When I was about 10 and my sister was 12, we both entered a competition run by Cadbury’s. We both completed the comp successfully enough to get some chocolate, but the top prizewinners’ names were then drawn out of a hat. She won. She was not better than me, just luckier.
The prize was a tennis racket, press, cover, balls. I wasn’t bothered about them, she was delighted. The prizes were presented in Birmingham, in a posh department store, including a four course lunch. Free first class rail travel for my sister and my mum. My Dad was away working, so my mum bought an extra second class train ticket and my sister and I travelled together in first class just behind the driver. My mum bought her own meal in the same restaurant and I sat with my sister for the posh meal.
So in a way my mum found a way to treat us both fairly, but not equally, as she did not buy me a tennis racket. It was a lovely day, and I applaud her thoughtfulness and unselfishness.
What a lovely memory from a very long time ago.
