Stroke of Luck

Excerpt From: Stroke of Luck

Steven DeLong blinked. His stare alternated between the TV screen in front of him and the piece of paper in his hands. 03, 09, 25, 27, 28, 45. He’d chosen the same numbers he always had when he bought petrol and a Power Play Lottery ticket. He’d just never read them on the winning screen before.

Am I seeing things? He rubbed his eyes, noticing his hands were trembling, and looked back at the TV. The numbers hadn’t changed. According to the announcer, he’d just won ninety-seven million dollars. Or possibly a share of the ninety-seven million, if someone else picked the same numbers. I’m not greedy. I can share. He giggled, sounding like a lunatic on crack, and forced himself to stop.

He’d read a semi-joking article online telling new lottery winners what to do when they first discovered they’d won. Don’t tell anyone was the first rule. Stick the ticket into a resealable plastic bag and keep it safe was another. Proceed with a normal routine. Steven’s heart beat so wildly, he wasn’t sure that last one was even possible.

From a drawer in the kitchen, he withdrew a sandwich-sized bag and sealed the ticket inside. He placed the bag on his coffee table, unwilling to let it out of his sight. He sat on the floor, knees pulled tightly to his chest, in front of his sofa. Mind racing a million miles per hour, he hugged his legs and rocked back and forth.

Do I tell someone? There were very few people he’d choose to let in on the secret. The thought of telling his mother made him chuckle. She was an insanely religious woman. Gambling was a big no-no. But then again, so was being gay. Steven obviously hadn’t done everything his mother’s religion recommended.

Norma DeLong had wrestled with his sexual preference and finally accepted it. He doubted she’d have as big a struggle accepting the ninety-seven million dollars. They might have different views on how to spend it, though.

Note to self—telling Mother can wait.