Anna
Theskies are clear so the sun is shining brightly, though it doesn'tseem to warm the earth much. Maybe it's the cold breeze that's makingit chilly. With the help of Burke and Tommy we are able to get ourrandom treasures unloaded. Ezrah brought a lot of utensils,knickknacks and miscellaneous video game gadgets (which wereTommy's). Burke brought old furniture he a Aira have collected overthe years. They upcycle old furniture as a side project. Theseparticular pieces, they never got around to working on them. Aira setup a small station beside ours where she will sell her medicinalherbal blends. She had concoctions to cure anything from a mild cold,to wound healing or skin rashes, even mood enhancers. She also hadsome natural snacks for sale such as organic grapes with raw cheeseor handmade bread made from organic wheat. I didn't have much tobring, but Mrs. Cunningham was happy get boxes of clothes and oldmovies that no one seemed to want off her hands.
"I'm surprisedso many people showed up so quickly,"
Ezrah statesoptimistically,
"Maybe we will get lucky and turn a profit."
"We can only hope," I nod.
As he restlessly circles ourstand Burke declairs.
"If you have this under control, I thinkI'll stroll around and see if I can find any gold or silver at a goodprice. Maybe I'll find some good trade items or something. Remember,don't sell yourself short. Its okay to let them walk away. They'llcome back if they want it bad enough. Send Tommy if you needanything."
Rolling my eyes with a small smile I say,
"Wehave it under control thanks."
"Goodluck," he says to Aira, before kissing her on the forehead.
Thelistless herd lulled aimlessly from booth to booth. Most werefriendly, at one point I basically start giving everything awaybecause I don't feel like carrying it home. Aira is busy having idolconversations over compost while Ezrah seems satisfied with theamount of accumulating currency. Behind her I notice Aria has herlips pursed and her face was a deep red.
"I will be rightback," I utter to Ezrah before crossing over to Aira's booth.
A pudgy gentleman with flaky lips that held a toothpick is clenchinghis hairy fists as I approach.
"Woah, what's going on here,"I intercede.
"Your friend here is trying to market off falseclaims," he fumes.
"Excuse me," I chide.
Jabbing astubby finger at her he spats,
"Genetically modified organismsis what will save our country from starvation, not just our countrybut other ones as well. Its people like herthatgive them a bad name."
"First off, learn some respect. Sheis simply trying to sell her products that she has worked hard on.Last I checked this is still a free country. Secondly, have you beendrinking swamp water? GMO's are not in anywaygood for us or the environment. In fact, the pesticides arecarcinogenic, " I bark.
In a low voice behind me Airasays,
"That means it has the potential to cause cancer."
The sweaty mans face turns from red to purple as hebellows,
"It's that kind of hippie crap with will get us allkilled! You go around spreading lies, scaring people so you cancharge more for the same produce I can get at the super market forhalf the price. You are damaging a company that has created somethingthat could save many from starving to death."
I laugh,
"Andits that kind of ignorance that will kill you and your family. Do youhave any idea how genetically modified organisms work? They make ourfood produce its own pesticide. Foodcreatingpesticidefor consumption.Notto mention the toxic chemicals they spray on top of them, ruining thesoil our food is planted in to the point where it no longer has thevitamins and minerals in it to produce a beneficial crop. Did youknow a hell of a lot of countries have banned GMO's or at the veryleast demand them to be labeled? Some tribes have burned they seedsthey were given. Yeah, they don't want this garbage. So your 'savethe world from starvation' theory is crap. They don't want it! Labrats grew tumors within six weeks of consuming them. You don't hearabout that though do you? Am I speaking English here? Is this makingany registration in that thick skull of yours man because the samepeople making our food also made Agent Orange. Yeah, the very sametoxin they released during the Vietnam war that caused all thosehealth problems and mutations. They are the ones making our food, youfool. You should be thankingthis woman for offering clean healthy food for you and your familyand at a hell of a price if you ask me. So how about you keepwalking? Straight to the slaughter house with that kind ofthinking."
He takes a step closer, sticking that same furryfinger in my face and exclaims
"You're a terrorist protectingan evil witch. You're against this country and its people!"
Ezrahsteps between us and hisses
"Alright guys that's enough,there's a crowd forming. Lets break this up."
To mock him, Itaunt,
"We're trying to save you! Go ahead, huddle up under thewing of very people poisoning us all. It's working out so well for usnow, seeing how were all in such good health. Keep eating thatgarbage, no one is stopping you. Ill see you on the other side of thefence."
"Shut up you dumb skank," he roars.
"Watch itman, I said break it up. Keep walking," Ezrah warns.
"Youbitches need a leash," he spews.
Before stabbing a tazor intohis swelling gut she declares,
"We're free range."
Myeyes pop open wide as he hits the floor within seconds.
Pantingfrom his hasty return Burke marvels,
"What happened?"
"Itold you we had it handled," Ezrah mollifies.
"He will callthe police most likely," he warns.
