I slowly wake from another painful nights sleep. The dry leaves crunch underneath me as I gradually get up off the hard ground, shaded by the trees above. My eyes adjust to the light, I look around at the familiar surroundings. A long dry and dusty road with no cars, grassy paddocks with no cattle, everything is dry except the few tall gum trees. I sit back down on the hard ground, slowly pulling my old, worn boots on.
I follow a path lining an old barbwire fence. I walk in silence for a while until I reach a small creek. I kneel down by the gentle stream of water. I see a tired old man staring back, his dull lifeless face peering up at me. I cup my hands, dip them down and drink for a while before I get up again.
I make my way down that dusty road. It’s not long until I reach the near by country town. People stare at me but it’s no different to any other day, some nod hello acknowledging my presence, others ignore me, trying not to stare. I soon reach the wooden bench where I sit and spend my lonely days. Watching the people go by, wandering in and out of the small strip of shops.
Something catches my eye, standing out amongst the litter and scrap caught in the gutter. I can already see it’s a scratchy of some sort. Any other person would have seen it as just another piece of rubbish. I bend down to pick it up. It has already been scratched. Mustn’t be a winner, I take a closer look and to my astonishment I see that I have won $25,000. I’ve never won anything before. I quickly pocket it and make my way back along the dusty road.
I slept slightly better last night knowing I’d have a good day just because of a little piece of paper. I make my way back towards the town. I walk for a short distance before I arrive at the bench where I found my fortune. I keep walking, past the shops ‘til I reach the station. The city train is just pulling in. I get on the first carriage. The steady motion of the train lets me drift off into a light sleep. An hour goes by and I wake up three stops before mine.
The train grinds to a halt. I shuffle over towards the door. A mother grips onto her young daughter, who’s glancing up at me. I may be homeless but that doesn’t mean I’m any less of a genuine person. Busy people get off and on the train. I exit the station, walking down the noisy city streets. I pass a busy corner. A homeless man sits and stares blankly into the heards of people rushing by.
I come to the city a lot. It’s an interesting place to be, so different from the country, always loud and busy. I soon find myself outside of a tall grey building. I walk in. I feel the many eyes stare. I walk to the front desk, a neatly dresses lady sits behind it.
“Can I help you, Sir?” she asks
“Could you tell me where the Scratch ‘n’ Win Regional Office is?” I reply
“Thirty third floor, room 1509,” she answers
I wander over to where the elevators are. My stumpy, grubby finger presses the little arrow button. Bing! The left elevators doors open, I walk into the elevator. Everyone else decides to wait for another, they don’t want to be stuck with me. The doors start to shut before a man stops them with his hand. I see him eye my scratchy as he enters.
“Twenty five grand, that’s a lot. Do you know what your gonna do with that money?” he says enthusiastically
“Um, not quite sure yet,” I reply politely
“You could invest that you know, triple it,” he responds
You could say that I’m not good with managing money, I don’t have much of it and I hadn’t really thought of investing it.
“I’m good with that kind of stuff, business and all that,” he rambles on as I ponder his proposal
Two Weeks Later
Looking back now you might say I got greedy. That man in the elevator turned out to be a con artist.
I walk down the little trail to the creek to have a drink.
I found out it was a scam a couple of days later, unfortunately after he’d gotten his hands on my winnings. I managed to save myself $50. And the first thing I bought was a pair of new boots.
I look down into the water. An old man smiles back at me. He looks happy and comfortable with who he is. His familiar face reminds me of the joy of a simple life.
© copyright 2009 under the author’s name
