Part 3: The Blind Leading the Val With 20/20 X-Ray Vision

Getting back to our four-part series I like to think of as A Day in the Sweet Life of Val Thevictorian, Small-Town Celebrity...

I left Walmart, the scene of the thinner-shouter and the name-dropper, and headed for the School Turn Casey's (now under renovation) for some scratchers.

The first thing I noticed upon entering Casey's was that the checkout counter was in its third location. The second thing I noticed was the clerk. He was Big Red, the big red-headed dude who was there when I brought back the extra $10 that the old lady clerk had given me in change a while back.

I could tell Big Red remembered me, even though I've been scarce around the School Turn Casey's during renovations. He was extra nice, making small talk over the cacophony of power saws and jackhammers. Big Red took my money (no change needed) and shared some advice as he handed me the tickets. He held up the aqua-colored 100,000 Jackpot.

"Now don't forget to scratch the second chance on the back."

"Oh, I always remember that."

"And on this one...[the new St. Louis Blues ticket]...there's an extra chance up here on top."

"I have the app for my phone, to scan the bar code. I've missed a couple, so I always check."

"The other day, I decided to buy the last one on the roll. I was done scratching, and I'd won five dollars. When I scanned it, the machine said FIFTY-FIVE dollars! Good thing I won that five, or I would have thrown it away!"

"Yeah, I bet that happens a lot. They probably plan it that way! Thanks for telling me."

That dear, sweet, Big Red! Helping me out, like I haven't scratched about a thousand more tickets than he.