"Self defense, you all sawit. He was way too aggressive and I did what I could to protect us,"she replies.
"Just the same, maybe its best both you girls goback over to Tommy and help him with the booth, please," hecautions.
"Sure thing," she chimes.
"At this ratewe might break three hundred by the end of it," Ezrah happilyinforms.
"Nice," I gasp.
"Three bucks," Tommydeclares.
"Two is asking too much," a familiar voicecounters.
Holding up a lamp from the 70's era was Javan.
"Thendon't buy it," I sassed.
Tactfully he saunters closer.
"Fivehundred for all of it."
"What," I ask confused.
"I'llgive you five hundred dollars for all of it."
I scoff,
"You'reinsane."
"Will you take it," he presses.
"Why wouldyou want to give me five hundred dollars for seventeen lousy vhstapes and some old Christmas décor," I ask suspiciously.
"Whywouldn't you take it? It's the best offer you will get all day," hereplies.
"I will take my chances," I disband.
"Fine.If you happen to need five hundred extra dollars instead of haulingthat junk home I might be around," he says before departing.
"Whatwas that about," Ezrah whispers.
"Nothing, nobody," Idismiss.
"Didn't look like nobody. Why didn't you take the fiveso we can get out of here? That is probably the best offer we willget all day," she considers.
"By far," I confirm.
"Yourreasoning for turning him down is," she presses.
"Somethingis off about the guy okay lets just leave it at that please? I'm notinterested in taking his money so lets just drop it," Iadvise.
"Alright gez," she exhales, "Because five hundreddollars really could help us a lot you know and..."
"Ezrah,no," I snap.
"Fine," she growls.
The park wasbeginning to thin out. We were able to make a few sales but nothinghas moved for over an hour.
"Think its about time we start toload out," Burke regards.
"Yeah I don't think we will do muchbetter than we are right now. Not bad though, $327.63. More than whatwe came with."
"Would you mind helping me out with the restof these boxes man I'd really appreciate it," Javan asks as headvances towards Burke.
Baffled, he replies,
"Uh, yeahsure. Did you previously purchase the items or?"
"I um,that's already been taken care of. Burke would you mind helping thegentleman with the rest of his things," Ezrah bustles.
Turningto Javan he asks,
"No problem, you said boxes? Whichones?"
"Yeah, well everything. Just toss it into the back ofmy truck man and I will be out of your hair," he urged.
Confused,he replies
"Okay, sure."
I ask Ezrah too sweetly,
"CanI talk to you for just one minute please? Privately."
Shemeets me in the distant corner of our booth.
"What the hell,"I rasp.
"Look, whatever is going on between you and him, it'swhatever. We, as a collective group need this money. I'm not lettingit pass by because of your pride, ego or whatever it is that wontallow you to take this man's money. We are here for each other, thisis to help us survive. You allowing this amount of money go forpersonal reasons is selfish, so I handled it. Be mad, I did what Ifelt was best for everyone. Maybe next time you will try and do thesame."
She picks up the final box of junk and pushes past mebefore wandering in the direction Burke disappeared from.
Stung,I stand motionless. Was I being selfish? Has my distaste clouded mybetter judgment? Growing anxious, I quickly try and direct my angertowards someone other than myself. Ezrah was out of line. She wentbehind my back deliberately, and insults me to top it off. I can'tshake the nagging feeling that maybe I was being selfish though.Yeah, the dudes a headache. I shouldn't have let that get in the wayof our agreement though. Subdued, I let my indignation recede beforewalking over to Area who is stacking up her now emptydisplays.
"Very good turn out today," she sayscheerfully.
"Yeah," I exhale.
"You feeling alright,"she asks.
"Yeah I'm just tired," I reply.
Trying toshake off whats left of my pouting I force a smile and say,
"Lookslike you did good today too."
"Absolutely! Did that guyreally buy all of that stuff? That's rather odd don't you think?Maybe he knows someone with a thrift store, or an antique shop orsomething," she wonders.
With Ezrahs words still ringingfresh in my memory, I decide not to reply.
"He's a loon,"Tommy insinuates.
"It's not nice to judge someone based ontheir appearances Tommy. You have to get to know the person beforeconsidering such negative opinions," Aira gently urges.
Hanginghis head bashfully I hear him utter,
"It was just a feeling Iguess."
With a coy smile I whisper back,
"Something weboth need to work on buddy."
Moments later Ezrah and Burkereturn empty handed.
"Recruited another member to the tribe,"Burke noted to his wife.
Looking to Ezrah, my anger rekindles.
"One of these days you are going to start spouting thesethings to the wrong person and a lynch mob is going to come afteryou," she teases.
" It was totally by accident. He asked ifwe set up here often, I told him no this was actually the first time.I mentioned how we were trying to earn money for a project, he seemedinterested in the cause so he added another hundred on top of what hehad already given us and said he wants to get involved. I told him Iwould let him know when the next meeting was. He gave me his info andthat was that."
"And that was that," I hiss.
