Do You Hear a Voice in the Trunk?

14 December 2018

Brocante, French la Vie Creative Journeys

Do You Hear a Voice in the Trunk?

The Scene:

Two women walking around a very shabby and not so chic brocante in France.

Characters:

Susan: An American woman who speaks some French, loves the brocante, knows what she likes and is happy to be brocanting in France. Enjoying the scenery– but focused.

Corey: American woman who lives in France. Addicted to the brocante. Within a second realizes that Susan is her carbon copy when it comes to buying antiques. "Oh no," is her first thought. Her kinder thought comes fifteen seconds later.

Take One:

Susan and Corey scoop up items, compare their hunt and prices like two hunters in the woods.

Whadya get?

Wow, that's cool?

How much?

Lucky, that's great!

Whadya get?

I want it! Was there anymore?

How much?

I like that, do you?

Whadya think, is it worth it?

Take Two:

The two split up: One goes to the left, the other goes to the right.

Corey comes upon a "bingo" of a stand and starts scooping up the wonderment in record speed. The dealer sees that Corey loves books and offers her two that are in her car. (One of the most important GOLDEN RULES OF BROCANTING: ALWAYS ASK THE DEALER IF THEY HAVE ANYMORE OR SIMILAR ITEMS.) Corey cannot believe her luck and looks around for Susan.

The books are dated 1774. Corey nearly faints.

Susan in the distance sees the scooper scooping and racing over to get her fill… Corey does not give her the elbow because she is on cloud nine over the books, and Susan has asked Corey to take her around to the brocantes. Corey remembers to be zen, to be kind and bites her tongue.

"Whadya find?" Corey asks… though cannot wait to show Susan the books… thinking she has the upper hand of the deal of the day.

Susan shows Corey her box of wonders, an entire box of 18th century Creil white dishes, old beautiful dishes. Corey's mouth hits the dirty ground, her manners follow suit. With her monastic years far behind her Corey says in a teasing way, "Shut up! How much?" When Susan announces it cost her the price of a pizza. Corey nearly faints for the second time. They both laugh and then return to the hunt.

Take Three:

Corey and Susan gather up the bits and pieces that they have bought. Corey kneels down to help Susan pick up some of her latest purchases. When she kneels down she sees the underside of a vase she has overlooked for the last thousand hours. She cannot believe her eyes. The vase has been front and center in their faces for the last thousand hours and neither of them saw it because they had only seen it from up above… and as it didn't seem like much from up above, they had not cared to take a closer look.

Another Golden Rule about Brocanting: Walk around the fair more than once, more than twice… you cannot possible seeing everything in one take let alone in three takes, AND look up, down, under and around.

Take Four:

Corey buys the vase for five euro. She thinks the brocante gods must be on her side since she brought a friend along to a favorite secret brocante spot. She proclaims her gratitude by vowing never to threaten to shove someone in the armoire or trunk again.

Just as Corey is about to kiss the vase and say Amen. Susan squeals: "Oh Corey! Look what I found! You walked right by it! Look at this mirror I bought!"

The original mercury molted mirror is fanastic, the frame is good, but the mirror…