Jerome had been sent for yellow paperclips. It was the day of the In auction and Esmé was busy so he went to get them without arguing. He had left early but all the shops were out of them. Finally he came to an in stationary store. He was walking down the yellow paperclip isle. The shelves were empty until he saw one lonely bow half way down the isle. He reached out to grab it but he bumped into someone else. "Sorry." He apologized.
"No, I'm sorry I didn't see you." Apologized a young woman about his age with brunet ringlets and bright blue eyes. She took her hand away from the box. She was wearing a pinstriped sundress and white shoes. Jerome smiled.
"Hello, uh...I'm Jerome Squalor." He offered her a hand to shake. She took it.
"I'm Livvie La Crane." She smiled.
"Nice to meet you. Are you going to then In Auction today?" Jerome asked trying to make conversation.
"Yes. I take it you are, your wife organizes it. She's amazing." Livvie complemented. Jerome nodded. "you can have this." she said giving him the box. "I'll buy some at the auction today. " she smiled.
Jerome smiled at nodded taking the box. "I'm sure Esmé will have some there. " He said.
"Well. I have to go now. But maybe we could have a parsley soda together at the V.F.D?" She asked giving Jerome her card.
"That's my favorite restaurant. " Jerome replied. "I would love to." She walked off down the isle and Jerome read her card. She owned a crystal figurine store. That's interesting…he though to himself as he paid for the a paper clips and looked at his watch. It was about time for The In Auction so he headed toward Velben Hall in a taxi.
It was the usual buzz. Talk of in things. Jerome drank his parsley soda trying not to openly cringe. He sat at a table and watched his wife on stage some. She was pretty. She was smiling a lot today. That's a good thing. Jerome looked over as someone else sat at his table. It was Livvie. "Hello." she greeted.
"Hello." He said. "How are you? Having fun?" He asked.
"Yes. Lots of great stuff. I haven't bought anything yet though. " she said. She took at sip of her soda and shuddered. Jerome saw here shudder from the corner of his eye.
"Here," he passed her a bottle of water under the table, " switch it with that that's what I did. " He said. Livvie smiled. She poured her soda out into a pitcher and replaced it with water.
"Thanks." she said. He sat and talked with her for a while then he got up to talk with his other friends until someone called him over. He spied his three orphans and was horrified to see them covered in ashes.
