Lost and NoT Found

Patrick walked into the 7 to 11 Convenience store as he always did on Friday. He walked to the lottery display and quietly completed his card entries. He chose three plays for the Friday Mega Million drawing and five plays for the Saturday Powerball drawing. As usual he plays the same numbers. He has the numbers written in his "Little Black Book" with other important numbers and messages. This notebook is always on his person and and his numbers always in his possession.

He completes the entries and walks to the cashier to pay for his plays, sixteen dollars every Friday for as long as he could remember. His only winners were an occasional $4.00 or $10.00. Once many years before he hit for $200.00 but never since more $10.00.

He always copies the same numbers from his little notebook but cannot remember how, why or when he chose those numbers but always considered them lucky. This Friday pot was $20 million. His mind always wondered how he would spend his jackpot. How much would he have after taxes. The thoughts and ideas were pleasant and exciting. What a great dream.

He paid, received his tickets and tucked them into the back of his little notebook as he always did then left the store and thoughts behind and went about his life as usual. It wasn't until sometime on Sunday he though about the lottery and decided to check his numbers. He googled the winning numbers and almost closed the browser when he realized the numbers seemed familiar. He double checked and couldn't believe what he saw. The Mega Million winning numbers were his numbers but he had to check to be sure.

Is this for real, Twenty thousand dollars. He was in shock. Oh my God, I think I won. He reached for his little black book to check the numbers but didn't have it. Must have left it in the car. He checked but no notebook. He suddenly and quietly panicked. No worries, I'm sure I have it. But he didn't. He frantically looked around and tried to remember where he put the notebook.

After checking every possible place he tried to retrace his steps on Friday after buying the tickets. Suddenly his subconscious took over and he vaguely remembered placing his notebook on the counter to make another purchase. An impulse purchase of a candy bar He left the store eating the candy and went home. He couldn't have left the book. He never would the notebook was too important, his constant companion.

He raced back to the store. The clerk on duty was someone he didn't recognize, someone new, someone who didn't know him. He asked the lady about his book. Had anyone turned it in? Where was the regular clerk, Jack, who was always there and who knew Patrick as a regular customer. The new clerk said Jack no longer worked there. He quit suddenly and she didn't know where he was. There was no notebook in the lost and found, black or otherwise.

Jack left the store but decided not to panic. He was sure he would find his little notebook and the tickets, the winning ticket. There must be a simple reason he mused and reassured himself as he returned home. He checked his car again, his coat pocket and his apartment. Where could he possibly have placed his tickets. He always kept them until he checked them then tossed the losers.

After a frantic check and self searching his mind over and over he knew he had left the notebook at the store and had to find Jack. Jack was his answer. Why had he quit so suddenly. He worked there for years and was always there. I'm sure he would remember my buying the tickets as I did every Friday. the same purchase, the same numbers, the same routine but this this time was different. He was a winner. He panicked again Where was Jack. Where were his tickets. The answer came to him suddenly. He left the notebook with the tickets. Jack must have found it. The ticket was a winner. Jack was missing.

The store wouldn't give out any information about Jack except his last name. Smith. Jack Smith. No telephone, no address. A common name. Am I sure my ticket was the winner? I know. I'm sure. Oh my God. What have I done? What do I do? Where is Jack? I'll call the lottery office. How do I prove I'm the winner? I don't have the ticket but it's mine. I bought it. The lottery office was closed until Monday. I'll call first thing.

After reaching the lottery office at 10:30 Monday morning a clerk said the winner as just here and collected the jackpot. In this state the winner can remain anonymous. I'm sure you are mistaken. Without the ticket you have no proof. Without my little black book.