The Last Scratchcard

This sort of story is one you've heard many times, but never really believed, but this time it is true. Picture the scene. Kristina Schneider, aged 32, is working as a petrol station cashier. She's got credit card bills up to her ears, and then she sees a $10 note on the floor. She asks the customers if it belongs to anyone, and no ones takes it. Then, a customer buys two $10 'Magnificent Millions' Ohio lottery scratchcards but says he’s not got enough for the last one on the roll. Kristina knows that there is an unwritten rule amongst lottery ticket sellers "always sell the last ticket, or buy it yourself".

So, using her found $10 note, she bought the last ticket and won $1million. Even though she sells the tickets everyday, Kristina had to wait until Ohio Lottery officials confirmed the win, before she would believe it. Instead of taking a lump sum like most winners do, she has opted to take $34,500 per year, for the next 20 years as she did not trust herself not to be broke again within five years. And the customer who did not buy the ticket? Well there’s always another time.

- 24/5/07