KENNETT: An auction gaffe

This weekend we attended a standing-room-only fundraising banquet at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square, and after the prime-rib dinner there was a live auction. One of the items on the block was a copy of the best-selling book "13 Hours," about the attack on Benghazi, Libya, signed by one of the survivors.
The bidding was not proceeding as briskly as the auctioneer wanted, so he stopped and demanded, "Show of hands: How many people have read this book or seen the movie?"
Several people dutifully raised their hands, then quickly lowered them as they heard the crowd guffawing and realized they were in the middle of an auction. 
I always make a point of sitting on my hands at those things lest I inadvertently make a gesture while talking and find myself caught up in the bidding.