**BREAKING: FORGETFUL LOTTERY PLAYER WINS BIG, THEN FORGETS WHY THEY BOUGHT TICKET IN FIRST PLACE**
Seattle, WA – In a bizarre incident that has left officials and lottery enthusiasts alike scratching their heads, a Washington state resident has won a whopping $50,000 prize in the state lottery – but only after a series of hilarious misadventures.
According to sources, 32-year-old John Smith purchased a lottery ticket at a local convenience store in suburban Seattle on Tuesday evening. Smith, who was reportedly “on a mission to buy milk, eggs, and lottery tickets” that night, claims he doesn’t remember actually buying the ticket.
“I was just wandering around the store, staring at the wall, and suddenly I had a ticket in my hand,” Smith told reporters. “I think I might have blacked out or something. Oh wait, I remember now – I was trying to get a coffee!”
The next day, Smith received a mysterious text message from an unknown number that read: “YOU WON! $50,000!” Smith was perplexed, but his curiosity got the better of him. He called the lottery office to inquire about the message, only to be told that he had indeed won a $50,000 prize.
“I was like, ‘Wait, what? Did I actually win?’ And then they told me I had to come in to collect the prize,” Smith said. “I was so excited that I forgot to ask how much I won… again.”
As Smith arrived at the lottery office to claim his prize, he was greeted by a sea of reporters and camera crews. When asked how he felt about winning, Smith replied, “Uh, I think I felt something… um… happy? Yeah, that’s it! I’m happy!”
When asked what he plans to do with his winnings, Smith thought for a moment before responding, “Hmm… I think I’m going to… uh… buy more lottery tickets? No, wait, that’s a terrible idea. I’ll probably just put it in a savings account… or maybe a coffee fund.”
The lottery office has since released a statement urging players to keep track of their tickets and to always check their numbers regularly. “We don’t want anyone else to go through what John did,” a spokesperson said. “Although, we have to admit, it’s pretty funny.”
As for Smith, he’s just happy to have a little extra cash in his pocket – and a great story to tell. “I’m just glad I didn’t forget to show up to collect my prize,” he chuckled. “That would have been embarrassing… or would it?”
