12.29.20 – I scheduled an appointment to travel 2 hours and look at a collection of contemporary pottery and shortly after I got off the phone, I went to the steps… Kai, Jax, which one of you want to go with me tomorrow and look at a basement full of pottery. I heard the shuffle of footsteps and two 9-year old’s appeared at the door way looking down at me. I want to go they both said in classic twin like fashion. Well, that was that, I couldn’t take the van because there isn’t any back seats so we were taking the pickup. The next morning i told them both to grab their wallet, I’d let them by a few pieces, and they would own it and sell it in the auction. 9 years of birthdays, Xmas, taking out trash, feeding animals, etc. they had a little stash of cash. So off we went. When we pulled in the driveway, I alerted them… when you are spoken to you look up and talk don’t act 5 act like a man. That was all the instruction i gave them. in less than 30 minutes of dickering with the old man I had them wrapping up miniature Burlon Craig swirl jugs and pitchers. 27 of them and then another shelf of 15 or so Charles Lisk miniatures and another shelf of Kathy Richards minis. Around 60 pieces total. The stage was set, they were going to sink or swim… they know the Gibsonville Mafia’s penalty for breaking pottery. I began boxing up the larger face jugs and needed more boxes, so I left them to it and headed back upstairs with the gentleman. As we walked through the garage, I noticed 12 or so boxes that were labeled SIGNED NC POTTERY in black magic marker… I looked at the man and said what’s in those… he came over to the boxes read the marker and said, “I don’t know, momma boxed those up years ago but im guessing its SIGNED NC POTTERY.” he proceeded to tell me it’s in his way he needs it out of here and i spoke up… “I’ll pay $200 for all the boxes sight unseen” the deal was made. I checked my pockets for cash – i was busted. When I walked back to the basement where the boys were still packing, I told them to get their money together they had just bought a bunch of pottery for $200. Jax stopped wrapping and walked up to me… dad what are we buying… I said I don’t know I haven’t looked at it but it’s a bunch of boxes full of pottery. Jax, my miniature brain surgeon who over analysis everything says. “dad, why would i pay $200 for something i haven’t seen….” Jax, its a deal just pay the man. Kai spoke up… dad, I didn’t bring my wallet. Kai… why not… because i knew i would spend money and I don’t want to buy any pottery. Ok, Jax pay him. This is a true story I only brought $2,000 cash and i spent it… Jax never buys anything and 4 years worth of bdays and xmas he had around $252 dollars – he gave me the wod I pulled out $200 and handed is over. On the ride home Jax asked which box of pottery was his… i said look in the bed of the truck they are all yours… his eyes got wide… oh wow its a lot of boxes he said. On the ride home i convinced Kai to pay Jax $100 so he would be halfers… at first Jax gave resistance big time in the form of “no I’m not letting him in half i paid the $200 its all mine” I had to go DAD on them and say. “well technically the deal is mine, i gave it to you.. so you either let him in half or I’ll give you the $200 back and you’re out.” The resistance was over and the Ledbetter Boys were in halfers on 12 boxes of unsearched pottery. Let the unboxing begin.