Congratulations You Won the Drawing

When we were young and pregnant we were poor. My husband had three jobs, and I was trying to conserve money. He wanted me to buy some maternity clothes from a store. I refused. Store-bought clothes are too expensive! He insisted, but the clothes seemed way overpriced. We went to a maternity shop and I was horrified at the prices. He picked out some things and begged me to try them on. I reluctantly bought two whole outfits, feeling guilty. About two weeks later the shop lady called us. “Congratulations!” She said. “You won the drawing.” I vaguely remembered her begging me to enter the drawing. I had won a baby bath; I thanked her and said I would come pick it up. “Oh, honey, you cannot pick it up,” she told me. “You have won a top-of-the-line brand new maple baby bed; a crib.” I thought she had said “baby bath.” I was stunned. Knowing now why she insisted I enter the drawing. This was almost fifty years ago, and I have never forgotten this kindness.