To cheers and celebration, Blair walked off the graduation stage. He and his high-school sweetheart, Becky, were finally ready to start their forever together. Although they were both already 18 and engaged for months their parents both said that they weren't allowed to get married until after they graduated. They already had all of the invites out, the bookings made, and the perfect (for them) wedding scheduled later in the summer. Thankfully, her parents were taking care of paying for it or they'd never have been able to even think about getting married right away. They'd been faithful to each other through high school, though they'd even been saving themselves for their wedding night. It hadn't been easy, but they continued to tell themselves that waiting it would be worth the wait.
They mingled with their classmates then got ready for the graduation party that her parents had planned at their place, to lessen the risk of a wild party happening somewhere. They had a fairly large house, not exactly a mansion though, but a very nice place for a medium-sized party with most of their friends. The music was bopping and everyone was enjoying the food and drinks when her parents came over to them and asked if they could have a moment. Blair didn't have a good feeling about what they were about to find out.
"So, we have something we need to tell you." her dad said.
Her mom continued, "We have been waiting until after the graduation ceremony and while we hate to do this now, the timing overall isn't great."
"What's the matter?" Blair asked.
"Well," her dad responded. "my company has been dealing with some financial troubles in the last several years and just recently got bought out. While this does allow me to keep a job, I had to take a demotion with a fairly significant reduction of pay."
He paused there, seeming to grasp for the right words. His wife took over, "which means that we aren't certain of the specifics for the wedding plans we have in place. We will do everything we can to maintain what was booked but we might have to make some compromises."
That last word seemed to echo in their minds. Blair knew Becky had her heart set on things as they were and wanted to do whatever he could to maintain that. He broke the silence, "Don't worry babe," He reassured Becky, "I will make it work out somehow. We have some time before then and I'll figure something out."
"No, it's ok." She said, clearly distraught. "As long as I am marrying you the rest doesn't matter."
He could feel the disappointment in her words. He changed his demeanor to be more upbeat, "No, No, No. I have a plan, it'll work out."
He could see her cheer up at his words. Although he made such a bold statement and was able to console Becky, he was not actually sure how he was going to make anything workout. When they made all of the wedding arrangements they had done so with the understanding that the finances where there and had planned much bigger than they would have otherwise.
The rest of the party went uneventful, though the entire scenario weighed heavily in the back of his mind.
The next day he was hanging out at over at his buddy's house. Curt and him went way back and had basically been together since elementary school.
"I don't know what I'm gonna do. How can I possibly come up with thousands of dollars to give her the wedding she wants? No, the wedding that she deserves!" Blair said throwing a dart at the dart board, possibly a little harder than normally. "I mean, I don't want to do anything illegal or anything. I've thought about just working to get it, but how can a recent high-school guy make that kind of money in so short a time. I can't really take a loan, and don't want to start our lives together in debt anyway. The lottery seems to be the best option, and that's a long shot at best."
Curt just sat off to the side listening.
Blair continued as he paced around, "I mean I would do anything, legally..." (he emphasized) "...to make her dream come true! You have all kinds of connections Curt; can't you pull any strings for me?"
He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "There are only so many opportunities available. I don't really want to see you do something you wouldn't do otherwise."
"You do have something in mind!" Blair responded. "Tell me! I'm desperate!"
"Well, Mr. Burnedale has a contest coming up this Saturday night with a cash grand prize of $20,000."
"How are you only telling me about this now?!? Wait, why isn't it the talk of the town? That would be enough money to pay for the wedding outright and have some to start our life together!"
"Well, that's the thing, it's a "special contest" that not just anyone can take part in."
Mr. Brunedale was the rich man of the town with the 'mansion on the hill' house at the outskirts. He was known for almost always keeping to himself and not many knew much about him.
