Thanks for the Xmas gifts; Ann texted her mom on December 26th. It was a lie. There was only one gift: a talking stuffed animal. Ann had to show her daughter, Cara, how to gouge deeply enough to trigger the voice box device. “I love you, too!” it said.

“Is it a bear?” Cara had asked. 

“No idea,” said Ann, gathering the wrapping paper her mother used every year. She put the stuffie in the pile for Goodwill. 

Three hours after Ann and Cara had completed the curbside donation drop off, returned a dress from Cara’s dad that was too big, and put the Christmas tree on the sidewalk, Deb texted back. You’re welcome. I bet you liked the $$$!

Ann paused, thinking. The bear in a box was addressed to Cara. No note, packing peanuts, or other gifts. 

Mom, what do you mean?’

I put a check inside the bear. It should help you out. Merry Christmas!

With little thought, she and Cara were on their way back to the Goodwill.

“What are we doing again?”

“Bear rescue.”

Inside the vast store, Ann pleaded with a stone-faced cashier to go into the stockroom ‘real quick’ to look for the bear. Permission was granted with a shrug. 

“We close in five,” said the stockroom boss. Employees organized boxes. Ann nodded. 

She and Cara scanned the shelves, trying to remember the bear’s color and size. Goddammit, Mom, she thought. Why?

“Excuse me,” Ann asked, “could I, maybe take, like, five stuffed animals right now? I’m willing to pay much more than what you’d sell them for-”

“How do you know?” 

Ann smiled in a flirtatious way Deb had never done. “I mean, you have no price higher than $4.99, so…” He was motionless. “I’ll pay $50 for five. My choice.” 

The man squinted. “Check with my manager up front. Crystal.” 

Bag in hand, Ann promised Crystal a Starbucks the next time she was downtown. 

“Ima hold you to that, girl. And better yet, split that check with me!” Crystal howled as Ann waved in thanks. 

At home, Cara lined up the bears. 

“You understand, we might not find the prize from Grandma, right?”

“I know.” 

Ann took the bear she had become certain was the right one.

Ann slowly unzipped the toy. She guided her right hand toward the center. At first, nothing, but then her thumb felt a soft paper jab. She gasped. Deb had actually not let her down. 

“You got it, Mommy!” 

Ann handed the folded check to Cara, who opened it and pressed a small pointer finger along its length. “Five dollars?”

Ann frowned. “Let me see,” she knew her daughter couldn’t read numbers into the thousands.

But no, it was written clearly: Five and no 00/100 in the exact same way Deb had once taught Ann. “Spending is quick but earning is slow,” was Deb’s advice. ‘Same old,’ Ann thought bitterly. 

“Yep, five bucks.”

“Wow, Mommy, we’re rich!”

Ann pulled Cara close. “We sure are, baby.”