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Calvin Shorten waited in a small line at a Food Mart gas station in the East End.
“Four Quick Picks for the Mega Millions.”
Shorten told me he doesn’t play the lottery very often, but when he heard how big the Mega Millions jackpot had grown to, he had to buy a couple tickets. So I asked him what he’d do with the money if he won.
“I don’t know id have to think about it.””
Bill: “You don’t know what you would do with 500 million?”
“Not at all, not at all.”
Derrick Smith was also in line.
“182 five times and two Mega Millions.”
Smith only bought two tickets this time, but says this wasn’t his first trip.
“I already got about thirty.”
Store manager Mahdi Dhuca says the last two days at his store have been pretty busy as Houstonians hope to defy the enormous odds and strike it rich. Since the drawing is at 9:00 Houston time, he thinks business will really pick up this evening.
“Right now it’s a little slow. But later on, I’m pretty sure … maybe 1,000 probably more than 1,000 I’m pretty sure.”
“I’ll buy later. I’ll buy later.”
Rafeal Hernandez is one of those who’ll be stopping by the store to by a ticket after work. He usually plays scratch off games, but like others, he says the jack pot is just too high to pass up.
“Five million dollars.”
Bill: “Five hundred million.”
“500 million, it’s too much money. I’m coming to buy this evening. Maybe $60 to 80.”
And if some how he should win, Rafael would do what a lot of people would do.
“No work, no more. NO work, no more. Take it easy, take it easy for the rest of my life.”