The Syndicate

Part 8. We Won The Bloody Lottery.

Thomas's POV.

I was sitting in the kitchen, with my head in my hands, trying to stop the room from spinning, why on earth did I carry on having so much of that horrible wine, I thought to myself. I sat there my elbows proped up on the table, as I was rubbing my temples. Julie then came over with a cup of coffee, that she had offered to make me earlier. "ere you go pet, get that down ya, it'll do ya the world of good". She said. "What he needs is hair of the dog!". Sean laughed and slapped me hard on the back, making me choke on the coffee, I was drinking. "Where's Charlotte gone?". I slurred. "She's just popped out pet, she'll be back in a tick". Julie said. "She's left her jacket". I replied. "S'not that cold out there tonight, she should be fine". Sean replied.

"Do you think we should tell Godfrey?". Julie asked out loud. "Tell Godfrey what?". I asked, as I began to perk up a little, from drinking the coffee. "Tell him that the Hazelwood's are loads in debt and that they are trying to find someone to maybe buy the place and the American's are trying to worm their way in beforehand". Sean told me as he patted my arm. I just sat there my mouth wide open with shock. "See that's exactly how we reacted mate, when dear Dawn here just told us". He continued. "It might make him feel better". Julie added. "Tell him what?". Sean said, as he downed the drink he had in his hand. Dawn just let out a huge sigh and began to tell us a tale from this morning.

"It could be my fault you know, why we didn't win, I mean I asked Valerie for fifteen lines and she was shocked that we were asking for so many and then I told her that Godfrey has worked out a new system, but we compromised and we said, that it will be three lines each but only for this week and then when I went to look in me bag, I realised that I left the numbers in my overall pocket and that I would have to phone you". Dawn said, as she pointed at Julie. "Eee yeah that's right you did, eee, I'm sorry love with everything going on today, I completely forgot to mention it". Julie said. "And that's when...". Julie paused and rubbed the back of her neck. "That's when what?". Sean asked. "That's when I told Dawn to make 'em up and that Godfrey would never know". She replied, as she picked at her nails.

"Your lucky though, cos Godfrey 'ad a hold of it and was going t' iron it". Julie continued. "But stupid me, I'd put her overall in t' wash beforehand didn't ah". She said. "With the list of numbers Godfrey gave me in the pocket, so I just made some other numbers up instead". Dawn continued, as she began to laugh. "So even if Godfrey's numbers had come up, we still wouldn't have won". Sean replied. I looked at Sean and started laughing, all the carry on and we wouldn't have won either way. "I tell you what though, me heart were in me mouth when I thought we were in with a chance". Dawn said. Sean was chuckling away to himself, until he jerked up suddenly.

"Have you checked the numbers, then?". He asked Dawn. "Yeah check the numbers!". I said with anticipation, hoping we might still be in with a chance, I mean I know me and Charlotte are too young to play the lottery, but it would be nice to see her family have something nice happen for a change. "What numbers?". Dawn asked. "On the ticket you bought". Sean replied. "No, don't even know what numbers I come up with, I were that worried about Godfrey's numbers winning, I couldn't think straight". Dawn said. I face palmed myself and shook my head. Sean then went and got the laptop and opened it. "Give us the ticket". He told her. Dawn then got up from her chair to go and retrieve the ticket.

"I remember there were a two and then a three". Julie began. "Yeah cos that's when he started shouting when three come out". Dawn said as she retrieved the ticket from her coat pocket and looked at it. "And there were an eighteen, he definitely didn't like that". Julie continued, as she got up from the chair she was sitting in and went to sit at the table with us, beside Sean. "Two, three and eighteen". Sean began to read out loud, before he paused. "You've got three lines with two, three and eighteen". Sean said. "Av I?". Dawn asked, as she went to put her coat and bag back up on the peg. "Yeah". Sean replied. "Oh yeah, cos seconds our Amy's birthday, thirds Andy's, eighteen mine, there should be a twenty two there as well cos that's Noah's birthday". Dawn said. What about Charlotte's I thought to myself.