Yard Sale!

Aspen and Liberty hosted a yard sale selling all their friend Shaylee's "baby stuff".  Most of their selling time was spent rearranging easel signage, rummaging through the goods and performing cheer stunts and chants for marketing and promotion edge.

Liberty came inside several times in search of her spare change. For a dollar she purchased some make-up (baby stuff?) for which she put on immediately.

In agreement with Shaylee, Aspen purchased a pair of roller blades (she's been DYING to own a pair) in exchange for her work at the sale and one dollar. This beat KSL or any other yard sale listing price. I had visions of Shaylee's mom coming to retrieve the newish pink pair of expandable blades her daughter had sold for a meager dollar, so I confirmed with Shaylee the shady deal that went down. "Come back and get them if you need too" I whispered to her. No blood on my hands. 

Aspen donated a Polly Pocket dress to aid in the retail value of Shaylee's naked Polly that had been placed on the table. Incidentally, after two hours, a kind passerby pulled over and purchased the said dress worn by the respective Polly for a whopping $2.50. "It was for her granddaughter" said Aspen, "she was excited to buy it!"

Bless you stranger, bless you.

Optimism was at it's peak. A purchase had been made. Their metal money can could now jingle. Smiles of success were evident on their faces. Then it was time for a new marketing campaign... and a new sign: "1 dolor Pony Rides!" I wanted to purchase a ride but saw no evidence of a pony. It took me a minute to realize we owned the pony in our backyard. Plastic construction and the pony's miniature size counted me out for a ride.

A few preteen kids stopped by the sale on their bikes. Visible through my window, words were exchanged as Aspen's suspicions kept her hand on the money can. Soon the boys rode off. Quickly Aspen came inside.
"Mom, some boys came by the sale and told us were were stupid".
"That's not kind", I told her thinking maybe they were in search of a real pony ride too, "I hope you just ignored them".
"We did".

Soon after, I witnessed yard sale items being cleaned up and put into bags. The money can was exchanged with frowns between Shaylee and Aspen, then the goods were taken back to Shaylee's house. Only Aspen returned.
"Mom, Shaylee's mad because I told her that one dollar was mine since the lady bought my Polly Pocket dress, and because I helped sell it."
"Then you got your skates for free" I calculated "but you've hurt your friends feelings. Which is more important to you, your friendship with Shaylee or the skates?"

Minutes later Shaylee was back, smiles were on faces, and Aspen still had a dollar and a pair of roller blades to her name.