By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
What would you give your family if you won the lottery? Let’s dream a little about winning a huge amount of money. Do we really know our family?
While our aspirations sound noble and unselfish, our intentions may have the potential to reach comedic or nightmarish proportions. My suspense writer’s imagination has just exploded onto the page! We can have a little fun here. Let your imagination run wild!
Take a look at the following story beginning when a well-meaning woman, whom we’ll call Claire, wins twenty-million dollars in the lottery.
Scene #1
Claire decides to give a portion of her winnings to her parents. They’ve always loved and supported her, and she wants to give them something they can use.
Scene #2
Claire makes the announcement during a family dinner in which her parents, two sisters, and brother are present. Her parents protest her generosity, and her siblings are speechless.
Scene #3
Claire learns her siblings are furious and have posted inappropriate comments on social media.
Scene #4
Claire attempts a discussion to resolve her siblings’ disapproval of her not giving each of them money. It starts well but ends badly.
Scene #5
Claire consults her in-laws about what to do. I’m not going to write what happened there …
Okay, reader, now it’s your turn. With all that’s gone wrong up to this point, how do you think Claire’s story should end? Leave a comment on this blog post with your story-ending. I’ll select from the comments below what I consider to be the top three endings and post them on my Facebook page (without the writer’s name) and ask my Facebook audience to weigh in and comment on which one is their favorite story-ending.
The most popular story-ending writer will receive their choice of a $35.00 Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Christian Book Distributor e-gift card. So Start Writing!
Comments 31
After having a family meeting where she tells her family she loves them, Claire sets up a “family fund” (with an impartial trustee)and a charity fund to help worthy charities (also with a board of impartial trustees). Next she changes her phone number and blocks her social medias.
Claire closes her social media accounts. She sends cards and letters to her siblings at holidays and birthdays, and she still talks to her parents on the phone. She keeps herself busy with her husband and their home. They are able to travel and do some of the things they only dreamed of, but they are still working, because taxes and the like meant they didn’t get nearly the full $20 million. Somehow they hear about one of her nephews having a serious accident and Claire makes arrangements to pay his hospital bills. She tries to keep it anonymous, but her brother finds out. He’s angry, but the nephew and everyone else is, like, come on, accept this for the generosity it is, and eventually they are all able to make up.
Auriette, thanks! Claire’s smartest move was closing her social media accounts.
After talking with her in laws about what happened with her siblings she knew what she had to do. She calls each sibling and asks if they can meet to work things out. Begrudgingly each of them finally agrees to the meeting. They all arrive at her house at the same time where they then head to the library. She explains her plan. Each sibling can either tell her why they felt they deserved to have a share or they can join her game. In order to finish they must solve a series of clues to complete the game. Whomever makes it to the end is the winner and will receive a prize greater than they expect. If they do not wish to be involved in the game they can then explain why they should receive a share. Only after she is pleased with their answer will she give them their share. They each agree to the game. But once it is started it’s harder than they expected. Soon after they begin her brother drops out and he explains his wife is very sick and needs a very expensive surgery. Realizing he had good reason to want the money she gives him the money needed for the surgery. The game continues on between her 2 sisters each completing the clues until they were almost to the end. Her oldest sister suddenly decides she can’t take anymore and says she needs the money because she is about to lose her house and once again claire gives the money that is needed. Her youngest sister is the only one left. She tells her if she wants to end the game she can, but she chooses to continue on. Finally after a week she solves the last piece. Her sister congratulates her and tells her the money that is left after giving it to her brother and sister is hers to keep. She is left speechless. How could her sister give that to her after everything that she had said on social media. Her sister then told her she was just doing what jesus would do.
Katherine, your idea is different and unexpected. Thanks!
An accident happens to one of the younger family members that makes them pull together and consider what is really important. They don’t heal their riff right away but it’s a first step
Thanks, Jeff, I like the natural flow. Sensitive feelings usually take time.
When I first read this story line, I was reminded of the movie, “The Ultimate Gift”. In keeping with that story line, Claire comes up with ways that her family can “earn” their cut of the pie. I would hope that Claire didn’t tithe to one church. I’ve been in a church where the minister said he would refuse lottery winnings because they were “tainted”. I think the bigger problem would be that a church might create more than they could handle after the initial gift ran out.
