A message is inscribed on a wooden-framed picture holding twodoves, blue fabric hearts and white lace. It rests on a greencovered vinyl shelf in Muncie's Westside Flea Market.
"Friendship, like love, lasts forever," it reads.
Behind the 18 indoor booths filled with trinkets varying fromowl salt-and-pepper shakers to paintings of San Francisco, thevendors share a visible camaraderie behind making money off of oldand new treasures.
"We're one big family here," owner Donna Sanders said. "Everyonelooks out for one another's things and treats each other with greatrespect."
Story-telling, singing and laughter are the norm between themerchants and customers.
Sanders is in her seventh year of owning the business and is asingle mother of six boys, half of which are biological and theother she considers sons. Sanders said it's easy for friends tosoon fall under the category of family.
"If I didn't have the people working here that I did, I know itwould not be as successful," Sanders said. "It's a great businesswith great people to work with, especially if you're a singlemom."
Kenny Crow, an Albany resident, has set up at the market forthree years. He calls Sanders his daughter.
"(Sanders) lost her father a few years ago, so I've kind oftaken his place in a way," Crow said with a reminiscent glow in hiseyes. "I'm old dad."
It's common to hear music from a guitar and banjo dance offfishing rods, race cars, furniture and candy dishes. The vendorssometimes play music together or with customers while they stationtheir booths every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"Have you ever gone into a store and not felt welcome?" Crowasked. "People sense the closeness, and it makes them feelcomfortable doing business with us."
Crow said he knows about half of his customers on a first namebasis.
Muncie resident Bill Reffitt said he likes coming to the marketjust to hear the music.
"I like watching these guys play," Reffitt said. "It makes itmore fun coming in here."
Vendor Barbara Burnett said she considers her co-workers asbrothers and sisters. In November, Sanders held a party in honor ofher 73rd birthday.
"I'm lucky to work in a place that treats one another so well,"Burnett said.
However, vendor Tony Bilbrey, who has worked in the industryclose to 30 years, said it's hard to trust co-workers in the fleamarket.
"A lot of them are out to just make a dollar, and they look outfor only themselves," Bilbrey said.
Sanders, who is an avid collector of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtleitems, said she doesn't allow her vendors to sell too much of thesame item because it can cause rivalry and competition.
"You have to treat everyone equally in order to run a goodbusiness," Sanders said.
Muncie resident Greg Otto said he's been coming to this marketfor four years.
"They have more of a variety than the other ones," he said."Plus they're willing to work with you on the prices. I likethat."
Bilbrey, who can be found singing and playing country or folkmusic in the market, said he feels like he's helping people whocan't always afford items at regular price. He sold between 75 and100 lawn mowers during the summer of 2003 alone.
"It makes me feel pretty good, especially when you're making alittle money," he said. Burnett said she and the family frequentlyhunt for items together.
Although the market at times hardly resembles a workenvironment, a silent conversation sometimes jumps back and forthoff of the vendors' eyes. This acknowledgement took place when aman who whistled to himself entered with a woman who was lookingfor jewelry. The woman was known for stealing jewelry from themarket while her partner would distract the marketers, Burnettsaid.
"We do have people in here that have stolen from us," vendorAudie Posey, who sells decorative swords among many items,said.
"I watch out for thieves," he said. "We all look out for eachother's things."
Sanders said she also likes to keep the market family oriented.There's a naked picture of Marilyn Monroe that she keeps coveredfrom the neck down.
"I like customers to feel welcome and comfortable when they comeinside," Sanders said. "We want them to feel part of the familytoo."
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