Not A Winner

At a spot where a traffic light caught us this past Sunday, I could see that Mom was somehow entranced by the Jeep in front of us. Finally she said excitedly, "Look at that license plate!"

It read EMC 0491. "Ella Mae Cosgriff, oh-four-nine-one!" she said proudly. 

"That's cool," I agreed.

After a thoughtful moment she opined, "We oughta play those numbers." Michigan has a daily lottery which has a four digit playing option. I dutifully found a gas station and played 0491.

4404 came in. But even if she would never have remembered, I'd have felt awful if her numbers had come in and I hadn't played. It was only a buck, and it gave her a minute's thrill regardless.