The same goes for the family. I can see Claire giving back to her parents without stipulation. They did raise her and deserve to live their lives out in comfort. As for the rest of the family, I would like to see Claire give thought to each one and their personality and how they might benefit from a challenge given to them before they can get any money. The challenge or challenges would be appropriate to each person to better them and teach them that money doesn’t solve all their problems. Perhaps the gift would come with further stipulations of how it could be spent.
In other words, I would hope that Claire’s money would make “better” people rather than “rich” people.
Hi Barbara, I loved the movie The Ultimate Gift – yes, I can see Claire forcing her family to shape up! Thanks!
The meeting with the in-laws went well. They were kind and encouraged her to try again. She called all three and convinced them to meet her at her hotel suite in the city. Carol and Clint, her older siblings, said ok but cursed and ranted about her selfishness and her newly developed narcissistic ways.
Carla was the younger of the three and was timid. She did what she was told in most situations with her brother and sister. She agreed to come and see her and to the stipulation that each of them bring the book she gave them the night of the dinner.
The three arrived together, and Carol and Clint had been drinking. Claire had treated herself and made reservations for the four-room suite, with a butler, over a week ago.
Before things got out of hand Claire asked if they had brought the books. Carla walked up quietly and placed hers on the table where Claire was sitting and backed away.
“This is stupid, we should have never come here. Look at her with her fancy butler and a suite as big as my house!” Carol screamed at Claire. She had grabbed Clint’s book and threw them both at her sister, hitting her in the face. Claire tried to turn away, but one book cut her cheek.
“Lets go Carla!” Clint had already headed towards the door and carol followed. She stopped and looked back at Carla, who was looking back and forth at each of her sisters, tears streaming down her face. “Now!” Carol yelled.
Carla stood up straight and walked over and picked up the books. She stacked all three neatly and stood beside Claire. This infuriated Carol.
Carol cursed at them both and the butler screaming “Whatever!” as she slammed the door.
The butler brought a damp towel to Claire. “Im sorry miss.”
“It’s ok Brian, thank you.” Claire took the towel and wiped her cheek.
Carla took a breath to speak, but Claire interrupted.
“When is my birthday?”
Carla looked at her sister, confused. “What?”
“When is my birthday?”
“January the twenty seventh?” Carla responded.
“Did you read page one twenty-seven?” Claire had gotten up and was starring out the large windows facing the street.
“No, I didn’t.”
Carla looked down at the stack of books entitled “How To Handle Your Money Like a Pro.”
Claires younger sister hesitated as she reached for a book.
“It doesn’t matter which one, they are all the same.”
Carla pushed the one with blood on the corner away and turned to page one twenty-seven in the second book.
“Dear Carol, I love you so much. Thank you for always being there for mom and dad. I know we have had some rough times, but your my sister and I wanted to make your life a little easier. I have placed one and a half million dollars in a trust fund for each of you. I’ve rented a suite for all of us next week at a super nice hotel in the city. I love you, Claire.”
Carla ran over to her sister and hugged her tight.
“Claire Im so sorry.”
They stood together in silence. Even through the new falling snow they both could make out the silhouettes of Carol and Clint arguing on the sidewalk below.
Tripp, you had me hooked all the way. I think you have a story line … at least a short story!
Thank you!
Congratulations!
Since Claire and her husband have been supporting and helping family members financially for years, Claire discusses her plans with her husband and gives one and a half million to their church. Then she gives each set of parents one million each in a trust with monthly income. Each of the siblings (seven from both sides of the family) will receive a one time tax free gift of $500,000. She and her husband then quit their jobs, sell all they own and travel the world depositing the last seven million in a Swiss bank account. The only way for family to get in touch with them is through their lawyer daughter. While traveling the world they give and assist as the Holy Spirit guides them under the names of Abraham and Sarah Israel. Who knew the real Abraham and Sarah Israel would take the credit and notoriety in order to steal the rest of Claire’s winnings.
Kimallison, thank you! Claire has a big heart and understands the meaning of unconditional love.
Unbeknownst to Claire, her in-laws are secretly partnering-up with Clarie’s parents to open a horse racing/breeding farm. The money Claire gave her parents was enough to open the farm earlier than expected and resulted in it being a family run operation with Clarie’s siblings working in operations on the farm. Happily for all, one of their horses was a subsequent Kentucky Derby winner.
