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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Family
- Published: 05/05/2021
The Big Winner!
Born 1944, F, from Melbourne, FL, United StatesThe Big Winner!
by
Valerie Allen
“Jinx has bird food! Jinx has bird food!” the parrot squawked in a shrill voice.
Adella walked through the living room into the kitchen and slipped her car keys into her pocket. Her mother, Emily, dressed in her favorite tropical Mu Mu, offered an embrace.
Adella gave her mother a brief kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Mom. Here's your mail.” She set several envelopes onto the counter top. “If you have anything to go to the post office I'll take it with me.”
Emily reached up to a shelf above the sink and handed a small bundle of odd-shaped envelopes to Adella. “Here
you go. Wish me luck!”
“Sure, best of luck with these.” Adella rolled her eyes and placed the envelopes into her handbag. “How are things going?” She eyed the parrot. "I see Jinx is a happy bird today.”
“Happy bird. Happy bird,” Jinx mimicked.
“I'm doing great,” Emily said. “I won birdseed of all things!” She patted her tightly-permed gray hair, and pushed a stray curl around her ear. “I don't even remember entering that contest but I must have and I'm sure glad I won. They send me a packet of birdseed every month. Now Jinx will have free food for an entire year! What a saving that's going to be for me.”
“Jinx has bird food! Jinx has bird food!” the parrot said and fluttered his colorful winds.
Adella put her hand to her forehead and rubbed her fingers back and forth. “Can we sit out on the porch?
I need a rest from that crazy bird before he gives me a headache.”
“He's not a crazy bird. He's a beautiful cockatoo; a yellow-crested cockatoo at that,” Emily said with pride.
“Crazy bird. Crazy bird,” the parrot chimed.
“He is beautiful, I'll give you that, but he's enough to make me go over the edge with that racket he makes.”
“I like it when he talks to me," Emily said. "He's my buddy and we talk to each other all day. He keeps me company.
“My buddy! My buddy!” the bird said.
Emily slid one finger into the birdcage and stroked his wing. “He's very intelligent. He learned to talk from his
ancestors in Australia.”
“Good to know he comes from such a fine pedigree,” Adella said and then let out a deep sigh.
“Learned to talk! Learned to talk,” the cockatoo said.
Adella and Emily walked out to the porch and each got comfortable in large wicker chairs.
“At least I'm glad you won something that will save you some money,” Adella said.
Emily shook her finger in the air. “See, I told you I'd win, if I kept playing long enough,” she said.
“Yes, you did and this time it worked out for you.”
“This time? It works out great for me every time I enter a contest. I can't believe how lucky I am. You can't get better than free,” Emily said.
Adella nodded. “Very true. So, besides the bird food, what have you won lately?”
“A year's supply of apples,” Emily said, grinning. “I get one dozen apples every month. They come from different
parts of the country. You know how I love apples.”
“I do. That was a lucky win for you,” Adella said.
Emily closed her eyes briefly and then opened them wide. “I remember when I was a kid, my brothers used to climb the neighbor's apple tree and throw the apples to the ground. Some would land with a splat. My job was to gather up the good ones, pull off the leaves, and wash the bugs away.”
“I bet you and your brothers ate your share as well,” Adella said.
“You bet,” Emily laughed. “I think that's why we were all so healthy as kids. You know that old saying, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away.' I think it really worked for us.”
Adella reached out and patted her mother's hand. “Well, I hope it keeps working.”
Emily leaned toward Adella. “Afraid my weight has gone up a bit. I keep getting those yummy desserts I won a few months ago. You can just smell the butter in those cupcakes and muffins. Even their healthy multi-grain loaves of bread are delicious. I enjoy every bite!”
Adella wagged her finger at her mother. “You know I don't approve of you entering all those contests you find in magazines and on television. Most of them are phony. Just give them time and they'll get their hands into your pocketbook one way or another.”
“Oh, you are so cynical! All of these contests are free. I don't pay for anything except tax, postage, shipping, and
handling. You can't expect them to pay for that.”
“Do you always get what you order? Maybe they just pocket the money you send and the tax, postage, shipping, and handling too and then conveniently forget to send what you ordered. Did you ever think of that?”
Emily ran her fingers down her cheek. “I have missed a few deliveries. I call them to follow up but Inever seem able to get through.”
“I'm sure after a while they'll ask for a donation or try to entice you to buy some other product or service. Worse, they probably sell your information to some of those other crooks so they can send you more 'special offers'.”
Emily glared at Adella. “Some of those special offers are things I need.”
“Need! I don't think you needed that vegetable peeler or the juice maker or the non-smudge eyeliner. "Mom, don't you see they're all rip-offs of one kind or another?”
“Maybe, but I did win six months of over-the-counter items from the drug store. The shampoo, conditioner, cotton balls—all that comes in handy and saves me lots of money.”
