“For the moment, maybe, but let’s see how he feels in six months”, Clyde said with a sigh. “I knew someone else who won the lottery once, and let me tell you, money does not buy happiness, at least for very long.”

“Are you joking?”, I spatted back incredulously. “That guy just won ten million dollars and is on top of the world! Did you hear his interview with WCNC news? He is going to pay off his mother’s mortgage, quit his job at the car dealership, and give his fiance the wedding of her dreams! Why are you such a Debbie downer? Can’t you just be happy for the guy?”

Clyde leaned against the split rail fence that separated our yards and looked across the street at the lineup of cars and TV station vans parked in Bennie’s driveway and spilling out onto his lawn. “I’m just saying”, he stated, “every Higgins in the phone book is suddenly going to be showing up at his door begging for money for their grandma’s hip surgery or selling him on their ‘can’t lose” business opportunity. It’s a burden to have more money that you need.”

“First of all, phone books don’t even exist anymore” I pointed out. “Secondly, that’s what lawyers are for. I, for one, am jealous as hell and hope he takes the money and gets the heck out of this town as quick as he can and doesn’t look back. He should move to that new gated development in Banner Elk. I heard they even have indoor basketball courts. Boy, would that be cool. Way better than those old broken down courts at the park.”