Money and Lottery

		Money and Lottery, Marriage and Divorce, Parent’s Worries
	[Kay, Cynthia and Ariel take a break in coffee shop after shopping.]
	[Cynthia just put down the newspaper on the table.]
	Cynthia:	How terrible the news is.
	Ariel:	What happened? Is there murder again?
	Cynthia:	No, it’s about the lottery.
	Kay:	Oh, I knew that. I watched it yesterday on TV. I can’t believe that the husband is so cruel. He steals his wife’s lottery and leaves without telling her.
	Ariel:	So what? That ticket is just a sheet of paper.
	Cynthia:	The key point is that the piece of paper is worthy of several ten million dollars. The woman is the lottery winner.
	Kay:	And his husband steals her all prizes.
	Ariel:	Oh my god. What a sick world. How could he abandon his wife because of money?
	Cynthia:	I think money makes the man put the profits above their relationship of marriage.
	Kay:	I think so, too. Oh, when mentioning lottery, do you guys buy this issue of lottery?
	Cynthia:	Of course, I have bought several tickets already. Oh, I just can’t wait to know the lottery number.
	Ariel:	Why does the lottery let you so excited? Don’t you feel bored about that?
	Cynthia:	Yes, I feel interesting. Why do you feel boring about it?
	Ariel:	Because I think that working hard is more practical than winning money by lottery. Do you agree it, Kay?
	Kay:	Well, not completely. Sometimes I would buy one ticket. It just gives hope to myself.
	Cynthia:	Yes, I have much hope. Have you ever bought the lottery, Ariel?
	Ariel:	No, never. I thought lottery has more disadvantages than advantages.
	Kay:	How come?
	Ariel:	I think it’s unrealistic. In order to win, people have blind faith in some divine Number. In my point of view, lottery is random chance if without rules.
	Cynthia:	However, if we were lucky enough, we would still win the lottery, right?
	Ariel:	Yes. Many people have same thought as yours. Afterward, they go into bankruptcy. Is it worthy? I don’t think so.
	Cynthia:	Come on. I am not the kind of people, OK? I just buy several tickets a week averagely.
	Ariel:	That’s addiction. The lottery is not the tool of earning money. Having your feet on the ground is better for you.
	Kay:	But, the lottery is not as awful as you say. In fact, there still are benefits about lottery.
	Ariel:	Ariel: Really?
	Kay:	Yes, take the lottery funds for example. It has helped many poor to improve their life quality. Besides, even the lottery winners donate their prizes to public welfare foundations.
	Cynthia:	I have heard that thing, too. Lottery is not another gamble. Maybe I am addicted a little, but it’s not big deal to give myself hope.
	Ariel:	Even though the lottery has as many benefits as you say, I still won’t buy one. Because I don’t want my family treat me like the man on the news report.
	Kay:	The man is so heartless that he treats money more important than love between them.
	Cynthia:	If the police find the man for the wife, they must divorce.
	Ariel:	Of course. If I were the woman, I also wouldn’t want to live with a guy who abandons and cheats on me. I really can’t forgive that.
	Kay:	A couple should cherish each other instead of quarreling like that way. It is too sorrowful to bear.
	Cynthia:	Don’t you think the divorce rate is getting higher and higher nowadays?
	Ariel:	No, more and more people get married late.
	Kay:	There are also people deciding to remain unmarried.
	Ariel:	Like me, I rather be single..
	Cynthia:	I have no comment.
	Kay:	Marriage is my dream. I’d like to have my own family.
	Ariel:	I don’t want to be responsible for a family.
	Cynthia:	But if you get married, you can have a baby.
	Kay:	Right, babies are cute, aren’t they?
	Cynthia:	Babies can change your life, and they can bring you some funs.
	Ariel:	I don’t think so. Babies are burden to people.
	Cynthia:	Some families have economic problems; they can’t bring up children.
	Kay:	So, we should have enough financial abilities first.
	Ariel:	That is not the only problem in marriage.
	Cynthia:	Yes, there are other problems such as personality, personal hygiene, life style, etc.
	Kay:	I think those problems can be solved after the couple is married.
