Lotto Dreams

Millie lived in the poorest area of Logan, W Virginia. A rural town with a population of around 1700. Millie worked at the Little General Store. She was a plain looking woman. Dishwater color, thin blond hair. She was thin to the point of being gaunt. Never married and pushing 53, if she was a day. She lived in a four-room shack that someone in her family had built back in the day. It was drafty, worn down, and not worthy to be a dog’s house, but here is where she lived. There was a small living room, a kitchen, and two small bedrooms when it had been originally built. At that time there wasn’t even running water, electricity, or even a bathroom; but over the years one of the bedrooms was converted into a bathroom with running water and electricity added throughout the house. All 850 square feet.

Life was simple, not because it was what she wanted but what she could afford. She often worked the customer service counter, where they sold the lottery tickets. Every time there was a drawing Millie thought about how great it would be to have even a small portion of those giant jackpots. But that is all it would ever be, a fantasy.

She was already close to $20K in the hole between a credit card and that broken-down piece of crap that she drove. Hell, she felt as if death would be her best option to escape the crushing feeling that permeated every aspect of her life. She couldn’t even answer her phone without fear that it would be yet another debt collector on the other end of the line.

There was a man who came into the store on a regular basis to the store. He often purchased lotto tickets from Millie. He always said to her when she handed him his tickets- “When I win this one I’m giving you a big old tip.”

Millie would just laugh, in that horse laugh of hers and would say, “I hope you win Cecile. You’re due for some good things to happen to ya.”

“So do you, my girl.” And off he would go until the next drawing.

This went on for years. Cecile would come in, say the same old tired lines; they would have the same old tired conversation, and he would leave. Millie never thought that anything would ever come of this ritual. After all, Cecile, and everyone she knew was all in the same boat- broke. Since the coalmines all had closed down there wasn’t that much work to be had. At least not locally. You had to commute to one of the bigger towns; for a good payin’ job you might have to go as far as Charleston.

Millie always took Wednesdays off. And on this particular day, she could not bear to stay in her little shack and so she went for a walkover by Dingass and Morgan; and who do ya think she ran into, Cecile.

"Good day to you Millie." He said.

"Good day to you Cecile."

"What brings you out and about on this fine day?"

"Had some time off and just couldn’t bear to be stuck in that house another second."

"I know what you mean, I was do’n the same thing. What you say we stroll together?"

"I won’t mind if we did. "

They spent the afternoon talking, walking, and laughing like they were old friends.

As the afternoon began to wear on it became apparent that it was getting time to head home. As Millie was getting ready to say her farewell when Cecile hesitated for just a moment then said;

"I don’t suppose you’d like to catch a bite over at Ol’ Bixby’s? Would ya?"

"That’s mighty kind of ya but I’ve got to get home to change; got church tonight."

"Of course. I should have thought of that. You be’n a fine lady and all. Where else would you be on a Wednesday night? Would it be too forward of me to get your number and make some plans to have supper with ya when ya are free?"

"I suppose that would be fine." She replied.

Cecile took out his little black phone book and wrote down her number.

"I’ll be sure to keep this in a safe place." he said, patting his pocket where he had put the book.

They parted ways when they got to the end of her street.

"I’ll be a call’n in the next day or two." He said as he walked away.

Millie could hardly believe what had happened that afternoon. She never would have thought that Cecile might be interested in her. Or anybody for that matter. When she got home, she had a quick bite, changed her clothes, and headed off to the church. When she got there, she looked for her cousin, Rita.

"Rita, you got a minute?"

"Sure, what’s up?"

"You remember me tell’n ya about that guy, Cecile?"

"Um, yay- why?"

Millie told her in detail what had happened that afternoon. She was blushing a bit when she was done.

"You think he’s sweet on ya?" Rita asked.

"If you had asked me that yesterday I would have said no, but now I’m not so sure. "

"Well, all ya can do is wait and see if he calls."

"Or comes in to buy his lotto tickets." The two women chuckled.

Sure enough Cecile called the next day and they set up a time to go have dinner together. Millie could not believe that this kind, unassuming man wanted to take her out. All the same she dressed in her best and met him at the diner.

When she arrived at the diner Cecile was waiting for her at the front of the building. He was pacing with a big bouquet of wildflowers. He was so nervous that he had stripped the leaves and some of the petals off several of the flowers.

He watched as she got out of her car, his heart was in his throat, he was so excited and nervous! He just couldn’t believe that he was here on a date with the prettiest girl he had ever seen!

