Auction

One of my favorite things about writing is describing my setting. I love to close my eyes and imagine the place my characters live, work, or play. Sometimes I like to make up a setting just for the fun of it. Below is a description of an auction. I have never been to one, but I have seen them in movies and read about them in books, so hopefully my description is pretty accurate...

The air is musty and still, the smell of cologne and sweat hangs in the air. Dust coats the chairs and floor, and hangs still in the air, as though it is waiting, like everyone else, for the auction to begin.

The auctioneer, a short, stout fellow, who is balding badly and wearing a stiff brown suit, approaches the front of the room, mopping sweat from his forehead with a dirty handkerchief.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining us," he says. "This morning, we are planning to auction a variety of rareties, and we have quite a few to go through, so shall we begin?" He pauses, waiting for the crowd to respond.A hushed whisper ripples through the crowd, and he takes this as a signal to proceed.

"Yes, we have here a lovely cut crystal vase. Does someone bid $25 for it?" Someone raises a tentative hand. "Yes, $25, do I hear $30? Will anyone pay $30 for this lovely crystal vase? Yes sir, thank you, do I hear $40? $50? How about $60?"