Page 130 - Where the Dream Ends ebook
P. 130
Marc Erdrich
“You just had it a few minutes ago.”
Joey fumbled on the counter. “Here. What do you want it
for?”
Larry took the sheet of paper, looked at it and folded it
along the crease he had made when he first put it in his pocket.
He sharpened the crease with his nails, then turned the ticket
sideways ninety degrees and folded it in half again.
“What are you doing?” Joey asked.
“Origami,” Larry said.
“Origami!” Joey exclaimed. “You’re holding a billion dollar
lottery ticket and you’re going to make a toy hat with it?”
“Not exactly,” Larry said, continuing to fold the ticket into
smaller and smaller squares.
Joey watched silently, disgustedly, as Larry shaped the paper
into a tiny catamaran.
“You see this?” Larry asked. “Like Siamese twins joined at
the waist. They pull and pull and don’t get anywhere. They’re
stuck! He tugged at two corners of the paper tucked inside
each of the miniature boats and lifted them out.”
“Jesus, will you be careful with that!” Joey said nervously.
Once again, the piece of paper shrunk in size, until, with a
tug at the sides, the boat was transformed into a square box.
“Voila!” Larry said, handing it to Joey.
“Unbelievable,” Joey said, holding out his palm to receive
the gift. Inside the box, the winning numbers covered the base.
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