THE NUMBERS GAME

I bought a lottery ticket. Once. The very first week that Illinois had a lottery. I didn't win. Another time at a Sweet Corn and Watermelon Festival Dinner, all the attendees were given five hundred numbers as part of the package. About 125 of us were all going to split the winnings. We didn't even get four numbers. Out of 500.

So never again. I really don't care much for any kind of gambling, because well, it's gambling. I guess I just feel money is too hard to make to throw it around on chance.

It worked for Hurley, though. It works for the casino people, too. The owners, I mean, not most of the participants. Some must win because of all the play. Also, Las Vegas and Atlantic City certainly aren't slowing down either.

State lotteries are exploding. There are so many games now that I wouldn't begin to know what or how to play. But you know there are a lot of people out there who love Lost, and they're selecting Hurley's numbers. And some day, they'll show up. Someday. Sometime. Somewhere.