August 7, 2015




That ticket sat on my fridge for some time as I attempted to ignore it. If I failed to acknowledge the internal conflict then it can never come to be right? It worked with some other problems that managed to resolve themselves. In particular, my ex-boyfriend, he disappeared, and that unknown caller who tried for like a month straight. Besides, I was too busy. I had a paper to write, classes to attend and tables to serve.

I actually managed to ignore the problem for several weeks but one Monday, I'm fairly certain it was a Monday, I went to work and there she was. We weren't busy but, honestly, there was no way I would have missed her if we were. She sat alone at the bar in way too tight black pants now, stiletto boots and black corset over a bright red tank top. The white stick from her sucker, I was certain it was a cherry flavored one again, emerged from pursed lips. I avoided her as well as I could but there eventually came the stressed middle aged woman who wanted, no, demanded a margarita and I had to make my way over to the bar. She smiled as I approached, picking up her drink and removing the sucker from her lips. (It was cherry.)

"What a dedicated employee," she said. "I figured you would have walked out by now." I ignored her as I gave the drink order to James. He, however, was rather intrigued with his one patron as it took a few moments for him to tear his gaze away and comprehend the order. She took a sip of whatever the brown liquid was in the ice filled glass before continueing to talk at me.

"So what are you going to do with the money?" she asked. James, his gaze interrupted by the need to serve alcohol and therefore actually listening to the converation, looked to me awaiting an explanation. We had worked together for years and talked a lot but I had told no one about the winning ticket. I simply shook my head at him hoping the subject would be dropped but she chuckled.

"Oh, has she not told you?" she aaked slyly. "Kanada here won the power ball jackpot." I know my face paled but it was only for a brief moment before I recalled I was wearing my nametag. I exhaled as I shook my head while rolling my eyes. "Lying will get you damned," she chided. "Oh, wait." She smiled knowingly at me before turning back to James. "Yes, our dear Ms. Winkenhoffer gave me her soul in return for a winning ticket." Now my face paled.

I'm not saying it would be difficult to figure out my last name. It's even possible that is was an excellent guess but I doubt it. No, this means she had to have gone to some effort. Running my car's plates possibly or looking at the schedule in the back room. Nothing hard or impossible but I think that officially crossed the line from malicious crazy woman to dangerous crazy woman. James looked to me and I shook my head while indicating this woman was nuts. She put the sucker in her mouth again and gave it that spin before leaning close to James and pulling it slowly out.

"She doubted me, too," she whispered sensuously to him. "She thought, now only briefly, but she actually thought that I would go cheap. Me, cheap." She acted emotionally hurt. "Let her win only three dollars. Never. I would never stoop to such levels for soul. She won the whole jackpot." She leaned back and gave a satisfactory smile. "Now she just has to claim her prize. After all, I fulfilled my end of the deal." She looked over to me quickly to see my eyes wide in disbelief and jaw hanging to the floor. Then she took a long sip from her drink, draining it, all while keeping eye contact with James. "You'll have to excuse me.” She stood up in such a way to keep James's eyes on her every move but leaned towards me as she walked by and smiled.

"We're going to have such great fun together," she winked as she wandered off towards the restroom.


Can I get a restraining order against a mythical/religous figure? Or will that cross the line between church and state?




Previous: Gold FIlled swimming pools and disturbing women.       Next: It wasn't the exit