Elliott called their parents. They did so with apprehension, as things had been a little tense recently, but they had just won $108 million, and quickly realized that they had no idea how to handle this, either logistically or psychologically. 

“Elliott!” their mom answered the phone with enthusiasm. “Good to hear from you!”

“Thanks, mom,” they answered, a little guiltily. “It’s good to hear your voice.” This much was true. 

“To what do we owe the call?” she asked, and Elliott’s guilt multiplied. 

“Well, actually,” they began, clearing their throat as they prepared to say something truly preposterous. “I won the lottery?” The statement came out as a question, betraying their uncertainty.

Elliott’s mom laughed. “Great! So I guess you’re taking us on vacation, huh?”

“I mean, sure, if you want,” Elliott said, as it dawned on them that this was a real option, “but I was hoping you could give me some advice.”

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Well, I was planning on taking the annuity option, but I just wanted to see what you think. I don’t even have a savings account right now, I have no idea how to manage this kind of money,” they confessed.

“Wait,” their mom answered, “you’re not serious, are you?”

Now it was Elliott’s turn to laugh. “Yep. I am. Pretty unbelievable, right?” 

Silence.

“Hello?” Elliott asked. “You still there?”

“I, uh,” their mom spluttered, “yes. Sorry, just trying to wrap my head around this. How much?”

“Well the jackpot is $108 million, and if I take the annuity option the first year’s payout will be about $1.2 million after taxes.”

Their mom let out a low whistle. “Damn, that’s some real money. What makes you think I have any idea how to handle that?”

“Nothing, just... you’re my mom,” Elliott admitted. 

“Alright, well, first of all, you should definitely get a savings account,” she began. “And then you should get an accountant. And pay off your student loans!”

“Of course.”

“And that’s it. I have no experience with that kind of money, talk to an accountant.” 

Elliott laughed. “Alright, Mom. Thanks.”

“Here, you should talk to your father. He’s been waiting to hear from you.”

“Oh, alright,” Elliott agreed, once again growing anxious. 

“Elliott?” their father was on the line before they had a chance to say goodbye to their mom. 

“Hey, dad.”

“It’s so good to hear your voice! I’ve been trying to respect your space, but I want to apologize for how things went last time. I just meant that we’ll always love and support you, okay? I’m sorry I didn’t express that well.” He paused, and Elliott sensed that he was searching for the right words. “You’ll always be our child,” he concluded. 

“Thank you,” Elliott said, beginning to tear up. “And honestly, I knew what you meant. I was just frustrated because it seemed like you kind of missed the point.”

“I know. I’m so sorry, kiddo.”

“It’s okay,” they said and found that they even meant it. “I love you, dad.”

“I love you, too! Now what were you calling about?”

“Oh that,” they laughed. “I won the lottery.”

***

After a long day of trying to figure out the logistics of being a lottery winner, Elliott made the journey up the hill to visit Puck. Their last conversation with him had been playing back in their head ever since they’d seen the winning numbers. 

“All I ask is that you believe in me,” he’d said. Elliott was now torn between the world of reason, which they’d inhabited all their life, and the one which seemed to have opened up in front of them, in which the child who lived in the park was an actual god. A god who had blessed them with a large fortune just to earn their belief. 

But that’s impossible, right? Their mind kept circling back around to this question, regardless of the evidence to the contrary. Their winning the lottery had to be a coincidence, because anything else was impossible. 

When they reached the top of the hill, Puck was waiting for them, as usual, with a triumphant gleam in his eye.

“Well?” he asked expectantly.

“You were right. I won.”

“Of course you did! You’ve got your own personal god on your side!” he crowed.

“About that,” Elliott began. Puck’s face fell.

“Are you serious? You won the damn lottery and you still have doubts?”

“I just need some time to think. I’m kind of overwhelmed at the moment,” they admitted. 

“You know, some people call upon their gods when they feel overwhelmed.”

“I admit it’s a hell of a coincidence, I’m just--”

“You’re just lying to yourself,” Puck said with a look of betrayal. Without another word they turned and began to walk away.

“Puck, wait!” Elliott called without a thought as to what they might say to the boy to make things right. Without turning back he gave a dismissive wave. 

“Not tonight,” he answered before blending into the shadows. 

Elliott felt terrible, and more than anything, confused. In spite of everything they held true, some part of them was beginning to believe.