I can hardly breathe.  My heart is pumping fast, and sweat rushes down my neck as I pull my hands through my hair.  I glance at the numbers on the ticket one more time, and then I shoot my eyes up to the numbers scrolling across my computer screen.  I have just won $20 million dollars.  I cover my mouth so that the neighbors will not hear my yelp.  Who do I tell first?  Rushing for the phone, I immediately dial my mom’s cell phone number.  “She’ll know what to do,” I think, punching the numbers so hard that my fingers hurt.  She picks up the phone and starts to worry when she hears my labored breathing, asking, “What’s wrong?”  “Nothing is wrong.  Believe me, nothing is wrong!”  I almost shout into the phone.  I then tell her the news.  I hear nothing for about a minute.  Suddenly, the excitement gets to her too.  I hear her jump up.  “We can do so much with this money,” she exclaims.    “I know!” I yelp.  We talk about how we will spend it.  My brother and I will both be able to get through school without any loans.  My mom and dad will be able to retire.  I could open that animal rescue I’ve always dreamed of.  There are so many options.

After the excitement dies down within my twisting insides, I grab my coat, and head out to lay claim to my prize.  I am nervous.  My face is sure to be plastered all over the media.  Is it worth it?  “Yes,” I assure myself, starting the car and pulling out of the drive.  I pull up to the convenience store where I purchased the ticket.  Taking a deep breath, I get out of the car and head inside.  When I give the ticket to the cashier I fear her eyes are going to pop right out.  She immediately calls her manager over.  He takes a careful look at the numbers.  After scrutinizing the ticket for about five minutes, he suddenly stretches out his hand in congratulations.  Suddenly the entire store is surrounding me, and I hear that the media has been alerted.  I feel very shy and meekly whisper my thanks to everyone for their interest.  When the media arrives, I feel like my stomach is crawling up my throat.  A newscaster enters the store, dragging a camera man behind her.  She looks at the manager and practically shouts, “So where’s the big winner!”  He points towards me, and I shyly raise my hand.  She springs like a cougar on a rabbit, grabbing my hand and yanking me in front of the camera.   I wave, hoping that my mom is watching.  “I wish she were here,” I think.  A string of questions suddenly shoots from the reporter’s mouth.  I answer them as quickly as possible and try to tell her that I have to be getting home.  “I need some space,” I say, and I head for the door and hop in my car with the camera still on me as I back out.

I decide against going home, knowing that the media would eventually show up there as well.  I am ecstatic, but I need my space to think about how much my life has changed.  I head to my mom’s house.  Once there, I nearly bust though the door.  She jumps up and also starts bombarding me with questions, but I tell her to shush.  She takes the hint and sits back down.  I sit down beside her and bury my face in my hands.  The news is so fantastic that it is terrifying.  “This will pass,” my mom says as she places a hand on my shoulder.

First, my mom and I both work towards setting up a trust fund of $1 million dollars for my younger brother.  He will be able to go to college and start on whatever path he wants worry- free.  I also set up a savings account where I place $3 million. We then set up a fund for my parents.  They will be able to work until they no longer wish to or are able.  Afterwards, retirement can be a comfortable experience for them.  I also set up small funds for all three of my younger cousins to assist them in upcoming college years.

Breathing a sigh of relief after months of preparation and headache about how best to use my money, I turn to my mom.  “What now?” I ask, looking her in the eyes.  “That’s up to you,” she says, patting me on the back.  I sit and think.  I go home and I think.  I lay awake at night and think.  I drive back to mom’s house and think.  I sit back in the same chair and think some more.  “I know!” I suddenly shout, and my mom pokes her head out of the kitchen.  “What have you decided?” She asks.  “Well, I’m still definitely going to keep searching for that job at the zoo, but I also would love to open a rescue for exotic and domestic animals no longer desired by their owners.  I would love to give animals a warm place to live, and enrichment to partake in while permanent homes are being found.  That is what I will do with the money.”

I know I will have to be on my guard.  Falling pennies are often very hard to catch if you’re not paying vital attention to each situation you may find yourself in.  I have read many stories about people winning big money or all of a sudden gaining fame and fortune.  Not all of these people are able to intelligently hang on to their wealth.  I think they spend too much time trying to become a new person instead of trying to use a blessing to improve upon the self that already exists.  Money doesn’t change the person; it simply opens doors that price tags once locked.  When pennies fall, catch them.