“Well, maybe that one was legit. I'm telling you, they're after your money one dime at a time. They take advantage
of older people, don't you see that?”
“No, I don't see that at all! It's only a little bit of money and sometimes it goes to a good cause.”
“How do you know that? You can't trust these people to turn over that money. Who knows who they really are.”
A shade of pink rose in Emily's cheeks. “Listen here, young lady. I may live on a fixed income, but I'm frugal. I don't waste a penny. It's my money and I know what I'm doing with it!”
Adella raised her hands, palms out. “Okay, okay. I just hope you don't win an orangutan or a lifetime supply of wooden pencils any time soon.”
* * *
“So how was the visit with your mom,” Chad asked.
“All things are good,” Adella said.
“How's she doing with her contest winnings?”
“Great! She won that housekeeping service and the gal from 'Mindy's Maids' shows up on the third Saturday of each month. They get along really well and soon they'll both be in better health, sharing all those apples with each other.”
“Apples?”
“Yes. Mom just won a year's supply of apples from the 'Organic Apple Orchard' and of course, there are plenty of
sweet cakes to go around as well.”
“She's still getting 'Dana's Dream Desserts' every month? Next, she'll be calling you about all the weight she's gained, her high cholesterol, her toothache, and signs of indigestion.”
“Not to worry. In that case, I'm sure her next monthly winnings from the 'Pharma-Care Drug Store' will have a
toothbrush and some anti-acid tablets.”
“Sounds like she is one lucky gal,” Chad said and winked at his wife.
“Oh yes, and she gets luckier all the time. She has food deliveries that show up every Friday with enough food for the entire week.”
Chad nodded. “You know, aside from all the stuff she gets, it's good for her to have some human contact with all those delivery folks.”
“Absolutely. She'd just sit in that house alone, talk to that stupid bird, fill out contest coupons all day, and call me to come over so we can argue about it.”
“She better not hear you talk about her bird buddy like that,” he said. “What do you think she'll win next?”
“Underwear.”
“Underwear?”
“Yep, that's something she could use. Maybe I'll set up delivery for the next three weeks or so. I'm not sure yet. I'll go through her mail and see which contests she's entered. If it's something I think she can use, I'll buy it and have it mailed to her. Of course, I always include a card in each package that says, 'Congratulations to The Big Winner!'”
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read
The Big Winner!
If you enjoyed it,
please consider telling your friends
and posting a review on
Amazon.com and other online sites.
Word-of-mouth referrals are
an author's best friend
and much appreciated.
~ ~ ~
About the Author
Valerie Allen, psychologist and author, writes fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and children's books. Her articles
about mental health and parenting have been published nationwide. She has taught students in elementary through post-graduate studies at various colleges and universities.
She lives in warm and sunny Florida where she enjoys fun with family and friends. She's all about good health and
fitness activities. Also to her credit, she has learned many things about life and love while raising her six children!
~ ~ ~
The Big Winner!
by
Valerie Allen
Copyright by Valerie Allen 2020
Amazon.com/dp/B0875Y7QFR
All rights reserved
For More Information, please contact:
Valerie Allen
VAllenWriter@gmail.com
ValerieAllenWriter.com
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is entirely coincidental. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author.
~ ~ ~
Short Stories
by
Valerie Allen
A Good Thing on a Bad Day
A License to Practice
A Marriage of Convenience
A Mother's Love
A Tooth for a Tooth
A True Miracle
Ad Hoc Committee
Best Wishes
Brotherly Love
Conditional Love
Doggie Tales
Father's Day
Fire Engine Red
Fireworks on the 4th
First Love
Fit for Life
Future Plans
Holiday House Rules
Holiday Traditions
Home for the Holidays
I Remember Momma
Just Be Cos
Ladies in Waiting
Leisureville
Love is in the Air
Match-maker
Mother Knows Best
No Goin' Home
Potty Talk
Puppy Love
Queen for a Day
Second Chance
Small Steps
Split Second Timing
Thank You! Mr. Jackson
The Big Winner!
The Garden of Love
The Lonely Life of Amanda Miller
The Penalty Box
Valentine's Day
Visiting Day
Words of Wisdom
~ ~ ~
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
The Big Winner!(Valerie Allen)
The Big Winner!
by
Valerie Allen
“Jinx has bird food! Jinx has bird food!” the parrot squawked in a shrill voice.
Adella walked through the living room into the kitchen and slipped her car keys into her pocket. Her mother, Emily, dressed in her favorite tropical Mu Mu, offered an embrace.
Adella gave her mother a brief kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Mom. Here's your mail.” She set several envelopes onto the counter top. “If you have anything to go to the post office I'll take it with me.”
Emily reached up to a shelf above the sink and handed a small bundle of odd-shaped envelopes to Adella. “Here
you go. Wish me luck!”
