Playing the Odds

“Hey, Ryan.”

“Foley! What’s up?”

“You hear ‘bout the lotto?”

“Of course! Bought a ticket.”

“You? I thought you didn’t believe in that…”

“I don’t. But with a prize of almost a billion, I figured… can’t hurt. Doing my part. Goes to the schools and all that…”

“You said some politician skims...”

“Same dif. They take their cut either way… I figure it’s a win-win. Brings the customers in.”

“You have an edge because you’re the licensed seller…?”

“Course not, Fole. How would that look? Bought an app though. Uses algorithms to shave a few points off the astronomical odds.”

“Mr. Wizard, eh?”

“Yeah… Odds go from ten-gazillion-to-one to a gazillion-to-one. Who knows? Never tried it. It’s a slippery slope. Play one ticket today… Next week I’ll be mortgaging my house and flying to Vegas. Hah!”

“Unless you win, Ry. Then you’ll buy the whole county.”

“Right. That’s where I’d sink it.”

“A billion’s a pretty big carrot to chase.”

“Wouldn’t mind a nibble.”

“Maybe two…”

“Get your tickets here. Gotta go. Customers...”

“Right, later Ry…”

~

“Bella… Didja hear about…?”

“The lotto? What? Ryan buy in?”

“How d’you know?”

“Kinda obvious, Foley. Billion dollar prize is all the news. Ryan always…”

“But he said he never…”

“Right. What he always says…”

“He never won though. But this time…”

“He know something, Foley…?”

“He’s got an app picking numbers. Said he can’t lose.”

“Gaming the odds…”

And he’s the everyone’s source. Lots of buyers.”

 “Interesting. That explains a few things.”

“Like?”

“You know, stuff I heard. Purchases. Trips…”

“Sounds like eggs before the horse…”

“Ha! Yeah, got that right…”

 “Gonna buy in, Belle?”

“And boost Ryan’s prize?”

“We could pool…”

“More for him but less loss for us…”

“Let me know. Drawing’s tonight.”

“We’ll talk.”

~

“Cindy!”

“Hey, girl!”

“You hear about Ryan?”

“What’s he up to?”

“Even losers win occasionally…”

“Bella… What?”

“Word is, he played the lotto.”

“Big pot. He deserves a win.”

“Word is, he’s already…?”

“Man! But the drawing’s tonight. How…?”

“Some super app… The fix is in.”

“That so-called girlfriend will burn through it in about five minutes.”

“Like a fizzy.”

“Ha! That’s hilarious, Bella. If she hasn’t already.”

“My son, the Prime driver, will finally get some overtime.”

“They’ll have to dedicate one, just to cover her orders.”

“Think he’ll keep the store?”

“With a billion bucks? Doubt it.”

“He’ll sell and retire to St. Paul.”

“Or roulette it away in Monte Carlo.”

“It‘d serve him right. Vegas not good enough for him?”

“If you’re going broke, go in style.”

“You think he’ll stay here?”

“Or be a big wheel in ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Marshall.”

“That where he’s from?”

“What he told me.”

“Explains a lot.”

“Does. Learn one thing about someone, and suddenly, everything’s obvious.”

“Living in Marshall’d be worse than going broke.”

“Don’t know, but I doubt he’d stay here.”

“Why stay here? Darla von Hussy?”

“You’re funny. She’d follow him. Have billions will travel.”

“Or stay for you?”

“Hell no, Bella. Moved on, long ago. He’s with… what’s-her-name. Ancient history. High school…”

“They’re not married, Cindy.”

“Whatever. Old news.”

“He’d want to mix with others like him. No rich people here.”

“Not after he leaves.”

“Son of a bitch...”

“His mother was nice.”

“Yeah, but look who she raised.”

“Anyway, I heard they’re planning a wedding.”

“To Darla?”

“I guess. Didn’t he propose?”

“Well, there’s propositions, and…”

“Imagine the brood they’d spawn.”

“Rosemary’s Baby, look out!”

“You’re funny, Bella. But hey, isn’t it iffy to buy a ticket at your own store and win?”

“Someone’ll investigate. They won’t just hand him a billion, no questions asked.”

“The truth will out.”

