Winners

We go to Story Time at the library every week.  Angie enjoys some stories, games and music while I chase Maddie around the library, exhorting her to whisper.  She hasn't learned what that means yet.  And at the end of Story Time, we dutifully put our names on a little slip of paper, fold it in half and stuff it into the already stuffed contest box. 

"Mommy, why are we doing this?  Why do we write my name every time?" Angie asked one week.

"Well, it's a contest.  After a while, they'll reach into the box and pull out one of these little slips of paper.  They'll open it up and see whose name is on it and that person will win tickets to see an ice skating show, " I explained.

"Oh.  That's nice, isn't it?" she responds.

"Yes, it is.  But we probably won't win, because there are a lot of papers in there," I said, trying to temper any dreams she might be entertaining.  Of course, she really didn't understand what the prize was, but that was ok.

Yesterday, the phone rang.  I usually don't dash to answer the phone, but I was expecting Miguel to call.  When I looked at the caller ID, it said, "Township of W. O".  Huh, I thought as I pressed the talk button.  I wonder what this could be.  I was startled when a woman spoke, not a recorded message. 

"Hi, this is Faith from the West Orange Library.  Is this Angelyn's mom?" 

"Hi Faith!" I enthused, for Miss Faith is our Story Time leader and we like her alot.  "Yes, this is Beckie."

"I'm just calling to tell you that we had the drawing for the contest and Angelyn won.  If you're coming in tomorrow for Story Time, you can pick up the tickets then."

"You're kidding!" I exclaimed.  We don't win things around here.  Not usually.  "That's so great!  Yes, we'll be in tomorrow to pick them up!  Thank you so much!"  She probably thought I was partly insane, I was so excited.

But today, we came home with passes to see Disney on Ice at the IZOD Center the week of Thanksgiving.  We're going to make a day of it!