While (in)patiently waiting for Alastair to go up on the block for auction, my mind was racing with all the fun adventures and stories that could be shared if he were to join the Johns household. Ken continued his "we're not getting a dead bird...we're NOT getting a dead bird" mantra and there were other bidders hanging out for the opportunity to bid on the small bird collection. However, there was something about this bird - this pheasant - that I just couldn't imagine leaving behind without trying to bid on him. There were a couple other birds up for auction before him - a beautiful grouse set with it's wings open and a female pheasant that looked absolutely frozen in terror for all of eternity. These birds went for an outrageous sum and I feared that Adventures with Alastair was a lost dream before it even started. Finally, Alastair was brought up on the block and the Amish auctioneer lauged that he wondered if I was going to bid on anything that day when I got out of my seat and moved forward with my deliberate intent to provide some competition to the seasoned antique buyers. Ken kept up with his loud whispers about my bid cap and finally went back to his seat with the belief that he didn't have to worry about carting a stuffed pheasant home because the other bidders would eat me alive. He started out at $200, then $150, then $100..."come on, can't someone give me $50" the auctioneer shouted. I looked around and others started itching with their bid cards. I knew it was just a matter of time - everyone was waiting for that $25 opening offer. "Well, can you give me $25?" My card shot up sure and high - along with 5 others! What? Come on - he was a stuffed pheasant with a notch out of his tail and wild yellow eyes! Oh Lord, just let me have this one already! It came down to me and the man who bought the other two birds. If he was in for as much as he paid for the others, I was out of the game already. Ken came forward and reminded me of my bid cap - again! It went back and forth in $10 incriments. I was pushing my cap. Ken reminded me again when I came within $15 of my cap. I had only one bid left before it was all over. The auctioneer looked at me to raise. I was in for my last "yuup" before the game was over. The fates, the Lord, whatever you believe beyond this world was in my favor this day with every intent to link Alastair to our home because the auctioneer yelled "SOLD" before I even had my hand all the way up! The other guy looked around and waved his card. The auctioneer said "I'm selling this to you - you've been waiting for him all day!" Within 10 minutes, Alastair was being escorted by Ken through the main exhibition hall on his way home to us - dust, mold, ruffled feathers and all! It was very clear that before Alastair would be having any grand adventures, a proper cleaning and restoration was in order!
