Page 131 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

The Billion Dollar Lottery

“So what do you think Joey, is it empty or full?”

“Looks full to me,” Joey said, staring at the numbers.

“Figures,” Larry said, taking the box from Joey and turning
it upside down.

For a third time, Larry began to manipulate the tiny piece

of paper. He folded it in half backwards and carefully pulled
the edges out from the bottom. The box did not give up its
shape easily.
“Dammit! You’re going to rip it,” Joey said.

The paper finally yielded, and when Larry turned it over it
had taken on an entirely new shape.

“What is it?” Joey asked.

“Hold on, don’t be so impatient,” Larry said. He reached
into the object and freed the two corners that previously were
tucked inside the catamaran, and folded them to create a can-
opy over what was obviously another kind of boat. He held it
in the palm of his hand for Joey to see.

“A Chinese junk,” he said. “It actually floats.”

“Let’s not try it,” Joey said, looking genuinely impressed.
“Now what?”

“Now nothing,” Larry said, rocking the junk gently in his
hand. “You know, when I was a kid, there was a couple that
lived on a junk out in Pelham Bay, near the Whitestone Bridge.”

“So?”

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