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Two friends were in a place like a theater in their city, sitting at a table with in their hand cocktails, notebooks with a pencil. The first, a blonde girl, was very happy to be here while her friend, a brunette girl, did not look very enthusiastic.
«Charlotte, again, why did you bring me here?» The brunette asked her friend and she was uncomfortable.
«Obviously to get you out of that diner. You work day and night. You deserve a good rest!» The blondie said.
«Ok, I am very grateful for this, but you could have avoided taking me to a bachelor auction».
Yeah, like the brunette lady said, her friend took her to a bachelor auction.
«Oh, come on, Vagatha! It’s gonna be nice! And in addition to giving money to charity, you can also find a handsome man» Charlotte raised and lowered her eyebrows for the last sentence.
«But I’m not interested in looking for a husband. At least not now...» She crossed her arms, looking down.
Her friend looked at her with disapproval, knowing that it was actually a "no" what she meant and wanted to be alone. And Charlotte knows that because every time she asked her if she happened to find someone she liked, Vagatha always said no, and even though she would actually find a partner, she said she didn’t have time and that she had to focus on work because her economic situation is not the best. Although it was true about the economic situation, it’s actually more because Vagatha is afraid of having her heart broken again after so many failed relationships she had. Charlotte also knew this and was very sorry, but she felt that her friend had to try again and this time it will be better.
«Well, I don’t accept your no» Charlotte said stubbornly.
«Perdón, but can’t you just get one for yourself?».
«Who knows, but it is mainly because of you that I brought you here and then maybe a date will not hurt you».
«Charlotte, no-» And Vagatha was interrupted by someone hitting a microphone to check if it worked.
This caught the attention of the two girls to look at the stage, including the rest of many others of the same age and also older women who were participating in this auction. On the stage there was a short red-haired girl behind a lectern, with the microphone in one hand and in the other a small hammer like the one the judges have in court, announcing:
«Greetings to all, you can call me Niffty, and above all, welcome to the charity auction of 1951!» The redhead said cheerfully.
There was much applause and the girl continued.
«For this year as a charity we will help the people who need it most and not only! But also to the poor street animals» She explained why the money for this auction would go «And the special thing about this auction this year is that there will be handsome boys!».
They all exulted and applauded other than Vagatha who only groaned in shame. And after a while they returned in silence.
«All right, ladies» Niffty reads something on the lectern «There will only be 50 men for you who will show up one by one on the stage, so hurry up!... The rules are simple: with the notebook you have received, who donates more money to the bachelor who has chosen writes the number; then, when the auction is over, towards the exit there will be a red desk, you will give the money there; and in the end your handsome bachelor will give you an unforgettable date!... For those who did not take a bachelor, I’m sorry, but we will offer something in return...And do not cheat! We return the money but not the bachelor».
However, thanks to her good memory she will know if they have cheated or not.
«And now please, before we begin, I would like you to give a big round of applause to my colleague and, thank God, my husband, as I call him, Husk!» She said it pointing up where the lights were and behind one of the many was the figure of a man greeting with his hand «It is thanks to him that helped me find all those boys for you and organize everything!».
All the ladies did what the girl said.
«Hehe thank you!» Husk said.
«He is a great man» She sighed looking at him sweetly «And I am glad that we have met, because otherwise I would be-» She stopped and her look became dark for a moment «Without further ado, we can begin!» She came back cheerful.
«Yay! Let’s get started!» Charlotte clapped her hands happily.
«B-b-but you know that I have no money then I do not participate» Vagatha invented an excuse although, as said before, it was true that she did not have enough money.
«Don’t worry, Vagatha, I’ll take care of it!» She waved a hand while drinking her cocktail «I’ll bring it for you!».
«¡¿Qué?!» The brunette shouted skeptically.
The first bachelor arrived, he was a handsome man with red hair, with deep dark eyes. Immediately the ladies rushed to offer the money and by the way they did, they seemed crazy.
«He looks cute! What do you think?» She asked her friend, happily.
«No» She said upset with her arms crossed.
«All right, let’s see if you like the next one» She shrugged while her tone changed, as if she were a little disappointed.
Next up was a chubby, shy-looking man, tanned, with brown curly hair and green eyes like the forest. Like the other, there have been many to rush.