“They should tax him and repair the streets for once in a decade.”

“Cheaper to rename the town, Pothole City…”

“Yeah, the rich don’t pay taxes.”

“Want your son to get the contract?”

“Sure… Why not? He’s a hard worker.”

“Or build a new city hall.”

“Name the town after Ryan.”

“Before he moves away.”

“Elect him mayor. Lock him down.”

“I like our current mayor.”

“Why? What’s he done?”

“Nothing.”

“Exactly. Or ever.”

“Exactly. I like things as they are.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. Don’t want a bunch of rich people moving in.”

“Driving up property values.”

“Little people being priced out.”

“You a little person, Cindy?”

“I guess. Aren’t you?”

“Well, I’m not rich.”

“That’s what I mean.”

“Ryan wouldn’t do squat as mayor.”

“Why not?”

“What’s he done since he bought the grocery?”

“Just run the store. Doubt he dreams of being mayor.”

“He’s no politician. Shopkeeper through and through.”

“Works for me. Get my groceries there. Food’s fresh.”

“Drawing’s in a few hours. Call if you hear anything. Okay?”

“Sure. Talk later, Bella.”

~

“Hello? Grocery Stop…”

“Ryan… They just called the numbers. You win?”

“Hi Foley. Let me look… Nope… zip.”

“Surprised? What are the odds?”

“I know. Win a billion. Lose a billion. No big deal. Figure it went to a good cause.”

“Tough luck. Catch you later…”

~

“Cindy, you can’t be serious. He lost the winning ticket?”

“That’s what Foley said.”

“What a dope. Where?”

“Bella, think I’d tell you if I knew?”

“We should search.”

“It could be anywhere.”

“Start at his house.”

“Better by the store.”

“And downwind.”

“When’s trash day?”

“Cindy, remember, keep it between us.”

“A group would be faster.”

“But only trustworthy.”

“Anyone finds it, even split with the rest. Plenty to go around.”

“So, not too many. Get an agreement. And not Ryan. Snooze, you lose.”

“I’ll print something. Five at the most.”

“We should start now.”

“I go in all the time. I’ll buy a coffee. Get him talking.”

“Don’t be obvious.”

“Oh. Okay… Duh! I know him, Bella.”

“Really?”

“We’re still friends. Used to call him ‘Rayon.’ Bugged him for fun.”

“Don’t run off with him and his winnings…”

“Bella… You know I wouldn’t. Even split!”

~

“Hi, Ryan…”

“That you, Cindy?”

“You know my voice?”

“I see you all the time. Never forget anything about you… Hello?”

“I’m here… Hi, sorry to bother you, but…”

“You’re never a bother.”

“How’ve you been?”

“Good. Hangin’ in. Store’s steady. Good week. People buying lotto tickets.”

“Well, good. Heard you won.”

“No. No. Bought a ticket. For the hell of it. Not a gambler.”

“I never played…”

“Some guy down in St. Croix hit it big.”

“Well, sorry you didn’t win…”

“Yeah… No biggie… One good thing, though…”

“What’s up?”

“Darla’s moved out.”

“Oh… I’m sorry, Ryan. You were together forever…”

“It’s okay, Cindy. She counted on my winning, or I should say, ‘winnings,’ more than me.”

“Then she should’ve bought the winning ticket.”

“That’s what I told her. She thought I owed her.”

“Wow! But you sound…”

“Happy? Getting there. Let the dust settle. But feels like spring is sprung.”

“Good for you, then. I won’t keep you…”

“Hey… Cindy… You there?”

“I’m here.”

“Want to get dinner, sometime… You know, together? …Hello?”

“Uhm… Ryan, are you sure…?”

“Of course… Hey, I get you don’t want to ride a rebound. But we have a lot of history. I never forgot you.”

“Can’t this week, Ry. Call me, if you still want… next month.”

“Make’s sense. Few weeks to clear my head and all. Hope to see you soon.”

“You see me all the time. I shop at your store.”

“Right. Of course. See you… whenever.”

“Always good to see you, Ryan. Relax.”

“Got it. No stress. No pressure. Fresh produce.”

“Bye, Ryan…”

“Bye…”