As Millie walked up to the dinner she saw the sad state that the flowers were in and chuckled to herself. Even as she was walking up she would see how he was twisting on the leaves. Nothing could have touched her heart more. She was amazed that this kind man wanted to spend time with her.

“Hi” Cecile managed to stammer out.

With a smile Millie said, “Hi to you too.”

“You ready to eat?”

“Sure enough.”

“Then let’s head in.”

Dinner was wonderful! They ate and talked and laughed all night. When the evening was over he walked her to her car.

“I had a really nice time Cecile.”

“Me too. Thanks for agreeing to come out with me tonight. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had such a nice time.”

“Me either.” She replied.

"I sure would like to do this again.” He said

“So would I.”

“Great! We can make a plan when I come in to get my lotto tickets tomorrow.”

“Sounds real good, Cecile. I’ll see ya then.”

“Good night sweet lady. Until tomorrow.”

Millie started to blush. “Until tomorrow.” She pecked him on his cheek and as fast as she could, got into her car.

Millie couldn’t stop thinking about him. All night she dreamed about the wonderful evening. The next day, true to his word, Cecile came and got his lottery tickets.

“Hi Millie. Hope you are doing well this fine day.”

“I’m doing very well.” She said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

“I had a really nice time last night.”

“Me too.”

“Wanna do it again tonight?”

“It would have to be an early dinner. I have to work early tomorrow.”

“Sure. Can I pick you up at your place around 6:30?”

“Better make it 6:45. I need to shower and change.”

“Then 6:45 it is. See you then.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too. Have a great day!”

“Oh I will. You have a great day too.”

When Cecile arrived, it was 6:39. He waited in the yard until 6:44 and then went to the door and knocked precisely at 6:45. Millie had seen him pull into the yard and was giggling at how precise he was being. It was so sweet. When he knocked, she was on the other side of the door and opened it right away.

“You look wonderful!”

“Not so bad yourself mister.” She said with a chuckle. Millie was uncomfortable with compliments, but she accepted the compliment. Besides, it was wonderful to hear.

They talked about all kinds of things. Millie opened up about how hard things had been with the bills and the crummy car. She lamented that she would love to have a newer car, but it just wasn’t in the cards for her. Cecile listened but never even said anything about what she did or didn't have.

After that night, Cecile would call her or send her flowers or a love poem. Soon the two were in love and Cecile asked the big question. YES! She had cried in reply.

They decided that a long engagement was not for them and made plans to be married at the church by her cousin Marvin, a month later. The day of the wedding arrived, and Millie was up at the crack of dawn. So excited that she could hardly stay in her own skin! Rita came over to help her get ready.

“I can’t believe that I’m getting married!” Millie exclaimed!

“Well, I think you have got to be the luckiest girl in the world! You’ve found yourself, one great guy! I am sooo happy for you Millie! You deserve it! And you look beautiful! Now let’s go get you married!”

It was a simple ceremony. The reception was held in the church’s gathering room. Everyone had shown up and brought something to share for the dinner. When it was time to go Cecile and Millie said their farwells and headed for home. That is to say, Cecile’s home.

“Honey, you missed the turn to your house.” She said.

“Oh that place? That’s just my fish’n cabin.” He said.

“ What do you mean? Where’s your house at?”

“Oh just up the holler. “

“But there’s nothin up there except that really big house.” Her voice trailed off as she realized that that was exactly where they were heading. Maybe he worked there.

“That’s right.” He replied.

When they got to the house her eyes were just poppin out of her head. She had never seen such a wonderful house.

“This is my house. Now it is our home." He said.

"That is not possible!" She stammered.

"It is possible and it is ours."

"You're just playing with me, Cecile."

He shook his head no and it began to dawn on her that this was not a joke. It was really his- um no- their house.

"All I have is yours." He said. " The house; the cars; the money. I won a few times on those lotto tickets that you sold to me. I told you that I would give you a big tip if I won. Well, here we are. It only seems right that I share it with you.”

“You won? Are you rich? Millie asked.”

“No- we won. And we are rich.”

“I can’t believe it! I never knew! - You have money?”

“Yes, we have money. It is true that the lotto has really paid off. The lotto has given me, us, everything either of us could have ever wanted. And for me, that means that it gave me you. Everything I have is yours. Especially my heart.”

Millie burst into tears of joy and threw herself into her husband’s arms. She was truly a blessed woman.