Saturday, April 21, 2012

Mega Who?


If you have followed my stories for quite a time, you know that my brother John is a proverbial Huckleberry Finn. Adventure and mischief seem to cloak him as comfortably as silt on the bottom of the mighty Mississippi. Who could ever have guessed that as the nation held it's breath waiting for the winner of the Mega Millions to be revealed, a voice from my brother's past would provide an ending to a story.


Deeana was just the type of girl my brother was crazy about; long dark hair and deep brown eyes, a Spanish beauty whose R's rolled attractively. My brother, in his mid-twenties was lean from summers lifeguarding and as dark of skin as she was. She thought he was Spanish as well. An immediate attraction that soon found the pair sharing an apartment together.


For my brother who has the wanderlust heart of a Gypsy, this was a step toward domestication I thought I would never live to see. I was invited with my family to meet Deeana and her large family. We fell in love with them all.


I will forever remember the weekend spent in John and Deeana's beautiful apartment whose walls were hung with my brother's beautiful art. My brother pulled me aside to tell me he planned to ask Deeana to be his wife. I would return to Ohio filled with such joyful expectation for my brother's future. A telephone call with bad news left heartache in it's wake. It seemed Deeana turned down his proposal. It seemed she wanted more. It seemed she had met someone with very deep pockets. A school teacher's salary was just not enough. John would not hear from Deeana for more than a dozen years.


With the Mega Millions payout reaching dizzying heights, John and his lifelong childhood friend Greg purchased two hundred tickets at a 7-Eleven in  Maryland. The very store where the winning ticket was purchased. As the news would report, it seemed there was controversy regarding a McDonald's worker who claimed she held the winning ticket. This was not the case. She was not the winner. A call from the past, a voice with rolling R's.


"John! It's Deeana! I heard on the news the unidentified winner of the Mega Millions is a teacher who says he will use his winnings to return to Italy to finish studying art. It's you John, isn't it!!!!"


My brother replied, "Shhhhh! I haven't even told my sister yet. Don't say a word about this to anyone." Deeana quickly asked, "Can we get together to celebrate?" My brother said yes, the next day.


My brother called Deeana the next day before the time they were to meet. "Deeana, the worker at McDonald's isn't the only one who didn't tell the truth. I didn't win the Mega Millions, I'm still a school teacher who is so glad I wasn't worth enough for you to marry all those years ago."





40 comments:

  1. Wonderful story with a great ending. Payback time for that girl who turned him down!

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  2. You have a great knack for telling stories and it seems it must run in the family. Loved it!

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  3. I love these stories! Your brother sounds like a really great guy!

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  4. Wonderful wonderful! It made us all smile.Tell your brother He brightened our day.Denise

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  5. You have to laugh at the shallowness of some people, Elizabeth. I'm glad your brother got his own back on her; let's hope it gave her something to think about.

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  6. You had me till the end! Glad to hear you are enjoying his company and laughs again...I bet he wore his spurs clear out....smiles...Renee

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  7. wow.. I thought you were going to say that they had won. I would have offered to marrying him myself! lol!
    xoxo
    vivian

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  8. Fantastic story! Welcome back and I hope you don't feel the need to stay if you don't want to :)

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  9. Another wonderful tale. I'm glad you and your brother are a happy family again.

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  10. Perfect! Your brother is quite the character. Great story as usual, with an ending to keep me smiling for the evening.

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  11. I loved it!!! Sure enjoy your stories, wish I could tell a story like you!!! Keep em comin'!!!!!

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  12. Oh, E. I did miss you so much! Thank you for the lovely note you left on my blog. It has been a hard six weeks but I am hanging in there.
    So very glad you are back. The beautiful heart is still by my bed!
    Big hugs,
    Suz

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  13. Your story filled my heart... so enjoyable.
    Thanks for coming back and letting us enjoy all your words.
    xoso
    Sandy

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  14. You are such a good storyteller, Elizabeth! Hope your brother has found or will find someone more worthy of him!

