Terrance in the Lottery

Lotteries Aren't Always Worth Winning

We all got out of the car, and Momma and Poppa held each other's hands as they walked down to the line to put Poppa's name in the first bucket. A voice over the intercom played overhead, and Dennis muttered the rules to himself, he practically memorized them from doing this for so long.

"Welcome to the Lottery! To participate in the Lottery correctly is by following these simple rules; Rule Number One," Dennis stood by us, and droned on in his mocking tone, "the oldest man in the house places their name in for the first round. Rule Number Two, when their name is drawn, their family members all come up to the podium and draw a slip of paper. Rule Number Three, after they have all drawn a slip of paper, one member should have a slip with a golden dot in the center.

"And last, but not least, Rule Number Four! The member who has the slip of paper with the golden dot, no matter how young or old, will have won the Lottery!" I grinned, but in my head, I knew what was going to happen to me. The me in this memory didn't know what was going to happen, and I got a knot in my gut just thinking about it. I looked over to Marie, and whispered, "Who do you think is going to win? The Yankers? The Smiths?" I was practically was bouncing in place, and Marie shrugged. "I don't know."

I thought about this, and gasped. "What if I won the Lottery? I could win us a trip to Washington D.C., or...or maybe I could win us some money for a bigger house! A newer car!" I rambled on, and on until Dennis grabbed my shoulders, and whispered harshly, "If you do not stop bouncing, jumping, or rambling on," he growled. "I will make you shut up. Understood?" I lost my grin, and nodded slowly. He released my shoulders, and crossed his arms, muttering, "You do not want to win."

I looked up at Dennis, confused. "Why do I not want to win?" Dennis hardened his expression, and moved his eyes towards me. "Do you really want to know?" I nodded slowly, curious, but...in truth, I knew why he acted this way. Dennis leaned down to me, and looked dead serious. "In the Lottery, you-" he was cut off by the voice yelling overhead, "EVERYBODY GET READY FOR ROUND ONE OF THE LOTTERY!" Dennis flinched, and sighed. "I'll tell you later, okay?" I whispered, "Why not now?" He shushed me, and I glared at him, then turned my attention to the podium.

Mayor Builsberry stood at the podium, smiling. Dennis muttered, "Look at that smug piece of-" "Dennis!" Momma whispered harshly. "Language!" Dennis huffed, and crossed his arms, staying silent.

"Hello, everybody!" Mayor Builsberry waved his arms, and everyone but Poppa, Momma, and Dennis cheered. Marie and I looked at each other with confusion, and back to the podium. Builsberry's wife, Marge Builsberry, walked onto the podium, smiling as she held the first bucket. Dennis leaned down, and smirked slightly, whispering to me and Marie, "She looks like her heels are killing her." Marie, and I snickered, and hid our smiles behind our hands.

"How is everyone this fine morning?" Again, everyone cheered, but Momma, Poppa, and Dennis. Marge stood next to Builsberry, holding the bucket in front of her, and the audience soon quieted down, them Builsberry continued in his deep voice, "Good, good! Now, to begin the first round!"

Everyone went silent as he put his hand in the bucket, humming to himself, and nobody dared to breathe as he did so. After what felt like years, and years, he finally drew his arm out of the bucket. Builsberry held up the folded slip of paper, and I tried to see more by standing up on my tippy toes, and was picked up onto Poppa's shoulders.

"Which family won?" Builsberry slowly opened the slip of paper, and all I could think to myself was I know who wins, I know who wins. After an eternity, he finally opened the paper, and read the name in a mysterious voice, "And the winner is," he smiled. A smile that looked...unnatural. "Houghstous Erolds!" Poppa freezed. Dennis, and Momma looked at him, their eyes like saucers.