Everyone repeats the toast except for Ed, who simply smiles, and Carlos, who says, "Hear hear. Jolly well done, my girl."
We drink and all gazes fall onA Lettered Man.
He's almost complete. The frame is entirely papered in copies of the letters apart from one shoulder, which I intend to complete tonight in my final time lapse video. "You know, he's as wonderful as I imagined him to be?"
"So, uh," says Lutek, "will there be an auctioneer?"
"No, it'll be a silent auction. The entire thing will be conducted online."
"Conversation over wine and canapés might be a bit stilted if everyone's watching their phones," says Jeanette without her usual laugh. "Won't it?"
"We'll have an hour before the auctions begin to get people well lubricated and in a talking and giving mood. And not everyone there will be wanting to buy the art. When I say silent, I don't mean it'll be an event of complete silence."
Ed blows air through his lips and looks around the room at everyone. "I'm guessingA Lettered Manwill be the last thing auctioned?"
"Naturally. It's the big draw card."
"I'm working on a glitter bomb installation that'll explode whenA Lettered Manis sold," says Elly. "I'll have a box with a big red button on it with a 'detonation' label, so the whole thing can be cheesy as all hell."
She gives a little laugh and Ed frowns at her.
"What? The auction's happening regardless. All of us – sorry –mostof us have stuff going under the hammer."
"Regardless of what?" I ask.
The room goes silent. Again.
"Ed's worried about the letter owner getting difficult," says Jeanette.
"Well I'm not," I say. "At this point the gain's far greater than the minimal risk of that happening."
Elly throws Ed a self-satisfied look.
"Will the box explode?" asks Lutek.
"No, the whole mechanism will be suspended from the ceiling and there'll be several simultaneous detonations for maximum coverage. It'll be raining sparkles of joy."
"Which will work their way out of all our creases for the next week, no doubt," sing-songs Jeanette.
"So," I say into the ensuing quiet, "what do you have to tell me, Ed?"
"Erm." Ed casts a glance at Jeanette. "It doesn't matter. It's inconsequential."
He doesn't sound sure, but before I can ask him more about it, he says, "How's your sculpture coming along, Jeanette?" which is an excellent diversion if that's its purpose.
"Great." Jeanette has been making a reclining naked woman with ample curves and eye-catching areola. About the size of a real woman, she's so large, Jeanette's had to make her in pieces to fit in the kiln. "She's nearly done. So far all the parts slot together nicely. I'm hoping she'll be rather alarming to unsuspecting visitors when they spot her in the garden," she adds with her tinsel-y laugh.
I have no doubt it'll go for a tidy amount. Jeanette is very good at what she does, and something like that is a statement or rather, an experience plenty of people with money and a sense of whimsy will be happy to pay for.
However, it's not distraction enough. Something is clearly going on and I will get it out of him. "Ed –"
Jeanette suddenly gasps and looks betweenA Lettered Manand Ed.
"What?" I ask.
She puts her mug down and steers Ed to stand beside the sculpture. She positions him so he faces the soldier, then turns the frame to face Ed. "Look at their profiles."
After a moment, Elly says, "Oh yeah. They're almost identical."
