Local man Bob Johnson had the most fortuitous start to his day last Tuesday when he decided to stop for a drink before heading into his dead-end job at the local hardware store. Little did he know that his choice to delay his arrival at the shop by a mere five minutes would result in him winning a whopping $100,000 lottery prize.
Johnson’s predictable and mundane life changed dramatically as he approached the off-license on his route. With a sigh, he realized he was already half an hour early for his menial job stocking shelves and decided to kill time by grabbing a simple bottle of beer. Tempted by the flashing neon of the lottery machine, Johnson decided, on a whim, to buy a scratch-off ticket. To his surprise, he had hit the jackpot.
“This is just ridiculous,” said Johnson during an interview. “I never win anything. I guess I’ll have to finish my drink and quit my job,” he chuckled, wiping the froth from his upper lip.
Johnson’s employer, Frank Green, never quite appreciated Bob’s punctuality or work ethic, but he had no choice but to take notice of him once he came into work with a conspicuous spring in his step and announced he was leaving. “I don’t even know what to say,” said Mr. Green, utterly dismayed, “I mean, anyone can leave their job, but to win the lottery… it’s just unbelievable.” He shook his head and went back to his paperwork, knowing deep down he had no hope of finding an employee half as efficient as Johnson.
Bob Johnson’s story has now become the talk of the town, sparking intense speculation and wild rumors. Some say he had a hunch, others say he had a guardian angel, while others suggest he had struck a deal with the devil himself. Regardless, Johnson’s rise to prominence due to his sheer dumb luck has become something of a local attraction, reminiscent of the novelty items sold by the corner store.
There has been no word yet on how Johnson plans to spend his newfound wealth, but sources close to him say he may just overtake Jeff Bezos as the world’s richest man after he invests in some of the world’s top real estate agencies. “I guess I won’t have to worry about putting up with Frank, the annoying co-worker, or the girl from accounts anymore,” he laughed, with a wicked grin on his face.
In a world where many people work tirelessly to eke out an acceptable existence, Bob Johnson’s bold move to buy a lottery ticket has left us all questioning whether it might be worth taking a chance and stepping off the beaten path every once in a while. After all, as the moral of his story goes, fortune does, at times, favor the foolish.
