Chapter 8 How scary can a few numbers be in the first part? -8

I owe Suzie money again "Susie!" I wailed miserably. "Oh, so what should I say?" "You should have said I broke a leg and was bedridden with infectious mononucleosis!" "Oh, thanks for telling me!" Suzie squinted at me, then crossed her legs again into a lotus position.Suzie has the longest, thinnest, strongest legs I've ever seen.Whenever she puts on her black leggings, she looks like a spider. "What the hell is going on?" she said. "Are you overdrawn?" Am I overdrawn? "Just a little bit." I shrugged, "It will work out."

There was a silence.When I looked up, Suzie was tearing up my check. "Susie! Don't be stupid!" "Give it back to me when you have a surplus." She said firmly. "Thank you, Suzie!" I said, hugging her tightly.Suzie is really my best friend. Still, I was annoyed, a feeling that stuck with me throughout the night and didn't go away until I woke up the next morning.Not even thinking about my new Denny and George silk scarf can take it away.Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I figured out how much money I owed for the first time in months: money owed to the bank, VISA bills, Harvey Nichols, one of the most famous department stores in London, leading the fashion industry in Britain. Fashion, known for retailing the world's finest design products. ——Annotation credit card bill, Debenhams department store, a large shopping center in London. ——Annotation credit card bill, Fenwicks fashion store, a famous fashion store in London. ——Annotation of the credit card bill...and now I owe Suzie money.

In total it was about... let me see... about £6000. As I pondered this number, a chill hit my heart.How the hell am I going to get together £6,000? I can save £6 a week for 1,000 weeks, or £12 a week for 500 weeks.Or...or save £60 a week and that's only 100 weeks.That's about the same.But how the hell am I going to scrape together £60 a week to save? Or I could do some encyclopedia stuff and go to a TV quiz; or invent something really clever; or, I could... buy a lottery ticket and win the lottery.Thinking of this, a pleasant warm current spread all over my body, I closed my eyes and lay back comfortably under the quilt.Buying lottery tickets is by far the best solution.

I certainly don't expect to win the jackpot - that's out of the question! But a small prize should be fine? Seems like there are plenty of small prizes! Let's say - £100,000.That's enough.I can pay off all my debts, buy a car, buy a condo... In fact - it would be even better to win £200,000.Or simply £250,000. Or, even better, win a jackpot that is shared with others. "The five jackpot winners will each receive £1.3 million." (I like when they say it. "130", as if that extra £300,000 is a blip and doesn't matter of.) £1.3m should solve all my problems.And I'm not greedy, am I? I'm still thinking about sharing the jackpot! God, I pray, please let me win the jackpot, I promise I will share it with others.

So, on the way to my parents' house, I stopped at a gas station to buy some lottery tickets.It took me almost half an hour to choose the numbers.I know "44" is a very lucky number, and "42" too.But what about the other numbers? I wrote down several sets of numbers on a piece of paper, squinted at them, and tried to imagine what they would look like when they were announced on TV. 169162344 Nope! Too bad! What the hell was I thinking? "1" never appears as the first number. "6" and "9" also don't look pleasing to the eye. 31421253644

This is much better.I put this set of numbers on the lottery ticket. 51118272842 This set of numbers impresses me very well.Looks like the numbers that will win the jackpot.I can just imagine Moira Stewart reading it on the news: "A lottery ticket holder, believed to be a resident of South West London, has won a jackpot estimated to be £10 million!" For a moment, I thought I was going to pass out.What will I do with the £10m? Where will I start? Well, start off with a huge dance party.Somewhere that's stylish and cool, with tons of champagne to dance around, and a car to pick and drop guests so no one has to drive.And then give everyone a take-home gift, that bubble bath thing is really nice. (Does Calvin Klein have bubble bath products? I'll have to keep an eye out for them next time I'm at Boots.)

Next, of course, I want to buy a house for all my relatives and friends.I leaned against the booth selling lottery tickets, closed my eyes and began to count intently.Let's say I buy 20 houses at £250,000 each, I'll have... £5 million left over; plus £50,000 for the dance; and then I'll take everyone on holiday , to Barbados or something; that would cost about... £100,000 if we were all flying. That leaves £4.85 million.Oh! I need another £6,000 to pay off all my credit cards, plus overdrafts; £300 to pay off Suzie; that adds up to £7,000.So, that leaves... £4,843,000. Obviously, I also get involved with charities.In fact, I might start a charitable foundation.I will support all the unfashionable charities that are neglected, like skin ailments and home help for the elderly.Also, I will send a huge check to my former English teacher, Mrs. James, so that she can expand the school library.Maybe they'll even rename it after me, "Bloomwood Library".

Oh, and I'm going to Whistles for £300 for that swirl coat, I have to get it before it sells out.So, how much money do I have left? £4,843,000, less... "I'm sorry." A voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up blankly.The woman behind me was trying to get the pen in front of me. "I'm sorry." I said politely out of the way for her.But after she messed it up like this, I forgot where it counted.Is it £4 million or £5 million? Then, when I found the woman looking at my paper, which was scribbled with numbers, a terrible thought came to my mind.What if a group of numbers that I discarded won the lottery? What if 1, 6, 9, 16, 23, 44 won the lottery tonight and I didn't fill it in, what should I do? I will Hate myself, don't you? I'll never forgive myself in my life.I'd do stupid things like the guy who committed suicide because he forgot to mail out his football betting tickets.

I quickly wrote down all the sets of numbers listed on that piece of paper, a total of nine notes.Nine pounds--a lot of money indeed.I almost regret spending so much money.But that also means that my odds of winning have increased ninefold, doesn't it? Also, now I have a very good feeling about the numbers 1, 6, 9, 16, 23, 44.Why does this single set of numbers appear in my mind, lingering? Maybe somewhere, someone is trying to tell me something. Brompton department store Customer Finance Department 1 Brompton Street, London SW4 7TH To: Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood Unit 2, 4 Burnie Road, London SW6 8FD

Dear Ms. Bloomwood: Our records indicate that we have not received payment due on your latest statement for the Brompton Gold Card.If you have already paid in the last few days, then you should disregard this letter. Your outstanding balance is currently £23,576.The minimum payout is £43.You can pay by cash, check, or enclose a bank transfer credit memo.We look forward to receiving your payment. Sincerely john hunter Customer Finance Manager March 2, 2000 Brompton Department Store 1 Brompton Street, London SW4 7TH To: Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood Unit 2, 4 Burnie Road, London SW6 8FD Dear Ms. Bloomwood:

Unprecedented wasted opportunity! For a limited time, we're offering extra points* to customers who spend £50 or more in one go with the Brompton Gold Card - so take the time now to increase your points total for a chance at our giveaway. Our fabulous gifts include: Italian leather bag 1000 points 2000 points for a box of rose champagne Paris double flight**5000 points Your current score is: 35 points Remember, you'll earn 2 points for every £5 you spend during this special event.We eagerly look forward to your visit to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Yours sincerely adrian smith Customer Service Manager March 2, 2000 *Excluding consumption in restaurants, pharmacies, newsstands and beauty shops **some restrictions apply - see booklet attached to letter