第4章 Everybodyloresawinner

sion.She''s going to stand up in the court and say,“That''s the man!He stole my bag,my money,and my lottery ticket.””

‘But it isn''t true,''said Jason.''I was at home.I watched the football on television.Ask my Mum!”

“How much money are you giving her,Jason?”Sally asked quietly.Thirty thousand pounds,was it?’

Jason''s face went red.He wanted to hit Sally.She looked at his red,angry face,and waited.Then she said:

Jason,in the Crown Court a lot of people are going to look at you.They''re going to think,"This is a nasty''young man.He hits people -his wife,his baby,old women in the street.He steals things.He wins five million pounds in the lottery,but he doesn''t want to give a penny to his wife and son.And he tells lies.”They''re not going to like you,Jason.And that''s not going to help you.So,please,tell the truth.Say that you''re sorry.You''re young.You can begin again,stay out of trouble.But you must tell the truth to the court.''

Jason thought for a minute.Then he looked at Sally.‘OK,he said slowly,''perhaps I took the old woman''s bag.But that lottery ticket wasn''t in her bag.It''s my ticket.I bought it,I paid for it,with my money.OK?''

Sally Cash did not answer.She looked at Jason for two or three long minutes.Then she said slowly,''OK,Jason.You stole the bag,but it was your lottery ticket.’