Another entry under October’s “Half-hour Challenge” on the Inkwell, under the theme “A Door Opens”:
It’s such an easy scam that it’s hard to believe folk fall for it. We were sitting around the office, swilling coffee, after lunch, one afternoon. John was reading the Mirror and commented on news that a works syndicate who had won three million pounds between them: “Why don’t we do that?” So I volunteered to organise collection of the stakes and placing the bet. John and the others are so lazy and gullible, they were content to let me. At first it was just the six of us in our office: six pounds collected plus my pound, seven lucky dips bought each Saturday morning when I went shopping with the missus. Or that’s what they think. Actually, I always buy a spare one. So when I scan the tickets on Monday and email the results to the syndicate members, everything tallies. The number of tickets matches the number of members and the stake they know about. I declare the small wins, ten pounds here, fifteen pounds there, to keep them interested. But if we make a sizeable win, I substitute the spare ticket with the winning ticket and pocket the loot. No-one is any the wiser. The syndicate has expanded from our office to the neighbouring offices and out onto the shop floor. I now collect two hundred and thirty-six pounds every Friday and buy two hundred and thirty-eight tickets every Saturday. I’ve already won over three thousand pounds. They say that the chances of winning a million on a one pound bet are slim. My chances are one hundred and nineteen times better than slim. They say a fool and his money are easily parted. When I hit the jackpot, I’ll be able to retire and leave these fools to their drudge: they don’t deserve any better.
interesting…Indeed they do not deserve better…!!!
Hi Maureen,
This was a piece of fiction. I don’t agree with the sentiment expressed. I don’t think anyone should be cheated out of their hard-earned wages.
I love how you wrote about the dark side of all of us. This temptation to cheat, be it conscious or unconscious. It’s a nice story and if you indeed participate in a lottery pool, I hope you and your friends win!
I very rarely gamble: I think it’s a mug’s game. They call the National Lottery the “stupidity tax”: a little harsh maybe but essentially correct.
Many thanks for your feedback.
in a way smart but nasty if someone where to do that.
There was a case in the news recently where a shop assistant at a lottery booth had been given a ticket to check by an old couple. He had declared it “no win” when he knew it was worth over a million. He tried to claim the prize for himself. He was actually very unlucky not to get away with it. I wonder how many times similar things have gone undetected?
Thanks for your feedback.
Yes I’ve heard of that happening many times here too, now whenever a ticket is a win (even if only another ticked) they have to be signed by the person who brings it in.
I do have to wonder like you said, how many times it did go undetected before the individual was caught here as well.
I guess we’ll never know.
sadly no. we could both be millionaires..
A sweet little fold of fiction. I like when you pen longer. You certainly have many stories tucked away Rob.
I think we all have many stories tucked away. Children play make believe. Adults are expected to give it up. If I had a tattoo it would have to say “what if”. Getting to an age is fine provided you don’t have to act it!