Bid-A-Basket Festival
I was in Doose's market casing it for my next prank. I see Rory over by the baskets and walk up to her without her knowing.
"Hey," I whisper in her ear and she jumps.
"Jess, you have got to stop doing that," Rory says as she turns around. "You got your stitches out. Why didn't you tell me? I wanted to go with you."
"I'm a big boy," I reply. "So you're actually going to participate in this crazy basket festival?" I ask.
"Yes, my mother and I have taken part every year since we moved here," Rory replies proudly.
"Ok," I reply.
"So what are you doing in here?" Rory asks, then adds, "I hear Taylor's looking for a new employee."
"I know," I reply. "Taylor already offered me the job."
"And what did you say?" Rory asks me happily.
"I turned him down," I reply.
"Why?" Rory asks.
"Do I look like a bag boy to you?" I question as I raise an eyebrow, Rory laughs. "That and I won't be able to pull anymore pranks at the market."
"I see," Rory replies. "Then again you would have the key, so you wouldn't have to break in anymore."
"Where's the fun in that?" I ask as I head over to the superglue.
"What do you need superglue for?" Rory asks me.
"Number one on our list," I reply.
"Ah, super gluing all the items to the shelf," Rory says. "You still plan on doing that?"
"Yeah, plus everything else on that list," I say.
"Can I make a suggestion?" Rory asks.
"Sure," I reply.
"Why buy the glue when you can just steal it when you're in here?" Rory asks me.
"Two-for-one sale," I reply as I grab two packets off the shelf and walk up to the register.
"I'm going out," I say to Luke as I head to the door.
"Where are you going?" Luke questions.
"To the bid-a-basket festival," I reply. "Just across the square."
"I'm coming too," Luke says.
"Why?" I ask.
"I need to ask Lorelai something," Luke replies.
"Whatever," I reply as I head out the door. I know it will be easier to let Luke watch out for me, rather than argue about it. He can be a little overprotective at times, but he's just looking out for me. It is something I never really experienced before in life, so I try not to pull him up on it too often.
We make our way across the square and I stand next to Rory, whilst Luke stands next to Lorelai.
"Hey," I say to Rory.
"Hey," Rory replies back.
"What are you doing here?" Lorelai asks Luke. "You hate town functions."
"I actually like this one," Luke replies.
"Why's that?" Lorelai asks.
"My mom used to make up a basket for my dad every year and he naturally hated anything to do with the town, but came out every year and bid on the basket to make mom happy," Luke explained.
"Oh, that's sweet," Lorelai says as she places her hand on Luke's shoulder and gives it a little rub.
"Yeah, I guess," Luke replied.
"Hey, Rory do you have a piece of paper?" I ask her.
"Sure," Rory says as she hand me a scrap.
I pull out a pen from my back pocket and scribble down, 6- Get Luke and Lorelai together, with my left hand. It's a little messy, but still readable. I hand the piece of paper back to Rory. Her eyes immediately light up.
"How's this going to annoy Taylor," Rory asks.
"I haven't figured that part out yet," I reply. "Maybe Taylor secretly likes your mom and will be crushed if she finally realizes who her soul mate is."
"Jess Mariano, using the word soul mate," Rory mocks. "Has hell frozen over?"
"I do read you know," I reply. "Is it so hard for me to believe that there is one soul mate out there for each individual?"
"So do you know who your soul mate is?" Rory ask me.
"I know them," I reply.
"You do?" Rory says disappointedly. "Do they know?"
"I don't know, but I hope so," I reply as we fall into a comfortable silence.
A few minutes later Taylor pulls out another basket.
"Mine," I hear Rory say to Lorelai.
"Nice," Lorelai replies.
"Now this may not look like much but remember, people, good things come in small packages," Taylor announces.
"How badly does he want to be hosting a game show?" Lorelai says to Rory.
"He can taste it," Rory replies.
"Let's start the bidding at $3," Taylor says.
"Hey," Rory protests.
"$10," I say.
"What?" Rory says shocked and I just look at her knowingly.
"$10. Do I hear $15," Taylor asks.
"$15," Kirk says.
"Oh, Jess please," Rory begs me. "Don't let Kirk win, he won my basket when I was twelve and I haven't recovered."
"Okay, I have $15. Do I hear $20?" Taylor asks.
"$20," I reply.
"$25," Kirk shoots back.
"Jess, please," Rory pleads as she grabs hold of my arm.
"Have either of you noticed how tiny this thing is?" Taylor questions.
"$90," I say firmly.
"Jess," Rory squeals.
"Okay, we've got $90 going once, $90 going twice, sold to the nice young gentleman in the middle for $90," Taylor says.
"Jess, that's you," Lorelai says. "Go and get your basket."
"Did he just call me a gentleman?" I ask.
"I believe he did," Lorelai replied.
"We have got to get started on that list Rory, right away," I say as I go forward, pay Taylor and take the basket. I walk back and join Rory.
"Hey, big spender," Lorelai says when I get back.
"Where did you get $90 from?" Luke questioned.
"Umm…" I falter. "Out of the register."
"I told you only to take a twenty," Luke says angrily.
"I did, five twenty's," I say as I laugh and Luke just scowls at me. "Hey, if you're that worried just take it out of my next pay check. When you let me start work again."
"Sure, okay," Luke replies.
"Here is a lovely pink basket," Taylor announces. "Start the bidding at $5.
"$15," Andrew says quickly.
"Hey," Gypsy protests. "That's my basket. You're not buying my basket, Andrew."
"I see pie and you can't tell me what to do," Andrew shoots back.
"$15 going once. $15 going twice. Sold to Andrew for $15," Taylor says.
"Let's get this over with," Gypsy says as she approaches the front with Andrew. "I had to make pie, didn't I?" Gypsy says as she sighs and walks off with Andrew.
"Next up, why that looks like a Doose's Market basket. Nice?" Taylor says.
"Ooh, that's mine," Lorelai says to us.
"I'd like to start the bidding at $5," Taylor announces.
"I bid $5," Someone yells from the crowd.
"That was quick," Lorelai says.
"$10," Another announces from the crowd.
"Do they know that all that's in there is two stale Pop-Tarts and a Slim Jim," Lorelai says to Luke.
"$15," Another person says from the crowd.
"He looks familiar," Lorelai says.
"$20," Shouts the first bidder.
"So does he," Lorelai says in realization.
"$25," Another bids.
"This is going very well," Taylor announces.
"Oh, no," Lorelai says. "Luke you have to bid on my basket."
"Are you serious?" Luke asks.
"Patty gave my picture out to all these guys 'cause she thinks I need a man," Lorelai rambles.
"You do," Luke replies.
"Just bid on my basket," Lorelai says.
"$48," Luke says. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
"$48.50," One of the guys says.
"$49," Luke says.
"$49.50," Another guy says.
Luke digs out his wallet and counts his money, "$52.50," Luke says.
"What?" One of the bidders says. "We're just supposed to go to $50."
"I have a life," Luke says.
"$52.50. Going once," Lorelai quickly yells.
"Hey, that's my job," Taylor protests. "$52.50 going once, $52.50 going twice."
"Please, god," Lorelai says.
"Sold for $52.50," Taylor says.
"Yay! Lorelai rejoices as she drags Luke to the podium. "Sorry guys don't feel bad. I'm totally into Dungeons and Dragons. You've skated," Lorelai says to the three bidders as she passes them.
"And that, Ladies and Gentleman concludes the basket bidding," Taylor says. "Victors, come claim your prizes and your dates. Let the lunching begin!"
I turn to Rory, "Shall we eat?" I ask.
"Let's go," Rory replies enthusiastically.