Money from heaven.

I don’t buy lottery tickets because it’s a waste of money. You never win, the odds are against you. But because I never buy a ticket I will never win, it’s a self fulfilling prophecy.

one Christmas my store manager where I worked threw a company Christmas party and everyone got an envelope with a lottery ticket enclosed. That was our Christmas gift from him. Because I didn’t believe in lottery tickets I put it aside and didn’t think about it. Christmas came and went and the day of the lottery also, but I wasn’t watching on T.V. and didn’t think about. I just went on with my life like normal. Other workers at the store commented that they didn’t win, but that there was a winning number and no one has claimed it yet. And that the $1.3 billion prize wasn’t claimed by anyone. Wow, big surprise!

New Years came, and I hadn’t cleaned up and put away the decorations yet, so I sucked it up and made that my chore for the day. Woohoo, welcome new year! I dismantled the fake tree, packaged up the ornaments and lights, and then all that was left was the fireplace mantle with the stockings dangling on it. Oh, and the forgotten envelope with the lottery ticket. I grunted. “Oh, what the hell. Just check it, maybe I’m the winner who has not come forward and claimed it yet”.

I tore it open, and looked at the ticket. A series of numbers that meant nothing to me. Now I had to find out what the winning numbers were. I had no idea where I would look. Maybe a friend at work would know.

My friend did know, and told me what to do. I did them, and OMG, my numbers matched, I was the winner. My hands started shaking, and I broke out in a sweat. “What do I do now?” I asked, and they told me and I did it. In a daze. The first thing I did was hide the ticket on my body. Then I pulled it out and photocopied it, then hid it again. My mind was going crazy, and I caught myself mumbling to myself. I looked at the clock on the wall, I still had time to get to the lottery office in time before they closed. I ran out of the house and got into my car and drove to the lottery office. I was laughing manically to my self, and chanting to herself “I’m rich, I’m rich”.

when I arrived, everyone in the office was there to meet me, as was a journalist and cameraman from the local news station. Before I knew it, I was being interviewed live on TV. The lottery people checked my ticket, then presented me with a check for $1.3 billion. Now what am I supposed to do? They gave me suggestions, and I went home in a daze.

The phone on the wall was ringing. I didn’t answer it. It stopped, then started ringing again. My head started hurting. I unplugged it. Next thing I did, was go online and look for an investment firm to handle my money. I’ve never had any money before, that kind of money. I wanted some spending money, maybe $ 1 million. The rest, in a conservative account that will protect the principle but still earn interest. I giggled. $1.3 billion is 1 thousand,300 million dollars. I could never spend that in my life.

First thing, I need to buy a house in Hawaii, on the beach. Oh, and I need a new car. Maybe a sailboat. Maybe a small yacht, and hire a crew to sail it for me. And with a fully stocked bar for when I’m out sailing. Oh,oh,oh, and a freezer full of steak, and prawns, and lobster. And I will need to hire a chef, and a maid. I stopped fantasizing just then when the doorbell started chiming, and I opened the front door. There was my long lost second cousin, smiling and arms out for a bear hug. “Bro, how are you? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I am in the area, and thought I would stop and say hi” he said. Oh no, now it starts. All my relatives with their hands out. I had to go into hiding.

After my cousin left with the promise of staying in contact, I checked into a hotel, the best one in town, and I got the best room. Then I treated myself to a steak dinner. Oh, now this is what it’s all about! Back in my room, I turned on the T.V. To watch a movie, but my attention was caught by a Viking Cruise advertisement of a luxuary river cruise through Europe . I always wanted to do that. And after that, an African safari to see all the wildlife on the Serengeti. Also on my bucket list- check.

Just then came a knock on my door. When I opened it, a beautiful young lady was standing there, a wonderful smile on her face. “Hi, I’m Candi, I recognised you when you checked in. I would like to meet you.can I come in? “ Did it flash through my mind that the only reason she came on to me was because of my money? Of course it did. Did I care? No. What was the use of money if it didn’t make beautiful women to come on to an ugly man like me. Have a super model for my girlfriend, also on my bucket list - check. My life was about to become a living fantasy.