Mom said we need to simplify. She said we were going to collect all the stuff we don't use, and put it up for Grabs. So everyone in the family joined in, and had to get rid of their superfluous stuff. I went to my room and gathered many of my old toys that I've grown out of, some toys were broken and some games were missing parts, and I also gave up an old plastic cart on wheels. Mom found tons of clothes, kitchenware and then she remembered that last week she made us start eating healthier: Wholesome, organic food with real nutrients, and so she cleared the pantry shelves from the white rice, the white sugar, cocoa puffs and cornflakes – all for Grabs.

We have put everything on the sidewalk, and mother said that by morning it will be all gone.

I wondered who those Grabs were, and decided to watch for them from the living room window, sheltered by the curtain.

I didn't have to wait long when the first Grabs appeared. They looked very much like regular people, only they were wearing old and funny clothes and were scruffy looking, unshaven with long unkempt hair. They were 3 men and one women, and they made their way cheerfully and headed towards the array of stuff on the sidewalk. They started waving the different garments in the air, showing them to one another, and playfully trying them on. They were having fun with some of my toys and my wheel cart. Those grabs were so childlike. But when a jogger passed by, for a few seconds they kept still and pretended to be seriously inquiring into the pile. As soon as they were alone again, they went back to their mischievous demeanor. Finally, they took some clothes and merrily went away.

Next came two Grabs on bikes that looked Chinese. They were interested in some of the kitchen utensils, pots and pans. They laughed as they saw the unopened packs of rice and sugar. They didn't take them, nor did they take any of the other samples of processed food. Maybe they were also eating healthy food, maybe even organic, like we were doing as of last week.

It became almost midnight, as the next Grabs came. Although I was a bit tired, I watched them checking out the old manual coffee grinder, a big lampshade, a crooked chair… I guess they regarded them as collectible items and picked them up. After them came a woman who was walking her two dogs, apparently she was an artistic Grab – probably took stuff that she could use as material for her artsy projects.

Some young Grabs rolled by and were loud and a bit intoxicated. They looked very much like typical high school kids in their senior year. They took the rice and the cornflakes, opened the boxes and started throwing the contents at one another. They didn't leave until they made a huge mess.

After they left, came some rodent Grabs. They moved hesitantly, carefully sniffing the ground. They found the grains of rice and flakes and hungrily ate some right there on the spot, then, they also took what they could carry with them. They left some for the Grabs-ants that followed. The ants cleaned up the rest of the scattered food.

At that point I was so tired I fell asleep on the sofa. When I woke up in the morning I rushed to the window and looked outside. I saw that it was just like Mom had promised – everything was gone. Indeed the Grabs took it all.