I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 14, 2024] “The Lottery”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Adam O’Fallon Price.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.

It’s December 14. Adam O’Fallon Price, author of The Hotel Neversink, answered the skill-testing question with time to spare.

This was a story that when from big highs to dark lows pretty quickly.  As the story opens a recently married couple (Paul and Laura) has just won the lottery.  And we quickly learn how different the two are by what they decide to do with the winning ticket–not the money, the ticket.

The story is told from Paul’s point of view and he reveals how initially he thought that the different ways they dealt with things was key to a happy marriage.  But now after a couple of years, he feels that their differences are more likely to drag them apart instead of helping them.

And over the course of this short short story, Paul decides that the best thing for both of them would be for him to take his half of the winnings and get out of Laura’s life.

I really enjoyed this story and the way it played out.