"Hey, Dreamer, you are not defeated yet"
"If money were no obstacle" - shouted the radio but Maurine has already had enough of it. She reached for the knob and turned the music off, then poured herself a drop of whiskey and sank back into the armchair. The birthday party was over, the guests were gone, and a pile of dirty dishes seemed to crave for a dishwasher.
"If money were no obstacle, I would stop caring about my boss's opinions" - pleased by the thought she relaxed and tried to imagine, what would be the next step."Definitely, Paris" - she always dreamt about travelling. "One night in Paris" - the thought popped out of nowhere, and then Maurine recalled Paris Hilton's famous clip and chuckled. "No, many more nights in Paris; at least, 30" - the City of Light excited and lured her like a magic ship. She would board it to float all over Europe, immersing in the fountains of Rome and kissing Amsterdam's bridges, applauding toreros at Madrid's bull-fight arenas and visiting centuries-old haunted castles of the mother-country. Maurine has never been to England yet but her granny used to tell her about the Buckingham Palace where she had been the late queen's lady-in-waiting.
"What would I do if I settled in an old castle for a while" - suddenly Maurine felt very business-like. "Well, it couldn't be just any castle because its ghosts must be friendly. If they do behave themselves, I will invite them for a dinner once in while". That sounded very romantic, just a right thing to do, and Maurine smiled happily. Then another thought crept in. "If I do nothing but socialize, it will be really boring. Should I study to obtain a degree?" She hesitated. "No, I don' think so - if money is no obstacle, one could do without degrees" She sipped from the glass. "What about some physical activity? Oh, yes - that's a must. Money or no money, if you don't move, you get fat and lose your complexion". The glass landed back on the table, and a mirror took its place. The results of the examination were satisfactory, and Maurine went on. "Sports, then. Swimming? I might splash in my own pool but otherwise it would be too common" - the dreamer was rapidly assuming a mentality of a lady, as if her granny's genes were stirring somewhere inside her. "Tennis? Yes, tennis does sound nice: I would have a court built in my castle's backyard and hire a coach - might even be a handsome coach" - she made an involuntary gesture motioning the untimely thought away. "Just a coach, a good one - to learn the game and not to make a spectacle of myself. Or I could even ride a horse" - the future millionairess took some time to give the idea a better consideration. It didn't take her long to convince herself, though. "That's a really noble sport - even Princess Anne rides for the British national team, and there is this oh-so-British and exotic at the same time polo yet".
Travelling and doing sports regularly, eating well and enjoying the beauty and quiet of her own manor crowned by a castle (a quality chef and an experienced gardener would naturally have to be hired), could surely provide for a very good life. Yet something was lacking - Maurine couldn't spot the lack for a while, then it dawned on her. The money, of course. Paradoxically, it was an obstacle - as long as it was not there. Maurine frowned. Frankly, she had no idea where to get this evasive green stuff that makes one's life so enjoyable. She reached for the gifts left by the guests. Some checks, to be sure, but hardly enough even to buy a good horse - let alone, a good castle. Suddenly, her hand stiffened, while her unblinking gaze froze on a piece of paper she was holding in her hand. It was not a check but a ticket. A lottery ticket, that is. Instinctively, Maurine cast a glance at the clock - the draw was about to start.
The birthday girl grabbed the remote, pushed the "switch on" button, tuned in to a right channel and stopped breathing…
"If money were no obstacle, I would stop caring about my boss's opinions" - pleased by the thought she relaxed and tried to imagine, what would be the next step."Definitely, Paris" - she always dreamt about travelling. "One night in Paris" - the thought popped out of nowhere, and then Maurine recalled Paris Hilton's famous clip and chuckled. "No, many more nights in Paris; at least, 30" - the City of Light excited and lured her like a magic ship. She would board it to float all over Europe, immersing in the fountains of Rome and kissing Amsterdam's bridges, applauding toreros at Madrid's bull-fight arenas and visiting centuries-old haunted castles of the mother-country. Maurine has never been to England yet but her granny used to tell her about the Buckingham Palace where she had been the late queen's lady-in-waiting.
"What would I do if I settled in an old castle for a while" - suddenly Maurine felt very business-like. "Well, it couldn't be just any castle because its ghosts must be friendly. If they do behave themselves, I will invite them for a dinner once in while". That sounded very romantic, just a right thing to do, and Maurine smiled happily. Then another thought crept in. "If I do nothing but socialize, it will be really boring. Should I study to obtain a degree?" She hesitated. "No, I don' think so - if money is no obstacle, one could do without degrees" She sipped from the glass. "What about some physical activity? Oh, yes - that's a must. Money or no money, if you don't move, you get fat and lose your complexion". The glass landed back on the table, and a mirror took its place. The results of the examination were satisfactory, and Maurine went on. "Sports, then. Swimming? I might splash in my own pool but otherwise it would be too common" - the dreamer was rapidly assuming a mentality of a lady, as if her granny's genes were stirring somewhere inside her. "Tennis? Yes, tennis does sound nice: I would have a court built in my castle's backyard and hire a coach - might even be a handsome coach" - she made an involuntary gesture motioning the untimely thought away. "Just a coach, a good one - to learn the game and not to make a spectacle of myself. Or I could even ride a horse" - the future millionairess took some time to give the idea a better consideration. It didn't take her long to convince herself, though. "That's a really noble sport - even Princess Anne rides for the British national team, and there is this oh-so-British and exotic at the same time polo yet".
Travelling and doing sports regularly, eating well and enjoying the beauty and quiet of her own manor crowned by a castle (a quality chef and an experienced gardener would naturally have to be hired), could surely provide for a very good life. Yet something was lacking - Maurine couldn't spot the lack for a while, then it dawned on her. The money, of course. Paradoxically, it was an obstacle - as long as it was not there. Maurine frowned. Frankly, she had no idea where to get this evasive green stuff that makes one's life so enjoyable. She reached for the gifts left by the guests. Some checks, to be sure, but hardly enough even to buy a good horse - let alone, a good castle. Suddenly, her hand stiffened, while her unblinking gaze froze on a piece of paper she was holding in her hand. It was not a check but a ticket. A lottery ticket, that is. Instinctively, Maurine cast a glance at the clock - the draw was about to start.
The birthday girl grabbed the remote, pushed the "switch on" button, tuned in to a right channel and stopped breathing…