	Ariel:	After marriage? You mean… if you can’t adjust to each other after getting married, you can’t do anything but divorce?
	Cynthia:	You can try to live together before the marriage.
	Kay:	That’s a good idea!
	Ariel:	Cohabitation can help you know the condition of marriages.
	Cynthia:	So you mean if you can adjust, you can get married.
	Kay:	I’ll try it before my marriage.
	Ariel:	I think that there is still a big problem to be aware of.
	Kay:	Really? What is it?
	Cynthia:	A big problem, you mean…
	Ariel:	How to raise up children…
	[Cynthia’s cell phone rings]
	Cynthia:	Hello...Oh, mom...yeah. I'm with my friends in a coffee shop...um, alright, I'll be back later, ok. ok. bye!
	Ariel:	Your mom is worrying about you again? Oh, you're already 20 years old; you are old enough to take care of yourself, right?
	Cynthia:	Yeah, but…she just worries about me.
	Kay:	Why does she so worry about you?
	Cynthia:	She says that the society is getting worse. She doesn't want me to be in danger.
	Kay:	Um, so we can say that she is a good mother.
	Ariel:	Yes, being a mother is always difficult and stressful. But I don't want to have a child after marriage, so I don't have to worry about children.
	Kay:	Oh, you do? Why? Don’t you think children are cute?
	Ariel:	Yes, but I think that taking care of a child is too hard.
	Kay:	But the birthrate in Taiwan is getting lower and lower.
	Ariel:	I know, but I still don’t want a child.
	Kay:	Ok, maybe you will change your mind someday.
	Cynthia:	So if you really don't have a child, you won't have to worry about many things about your children, just like my mom.
	Ariel:	Yes, and the society has become worse and worse, even in the daytime, there are still robbery, stealing, and violent attack.
	Kay:	For instance, not just at night, robbery also happens on the streets, banks, and stores.
	Cynthia:	And if children live alone outside, thieves will break into steal when they are not home. If they are at home, it can be more dangerous.
	Ariel:	When it comes to violence, it is a serious problem. Children who are assaulted by violence are badly hurt in mind. It could leave scars to their life.
	Kay:	Um, it's terrible. Besides the problem of safety, most parents may worry about their children's friends, relationships with people, or dating with the opposite sex.
	Cynthia:	Yes, it's important. If children can't get along with their friends, they could be isolated and lonely.
	Ariel:	They can't concentrate well in lectures; then they start to feel bored about their class.
	Kay:	Let's talk about dating. More and more suicides and killing cases are due to love affairs. Teenagers now can not solve this problem well on their own.
	Cynthia:	Yes, and if their boyfriend or girlfriend betrays them, they may kill her or him to solve the problem. This is a very wrong way.
	Ariel:	Um, and what's more, studies will be a problem that parents worry about.
	Cynthia:	Yes, yes, my parents always worry about that; I really don't know why studies could worry them to death.
	Ariel:	Maybe they just want you to be the top of your class.
	Cynthia:	Ok…
	Kay:	Yes, and the most important is the health problem.
	Cynthia:	Un_huh, especially small children. They are easily get sick.
	Ariel:	Not only the small children, the older children would get sick, too.
	Kay:	And children may be happy, depressed, or angry. However, sometimes the emotion problem will result in a big problem.
	Cynthia:	Until now, we have talked about so many problems with children, friends, sickness, and dangers. Wow, so many problems parents may worry about.
	Ariel:	Yes, and these are the reasons why I won't have children. Being a parents, one has to worry about too many things.
	Kay:	Um, we can say that parents are really great.
	Cynthia:	Cynthia: Yes, it’s really hard to be parents. And I think…
	[Cynthia’s cell phone rings again] Excuse me, hello... Oh, mom, yes, yes...ok... I'll be right back, bye. Sorry, guys, I have to go.
	Kay:	Ok, we know, just go home; don’t let your mom worry about you again.
	Ariel:	Good-bye, see you next time.
	Kay:	Bye bye.
	Cynthia:	See you.
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		By 張馨尹, 王怡婷, 羅靜婷