«Him?» The blondie asked calm.
«No».
«Ok» She huffed.
The next was a man a little short, very skinny, with black hair, blue eyes and a charming smile. Like the other two, the ladies launched offers quickly.
«And him?».
«No» She said again.
Charlotte sighed and the auction continued. There were men one more handsome than the other and all the ladies were frightening of the way they behaved. Actually, no, they looked like horny dogs.
Every time the blonde asked her friend, and every time, the brunette said no, even to a man too handsome. At least for Charlotte it was so.
Now there was a muscular man, with salt-and-pepper hair, amber eyes and pretty muttonchops.
«Him?!» Charlotte pointed out with excitement.
Vagatha looked at her and said no with her head.
The blonde looked at her as if to say, "Really?" and then pouted.
«Perfect, ladies! Now the last bachelor!» Niffty announced.
After the word comes the last bachelor. He was a very tall man, skinny, light blonde hair, freckled, eyes of different color, he had a pencil mustache, with a slightly provocative smile and...the most handsome that has ever appeared. Because this time the women started screaming and some fainted. They all offered larger sums of money from those given earlier.
The redhead heard what they offered, she was surprised and she thought of something and said: «He also admitted that he is very good in bed!».
The women screamed louder and rushed faster.
«Oh, I didn’t think it would work» She said more surprised.
«What do you think of him?» Charlotte asked her friend one last time.
Vagatha looked at him for a long time. She honestly couldn’t say it wasn’t handsome, honestly, she couldn’t say they weren’t all handsome but he was different. But when she finished looking at him, she replied with: «No».
«Argh! Okay, that’s enough!» Her friend said angrily. She took her purse and took out a wad of bills «I offer 900000 dollars!» And kept them raised.
«Charlotte! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!» She shouted in distress.
Niffty heard it, hit the hammer and said: «Awarded to the blonde lady there!» She indicated her.
«No no, it’s not for me. It’s for her» Charlotte raised her friend’s arm.
«Oh, good. Then for the lady with the pretty purple bow there!».
Vagatha folded her arms across the table and hid her head with a red face of shame.
Many ladies have sighed or whined sadly for the handsome boy who is no longer available, but others have applauded her for being lucky enough to have a date with him.
Before leaving, the boy smiled at Vagatha and waved her with his fingers, and left the stage. The brunette saw what he had done because she had raised her head slightly but after what he did she hid more and blushed more than she should.
«How nice! He greeted you!» She looked at Vagatha.
Her friend murmured something incomprehensible but still ashamed.
«Well, ladies! We have reached the end!» The redhead announced and suddenly a man arrived, apparently the husband and whispered something in her ear «Mhmm?... Really?... Ooh, got it. Attention! Suddenly a bachelor has been added to our 50! So do not miss the opportunity, ladies!».
As Charlotte laughed (not mocked) at her friend who was still hiding, the last man arrived. He was tall, skinny, tanned, dark eyes and hair, with a handlebar mustache, oval glasses and a smile on his face. The women rushed for the last time. Shortly afterwards, Charlotte also looked at who he was and she was breathless.
Charlotte: «But who is this very handsome one?! It is mine!» She said excitedly and as she did before this one, she gave her money. She was perhaps more than rich so she had no problem with money.
...
Once the auction was over, the women who took their bachelor, gave the money and left with the chosen man. Who didn’t take anyone, either left or stayed to understand better about by "offering something" that Niffty said. And Vagatha was there with the money not knowing what to do. Unfortunately, Charlotte had already run off with her bachelor like the others but not before apologizing to her friend and giving her the money. After a while, the brunette took courage and approached the red desk.
«Here’s my donation» She gave the money to the redhead.
«Thank you very much» She smiled at her with much appreciation.
After giving the money, she heard a whistle, looked at her side and there was the boy who had "taken" with one hand resting on the desk and another on the side.
«Hello» He smiled kindly, compared to when he was on stage.
«Hello...» She said with a mix between shyness and fear «So you are the one who will give me this unforgettable date, right?...».
«Uh-huh».
«What...is your name?...».
Before answering, he stood up.
«Anthony or Tony, as you prefer, sweetheart» He smiled again «And you are?» And slowly raised an eyebrow.
«Vagatha...».
