07/29/2026
💋✨ GOOD MORNING MY COUSINS ✨💋
Indigenous Inspired
Auntie and Bestie
Rez Life, Good Medicine, and Other Emergencies
Part 6
LaDonna Came to Negotiate
LaDonna arrived with twelve dollars, two packs of ci******es, and the confidence of somebody buying the whole yard 😭🤣
And cousin…
that is how I knew this chapter was not about bargaining.
It was about knowing when to stand firm…
and when to let your heart make a different kind of deal.
Because let me tell you something.
There is a big difference between somebody asking for help…
and somebody arriving with a full presentation on why your boundary should not apply to them.
Ayeeeee.
Now listen.
After the toaster finally left with proof of purchase…
after Bestie created her own inspection department using bright stickers and unresolved authority…
after Auntie reminded everybody that confusion was not permission…
after the whole yard heard LaDonna ask which crockpot Auntie had been holding for her…
the bargaining began.
Mmmmmm.
LaDonna stood at the crockpot table like she had called the meeting.
Twelve dollars in one hand.
Two packs of ci******es in the other.
A beadwork keychain hanging from one finger.
And no visible concern about the twenty dollar price tag.
Auntie crossed her arms.
“It is twenty.”
LaDonna held up the twelve dollars.
“I have this.”
“That is twelve.”
Then LaDonna lifted the ci******es.
“And these.”
“I do not want those.”
Then she displayed the keychain.
“And handmade beadwork.”
Bestie leaned forward from her folding chair.
“The offer has cultural assets.”
Auntie turned slowly.
“Whose side are you on?”
Bestie sat back.
“I am only monitoring the economy.”
Ayeeeee 😭🤣
LaDonna smiled.
“So we have a deal?”
“No.”
“Fifteen?”
“You still have twelve.”
“I can get three later.”
“Then come back later.”
LaDonna gasped.
“But somebody might buy it.”
Auntie nodded.
“That is how yard sales work.”
Mmmmmm.
LaDonna placed one hand on the crockpot.
“This one knows me.”
Bestie whispered,
“It has stew memory, but I do not believe it has personal relationships.”
Auntie almost laughed.
Almost.
LaDonna lifted the lid and inspected the inside.
“It is scratched.”
“It has cooked food.”
“One little rubber foot is missing.”
“It still stands.”
“The cord looks old.”
“So are we, and we still report for duty.”
Ayeeeee 😭🤣
The cousins near the table started laughing.
LaDonna did not.
She was focused.
This woman had negotiated at flea markets, family giveaways, handgames, concession stands, and at least one birthday party where the cake portions became political.
She was prepared.
Mmmmmm.
LaDonna pointed toward the gold heels.
“What about those?”
“Fifteen.”
“I’ll take the crockpot and the heels for twenty.”
Auntie stared.
“That is thirty five dollars.”
“But I am buying two things.”
“Yes. That is why the prices were added together.”
Bestie placed one hand over her heart.
“Mathematics has entered the negotiation.”
Ayeeeee.
LaDonna picked up the heels.
“These were worn.”
“Two wakes, one powwow, and a birthday party.”
“Whose birthday?”
Auntie narrowed her eyes.
“The price does not include names.”
Mmmmmm.
LaDonna held one heel against her foot.
“They might not fit.”
“Then do not buy them.”
“You are not selling very warmly.”
Auntie lifted her sacred juice.
“I am selling accurately.”
Cousin…
that line needed its own price sticker 😭🤣
Then LaDonna moved to the lamp.
No shade.
Three dollars.
She looked at the empty socket.
“Does it work?”
“Yes.”
“Can you plug it in?”
“The cord is right there.”
“Can you do it?”
Auntie looked at LaDonna.
Then at the outlet two feet away.
Then back at LaDonna.
“No.”
Bestie nodded.
“Buyer participation is encouraged.”
Ayeeeee.
LaDonna plugged in the lamp.
