Number 222

She held the ticket in her hand. The paper felt smooth. It was the kind of paper that wasn’t matte finished, but not glossy either. As she held the ticket in her right hand, she closed her eyes, took a deep cold breath into her lungs and opened the Front door with her left hand.

As she walked into the building there were chairs lined up at the back of the room. Before she could make her way to an empty chair an armed officer stopped her.

“Mam, Mam!” “You need to go through the metal detector first.”

Madison being startled by his deep authoritative voice looked to her left and saw the metal detector.

“Oh, I’m sorry about that.” She said with a nervous laughter.

The security guard said “That’s ok, it happens all of the time. Remove everything from your pockets and proceed through the detector.” Madison started to pat her pockets. All she had was a money clip that had her ID and a Debit card. She placed it in a small plastic basket all the while clenching the ticket in her right hand. Madison looked up at the guard with her dark brown eyes. He gave her the sweetest, genuine, smile she ever seen. The security guard said, “You can keep the ticket in your hand” He winked at her “Go on through the detector mam”

Madison smiled at him, walked through the detector, heard silence and then started to collect her items from the basket. She put her money clip in her back left pocket of her jeans.

“Hey, What is your name?” She asked the security guard. “Wiley, my name is Wiley mam” said the security guard. “You can call me Madison!” “Ok mam, I mean Madison.”

Madison winked at him and proceeded to leave the metal detector area. She liked his vibe. He was authoritative, commanded respect yet at the same time seemed like a cuddly teddy bear. She loved it when someone gave off this type of energy. It felt like home to her. She planned to come back for him, He was someone she wanted to keep around.

Madison found her an empty seat. It was next to an older lady with blonde-white curly hair. She was on Madison’s left and the chair on the right was empty.

“Are you excited?!” Asked the seasoned Woman. She asked this so loudly that Madison almost came out of her seat because she was startled.

“I just, I just can’t believe it…” Said Madison as she continued to hold the ticket firm, and tight in her right hand.

“Oh, you better believe it!” she said. “When I found out I didn’t tell a soul! You hear me. Not one soul knows I’m here today!”

Madison knew what this lady was going to ask her, if she told anyone where she was. The answer is obviously no. Not until she signed her name. Not until she could feel the glide of her pen on the line that would change her life forever.

“Did you tell anyone you are here?” asked the woman.

“Mam, What is your name?” Asked Madison

“Well, It’s Marly, What is your name child?”

“My name is Madison.”

“Madison, Did you tell anyone you are here?!”

“No” Said Madison .

“Smart girl! Smart, Smart Girl!” Said Marly .

“NOW CALLING NUMBER 221”

Startled again, Madison asked Marly what that was. “When they are ready to see you, they call your number” Said Marly . “Ugh!” Said Madison “I didn’t get a number!”

Looking defeated, she drove three and half hours today, she didn’t want to start over with waiting by getting a number now. Madison begrudgingly started to get out of her chair when she looked up and saw Wiley standing over her. “You forgot this” He said, with another, amazing, movie star wink.

It was the number 222. With relief, “Thank you,” Said Madison.

Madison watched Marly disappear behind a door. She wondered if Marly was going to come back out the way she came in or leave out of the back of the building? How does one get home after they sign their name on the line?

Nervous, excited, elated, scared, terrified, were only some of the emotions going through Madison’s mind. She could not believe she was literally sitting in the waiting room. With her ticket that was about to change her life. It was really happening. She prayed, and manifested this day. She knew it would come eventually. For it to finally be in her reality had her the most awe struck.

“NOW CALLING NUMBER 222”

Madison’s heart sank to her feet. “It’s happening, its literally happening” Madison Thought to herself. She rose out of her chair, straighten her shirt, and her jeans and proceeded to walk towards the mystery door. She looked back at Wiley. He smiled so big at her, she smiled back, Ticket in her right hand, and pushed the door open with her left.

Two women at big desks with paperwork in front of them that looked freshly printed. “Your Name?” Said one of the women. She was in her mid-forties; had curly hair and you could tell she knew how to get down to business. She was super serious and might have also been a little hangry.

“Your name…” Startled, “Madison.”

“Madison, please read and sign everywhere you see an x. If you have any questions, please let me know. Did you bring a lawyer?” “No, I did not.” Said Madison . The woman raised an eyebrow, “Let me know if you have any questions.”

As Madison proceeded to review the paperwork in front of her, she was not intimidated by what it said. She knew the process was pretty cut and dry and would get a Lawyer on the back side of things. Madison signed all the necessary areas of the paperwork. Now she could relax. Now she knew it was done, signed and contracted. Now, she knew her life was forever changed.

“Thank you” You can go with Jennifer now . Madison looked at her. “What is your name?” Eyebrow raised, “Vivian” “My name is Vivian” Madison smiled at her. “Nice to meet you Vivian!” It looked like Vivian was trying keep herself from smiling but eventually she broke her hard grimace and gave Madison a Smile.

“Congratulations” Whispered Jennifer as she escorted Madison to another room. Madison’s smile was at the 10th power now that she signed the papers “Thank you!” Said Madison . Madison walked into the second room. Jennifer following behind her.

“CONGRATUALTIONS!” Roared everyone in the room.

Madison could not stop smiling. Ear to ear and all teeth showing. You could have seen her smile from space. Today was the day her life changed forever. Today was the day she claimed her million dollar lottery winnings!