Pulling the armchair closer to the fire, Nora Murphy poked the dying embers in the grate. She switched off the television. The old grandfather clock ticked quietly on the mantlepiece. Resting beside the clock lay the anniversary card, slowly gathering dust.

Fr. McSweeney had signed the mass card. That was over a week ago. Outside, the angry wind howled, whistled and moaned, sending cold shivers down Nora's curved, arthritic spine. The house was so empty without Jack. Why did God have to call him, just one week before Christmas last year! He was such a strong, fun-loving man for his age. She took the rosary beads from her apron pocket, and offered a decade of the rosary for Jack.

Closing her eyes she thought of her sons, Finbarr, Declan and Garry. They were all so busy working in Canada and England that they wouldn't be home for Christmas. Then there was Nora's only daughter, Ann. She was training hard to become a nurse in London. She missed them all so much. My goodness, the house used to be so full and lively when they were there, and that only seemed like yesterday. Declan, Nora's eldest, had asked his mother many times to visit Canada. Canada! My God, such a long way away!

She did promise to go some day. Nora had never been in an aeroplane. She couldn't imagine herself flying high about those huge white clouds, in that vast deep blue expanse. Scary. Was heaven really out there - somewhere, she wondered. If it was, then Jack had to be there.

Nora got up and went into the kitchen to make a warm cup of cocoa, then she went to bed. Moll Cleary, her next door neighbour, had asked Nora to go to bingo on Friday. Bingo! That was the last thing on her mind right now. The following morning, Friday, Moll had been knocking on the door for ages, before Nora eventually answered. 'Sorry Moll. I didn't hear ye with the radio' said Nora, brushing sticky toast crumbs off her cardigan. She had fallen asleep in the dining room, but wouldn't dream of telling that to Moll. Nora hadn't slept well, and she was still trying to get rid of her head cold. 'God you look shattered Nora. You look like someone that was on the bottle all night' said Moll teasingly. Nora was not amused. There followed a short silence. Moll was a good, kind neighbour, and she had been very understanding to Nora since Jack died. But sometimes she could be a nuisance, and Nora wasn't always in form for her company.

'Wasn't it a terrible night Moll. Did ye hear the rain?' Nora said, changing the subject.
Moll stared at Nora amusingly and said, 'Course I did. I got up in the middle of the night, and put the small statue of the Infant de Prague on the windowsill. And I declare to God - didn't the wind die down, and the rain stop.' Nora glanced disbelievingly at her neighbour. She said nothing. Moll was as active and as restless as a kitten. She was very lively for her seventy years. Nora was just two years younger than her.

'Listen,' Moll said firmly. 'Are ye goin' to Bingo tonight?' Nora took a deep breath and sighed. Moll continued: 'The jackpot's £3,000. Now wouldn't that be a nice Christmas present? Can ye imagine having that much to spend. What time will I call for you?'
Nora hesitated. Moll waited eagerly for her to answer. Nora was in no mood for bingo, but Moll was so persistent. There followed another awkward silence. Nora hadn't been to bingo since Jack died. Every week Moll would ask her was she going to go. Nora always refused. Jack and herself used to play bingo most Friday nights. Going to the parish hall would only bring back those sad, painful memories.

Moll, like Nora, was also a widow. Moll's late husband was a chronic alcoholic, and Moll went through some very difficult times trying to raise her family. All of Moll's children had emigrated as well. 'Well - are ye comin' or hot?' Moll finally asked. Smacking her thin lips tightly, Nora rubbed her chin. Perhaps I should for Jack's sake she thought. After all, Jack did like bingo. Maybe he might bring me some luck. 'Ok so Moll, I'll go' Nora said smiling.

'Good! I'll call for you at half seven' said Moll, patting Nora on the shoulder. With that Moll rushed across the street to another neighbour that she had spotted coming out of her house. Nora closed the door gently after Moll. 'Yes I'll go to bingo' she mused. 'I suppose 'tis better than staying at home in an empty house. 'Jack' she called, 'you can come too my love.'

The parish community hall was packed to capacity. Thick clouds of cigarette smoke sailed across the big room. These were the days (in the early seventies) before legislation was introduced to stop smoking in public places. People were coughing, cackling, and shuffling about in their seats. There was an air of positive excitement and expectation throughout the hall. Nora's eyes began to water, and her nose was all blocked up. She still hadn't gotten over her cold. She felt like going home at one stage, but she wouldn't do that to Moll. Finally, at eight o'clock, once everyone had settled down, bingo began. Nora was greatly relieved. Initially Nora and Moll didn't have any luck with the first few games.

When it came to the Jackpot, Nora paid great attention to her numbers. She was doing very well. She had only three numbers to go for full house. Then two. Then it was down to just one number...Number 8. She grew fierce excited. That was Jack's favourite number. What a very strange coincidence! Nora's heart began to flutter and pound wildly. Gripping Moll's arm tightly, she squeezed it firmly, Number six was called. 'Oh Sacred Heart 'a Jesus, one number. That's all I need Moll for full house. My God £3,000. Jack! Jack where are ye boy? Make them call my number. Please!'

Nora mouthed the prayer in desperation. She blessed herself several times and looked up at the ceiling. 'Come on. Come on number 8' she cried.

Then came the awful disappointment. Someone at the back of the hall shouted 'CHECK' for number twelve. Nora couldn't believe her bad luck. It was all over. Moll and Nora left the hall before the last game. Nora couldn't wait to get home. She cursed Moll for making her go to bingo. 'That's it. No more bingo for me' she cried inwardly.

Outside the hall Moll turned to her and said, 'God that's awful Nora. You were so close. Don't worry. There's always another time. Sure I suppose money isn't everything.' Nora didn't respond.

When Nora woke the following morning, she had a desperate headache. The stuffy atmosphere of the hall had left her feeling miserable. She stayed in bed until lunchtime.
In the kitchen she made herself a cup of tea, and sat down wearily beside the cooker. Looking at the calendar on the wall, she knew what date it was - what day it was - December 20th, Jack's first anniversary. A small tear trickled slowly down her left cheek. She wiped it slowly with the back of her hand.

All the horrible, sad memories of the hospital, the funeral home, and the graveside flooded into her head. She got up and decided to go into the village to mass first, and then to buy a few things for the house. There would be no Christmas presents this year. She hoped Moll wouldn't call, she was in no mood for her company. She was in no mood for anyone or anything. Then she heard a sharp knock on the front door. Voices! Happy cheerful voices! Who could it be?

When she opened the door she got the surprise, the shock of her life. There, standing before her was Declan, Finbarr and Gary and Ann too. Nora was so dumbfounded initially she couldn't speak:
'Oh my God...I…I don't believe this' she gasped. The disappointment at bingo the night before was a thing of the past. Right now she had the love and company of her family. No money could buy that happiness.