It turned on.
She looked disappointed by the success.
“I was hoping it did not work so I could get it free.”
Auntie unplugged it.
“Now it is five dollars.”
LaDonna gasped.
“You raised the price?”
“Testing fee.”
😭🤣
The whole yard was invested now.
People had stopped shopping.
One uncle sat on a cooler.
Raymond stood beside the one dollar table pretending he was not waiting to hear the final offer.
The little cousin had opened a notebook and written:
LADONNA NEGOTIATION
ROUND FOUR
Mmmmmm.
Bestie leaned over.
“Keep accurate minutes.”
The child nodded seriously.
Ayeeeee.
LaDonna finally placed the heels down.
Then the lamp.
Then returned to the crockpot.
“I really need this.”
Auntie’s expression changed slightly.
Not enough for everybody to notice.
But Bestie noticed.
Because there is a difference between:
I want this because it is cheap…
and:
I need this because mine stopped working and I have people to feed.
Mmmmmm.
Auntie asked,
“What happened to yours?”
LaDonna sighed.
“The handle broke. Then the inside cracked.”
“Why didn’t you say that first?”
LaDonna shrugged.
“I was negotiating.”
Bestie whispered,
“Sometimes pride wears a bargaining voice.”
Whew.
That one sat quietly.
Because some people will offer everything except the truth.
They will joke.
Bargain.
Act demanding.
Pretend they do not care.
All because asking plainly feels more vulnerable than being difficult.
Mmmmmm.
Auntie looked at LaDonna.
“Who are you cooking for?”
“My granddaughter is staying with me.”
Auntie nodded.
“How long?”
LaDonna looked away.
“For a while.”
There it was.
The real story.
Not all of it.
Just enough.
Ayeeeee.
Auntie picked up the crockpot and placed it beside LaDonna.
“Give me the twelve.”
LaDonna blinked.
“What about the rest?”
“Bring me a plate when you make something good.”
Bestie nodded.
“Community repayment plan.”
LaDonna slowly handed over the money.
No big thank you speech.
No dramatic moment.
Just a softer face.
“Wopida, cousin.”
Auntie nodded.
“Feed that grandbaby.”
Whew.
LaDonna picked up the crockpot.
Then immediately pointed toward the heels.
“So five dollars for those?”
Auntie’s softness disappeared.
“Fifteen.”
Ayeeeee 😭🤣
The yard erupted.
LaDonna laughed too.
Because generosity does not mean every price disappears.
Mmmmmm.
That was the balance.
Auntie could lower the price for a real need…
without allowing every negotiation to become manipulation.
She could have compassion…
and still keep her boundaries.
She could help LaDonna feed her granddaughter…
without also giving away the heels, lamp, television, folding chair, and possibly the house.
Ayeeeee.
Bestie placed a bright sticker on the crockpot.
BESTIE INSPECTED
Then underneath she wrote:
COMMUNITY USE APPROVED
LaDonna looked at it.
“You had to put that on there?”
Bestie nodded.
“This crockpot has entered public service.”
😭🤣
LaDonna carried it toward her car.
But halfway down the driveway, she stopped beside a rack of clothes.
One small winter coat hung near the end.
Purple.
Warm.
Almost new.
LaDonna touched the sleeve.
Then checked the tag.
Ten dollars.
Mmmmmm.
She looked toward her car.
Then at the twelve dollars she no longer had.
Then back at the coat.
Auntie saw her.
So did Bestie.
LaDonna let go of the sleeve.
“What size is that?”
Auntie told her.
LaDonna nodded slowly.
“That would fit my granddaughter.”
She checked the pockets.
Smoothed the front.
Then placed it back on the rack.
“I’ll see if it is still here later.”
Whew.
Auntie knew what that meant.
Later meant after she found more money.
Later meant maybe not.
Later meant the child needed the coat, but LaDonna’s pride had already spent enough courage on the crockpot.
Mmmmmm.
