PRESSED BETWEEN THE PAGES
DeAnn (Wolkow) Kruempel
Going Once – Going Twice
He buckled the last loop on a clean pair of bib overalls. “I’m heading in to today’s sale.” Mom nodded with a smile. She knew why her farmer husband went to the sale barn. Something metal clunked on the floor and a little boy peeked out from under the table.
“Can I go with you, Dad?”
The man’s eyes twinkled. “Put away your tractor and Quonset first.” The boy grabbed his farm machinery and the box he was working on. When he bounded back into the kitchen, Dad reached for his best farm cap and headed out. Delmer reached for his red baseball cap and followed.
At the sale barn parking area, they pulled in next to a pickup as the driver stepped out. The man smiled and extended his hand. “Hello, Neighbor. You brought your young farmer along!”
He shook Delmer’s hand, too. Then Dad and the neighbor talked. About needing rain. About the price of corn. Delmer wondered if they might miss the sale.
They finally strolled to the door. Inside, three ladies rushed to fill coffee cups at the lunch bar. The aroma of cinnamon rolls, coffee, apple pie, cigar smoke and fresh manure surrounded them. All those good smells made the boy wonder if he had missed breakfast.
Lively conversation and laughter filled the room. A man called to Dad and he joined the cluster. From below, the boy listened—and listened.
An announcement came over the loudspeaker and everyone moved to the sales arena and found places on the bleachers. Dad and Delmer sat next to a stranger. The adults shook hands and introduced themselves. Delmer learned about last year’s harvest around Iroquois and the tornado that went through. The crowd grew silent when the auctioneer promised an excellent showing of livestock at today’s sale.
A younger man slipped into an empty seat in front of Delmer. He turned and smiled, then greeted Dad and asked about the family. A gate slammed and three little calves cavorted into the ring below the bleachers. Two gentlemen stood in the ring and scanned the crowd. Dad explained to his young son that those were the spotters; they watched for people who held up a hand to bid. The auctioneer started out with a dollar amount and then began his chant. Delmer strained to understand the fast words.
“Will ya give me five?” The spotters pointed and yelled and the auctioneer shouted “Yup” and went right on calling. Suddenly, the chanter-guy pounded a wooden mallet on his desk. “Sold!”
The calves ran out a different gate and in sauntered a huge black and white sow. The bidding and chanting started all over. The air grew thick with dust and smoke and the auctioneer’s hypnotic song. Delmer leaned into his dad’s side.
Baaaa! The boy woke up to see triplet lambs circling their wooly mother. “Sold!” People stood and slowly moved toward the exit. Delmer stayed close to his father’s side, but it seemed to take forever. They would take a few steps and stop. “How have you been?”
“We’re fine. The baby’s growing fast.” A few more steps and more talk. All at once, Delmer’s very loud tummy interrupted. “Harrison, you need to buy that boy a piece of pie!”
At home, Mom asked Delmer how the sale went. He grinned. “I know why Dad goes to the sale barn.”
Read more of the author’s stories! Kruempel’s ten books are available on Amazon. Signed copies may be purchased at the Harrison County Welcome Center. Contact Kruempel at deannkruempelauthor@gmail.com.
