书虫1级《彩票大赢家》6. 奖金和彩票

6. The money and the ticket

Jason did not sleep on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning he got up very early, and made some tea.

What am I going to do?' he thought. 'They're going to send me to prison because I stole that old woman's bag. But I'm going to say sorry – sorry to the court, sorry to the old woman, sorry to everybody. Then perhaps I can get out of prison after – what did my lawyer say? – only eighteen months. OK. So I go to prison... but I don't want to lose that five million pounds! I want the court to believe it was my ticket.'

So I go to prison...'

He drank his tea, and remembered his meeting with Sally Cash. They're not going to like you, Jason. They're going to think, 'This is a nasty young man.'

OK,' Jason thought. 'I'm going to do something nice. What can I do? Yes, I know! Give some of the money away! I can give it to that charity, "Help the children". They send doctors and nurses to Africa and India. I saw them on television last Christmas. They always need money. Wonderful! People can't say I'm nasty after that!'

Help the Children' had a charity shop in the middle of the town, and at nine o'clock Jason was outside the door. There were two women in the shop.

Good morning,' said the older woman. 'Can we help you? Are you looking for some cheap clothes?'

No,' said Jason. 'I want to give you some money.'

That's nice of you,' said the younger woman.

Yes,' Jason said. 'I want to give five hundred thousand pounds to "Help the Children".'

Five hundred pounds?' said the older woman. 'That's wonderful!'

No, no,' said Jason. 'Not five hundred pounds. Five hundred thousand pounds!'

The younger woman looked at him. 'Have you got five hundred thousand pounds?'

Of course I have!' said Jason. 'Well, I haven't got the money now. It's at the court. But I want you to have it.'

The older woman looked at the younger woman, and then at Jason. 'You haven't got any money. Go away.'

Yes, I have! I won the lottery!' said Jason. 'OK. Listen. Let's say a million pounds. How about that? One million pounds for "Help the Children"!'

The younger woman opened the door, and the older woman said, 'Go away! We don't want you here.'

Go away! We don't want you here,' she said.

On Thursday afternoon, Edwin Jones was in the office of Sunshine Lotteries with Mr David Ray. He told Mr Ray the story of Emma Carter and her winning numbers.

Look, Mr Jones,' said Mr Ray. 'Mr Williams had the winning ticket, so we gave him a cheque for the money. I'm sorry, but I can't help you, or Mrs Carter.'

But it wasn't Williams's ticket. It was Mrs Carter's.'

You can't prove that, Mr Jones. All lottery tickets look the same. They don't have names on them.'

I can prove it,' said Edwin Jones. 'Listen. Mrs Carter's ticket is different. You see, she always gets the same numbers. And every week she puts an X on her ticket.'

He told Mr Ray about Mrs Carter's son in Australia. Then he took a lottery ticket out of his pocket. 'This is an old ticket. Look – Mrs Carter always puts an X, here ...Please go and look at the winning ticket. Now!'

Mr Ray went away and came back five minutes later. His face was unhappy.

Well?' said Edwin Jones.

I don't know,' Mr Ray said. 'All the tickets go through the computer many times, so it's difficult to see—'

Mr Ray, is there an X on that ticket, or isn't there?'

Mr Ray looked angrily at Edwin Jones. 'Perhaps there is, and perhaps there isn't,' he said. 'But what does an X prove? Perhaps hundreds of people write an X on their lottery ticket. Perhaps it's Mrs Carter's X, but how do we know? Tell me that, Mr Jones.'

I can't tell you, but the police can. Now, Mr Ray, please call your bank and stop that cheque. Next, give that lottery ticket to the police. They're going to want it.'

Mr Ray looked unhappy. 'Yes, all right,' he said.

Then you need a lawyer,' said Mr Jones. 'Because Mrs Carter wants her money – and she wants it now!'

On Thursday afternoon, Jason Williams went to Sally Cash's office and told her about 'Help the Children' and the women in the shop. Sally looked tired.

Jason, Jason!' she said. 'What is all this? I don't want to listen to more lies.'

I'm telling the truth! I went into the "Help the Children" shop, and they didn't believe me. They said, "You haven't got any money. Go away!" Please telephone them, Miss Cash. I want to give them one million pounds. Please tell them that.'

But...' said Sally Cash. 'But your lottery cheque is at the court...'

Yes, I know. But when I get the money, I want to give one million pounds to "Help the Children". I thought about it very carefully. I won all this money in the lottery, and I want to do something good with it. All those little children in Africa and India – I want to help them.'

All those little children in Africa and India –I want to help them.'

Sally looked at him for a minute.

Please,' said Jason. 'Please help me. You wanted to help me. You told me that.'

OK,' Sally said suddenly. 'I believe you. You want to give away a million pounds.' She thought for a second. 'Write a letter to "Help the Children". Write it here, now. Tell them about the million pounds, and put your name on the letter. I'm going to put my name on the letter too, and take the letter to the charity's office now. OK?'