Lotto

2

They were ushered to a little sitting room and small chatter was being made by all of the couples  except Lindsey and Stevie, they just sat next to each like bumps on a log as they listened to the numbers being called to continue on to the next steps. 

"Um, ugh...so what should I know about you?" Lindsey asks after a moment trying to break the tense silence.

"I'm living in Santa Monica. I'm a Speech and Language Pathologist at McKinley K-8.  I only came back for the weekend as this is my home district for another nine months, and I was required to for the Lotto. Once July gets here my district will change to Santa Monica." She states.

"So I take it I get to move to Santa Monica too." He smiles.

"I guess that's what it means yes." She sighs.

"Are the rules different there than here?" He asks wringing his hands.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"My bracelet will I still not be able to work anywhere?" He asks.

"You might be able to get a construction job, Depending on what your...infliction...is." She says it in disgust.

"Epilepsy. I'm epileptic, I'm taking medicine for it so I haven't had a seizure in about fourteen years." He sighs.

"Well, maybe not construction you might be able to paint though." She sighs. 

"You're not happy that you were paired with me are you?" He looks down sadly. "Because of the Epilepsy." 

"No, I could care less about Epilepsy its not like it's Down syndrome or autism or HIV or AIDS, or hell, cancer. Epilepsy is nothing I thought it was way worse. I just think this whole Lotto thing is BS, I should get to choose my own husband not some chick in a white outfit." She shrugs.

"Well, that makes me feel a little bit better then." He sighs and then it goes back to being silent.

"How old are you?" He asks.

"26." She answers.

"I'll be 25 on Thursday." 

That makes her wince again,

"Oh god, you're younger than me. Isn't the man supposed to be older than the woman." 

"I'm sorry I guess." He looks down again and again it goes silent. 

It stays silent until their number is called and the stand up and make their way to another room with what seemed to be a gazillion little fish bowls but in reality it was only, six.

"Every Saturday of the year until the next Lotto is in this bowl, the one you choose is the one of your designated marriage." The woman tells them.

"You can choose." Stevie looks at him. 

He pulls a piece of paper out and he opens it up reading it, "November 23rd, 1974." 

"Next bowl is your wedding venue," 

"Stevie." Lindsey motions with his head.

"She blows out a puff of breath and sticks her hand in the bowl. "Golden Gate Park it's going to be so cold." She whines.

"Next is time of wedding." 

Lindsey chooses this one, "2:30 p.m." 

"Reception venue," 

"Terra Gallery." Stevie.

"Wonderful where is it that you two wish your house be located?" 

"Um, Santa Monica. Stevie works there." Lindsey tells them. 

One bowl is rolled up to them and Lindsey lets Stevie choose which slip of paper to pull out. 

"Um, 705 Palisades Beach Rd, Santa Monica California, 90402" 

"Now furniture voucher." 

"Go ahead Lindsey." Stevie sighs.

"Um..." He pulls out a piece of paper and he blanches at the amount of money on the piece.

"25,000 dollars for furniture?" He asks.

"It's on the lower end." The woman gives a warm smile.

"That's the lower end!" He gasps.

"Yes Sir. Right this way and you'll be handed your key, your check, and you'll meet up with your families. You'll be receiving your relocation papers and they need to be signed and submitted before your wedding in November  and tomorrow you are encouraged to go check out your new house." She grins. 

***

When they get out to their families both sets of them, including the redhead's family are cheering up a storm. But it soon falls when they see the awkward looks on their children.

"What's wrong? You guys are getting married this should be a happy occasion." Lindsey's mother, Ruth smiles.

"I'm not the...marrying or children type." Stevie rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "But at least I don't have to suffer through it alone, my baby brother's getting married too." 

"Yeah May 10th, 1975." He smiles.

"At least you get to wait, I have to get married on November 23rd...1974. This is going to suck and we have a fucking outside venue so it's going to be freezing and I'm going to hate every minute of it." She says through gritted teeth. 

"Oh dear, that's no way to look at things." Ruth shakes her head.

"No offense Mrs. Buckingham your son is lovely and we have to go through with this, but I'm not happy about it and I don't think I ever will be, but it's happening so we've just gotta go with it. Tomorrow we need to go here." Stevie hands her father the address to their new house

"Oooh, where is it?" Lindsey's mother goes over to Jess.

"Santa Monica...Teedee is a speech pathologist at a school over there." Jess explains.

"So Lindsey you're moving to Santa Monica." His brother Jeff, looks at him. 

"Stevie said that I could possibly get a job painting houses there." He nods.

"possibly?" Jess cocks an eyebrow.

"My son was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was ten." Ruth grabs Lindsey's wrist and shows off the silver bracelet.

"Oh..." Barbara gives the same look that Stevie did. And Lindsey automatically feels bad again.

"We don't have to have children, I'm okay paying the tax." he looks down sadly. 

"Lindsey you've always wanted children." Ruth looks at him.

"But Stevie doesn't want kids and who would want a kid with someone that has a genetic infliction." He shakes his head.

"Good we agree on something." Stevie sighs pushing past her parents and making her way out to the car. 

"I'm really sorry Lindsey." Jess sighs squeezing the young man's shoulder.

"Yeah my sister's a little...prickly but I'm excited I get a big brother now!" Chris shakes his hand. 

"See you tomorrow I guess." Lindsey nods.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, maybe she'll have cooled down by then." Jess smiles grabbing Chris and Barbara and following Stevie out to the car. 

"Lindsey I'm sorry, she seems like a bitch." Eliza states.

"It's okay, not everyone can be as happy as all you guys." he looks down sadly.

"You'd be great with a baby Linds, I'm sorry that you might not get that chance." Daryl pulls him into a hug.

"I was so excited this morning, now I'm just dreading it." He sighs walking away from his parents.