The Winner {WL2019}

The figure sat apart from the others. They all had their tickets, some clutched good luck charms, one had even lit a candle and was chanting. They were all assembled to see who would win the biggest lottery of all times.


There weren't many assembled. Some years there were only two or three, other times, like this year, there were over twenty.

Every four years, there was a lottery. It was sponsored by Management. He was always referred to as "Management". With a capital "M". Always.


Every 4 years Management would place all entrants names on a card and place the cards in a stone chalice. He then would gather the entrants and have them all kneel before him at the Altar of Change. Management never really spoke to the entrants. Management rarely spoke at all. Throughout the centuries, Management handled the game, the Lottery, like a religious ceremony. And all entrants accepted that.



A small servant dressed in a black robe, heavily cowled beckoned the entrants to the chamber carved from ancient bedrock far below modern society.

The entrants knelt and waited.

Management stood over them and waited. The entrants lowered their heads and each said a silent prayer.

Management placed a well manicured hand into the chalice and after a moment pulled out a card.

In a gravelly voice, Management finally spoke the name of this years Lottery winner.

"For 2020, Donald Trump."

a reply to: DBCowboy

This is a good one with a twisted ending.

a reply to: mamabeth



Thank you! I wrote a few others, but this one seemed twisted enough for me.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Well written and it was great except for the very end.

Can you give an alternate, non-political ending?

a reply to: LookingAtMars

I would say no,it's perfect just the way it ends.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: DBCowboy

Well written and it was great except for the very end.

Can you give an alternate, non-political ending?

The entire story was about politics though.. you just didn't know that till the last line.

I enjoyed it.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: DBCowboy

Well written and it was great except for the very end.

Can you give an alternate, non-political ending?

But that was the whole point!

a reply to: Lumenari


Thank you!

I didn't mean to imply anything negative about it. Just my honest opinion.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Haha, thought you were going the Shirley Jackson type lottery route. I like what you did there, DB.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
I didn't mean to imply anything negative about it. Just my honest opinion.

And I appreciate your opinion.

There are no "wrong answers" here.



Thanks for reading it.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Thanks, I was just sure it was going to be you.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: DBCowboy

Thanks, I was just sure it was going to be you.

Wrong character. . . . . . I'm Management!

I love it. The ending was a surprise.

originally posted by: Onlyyouknow
I love it. The ending was a surprise.

Thank you!

a reply to: DBCowboy

S&F DBC! I Loved the Twist at the End. It's Perfect!!
From what I remember about You in Years past,
it's just twisted enough for You that it Fits!!

originally posted by: SyxPak
a reply to: DBCowboy

S&F DBC! I Loved the Twist at the End. It's Perfect!!
From what I remember about You in Years past,
it's just twisted enough for You that it Fits!!

Thank you!

I'm glad you liked it.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Had a small movie running in my head while reading this.

a reply to: Oleandra88





Thank you!

a reply to: DBCowboy

Good story. Great twist at the end.