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  15. Serves her right and I bet she was already spending HIS riches in her head!

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  16. I love hearing these stories about your brother. And I'm so glad he did not get married to that girl!

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  17. E,
    I am so happy to see your crafts and read your stories again!

    Tammy

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  18. Karma sure is nasty sometimes. I love your brother for doing this to a shallow person but I am sure she will find another victim. Glad it wasn't John though, pity that he didn't win the millions, would have made the story all the more poetic.
    Glad to have you back, filling my reader with wonderful stories.

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  19. My husband calls karma "God's evil twin sister!" lol! I loved this story and I love it when closure packs a one-two punch! =D

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  20. Great story, You really have a wonderful way of writing.

    Karen <3

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  21. Sooooo good to see you!, I missed your stories!

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  22. I've been away visiting grandsons and couldn't believe my eyes when I returned and saw that you had posted. I've read all of your posts from the past week and I join in with all the rest to say It's SO Good To See You Here Again, Elizabeth! I hope you're enjoying all of the love sent your way!
    xoxo
    Joyce

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  23. I can't believe she called him, out of the blue, because she thought he won. I am so glad he did what he did. Great story.

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  24. Good for him! Sounds like it was Deeanna's loss!

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  25. Oh Brother! Sounds like it was HIS lucky day that she didn't want to marry him. Imagine being married to someone so calculating and greedy.

    BTW... Welcome Back! My project folder has been empty for so long and now it already has two projects that you have shared in it. Can't wait to head to Michaels to get my wreath to make me a spring wreath.

    Blessings

    Linda

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  26. Oh Brother! Sounds like it was HIS lucky day that she didn't want to marry him. Imagine being married to someone so calculating and greedy.

    BTW... Welcome Back! My project folder has been empty for so long and now it already has two projects that you have shared in it. Can't wait to head to Michaels to get my wreath to make me a spring wreath.

    Blessings

    Linda

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  27. He, he! I have missed your wonderful stories, Elizabeth! Have a nice day! Twyla

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  28. Touche...to your brother. Here in Texas we would say she got her nose rubbed in it!! And he was so creative about it. I love it!

    And I always love your rodeo/cowboy series!!

    Yehaw our E is back!!

    Hugs and squeezes from Texas and Rick-Rack and Gingham

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  29. Too funny, and it serves her right!!
    :=) Dorothy

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  30. She broke his heart but he survived. He's much happier for it. ;p

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  31. Elizabeth! how exciting it was this morning to open up your site for inspiration and see that you have come back. I can't tell you how many times I have come to your site these last few months for inspiration and tried my hand at crafting your characters and to my amazement these little cuties came to life in my hands as well. I would never have thought I could craft but you provided such wonderful instructions. I am so grateful to you for giving me this outlet at this time in my life...
    Bea

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  32. Hi E!!!
    You had me all the way to the end of the story!
    Julie

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  33. What a brilliant brother you have! Love your stories & the cowboy is sweet as he can be. So happy you're back. Have a wonderful week.

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  34. Cute cowboy-I love the way you create your little characters.Great story. Glad you're back to blogging.

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  35. Such a lovely story!! I love your blog, it is so inspiring and creative, and so happy to be your newest follower!! Have a lovely day!! xo Heather

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  36. You have such a way with words and I love reading every word of your stories.

    I do have one question. Awhile back, I can't remember when, you gave a link to the place where you purchase your felt. Would you mind sharing it again. I can't seem to find it in the archives.

    Thanks!

    Linda

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  37. You have such a way with words and I love reading every word of your stories.

    I do have one question. Awhile back, I can't remember when, you gave a link to the place where you purchase your felt. Would you mind sharing it again. I can't seem to find it in the archives.

    Thanks!

    Linda

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  38. Aw, well I'm in the minority, but I don't think even minor revenge is good for the soul. It's a black spot of unrest and ill will that is all to happy to grow and spread.

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Your kind words mean so very much to me. Thank you for your visit! Elizabeth