Short Stories

1: The Unexpected

"Guess what?" This was the first time I'd seen my mother truly happy. Since we lived in an old apartment with various problems, and no dad with us, she'd never smiled. The only time she did was when she was with "guests." Those were fake grins.

"Yes mom?"

"You will never believe this, Julian."

"What?" I asked again.

"I heard a prayer...from above. He told me that I would win a lottery ticket."

My eyes widened. I believed her. I really did. But at the same time, I thought I was getting old enough to realize that God maybe wasn't what I believed. But since I loved seeing her smile, I told her that we definitely were going to win.

"I'm just...emotional." My mother's eyes glistened.

"Mom..." I gently helped her onto the rickety kitchen chair. "You ok?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Did you take the pills?"

"No... I don't need to honey. Honestly."

"Mom." I whispered. You need to take the pill."

She glared at me. "No. I'll take it tonight. I'm celebrating us by taking us to In n' Out."

I shook my head. "Mom no." I quietly mumbled.

"Then you drive, Julian! You're a big boy."

"Mom. I...I can't."

"What do you mean? You're sixteen."

"We...we didn't have the money for drivers ed."

She buried her head in her hands. "I'll drive. We are celebrating."

***

"This is fun, right?" We sat in our 99' old truck, eating burgers and sipping sodas.

"Yeah..."

"Julian?"

"Yeah mom?"

"If...if we win...I'm giving most of the money to you. You deserve it. You've been through so much...and the least I can do is let you have a home and go to college."

I looked away, afraid she would see my tears. "Mom... you don't-"

"Now don't tell me what I can and can't do."

"You're sick. I need to stay home and help you."

"Honey I can take care of-" She couldn't finish her sentence. My eyes widened.

"No..." I whispered. Whipping out my flip phone I dialed 911 as my mother slumped forward on the steering wheel, her eyes lifeless.

"I need a medical team. In n' out Burger...44...Clertan Street."

Hanging up, I pulled my knees to my chest and started crying. I knew she should've taken the pill.

***

"Your mother...she's alive..but I don't think she'll make it through the night. I'm so...I'm so sorry." The nurse stuttered. "Um...you can go home if you'd like."

"Thanks..." I looked at the ceiling, blinking away my tears. I couldn't drive, but there was one think I could do.

As soon as I backed out of the lot, I almost hit a car. But i was determined to do one thing and one thing only. There was 12 minutes until the numbers were called.

Narrowly missing a convertible and pulling into the parking lot of a convenience store, I breathed in deep. Grabbing the family wallet and rushing in, I ran straight to the counter and asked for a lottery ticket.

"Well you're lucky...they're about to call the numbers, kiddo." The cashier boomed.

I cringed and bought the ticket.

"Are you ready for the numbers?" The lady on the t.v. announced.

For my mom. I said to myself.

"30!"

There was a thirty.

"19!"

My eyes were bulging.

"2. 4. 97! Congrats to the winner!"

I screamed.

"Did ya get it kid?" The cashier asked.

"I got it mom. I got it."