«Well, Vagatha» He leaned towards her and took her hand «I am at your disposal» He smiled once more.
After a long time... If we need to specify two and a half years...
Our brunette is at her home holding something, going down the hall until the phone rings. She approaches and rests what she has in her arms carefully on the furniture under the phone and answers.
«Hello?».
«Vagatha?» Who spoke on the other side of the phone line said it in shock.
«Charlotte!» Vagatha said happy, recognizing she is her friend.
«Finally! I found you! Why did you never call me?».
The blonde means that during all that time they did not speak anymore, but not because they discussed.
«I changed the phone number. But you too, why did you never call me?» The brunette said.
«Well, I also changed my phone number. What a coincidence, haha!».
«Indeed haha!... We could have meet by chance, but strangely it didn’t happen and we could have also send letters, I even tried to come to your house... It does not matter, however, the important thing is that we met again».
«Of course!...We have not spoken in two and a half years! How are you?».
«I'm really fine, and you?».
«Same thing. Oh I’m so glad» She said cheerful.
The brunette giggled.
«Weeellll» Charlotte remembered the auction from a long time ago «How was the date with that cute guy? Was it okay?» She said curious.
Her friend let out a sigh.
«I would say» She looks at her left hand with the ring on her ring finger and smiles.
But the friend misunderstood.
«Oh...at least better than you’ve had, right?».
«Mhm?» Vagatha was lost for a moment, now it has returned to the conversation «Oh, yes».
The brunette wanted to keep talking, but of some noises impossible to understand, she was not given the opportunity, so she immediately said:
«Hey I have to go, Charlotte, do you think it’s okay if we meet in the diner where I work, this Thursday?».
«Yes, but-» She didn’t finish because her friend hung up.
The noises impossible to understand are made by the something that Vagatha had in her arms before answering the phone. That something is her four-month-old son complaining and was about to cry.
«What’s the matter, Camillo?» She ask him worried and she take him in her arms and tries to calm him down and fortunately calms down immediately «Aaaah, you just wanted to be in mom’s arms, right?» She smiles.
The baby smiles too.
«All right, then I will hold you» She kisses him on the head.
Next to her comes her husband with the child’s twin in his arms.
«What happened to the little one? I heard him complain» He said worried.
«He's well, he just wanted to be held».
«Ah ok haha» He strokes the son’s head «Who called, baby?».
«Do you remember who gave me the opportunity to have my first date with you?».
«Charlotte?».
«Correct».
«Is she all right?».
«Yes».
«Well... I would like to thank her someday».
«Why?» She asked with a confused expression.
«How why? For letting me find the beautiful girl who is now my wife» He smiles lovingly.
She smiles lovingly back before talking again.
«Luckily for you this Thursday you can thank her because we will go to the diner where I work... I mean, I hope she will come».
«Great. Now I would say we can go to the park. It is from breakfast that we have to go there and we are still at home».
«I completely agree».
And they start walking towards the door.
«Yeah!» He raises the twin of his son who's a girl, to him and playfully says «Let’s go to the park to see the ducklings!».
The baby laughs, including her mother. And the family heads to the park.
Returning from the side of Charlotte’s line, she hangs up a second after her friend hung up the phone. She goes to her room and lying on his stomach in bed is the same boy she had chosen two and a half years ago at the auction, playing with two babies. The blonde approaches and lies near him.
«Who were you talking to, dear?» He asked.
«My best friend I hadn’t heard in a long time».
«The girl who hid in her arms at the auction a while ago?».
«Yes».
«How's she?».
«She is very well. She asked if we could meet in the diner where she works».
He raises his eyebrows taken by surprise, looks at her and stops the hands he is playing with the babies.
«But, my love, they are how 8 or 9 hours drive from here to Wildwood».
«Well, it is not my fault that you brought me and we moved to New Orleans, Alastor. But please, can we go?».
He thinks for a moment.
«Okay, my dear» And he plays with the children again, then he says «I must admit that I never expected to get married and have children thanks to an auction, ha!».
«Neither do I, but I’m very happy because I found a good husband» She kisses his cheek.
Alastor smiles broadly and blushes. Then one of the children caught the parents' attention by waving his little hands.
«Yes, Arthur now I also play with you» She said to one of her sons, laughed and joins in playing with them.
The End