Hi, my name is Louis. I am an average 12 year old student, and I want to be rich. My mom ran out on my family when I was just a baby, so now I just live with my dad and younger sister. I have only one friend, Alex. We play video games together. I like him because I feel like I can always count on him and tell him all my secrets.

One day, I was walking down the street with Alex when I found a lottery ticket lying on the ground.

I turned to Alex and said, “Hey Alex, I wonder if this ticket is worth anything. Should we take it?”

“Nah, it’s probably just trash,” Alex said.

“It might be worth something. I think I’ll take it.”

“Fine. Let’s go to the market and check there.”

We went to the market and I handed the ticket over to the shop keeper. He then took it and scanned in on his machine. His eyes almost popped out of his face when he saw the screen. “You just won $1,000,000!”

“No way! I can’t believe it,” I shouted. “Alex, I won $1,000,000! I should probably keep this a secret.”

Alex turned away, but not before I saw him glaring. “Sure.”

The next day at home, I was eating breakfast with my family.

My sister said, “Hey, Louis. Have you seen the new LG computer? It’s super pretty and nice. I really want it, but it’s so expensive.”

“We don’t have enough money for that. Don’t even think about it,” Dad said.

At school, Alex was waiting for me.

“Louis, can you lend me some money? I need it for something,” Alex said.

“What do you need it for?” I asked, a little suspicious. I didn’t want to lend him any money. My mind was telling me not to trust him anymore. Alex seemed to be lying to me.

As I was walking home from school with Alex, I noticed a woman following us from behind. She was trying to hide her face and looked very suspicious. I wanted to say something to Alex, but I didn’t want to scare him.

Who could that be? I thought.

Back at home, I found Dad sitting at the table with my winning lottery check in one hand and a letter in the other.

“Dad, I can explain,” I said.

“This money is not what I’m worried about. It’s this,” Dad said. He showed me the letter.

It said, “Dear Louis, This is your mother. I am sorry for leaving you when you were just a baby. It’s a long story that I can you when we meet. I recently found out you won the lottery. Congratulations! I feel bad for asking this now, but I need your money. It is a life or death situation. Can we meet to talk? Love, Your Mom.

“Dad…what should I do?”