A cozy recliner was stationed in front of the television. Candy rested in the recliner after adding more wood to the warm fire inside the cobblestone fireplace. Snowball cuddled up on his dog bed sitting close to the Christmas tree. “We'll watch the eleven o'clock news, Snowball, and then go to bed.”
A lamp table was right next to the recliner. Candy reached over and turned on the red and white candy cane lamp, and a strong splash of light dropped onto the lamp table. A single lottery ticket appeared in the light. “Oh...I forgot I even put the lottery ticket here,” Candy spoke in a tired voice. She wanted to focus on the news instead of the horrible meeting that had taken place at the toy factory. After Betty told all the workers what her husband had done...well...everyone quit on the spot, leaving Betty with no choice but to close the factory. She had to call her husband and inform him of the situation...which ended in a screaming match. “Bob Vance ordered Betty to keep the toy factory closed until he got back from his hunting trip, and he was going to divorce her for what she did. Betty immediately called her attorney, and we'll see what happens, Snowball.”
The eleven o'clock news came on. Candy folded her arms over her warm pink robe and watched the news and the weather report. More snow was in the forecast. “And now,” a middle-aged man with a thick mustache spoke in an excited voice, “it's time for the lottery drawing!”
“That's right, Charlie,” the young, pretty, redheaded girl sitting next to the middle-aged man with the large mustache exclaimed. “Tonight, someone might be two hundred and twenty-two million dollars richer than they were when they woke up this morning!”
“Yeah, someone is going to be rich enough to buy the rights to the toys...and save the toys.” Candy sighed. She didn't believe in gambling, but since the single lottery ticket was sitting on the lamp stand...well, what was the harm in seeing if any of the numbers on the lottery ticket matched any of the winning numbers?
The news channel tuned into a fancy television studio. A woman was standing next to a large metal ball that was rotating at a very fast rate. A green screen stood behind the woman, andexpensive lottery effects were being played on the green screen. “And now,” a voice standing off to the side announced—a voice that sounded like a voice you would hear announcing a wrestling match, “tonight's winning lottery numbers that everyone from California to Maine has been waiting for. Pauline will draw eight numbers along with a Powerball number and a mystery number. To win, you must have a ticket that matches all ten numbers. The numbers range from 1-99. The first eight numbers do not have to be in order, but the Powerball number and mystery number must match. The Powerball number must match the Powerball number on your lottery ticket, and the mystery number must match the mystery number on your lottery ticket. Now, let's see the winning numbers!”
Candy frowned. “To save the toys, I would need to have all ten numbers.”
“Pauline, will you begin drawing the numbers!” the announcer ordered in an excited voice.
The woman nodded, smiled, waved, and then, instead of reaching her hand into the turning ball, she pressed a red button sitting next to the ball. The sound of wind was heard, followed by a white ball being shot up into a long plastic tube stationed above the turning ball. “And the first number is94,” the announcer called out, keeping his voice suspenseful. And why not? He had bought one hundred lottery tickets himself.
Candy glanced at the lottery ticket she was holding. The number94was the third number from the front. Because the first eight numbers didn't have to be in order, Candy didn't think much of seeing the number94. Sure, the ticket she was holding might match one or two winning numbers...nothing more.
“And the second number is93,” the announcer called out as Pauline retrieved the second number.
Candy scanned her lottery ticket. She had a match.
“And the third number is...90!”
Candy spotted the number90. The number90was the last number before the Powerball and mystery number. Candy's sorrowful face slowly began to change into a curious question mark. “Impossible...three numbers will be all that matches...”
“The fourth number is...89!”
The number89was on the lottery ticket Candy was holding. Candy could barely believe her eyes. She felt her heart start to race some. “Four numbers...” Snowball’s head shot up, and he dashed from his dog bed and ran to Candy's side.
“And the fifth number is88!” the announcer called out, keeping his voice tense and excited.
Candy dared to examine her lottery ticket. The number88was the very first number on the ticket. “Oh my...five numbers...Snowball, five numbers...” Snowball let out a little bark as he stared at the television. Candy drew in a nervous breath of air—air that smelled like Christmas cakes and delicious coffee. Candy adored the smell, but the depressing mood she had returned home in had changed the air into a cold chill. Now, the warm, inviting smell was defrosting the chill!
“And the sixth number is...7!”
Candy winced as if someone pinched her. Surely the sixth number would not be on her lottery ticket. She carefully checked. The number7was present! “Oh...my…” Candy could barely speak. But surely the seventh number would be missing, as well as the Powerball number, and the mystery number. Millions upon millions of lottery tickets had been sold across the nation. Surely, thePine Snow Gas Stationon Frost Dove Avenue hadn’t sold the sole winning ticket.
“And the seventh number is...87!”
Candy was scared to check her lottery ticket, but she forced her eyes to do it. Surely the number87would be absent. Surely...right? No! The number87was on the ticket! “Oh...”Candy felt as if her heart might leap out of her chest. She felt her hands start to shake.
“And the eighth number is...99!” the announcer called out.
Candy felt a deep fear enter her heart. Why? She had no idea. Why would she be fearful of checking to see if she was holding a winning lottery ticket? “Snowball...I can't check...but I have to.” Candy winced, pried one eye open, and checked. “Oh...my...this can't be...” she whispered as if a giant hand was squeezing the breath out of her. The number99was on the lottery ticket. All eight winning numbers were present.
“Okay...the winning eight numbers are...94,93,90,89,88,7,87and99!” the announcer called out. “Pauline, will you draw the Powerball number?”
Candy froze. Sure, she had eight matching numbers, and these numbers would reward her with a few thousand dollars, but what were the chances of the lottery ticket matching the Powerball number and the mystery number? Impossible odds. Even if Candy did win, there could be countless winning tickets, and the money had to be divided evenly amongst the winners.
“And the Powerball number is...4!”
“I can't do it...I can't check...but I have to...oh, this is going to be the end of me!” Candy winced as if someone were pinching her again and checked the lottery ticket. She almost fainted. “Snowball!” she cried out. “I...the Powerball...it...matches!” Snowball let out an excited bark.
“Now, remember,” the announcer spoke up, “the mystery number that Pauline is about to draw can be one of the nine numbers that have already been drawn or a different number.” As the announcer talked, Pauline moved away from the main lottery ball and walked to a smaller ball. “Inside the mystery ball are the numbers1-99. The mystery ball number must match the mystery ball number on your lottery ticket.”
Candy listened to the announcer explain the rules again. “What are the chances of this ticket actually having the right mystery number...impossible...but dear God, if you let me win, I'll save the toys! I promise with all my heart I'll save the toys! I'll dedicate my life to saving the toys. I'll never let the toys be forgotten!”
