Page 111 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

The Billion Dollar Lottery

They both laughed.

“I can see it now,” Larry said. “In about two weeks, they’d
have to call an ambulance to have you carted away.” He turned
to look at his friend. “Let’s face it Joey, any amount of money
would destroy you.”

“Yeah, I guess it would,” his friend said wistfully, resting
his elbow on the counter and leaning his head into his fist. “So
what would you do?” he asked Larry. “I suppose you didn’t
buy a ticket? You wouldn’t have any idea what to do with all
that money.”

“As a matter of fact,” Larry said, “I did buy one. It’s the very
first lottery ticket I ever bought. The checkout woman at the
market goaded me into it.”

“I’ll bet it took a lot of convincing,” Joey said, laughing at
his own joke. Larry shook his head in mock disgust. “So,” Joey
paused, “how’d you do?” He held out his hand questioningly.

“I don’t know. I haven’t looked,” Larry said. “In fact, until
you arrived I completely forgot about it.”

“Where is it?” Joey asked. He was suddenly anxious, disbe-
lieving.

I think it’s in here,” Larry said, digging into his pockets and
pulling out his wallet, a stack of papers, and a few bills. “And
calm down,” he said, sensing Joey’s agitation. “You don’t have
to worry. I’m not the winner.”

“How do you know?” Joey asked, incredulous. “Somebody
has to win.”

“Joey, what are the odds? About a billion to one, I’d say.”

109