Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – From Me!

November 21, 2006

Booby Prize

Carol Roach

Would you consider yourself to be a lucky person? Do you believe in luck?

My grandmother and I lived in poverty all the while I was growing up. Her life got better just a few short years before she died. When I was 17, I started to work and thus brought money into the household and when I was 20 my grandmother married for the second time and her husband took care of her until she died in 1981. She did not have many good years before she died, but at least she was happy. If you were to ask her if she was lucky she would automatically say no.

That is why she never bought lottery tickets or participated in drawings of any kind. She never believed she would win. However, I do remember once when I was a child, the corner restaurant was having a drawing for Christmas. The first prize was a 25 pound turkey and we needed it badly. My grandmother purchased a ticket when she found out that the restaurant owner was going to get me to pick the winning ticket. Surely I would have better luck than she did.

The day of the draw tension was mounting. I remember there were about 20 people in the store, well I am guessing 20 because I was only five at the time and I couldn’t count. “Ma tante”, the owner took me in her arms and carried me behind the counter to the big prize bowl, and she told me to mix up the tickets really well. I thought it was fun.

She told me to pick a ticket. She called out a name and a young boy yelled, “I won, I won,” and then she surprised me by telling me to pick out another ticket, and this time Ma tante was the happy one. She kissed me and said, “You won honey, you won a prize. Your grandmother is going to be so happy when she sees this.” I couldn’t wait to get home and show my grandmother the prize I won.

Unfortunately my grandmother was not happy when she saw it. I did not win the grand prize, the turkey. Instead I won the booby prize, a $2.00 custom jewelry golden necklace that turned green in about a week’s time; and thus started my legacy of always winning a minor prize but never the big one.

When I grew up, I won bottles of wine at the single parents dance, but never the cash grand prize. When my grandmother was still alive I used to go to bingo with her faithfully every week. She would occasionally win while I won but once. It just happened to be the same night that she won $200.00 and what did I win? I won on the $25.00 round and had to share it with a second winner – Again the booby prize. Still later, my boyfriend’s son Solomon and I worked for the same company. At the company end of year party, he won a trip to Florida, and well I, I won $30.00 in vouchers for the liquor commission. The irony of it all is that Solomon never took his trip and I don’t drink liquor – but at least I won the booby prize.

Am I lucky I ask myself? Sure I am; at least I always win the booby prize.

 Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill University.  She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in counselling psychology.  Carol Roach is a published writer and newsletter editor.  You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com.  You can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well.  Be sure to quote the isbn number: 1-4137-1921-X for local purchases:  Carol’s second book: Angels Watching Over is currently looking for a home. Stay tuned for details. 

If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will be glad to accommodate you.  Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.