A/N: Just for Anninny. Don't you have computer access in Europe?
Disclaimer: OMG, I don't own ASoUE! NOW QUIT STALKING ME!
Elise: 2
Irene: 2
Olivia: 0
Suzanna: 0 Thank you all my lovely reviewers!
The Notebook Brigade
Chapter Four
Valuable
"We've been walking for hours," Isadora groaned. "Can't we just rest for a minute?" She sagged to the ground and leaned against a wall. Duncan and Quigley set down the tray and sat on either side of their sister.
"Izzy," Quigley started. "We have to get to this last safe place in one week. It's two states away, we have to walk, and right now we're only in the middle of town. We don't have much time to waste." Isadora looked up at her brother and gave him the faintest of smiles.
"You're right Quigley," Isadora said, standing up.
"My, that's a miiiighty fine specimen you got there chief!" Isadora, Quigley, and Duncan snapped their heads around. The man stood towering six feet off the ground, looking down at the items on the tray.
"Pardon me?" Isadora asked, her face contorted into an expression of extreme confusion.
"I was talking about that," the man said, pointing to their deceased mother's necklace. "Must be worth a forchune!"
"Uhh...yeah, er...the current bid is $10,000," Duncan lied. The man's eyebrows rose ever so slightly, but he showed no other sign of emotion. He pointed down the street.
"That's diamond, sapphire, and gold, ain't it?" he asked.
"Sure," Quigley responded.
"There's a store down there that might be willing to bid several thousand above $10,000."
"Thank you sir," Duncan said quickly, then grabbed Isadora and Quigley by the arm and towed them down to the shop the man had been pointing at.
"Duncan!" Isadora scolded. "What are you doing!"
"We need supplies Izzy," Duncan said, not bothering to look back at her.
"But Duncan," Isadora pleaded, halting him. "It's mom's necklace!" Duncan looked right into her eyes.
"Trust me Izzy. I know what I'm doing." Isadora opened her mouth to respond, but she admitted defeat and reluctantly limped after her brothers.
The shop was situated right on the edge of a cozy little bay. Each time a wave washed up upon the shore, it just barely missed the neatly painted baby blue base trim of the deep blue walls of the shop.
"'Engival Bay Shoppe'," Quigley read, repeating the curly, swerving writing printed on the bright yellow overhang.
"Come on you two!" Duncan urged, pushing Isadora and Quigley through the elaborately decorated double doors. Once inside, a man who had been puttering around behind the front desk turned around and greeted them with a hearty smile.
"Welcome to eBay!" he yelled joyously, throwing his arms out, as if he were trying to hug a wall. "May I take your order?"
"Hi," Quigley said.
"Ummm..." Duncan eyed the guy (who will now be called Random Physco Cashier or RPC for short). "We were wondering what price you'd offer us for...this." He showed RPC the necklace. The joyous expression on RPC's face immediately changed to one of utter shock.
"Mamamamamamamama..." he stuttered. "For that we are willing to pay $15,000"
"Deal," Duncan said firmly, and shook RPC's hand.
"Duncan," Isadora hissed into his ear. "What are you doing?"
"Just trust me Izzy," Duncan whispered back, and accepted the money from the cashier.
"Ta-da!" Quigley yelled triumphantly, emerging from the left section of the shop labeled "Survival Gear". His arms were laden with backpacks, about 1.5' x 2.5' but still very light. He piled the three packs on the counter. RPC hit some buttons on the register and announced the cost.
"90.99," he said. Duncan gave RPC the correct amount, grabbed their purchases, and ushered Isadora and Quigley out of the store. "Many thanks, from the shop of eBay!" RPC called after them. Once outside, Duncan handed out the survival packs; a purple one for Quigley, a dark green one for himself, and a pitch black one for Isadora.
"So you sold the last memory of our mother," Isadora said, tears welling up in her eyes, "for these."
"Well, not really," Duncan said, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out their own mother's diamond, sapphire, and gold necklace, sparkling and shiny as ever.
"But how did you-?" Isadora began, grasping the necklace in her hands, just to make sure it was really there.
"I'm special," Duncan said simply, and smiled. Isadora stashed the necklace safely in her pack, then hugged Duncan.
"Yes you are Duncan," she said. "Yes you are."
WOOPIE! CHAPTER FOUR! Keep voting for those names people! The suggested names I'll think about.
Just so you know, Quigley will be adding most of the humor. Him, and some new characters that shall come in in chapter six!