“Sure, best of luck with these.” Adella rolled her eyes and placed the envelopes into her handbag. “How are things going?” She eyed the parrot. "I see Jinx is a happy bird today.”
“Happy bird. Happy bird,” Jinx mimicked.
“I'm doing great,” Emily said. “I won birdseed of all things!” She patted her tightly-permed gray hair, and pushed a stray curl around her ear. “I don't even remember entering that contest but I must have and I'm sure glad I won. They send me a packet of birdseed every month. Now Jinx will have free food for an entire year! What a saving that's going to be for me.”
“Jinx has bird food! Jinx has bird food!” the parrot said and fluttered his colorful winds.
Adella put her hand to her forehead and rubbed her fingers back and forth. “Can we sit out on the porch?
I need a rest from that crazy bird before he gives me a headache.”
“He's not a crazy bird. He's a beautiful cockatoo; a yellow-crested cockatoo at that,” Emily said with pride.
“Crazy bird. Crazy bird,” the parrot chimed.
“He is beautiful, I'll give you that, but he's enough to make me go over the edge with that racket he makes.”
“I like it when he talks to me," Emily said. "He's my buddy and we talk to each other all day. He keeps me company.
“My buddy! My buddy!” the bird said.
Emily slid one finger into the birdcage and stroked his wing. “He's very intelligent. He learned to talk from his
ancestors in Australia.”
“Good to know he comes from such a fine pedigree,” Adella said and then let out a deep sigh.
“Learned to talk! Learned to talk,” the cockatoo said.
Adella and Emily walked out to the porch and each got comfortable in large wicker chairs.
“At least I'm glad you won something that will save you some money,” Adella said.
Emily shook her finger in the air. “See, I told you I'd win, if I kept playing long enough,” she said.
“Yes, you did and this time it worked out for you.”
“This time? It works out great for me every time I enter a contest. I can't believe how lucky I am. You can't get better than free,” Emily said.
Adella nodded. “Very true. So, besides the bird food, what have you won lately?”
“A year's supply of apples,” Emily said, grinning. “I get one dozen apples every month. They come from different
parts of the country. You know how I love apples.”
“I do. That was a lucky win for you,” Adella said.
Emily closed her eyes briefly and then opened them wide. “I remember when I was a kid, my brothers used to climb the neighbor's apple tree and throw the apples to the ground. Some would land with a splat. My job was to gather up the good ones, pull off the leaves, and wash the bugs away.”
“I bet you and your brothers ate your share as well,” Adella said.
“You bet,” Emily laughed. “I think that's why we were all so healthy as kids. You know that old saying, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away.' I think it really worked for us.”
Adella reached out and patted her mother's hand. “Well, I hope it keeps working.”
Emily leaned toward Adella. “Afraid my weight has gone up a bit. I keep getting those yummy desserts I won a few months ago. You can just smell the butter in those cupcakes and muffins. Even their healthy multi-grain loaves of bread are delicious. I enjoy every bite!”
Adella wagged her finger at her mother. “You know I don't approve of you entering all those contests you find in magazines and on television. Most of them are phony. Just give them time and they'll get their hands into your pocketbook one way or another.”
“Oh, you are so cynical! All of these contests are free. I don't pay for anything except tax, postage, shipping, and
handling. You can't expect them to pay for that.”
“Do you always get what you order? Maybe they just pocket the money you send and the tax, postage, shipping, and handling too and then conveniently forget to send what you ordered. Did you ever think of that?”
Emily ran her fingers down her cheek. “I have missed a few deliveries. I call them to follow up but Inever seem able to get through.”
“I'm sure after a while they'll ask for a donation or try to entice you to buy some other product or service. Worse, they probably sell your information to some of those other crooks so they can send you more 'special offers'.”
Emily glared at Adella. “Some of those special offers are things I need.”
“Need! I don't think you needed that vegetable peeler or the juice maker or the non-smudge eyeliner. "Mom, don't you see they're all rip-offs of one kind or another?”
“Maybe, but I did win six months of over-the-counter items from the drug store. The shampoo, conditioner, cotton balls—all that comes in handy and saves me lots of money.”
“Well, maybe that one was legit. I'm telling you, they're after your money one dime at a time. They take advantage
of older people, don't you see that?”
“No, I don't see that at all! It's only a little bit of money and sometimes it goes to a good cause.”
“How do you know that? You can't trust these people to turn over that money. Who knows who they really are.”
A shade of pink rose in Emily's cheeks. “Listen here, young lady. I may live on a fixed income, but I'm frugal. I don't waste a penny. It's my money and I know what I'm doing with it!”
Adella raised her hands, palms out. “Okay, okay. I just hope you don't win an orangutan or a lifetime supply of wooden pencils any time soon.”
