Holly was throwing one of her fabulous parties, one Saturday night. Paul-AKA Fred-was there; in fact, he had become a fixture at them, in the last few weeks.
At 9:00pm, she got up and faced the guests.
"Hi, everyone." They quieted down. "How's this party going?" Everyone cheered, causing her to smile. "Thank you! I have a very unusual and original object to show all of you. It is a painting-and it's one that I painted myself!" Again, there were more cheers. "I'll be right back. I'm going into my bedroom to fetch it."
She left. A minute later, she came back with a large canvass. "Ta da!" she said, then she displayed it.
It was a pure abstract. Multi-colored lines and squiggles were on it. Some of them looked like footprints. The guests looked at it and cheered.
"Thank you!" she said. "Now, this was painted in a very unusual way: You see, I didn't employ brushes, when I painted it. Instead, I used my feet!"
She let this fact sink in. People laughed and giggled, then they all cheered.
She smiled. "Thank you! Now, I intend to auction this off, tonight. But before doing this, I'll do a little question and answer session. Any of you have questions?"
"How did you decide to use your feet as a paint brush?" one man asked.
"An artist-friend of mine also does this. Some of you might know him-Sam the Bomb." The were murmurs of agreement. "He couldn't be here tonight because he's attending an art exhibition in San Francisco. Yes?"
"What's it like painting with your feet?" This caused much laughter.
She smiled. "Kinda like the finger painting we all did in kindergarten. I guess you can call it 'toe painting!'" This caused more laughter.
"Do you plan to do more paintings?"
"Yes, I do."
"Any thoughts of using your other body parts?" This also caused some laughter.
"Yes. I'm considering doing one with my hands-the real finger painting!"
"Would you be willing to let us watch you paint, some time?"
"Depending on the success of this one, yes, I'd be willing to do that."
"Did you get any paint on your feet?" Again, this caused some laughter.
"Well, I got all of it off-or at least I think I did!" She sat down, slipped off her shoes and showed off her feet to the crowd. "Do any of you see any paint on them?"
"I do," said Paul.
"Where?"
He walked over to her, knelt, and picked up her right foot. "Right here." He tickled it, lightly!
She giggled. "Fred!" The crowd laughed.
"Just kidding, Holly! No, there's no paint on your feet!"
"Well, that's good to know! There was more laughter. "Any more questions?" No one said anything. "Ok, let's start the bidding." She stood up-still shoeless-and held the painting. "I'd like to start the bidding at $10."
"$10," said Paul.
"$20," another man said.
"$25," said Paul.
"$30."
"$35."
"$40."
"$50," said Paul. This was his last bid attempt.
"$60."
"$70."
"$75."
"$80."
"$90."
"$95."
"$100."
Here, the bidding stopped. "$100 going once...twice..."
"$110."
"$120."
"$125."
Again, the bidding stopped. "$125 going once...twice...sold!"
There was much applause. The man who won walked over to Holly. He pulled out his wallet and gave her the money, and she handed over the painting to him.
The party broke up at midnight. Paul helped Holly clean up, then the two of them flopped on the couch. Holly put her feet in Paul's lap, and he massaged them.
"I'd say the auction was a big success."
"I'd say I agree, Fred."
"Oh, I hope you didn't mind me tickling your foot!"
She smiled. "You're forgiven!" They grew silent. "Are you upset that you didn't win the painting?"
"A little," he conceded.
"I thought you might be. So I made a little present for you."
This brightened him. "You did?"
"I'll be right back, Fred."
She got up and walked into her bedroom. A minute later, she came back. She had another canvass with her. This one was smaller than the first one. It was of another abstract painting. "For you, Fred!"
He looked at it in awe. "You did this for me?"
"Sure did."
"Oh, Holly!" He gave her a big hug and kiss. Then he looked at the painting some more.
"You did this with your feet, as well."
"Yes, I did."
"Your feet will become famous in New York City!"
'That's my intention, Fred!"