Auntie walked over.
She took the coat from the rack.
Folded it.
Placed it on top of the crockpot in LaDonna’s arms.
LaDonna looked at her.
“I cannot pay for that today.”
Auntie said,
“I did not ask you to.”
The yard grew quiet.
LaDonna shook her head.
“No, cousin. I can come back.”
Auntie held the coat steady.
“Your granddaughter needs it now.”
Whew.
LaDonna’s eyes filled.
Just a little.
She looked down before anybody could make the moment bigger than she wanted it to be.
“Wopida.”
Auntie nodded.
“Take it.”
Mmmmmm.
Bestie watched quietly.
Then said,
“Auntie’s prices are firm, but her heart still has discretionary funding.”
Cousin…
LaDonna laughed through the tears 😭🤣
Auntie looked at Bestie.
“That was actually good.”
Bestie placed one hand over her chest.
“Put it in the annual report.”
Ayeeeee.
LaDonna carried the crockpot and coat toward her car.
Then turned back.
“I still think the heels are worth ten.”
Auntie pointed toward the road.
“Go home, LaDonna.”
😭🤣
Once she left, the yard sale started moving again.
People returned to the tables.
Raymond resumed trying to turn four dollars into six.
The little cousin updated the notebook:
CROCKPOT SOLD
COAT GIFTED
HEELS STILL FULL PRICE
Bestie nodded.
“Accurate records protect the narrative.”
Mmmmmm.
Then the child asked Auntie,
“Why did you say no so many times and then give her the coat?”
Auntie looked toward LaDonna’s car disappearing down the road.
“Because saying no to what was unfair left room for me to say yes to what was needed.”
Whew.
There it was.
A boundary is not the opposite of kindness.
Sometimes a boundary protects your kindness from being used up by every demand.
Ayeeeee.
When you say no to manipulation…
you still have something left for generosity.
When you stop letting guilt set every price…
you can choose freely when your heart wants to give.
Mmmmmm.
Bestie added,
“And helping somebody does not mean they get to empty your whole yard.”
Auntie nodded.
“Exactly.”
The little cousin looked toward the folding chair.
“Even if they need a chair?”
Bestie pulled the legacy chair closer.
“We will locate another resource.”
Ayeeeee 😭🤣
The sale continued into the afternoon.
The tables were getting emptier.
The driveway was clearing.
The shed finally had room to breathe.
Auntie counted the cash.
Bestie counted the remaining snacks.
The little cousin counted inspection stickers.
Everything was winding down.
Mmmmmm.
Then Auntie noticed one box beneath the porch table.
The box marked:
KEEP FOR LATER
The one she had moved from house to house.
The one she could no longer remember packing.
The one she had promised herself she would open after the sale.
Whew.
Bestie followed Auntie’s gaze.
The foolishness left her face.
“You ready?”
Auntie looked at the box.
Then at the nearly empty yard.
Then slowly sat down beside it.
“I do not know.”
Bestie brought her folding chair closer.
“That is not the same as no.”
Mmmmmm.
Auntie placed one hand on the lid.
For the first time all day…
there was no price.
No negotiation.
No joke ready.
Just an old box waiting to tell Auntie why she had carried it for so long.
Ayeeeee.
Good morning, cousins.
LaDonna came to negotiate.
She arrived with twelve dollars, ci******es, beadwork, and enough confidence to challenge every price in the yard.
She left with a crockpot to feed her granddaughter…
and a winter coat Auntie refused to let pride leave behind.
Because boundaries and generosity are not enemies.
You can say no to manipulation.
You can say yes to a real need.
You can protect your peace…
and still keep your heart soft.
But cousin…
the heels are still fifteen dollars.
Do not ask again.
Ayeeeee 😭🤣
To be continued...
💋✨🧚🏽♂️🤭🤗😁🤣🙄⚡️🪶🫶🏽🌄🪷🌸❤️🔥😂🔥😃
