Yard Sale

Patricia hated clutter. Despite working for the pipeline system in Moscow, she had to have everything else clean. She saw to it back in Russia and now she saw to it in Japan as well.

Too bad others didn’t see it that way. Polly lost count of how many times to had to walk over everything. It didn’t help that she had to wear slippers indoors. Japan was supposed the cleanest place, right? Looking around the academy, she wouldn’t know it. Did her coworkers and students have to be so messy? Clothes piled everywhere. Dirty dishes on the tables and counters. Books and papers scattered everywhere. Broken things hiding in the mess. Polly shivered when walking through the student lounge. The habits of the students and staff started to rub off on her husband, Tony.

This whole thing gave her a headache. Something had to change. Polly had just the thing.

-Saturday Morning-

It began around ten in the morning. Polly made the arrangements outside. Once the last sign went up, she was ready to teach a lesson. She said down on a lawn chair and waited. Daisuke was the first to walk by. He took a look around. A confused look came over his face.

“Uh… What is this?” he asked.

“Yard sale,” she said.

“Where did all of this come from?”

“I just found it.”

Daisuke took another look around. “Why are you selling this?”

“Nobody wants it.” She sounded so calm when she said that. Daisuke shivered. It was then he spotted something on one of the back tables. His eyes grew wide.

“Wait… Is that…?” he asked. Ruthie walked by and froze in her tracks.

“Is that my jacket?” she asked. The student walked over to the brown jacket lying on the back table. Polly turned her head. Ruthie picked up the jacket and held it up.

“Why is this out here?” she asked. She wasn’t the only one either. It didn’t take long for a small crowd to gather around the tables demanding why their possessions were on sale.

“What the hell, man?!”

“That’s my guitar!”

“Why the hell are you doing this?”

“You can’t sell this!”

“Why are you doing this?!”

“Why are you doing this?!”

Polly held up her hands and smiled. Everyone went quiet around her.

“Thank you,” she said. “I got tired of seeing junk everywhere.”

“Junk?!” everyone yelled.

“Yes,” she said. “I decided to do a little cleaning up by selling everything that I saw was junk.”

“But… But… You can’t do that!” Brooke yelled.

“I’m doing it now,” the Russian said.

“You can’t sell my guitar!” Kellie complained. “I need it!”

“Then you should’ve left it lying around so carelessly,” Polly said. She looked at all of them with no emotion on her face. They brought this on themselves. If they didn’t care about their possessions then why should she?

Noiz put up her hands. “Okay, everyone!” All eyes fell on her. She cleared her throat.

“Although her method is wrong, Polly-san does have a point,” the kitty said. “Please try and keep everything clean from now on or she will try to sell them again, okay?” Groans filled the air.

“I’m being serious here,” the headmistress said. “Keep your areas clean.”

“Fine,” everyone grumbled.

“Good,” Noiz said. “Now get your things and put them away properly.” The crowd walked over to the tables and picked up what was theirs. Polly turned to Noiz.

“Thank you,” she mouthed. The kitty girl only bowed her head.