* * *
“So how was the visit with your mom,” Chad asked.
“All things are good,” Adella said.
“How's she doing with her contest winnings?”
“Great! She won that housekeeping service and the gal from 'Mindy's Maids' shows up on the third Saturday of each month. They get along really well and soon they'll both be in better health, sharing all those apples with each other.”
“Apples?”
“Yes. Mom just won a year's supply of apples from the 'Organic Apple Orchard' and of course, there are plenty of
sweet cakes to go around as well.”
“She's still getting 'Dana's Dream Desserts' every month? Next, she'll be calling you about all the weight she's gained, her high cholesterol, her toothache, and signs of indigestion.”
“Not to worry. In that case, I'm sure her next monthly winnings from the 'Pharma-Care Drug Store' will have a
toothbrush and some anti-acid tablets.”
“Sounds like she is one lucky gal,” Chad said and winked at his wife.
“Oh yes, and she gets luckier all the time. She has food deliveries that show up every Friday with enough food for the entire week.”
Chad nodded. “You know, aside from all the stuff she gets, it's good for her to have some human contact with all those delivery folks.”
“Absolutely. She'd just sit in that house alone, talk to that stupid bird, fill out contest coupons all day, and call me to come over so we can argue about it.”
“She better not hear you talk about her bird buddy like that,” he said. “What do you think she'll win next?”
“Underwear.”
“Underwear?”
“Yep, that's something she could use. Maybe I'll set up delivery for the next three weeks or so. I'm not sure yet. I'll go through her mail and see which contests she's entered. If it's something I think she can use, I'll buy it and have it mailed to her. Of course, I always include a card in each package that says, 'Congratulations to The Big Winner!'”
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read
The Big Winner!
If you enjoyed it,
please consider telling your friends
and posting a review on
Amazon.com and other online sites.
Word-of-mouth referrals are
an author's best friend
and much appreciated.
~ ~ ~
About the Author
Valerie Allen, psychologist and author, writes fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and children's books. Her articles
about mental health and parenting have been published nationwide. She has taught students in elementary through post-graduate studies at various colleges and universities.
She lives in warm and sunny Florida where she enjoys fun with family and friends. She's all about good health and
fitness activities. Also to her credit, she has learned many things about life and love while raising her six children!
~ ~ ~
The Big Winner!
by
Valerie Allen
Copyright by Valerie Allen 2020
Amazon.com/dp/B0875Y7QFR
All rights reserved
For More Information, please contact:
Valerie Allen
VAllenWriter@gmail.com
ValerieAllenWriter.com
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is entirely coincidental. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author.
~ ~ ~
Short Stories
by
Valerie Allen
A Good Thing on a Bad Day
A License to Practice
A Marriage of Convenience
A Mother's Love
A Tooth for a Tooth
A True Miracle
Ad Hoc Committee
Best Wishes
Brotherly Love
Conditional Love
Doggie Tales
Father's Day
Fire Engine Red
Fireworks on the 4th
First Love
Fit for Life
Future Plans
Holiday House Rules
Holiday Traditions
Home for the Holidays
I Remember Momma
Just Be Cos
Ladies in Waiting
Leisureville
Love is in the Air
Match-maker
Mother Knows Best
No Goin' Home
Potty Talk
Puppy Love
Queen for a Day
Second Chance
Small Steps
Split Second Timing
Thank You! Mr. Jackson
The Big Winner!
The Garden of Love
The Lonely Life of Amanda Miller
The Penalty Box
Valentine's Day
Visiting Day
Words of Wisdom
~ ~ ~
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
- Share this story on
- 7
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Valerie Allen
07/15/2022Marla - thank you for reading my stories and offering comments. This situation often comes about as parents age and the role between parent and child becomes reversed. This mom is truly loved even if she is a little confused!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
01/12/2022What a heartwarming story! All mothers should have a daughter like that! I didn't even see the ending coming. Thank you for sharing that wonder story!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Valerie Allen
01/13/2022Thank you Lillian - so happy you enjoy my stories. This one justified being a little sneaky for the benefit of a good outcome!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
JD
05/09/2021Oh my.... here I was wondering how in the world anyone could be so lucky as to win so many useful things! Then, in your last line, you made it all make perfect sense. What a special daughter! Thanks for sharing another great story, Valerie. Happy short story STAR of the day! :-)
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
JD
05/10/2021Definitely a 'different take' on the idea. And a wonderful example of a way in which adult kids can help their parents without taking away their independence. Nicely done. Thanks Valerie! : )
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Valerie Allen
05/10/2021JD - thanks for reading and commenting on my stories. Always delighted to find one of them highlighted as story of the day on StoryStar. Thought this would be a different take on the idea of Mother's Day. There are many ways for children to show and share the love ~
COMMENTS (4)