SPC Chapter 2: Deborah

Okay, so here is the next chapter of the SPC book: On a character named Deborah, of course.

Characters: Deborah Tan
Setting: Deborah's living room, in front of the TV, in Maryland

Deborah Tan sits in front of the television, on the couch with her mother and father. It is six-thirty P.M., and they are all watching the news. Her father, Xion, is eagerly anticipating for the lotto segment to come on. He has been playing the lottery for 13 years now, and the most amount of money he has ever won is thirty-four dollars and ninety-two cents. Tonight's prize is one-hundred forty-seven million.
Deborah reaches for the remote, bored with the depressing news on the screen. She wants to watch American Idol. She hasn't seen that show since season three. She's not sure why she stopped watching, but she'd like to start again.
"Tahborah, no," scolds her father, his thick Korean accent filling the room. "Wait."
Her sister, Haley, on the floor, sighs. Haley wants to watch American Idol, too.
Deborah's mother brushes the black bangs covering Deborah's brown eyes. "Do not cover your face, Tahbor," her mother says. "It is rude."
Now Deborah sighs. She twiddles her thumbs staring at her fifteen year-old sister. Deborah remembers when she was fifteen. She had a boyfriend. His name was Edgar. She doesn't remember why she liked Edgar. Edgar was nasty. Nasty, and rude. She hopes that Haley never makes the same mistakes Deborah did when she was fifteen. She knows that when Haley is eighteen, how old Deborah is now, Haley will realize the mistakes she made as an early teenager. Like when she wore Deborah's sweater to a Christmas party, and spilled punch on it. Ironically, Haley got punched later that night. That was Deborah's favorite sweater. It was from JC Penny's, and it cost forty bucks. Forty bucks, to be swept up in punch.
Deborah looks over at her father, who has now perked up because the lotto segment is on. He has memorized the numbers, just as he has for the last 13 years. Her mother holds the lotto ticket firmly between her hands, and in the back of her mind, she is hoping that they don't win. She had promised her husband that if they ever one the lotto, they would buy a fancy ranch in Ohio or Kentucky or wherever they have ranches. But Mrs. Tan is not ready to move yet. Her sister, Deborah's Aunt Kim, is pregnant with her first child. And Mrs. Tan will finally be an Aunt herself. And if they won the lotto, that may all change. Aunt Kim will nevertheless still be pregnant, but Mrs. Tan may not be able to see all that. Watch the baby grow up. It is a long drive, from Ohio to Maryland.
Deborah glances over at the ticket. Obviously, she thinks. The numbers are 23, 19, 17, 6, 94. The bonus number is 9. The first four numbers represent the day of the month they were each born, and the fifth number represents the year he started playing. The last number is his favorite number. The last number has always been 9, his favorite number.
Deborah glances up at the screen. The announcer, a gray-haired man in his early sixties, is on the third number. She looks at her father. He is trembling. He peeks over at his wife for a minute. "We got three, babe, we got three," he whispers through his trembles.
"I know, honey, I know."
The announcer utters the next number. "6".
Her mother gasps.
"94."
Her father shouts, arousing the Maltese, Eva, and she starts barking.
The announcer adjusts his suit, getting ready to pull out the bonus number...
"And tonight's bonus number is...."
Her father is at the edge of the couch now....
"6."
They stare blankly at the screen. Her mother whispers, "So, so close."
Deborah reaches for the remote, American Idol time, she thinks.
"Hang on, a minute, folks," early sixties man holds up his hand.
Deborah drops the remote. She knows if she changes the channel she will be grounded for life.
Early sixties man walks off set, but his microphone is still on. All of Maryland can hear: "Chuck, is this a nine or a six? My eyesight isn't what it used to be...."
Chuck mutters something, and early sixties man walks back on set. He smiles. "Minor readjustment, folks..."
Minor? Deborah thinks. More like major. This is the border line between 147 million and zilch...
"Our apologies, the number is actually...
nine."
Screams are erupting in the Tan house tonight.