The million pound note - November 8, 2010

I opened my eyes wide with shock at the loud bang of the front door. I knew i shouldn't have been surprised that my parents has left me at home alone again. They always did that, but I guess i thought they might've stayed because of my birthday. Stingy tears pricked my eyes and my throat blocked up, threatening to let a sob break free. I threw back my covers and peeked through my curtains, out the window. The drive way was empty. I sighed and padded down the stairs to search for breakfast.

I spared a cautious glance into the living room; no brightly coloured square box's, no ribbons, balloons or birthday cards. I'm turning seven years old today, not that anyone cares. I gave myslef a hug, "Happy birthday Laurie" i whispered. I methodically had breakfast; take out a bowel, pour the milk, add cereal and grab a spoon.

Everyone wonders why i put milk before cereal, but honestly i don't know. They also say i'm a 'know it all' but i just pay attention. I sighed again and listened to the emptiness of the house. My cereal started to go all soggy, but i didn't feel hungry anymore. All i could think of were big lumonous balloons and birthday chocolate. Suddenly, i felt the urge to go into town and see all the shop windows begging me to buy their goods or visit the bakery, with it's cutely decorated cup cakes and freshly baked bread. I was already at the door when i had my last thought. What if mom an dad came back while i was out? Would they even notice i was gone? I frowned and yanked open the door after grabbing my coat and shoving my feet into my too-big boots.

It was quite a frosty day, so i was right to bring my coat. I ran my hand along the icy railings and hopped down the steps and started the walk to town. Town isn't very far away and i know the road well, I usually walk down it when i'm feeling upset. There are lots of different people in town, especially on Saturdays. A tall lady in a big red coat was standing at the bus stop, talking animatedly into her cellphone. Her eyebrows shot up and down and her mouth moved so fast it was hard to tell what she was saying. It took me a while to realize i had stopped and was staring at her, her wide eyed gaze fell upon me.

I snapped my head down and started walking again, slowly shuffling my feet along the wet pavement - hoping she would be gone by the time i reached the bus stop. I held my breath as i passed her, my cheeks flashing bright tomatoe red as i stumbled over her bag. "Sorry!" I murmered quickly, I looked up through the veil of hair that had fallen over my face to see the maroon bus pull over. I turned just in time to see a flash of red dissapearing into the open bus door and a bright yellow piece of paper fluttering down from her bag.

"Ya' comin' darlin'?" the driver asked, bending his head round the window.
"No...ummm sorry" I said stupidly, i was preoccupied with the little piece of paper which has drifted behind the bus. He followed my gaze with his eyes and gave me a confused smile. He looked kind, and he had two dimples which lifted up his face and crinkled his eyes.

"Alrighty then, good day!" he said cheerfully. I couldn't help returning his smile "Have a nice day!" I shouted as the bus sputtered away from me. He waved his hand out the window and i giggled, stood on my tippy toes and waved back. I'd almost forgotten about the piece of paper. It's probably just a reciept, i thought to myself. But all the same I checked for cars, then stepped into the road and stooped down to pick up the damp paper.

I turned it over in my hands, being careful not to rip it. It started to rain, miserable heavy grey clouds closed in on the sky - cutting out the suns happy rays. I sat down in the bus shelter and hugged my arms around my body. 'LOTTO!' the ticket said in bright letters. I knew what the lottery was, my parents had done it once. That's when they started ignoring me. I sighed, thinking of candles and pink icing.

I didn't understand the ticket, it was just numbers; some were circled. I decided to take it back to the lottery booth. So i heaved myself up and, holding the ticket tightly in my hand, ran to the nearest line of shops. I entered the first one i could find; it was a cafe.

Warm aromas of coffee, cream and biscuits crowded around me, it was welcoming and warm as i breathed in deeply, taking in the heavy scents and smells. Sure enough, breaking the cafe's welcoming theme, there was a bright yellow booth which has big, bold letters wich screamed "LOTTERY!" at anyone who saw it.

I had been planning to just return the ticket, but a little voice in my mind kept saying "You could win, one million pounds, think of what you could do!". My mind automatically thought of balloons and chocolate and my parents smiling faces, which i hadn't seen in so long. I took another deep breath and walked to the lady standing behind the counter.

She had fake blonde hair and a too-white smile plastered on her face. How uncomfortable that must be, i thought, having to smile all day - even when she was sad. I wasn't tall enough to see above the desk, so the lady peered down at me with a mean sneer behind her fake, smiling eyes. "And how can i help you?" she asked in a demanding voice.
"Ummm...I have a lottery ticket?" I said meekly, almost asking myself.

I was startled and jumped back when she let out a cackle of laughter. I recovered myself as her steely gaze penetrated through my eyes, I held her stare and took a deep breath; "When are the lottery results done?" I questioned her confidently, she almost looked taken aback at my tone of voice. "They got out at nine, although no ones clamied the money" she muttered with a disgusted exprssion on her face, like she thought she deserved the money.

I scrunched the ticket in my hand as she handed me the result paper. It was small with four numbers on it, "Two, six, four, one" I whispered out loud, my pulse was racing and my hands were clammy as i took my ticket out to compare the numbers.

I ran my fingers along the lines of numbers, holding my breath.
"Two" I whispered out the first circled number.
"Six" I slowly said to myself, my pulse was gathering speed.
"Four!" I almost squeled as my finger searched the paper.
My breathing broke and stuttered to a stop, I was frozen with shock.

"One..." I whispered.

I stood there for a long, long time, the clock in the corner said twenty minutes. "You're still here" a high pitched voice complained. My head snapped up with shock, "I won" I said softly, she stared at me. "I WON!" I shouted with glee. I breathed deeply and held the note tightly in my hand.

My one million pound note.

-Grace van der Wielen