don’t give him any ideas!”
“Yes,” said Mr. Peabody. “Thirty dollars is a fair price. Why would you want a bunch of old papers anyway?”
“Well,” answered Ashley. “My mother is working on the Donnybrook Days event and I thought that your papers might have some neat town history in them.”
“They probably do,” said Mr. Peabody. “My family’s been here for ages.”
“Are you sure you want to sell these?” Ashley asked earnestly.
Gram gave her a look and rolled her eyes.
“I’m sure of it,” said Mr. Peabody. “I hope you find something you can use in there.” He handed the case to Ashley and Gram handed him the thirty dollars.
“Ladies, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” said Mr. Peabody.
“Good luck in Florida,” said Ashley.
“Thank you, little lady,” said Mr. Peabody with a wink. “I can almost feel that that warm sand beneath my feet.”
Ashley and Gram looked around at some of the other tables that Mr. Peabody had in his driveway. Gram bought a crystal glass bowl for her dining room table.
“This will look wonderful filled with fresh flowers,” Gram said to Ashley as they got into Gram’s blue Chevrolet, Old Bessie.
Old Bessie usually didn’t start the first time that Gram turned the key in the ignition. She usually had to pump the gas pedal a few times. She’d always pat the dashboard and say, “Old Bessie always gets me where I need to go…eventually.”
When they reached the Enright’s house on Foggy Bottom Road, Ashley ran ahead of Gram up the front porch steps and into the house.
