.

She found a shilling

down the back of the sofa

and gambled it on a horse

called ‘Bonnie Bethany’

in the 5^th race at Carlisle.

.

It duly obliged at 5/1.

.

Her family gave

a collective WOOP

when she presented

a vinegar-lashed takeaway

fish and chip supper

accompanied by

lemonade for the kids

and a bottle of brown ale each

for herself and hubby.

.

For weeks on end,

they regaled each other

with exaggerated recollections

of the occasion

and as life unfolded,

her 5th child was born

nine months later

to the day.

.

The baby’s name?

Bonnie Bethany, of course.