Great idea! I love horse and everything that has to do with them. Thanks
I would pay for transportation/rooms/locale and all expenses just to be able to assemble all of us in the same place at the same time!
My fondest wish….
Kathleen, spoken by a woman who misses her family. Perhaps when COVID is buried, we can all spend time with out loved ones.
Thanks!
Wow – Where Claire messed up was scene 2. She should’ve talked to her parents alone and sought investment advice before she told her siblings.
I’m assuming Claire is about forty years old. After taxes, she has about fourteen million dollars left.
After Claire picks herself up off the floor, she calls her pastor and best friend to tell them she has a major decision to make and ask for their prayers. She then spends five days in prayer before she does anything.
She then goes to an investment manager to help her decide the best way to accomplish her wishes and to prevent the government from getting any more of her money than is unavoidable. She brings her pastor with her and explains that she is donating 1.4 million dollars to her church. The investment manager takes the pastor to a second manager who works with him to decide the best way to handle the money, based on the church’s current needs and future plans. She insists the donation be anonymous and any new building not be named after her.
Claire then sets aside five million dollars in a mutual fund for her parents. The fund pays them a set amount monthly and ensures they can withdraw any amount they need should a crisis arise. Her siblings are beneficiaries and the amount in the fund upon her parents death will be divided equally between them.
She invests one million dollars to be distributed equally among her favorite charities, to be paid over five years.
Lastly, she deposits the remaining 6.6 million dollars in a trust which provides a monthly payment for her family, with flexibility as their needs or plans change. Upon her and then her husband’s death, the rest of the money is distributed to her children equally, immediately if any are over thirty years. Any under thirty will have access to the funds on their thirtieth birthdays.
Is this boring enough? I’m actually glad I don’t have these decisions to make..
Sherry, that is not boring! You took a lot of time to think this through. Thanks … I may end up with a story idea!
Interesting. Claire has had a boundary issue with her siblings. She could never say no to them. This is her chance to stand her ground. Give the money to her parents, tithe, and invest the rest. What her siblings do not know is the Claire found out that she has incurable cancer. She doesn’t need the money. Upon her death, the money will continue to grow. And in 10 years after her death, the money will be dispersed among her siblings with a note of how each of them affected her. And how she waited because she wanted them to have more than they ever dreamed of. And a reminder that God loves them even more than that.
Mara, that’s amazing! I love the twist in Claire’s health. Thank you!
Claire does pay her tithe first, gives her parents a set amount. Puts most of the money in an investment account, to pay herself a monthly amount. After changing her will to include her husband and any children with the majority of her funds, she also sets aside another amount in a trust to be paid five years from now and names her siblings, in equal portions, as beneficiaries.
Thanks, Paula! Claire is a smart gal!
Love this exercise, Diann! Thank you!
Claire hides the check to her parents in her Mother’s Bible. Since her Mother reads through the Bible with a reading plan every year, Claire knows she will find the check in a couple of weeks. She buys Bibles for each of her siblings and tucks a nice check into each and pays a courier to deliver them. Claire then wires a transfer to her church and the rest to a Cayman Islands Bank where she changes her identity and disappears while she prays and contemplates what sort of mission work she feels called to do.
Stacey, I’m laughing! You took a potentially ugly situation and wrote the start of an inspirational suspense!
After a nightmarish scene with the in-laws, Claire prays about the situation and talks with a trusted, faithful friend. She decides to rent a house in a fun location – the beach, or maybe Big Chebeague Island, because it’s a fabulous place – where the entire family can spend time together. After that, she makes sure that her parents will be secure in their older years by creating a guest cottage at the corner of her property so they have privacy but can visit and have help whenever needed.
As for the rest of the money, she makes large donations to her church and her favorite charities, then speaks with an investment firm so that she can continue to help others anonymously in the future.
Thanks, Amy, our Claire made solid decisions about her loved ones’ future.
Haha! Claire pays her tithe first, then keeps half of the remaining balance, and disperses the other half evenly among the rest of the family regardless of their opposition or opinions because she loves them all.
Aw, Loretta, you’re so much kinder than I’d be! Thanks!