Monday, September 19, 2011

"Far Bella Figura"

Carolynne Scott

A poor peanut vendor. Every week he bets on the lottery, after his wife screams at him for spending his profits on the lottery, and flirts with the seller of the lottery ticket. He wins the lottery. And then he loses most of it to pickpockets and two little boys on bikes who swipe his hat that has all the liré from his winnings under it.

He has to return to his wife—broke again. So he tries to commit suicide by jumping in the river. Two police officers save him and return him to his wife.

Strangely, she does not yell at him. She has heard that he is now famous for winning the lottery. She is glad to have him back, instead of being a lonely widow of a famous lottery winner.

About the Author: “Lively and creative, Carolynne Scott has been writing for newspapers and magazines for about 20 years. In 1978, she enjoyed a writing fellowship for fiction from the National Endowment for the Arts. She writes short stories and poetry, and has won several literary awards. She has also won an Alabama regional award for photography. In addition to her writing and job commitments as public relations director and magazine editor, she is the mother of a three-year-old.

Short Story International #30. Sylvia Tankel, Ed. February 1982, pp. 143-156.

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