scratch off winner

your father wins
a princely sum of money
doing the scratch off
lottery
from the machine
coming out of
the grocery store,
four cherries
line up in a row.
at the end of the week
his picture is
posted online,
a grim mug
shot of him
holding an oversized
check with
the cashed out amount
boldly printed
in large black numbers.
you call him to ask
him what he's going
to do with all
that new found money,
to which he replies,
what money?
how did you find out?
when you explain to him
how, he shakes
his head. I don't know,
he says.
maybe get the belts
on the washer
replaced. buy more
tickets, I'm not
sure quite yet.
I could use a new pair
of shoes.