The Lottery Winner

He seemed like an ordinary guy. Mark reclined on his chair and stretched out his legs. He was 6 "5". He had to stretch.

 

'You don't look like a counsellor,' his client Joel noted.

 

'I can assure you that we come in all shapes and sizes,' Mark replied.

 

'Just like lottery winners.'

 

Mark smiled at him before replying, 'Yes.'

 

'You come highly recommended but I'll tell you this, I don't think I did anything wrong.'

 

'Nobody here is condemning you,' Mark said.

 

'Ha!' Joel replied.

 

'It was a fluke. I sometimes think that maybe God was having at a joke at my expense. Know what I mean?'

 

Mark did not respond.

 

'That's fine,' Joel said. 'You don't have to answer me. I know what this is called; reverse psychology. See? I know my stuff. I've been reading a lot of psychology.'

 

'I don't care what people say. It's my money and I'll do what I want with it. They can say what they want about me. I don't need them. I don't need anyone. I'll buy an island somewhere and disappear forever. That'll show 'em!' Joel was talking to himself now.

 

'Who's "them"?' Mark asked.

 

Joel looked up as if surprised that Mark was around.

 

'Church. People. You know.'

 

'I don't know. Why don't you tell me?'

 

'I'm not saying anything. The lottery people gave me a wealth management person but I refused. I thought, "I'm a Christian, I don't need lessons on wealth management." And now look at me.' He gave a short laugh.

 

'And now, look at you,' Mark echoed.

 

Joel looked at him defiantly.

 

'I'm not ashamed of the money. I won it fair and square. And I don't care what anyone thinks. If the church doesn't want it because it's the proceeds of my, "gambling,"' Joel sneered the word, 'then, that's their problem. And I'll tell you something else, I will sit anywhere in church that I want to even if the pews around me are empty because no-one wants to sit next to a "gambler." Their problem, not mine.'

 

'I'm not entirely sure what you want me to do,' Mark said.

 

'That makes two of us,' Joel muttered, jutting his lower lip.

 

'Do you want to take a break?'

 

'Why? Had enough already?'

 

Mark didn't answer. He leaned back on his easy chair and surveyed his client.

 

'Could you not do that please? It's making me nervous,' his client told him.

 

'Sorry. I was thinking.'

 

'About what?'

 

'Stuff. Travelling.'

 

'Travelling?'

 

'Travelling.'

 

‘I used to fantasise about what I would do if I was rich. I didn't think money would make me happy but I did believe that it would make my life a lot easier.'

 

'And has it?'

 

Joel took his time before answering. 'It has made my life a lot more complicated and at the same time made it clearer.'

 

Mark raised his eyebrows. Joel gave a self-conscious laugh. 'I know. I've read too many self-help books. Three months ago, I was regular Joel. I had a job, girlfriend, led Bible home groups in my house and was an usher in church. One Sunday after church, I bought a lottery ticket. On a whim, you understand? I wasn't a regular lottery player. In fact, I didn't play at all but six days after, I was £30 million richer. A month later, my girlfriend and I had parted ways, my Bible home group was non-existent and I was availed of my usher position. I hardly have any friends and oh yes, my lottery win split the church. Those were the complications the lottery win brought. As for making things clearer, well I lied. I'm still trying to figure it out.'

 

A week later
'Have you had a good week?' Mark asked his client.

Joel shrugged before answering. 'It's been better than most. You realise don't you, that these sessions provide my longest conversation with another human since I won that money?'

'Really?'

'People don't want to talk to me. They avoid me at work because they resent me and secondly, they don't understand why a lottery winner insists on working. And because of the media, it's been impossible to find a new church. I always get recognised. So I'm stuck; I can't leave my home church even if half of them have left because of me-nobody wants to be associated with a church that's associated with 'gambling.' And I can't go elsewhere because I'm usually recognised. The lottery counsellor said this was to be expected.'

'And you, did you expect this?'

'I didn't expect to win if that's what you mean. I told you it was a fluke.'

Joel got off the sofa and started walking up and down the room.

'Do you want to give the money back?'

'Would my life go back to the way it was before I won?' Joel stopped pacing and went back to the sofa.
He rubbed the back of his neck for a few moments before speaking.

'I think they want me to hand in my resignation at work,' he said. 'It's like the situation in church. I know the leaders want me to leave but they wouldn't come out and tell me directly. They would rather I left without being asked. Don't blame them really. They've had to put up with a lot from the denomination heads, congregation and I would imagine, from the Lord Himself,' Joel laughed at his own joke. Mark smiled with him.

'I was beginning to think you were devoid of emotion,' Joel said when Mark stopped smiling.

'I have it on good authority that Jesus had a sense of humour as well.'

'No kidding. Look what He got me into with this lottery palaver.'

'He didn't play the lottery. You did.'

'I didn't think I would win. I've told you a million times. It was a fluke. A random act that wasn't supposed to amount to anything.'

'So where do you go from here?' Mark asked him.

'You're the counsellor. You're supposed to help me figure it out.'

'Tell me about your parents.'

'They're Baptists. Married 40 years. Live in Farnham. Three children; 2 boys and 1 girl. Oldest boy is an ordained Anglican minister, 2nd boy (yours truly) is a lottery winner and the girl "just came back to the Lord."

'Normal family,' Mark said.

'Very normal family.'

'And your parents. How do they feel about your win?'

'Do not approve but I'm their son and they love me. Blah. Blah.'

'And the girlfriend?'

'I told you. We split up after I won the lottery.'

'You didn't tell me why you split up.'

'It just got more complicated.'

'In what sense?'

'I just told you. Why are you asking me all this questions?'

'Would you rather I didn't?'

Joel didn't answer. There was a few minutes silence.

'I like going to work in the mornings. It gives me a sense of normality and purpose. If I had to quit the job, I do not know what I would do.'

'What do you want to do?'

'That's just it; I don't know.'

'I think you already know what you have to do but you don't want to do it.'

'I'm not giving the money back if that's what you mean.'

'So then, why are you here?'