Winning with Galantamine

WINNING with Galantamine

Barbara pulled into the 24 hour store for her morning coffee just as she had done every morning for almost 20 years. And as she parked her car, her cell phone rang. She recognized the 800 number; medical bill collection. Jesus, I’m going nuts she exclaimed. They hound me incessantly, those bastards, she murmured as she walked into the sore.

 Angelo, the owner smiled. “ Good morning, Barbara.”

Barbara waved hello and walked to the coffee area. “ Jesus, Angelo “ she said, “ all these coffee pots and cups and god knows what else looks more complicated than the space shuttle .” ordered when the collection call would come again.

“ Mocha Brazilian coffee beans dried harming no animals with organic light cream . That’s on the far right.” They both laughed. “ See you tomorrow,” Angelo smiled.

On that morning Barbara drove to her workplace and also drove with wheels turning into a world she could not have dreamed of. Off the highway, around the curbed parking lot and into her usual parking spot. Just another day, Barbara mused. But forces were swirling about her, menacing and fraught with life altering effects.

Barbara walked to the security door , tapped her card hanging from her lanyard and made her way to her station. Barbara works for the county health services in this residential building dedicated to senior citizens. And works the 7AM to 3:30 PM shift. This morning as she does very morning she locked her valuables in her secure small square frame and headed for the staffing desk and the previous night’s activity logbook.

The 7 AM shift is responsible to serve breakfast, insure that all clients are up, dressed and brought to the dining area. Her favorite client is Mrs. Nader. That morning she inspected the log book, noted a few mentions and then was drawn to a citation of Mrs. Nader’s nighttime behavior.

It read: Ms. Nader, awoke night- 2:17 AM- calling out a name??- I not understand- smiling, wiping her forehead- mumbling words or numbers? Placed blankets to shoulders and nodded til sleep, maybe 10 minutes.

Ishie

Barbara walked into Ms. Nader’s room and smiled. Ms Nader was up, dressed and smiled upon seeing Barbara. “ Good morning dear, “ Barbara exclaimed. “ My don’t you look lovely.”

Ms Nader is a short, stout woman with big, heavy white teeth. Her voice had a rhythmical sound, as though soothing an emotion. “ I had a wonderful dream last night,” she whispered. “ It was so real and I was in the dream, I mean really in there, moving things around. I saw something. And I think it was meant for you.” She exclaimed that the dream was very vivid and that she actually could manipulate dream actions.

“ You were asleep, but your mind was awake,” Barbara stated.

“Why yes, “ the woman smiled. “ Exactly! How did you know?”

“ I think what you had what is known as a lucid dream. They are not uncommon, but there’s not a lot science that you know supports such happenings. But it occurs when you are asleep ,you’re dreaming and your mind is active and you believe that you can control things.” Barbara patted her folded hands.

“ But it happened to me! And I have something for you that I found in the dream.”

The woman explained that she was in the kitchen of her parents home , sitting at the small kitchen table and staring at a white lined writing tablet. “ I found a pencil and jotted these numbers down.” She held a small piece of white paper. “ Here this for you.”

Barbara reached out and looked at the paper. There was a four digit number written. “ Huh? What’s this honey?”

“ In my dream my mother came into the kitchen and told me to write down this number and to give it to someone who is kind and good.”

“ Well what am I going to do with this?”

“ Play that number in the lottery. I think it is sacred ground,” the woman directed. Barbara assisted the woman to the dining room and went about her daily duties.

The next morning as Barbara drove to the 24 store her 2003 Nissan Sentra’s engine light came on. “ I’ve got to get a new car, she thought. I need good transportation to get to work for God’s sakes. The lottery winnings will pay for the repairs- what ever they are- but...” She stopped at the 24 store, got her coffee and as she headed for the counter said: “ Angelo, do you know how to place a number in the lottery?”

Angelo popped a surprised smile. “ Huh? Why sure, yunz never play the numbers, what’s up?”

“ I don’t know, a hunch, I guess. But I can’t figure out all those ovals and dates and stuff I have to fill out. Can I give you the number to play?”

Angelo walked over to the lottery machine. “ OK give me the number.”

“ Seven, seven, five, eight.”

He began to punch keys . “ OK how?”

“ How?” Angelo explained the process, straight, boxed, mid day, evening. One day, two, three…

“ Oh my God, “ Barbara laughed. “ So complicated. Well, tonight, 50 cents straight and 50 cents boxed.”

“ Ok, “ Angelo punched more keys and handed Barbara a ticket. “ Good luck for you.”

When Barbara arrived at work, Ms. Nader was already seated in the dining room. “ Good morning Barbs, “ she waved. Barbara walked over to her. The woman motioned her close to her face. “ Did you play the number?”

“ Yes, for tonight.”

“ How?”

“Huh?” It seemed the whole world knew how to play a daily number but herself. She told the woman : 50/50.

“ Good, I’m happy. This state pays $5,000 to one on a dollar bet for a 4 digit number. When that number hits you’ll win more than $2,500 dollars. ” Ms Nader had a wide smile. “ I ‘m having good dreams, Barbara.”

The next morning Barbara pulled into the 24 store and Angelo came running out to greet her. He was jumping, arms flailing. “ You won! You won!” he cried. He ran to the car door, and yanked it open. “ You won!” he screamed.

Barbara sat stunned. “ I won that number? They picked that number!” she said, stunned. Angelo held out his hand and escorted her into the shop. “ Yes “ he called, “ $2,900 dollars. Your number hit straight and you had it boxed!!”

“ Boxed?” But she didn’t have time to question further. Angelo was dancing around the store. “ No one I know wins. No one I know, “ he laughed. “ But now there is you! And I get a commission, too! Where did you get the number?”

Barbara thought for a moment: “ In a dream. I saw the number in a dream, ”. She thought: well it isn’t all that far fetched, right?

Barbara completed required paperwork, and Angelo handed her a check for $2,900. “ This is it.” He said. Her excitement was dampened knowing she’d have to send 50% of her winnings to the medical collection agency. But so what!! She was free of those demonic calls. YEA!!

By the time she got to her workplace, she was still spinning with excitement and could not wait to tell Ms Nader of her good fortune. Naturally she would split the winnings with her, she thought. But I can’t tell anyone about this, she warned herself. But can Ms Nader keep this a secret? What if she can’t? Will I be fired? Is this theft? Oh my! Barbara’s mind was racing pell mell .

Barbara signed in, checked the log book. There were no observations from the previous night warranting further discussions from the outgoing staff. This will be a pleasant day, she thought though anxious of greeting Ms. Nader. What will I say? Jesus! She thought. As she rounded the bright corridor, she headed for Ms. Nader’s room. And as is the usual course, Ms Nader was sitting in her favorite chair, dressed and smiling. Her eyes blossomed upon seeing Barbara.

“ Good morning Ms Nader, my girlfriend, how are you?”

Ms Nader was all smiles. “ Oh my darling, you are a candle in the darkness.” Barbara waited for the obvious question. It never came. Not a scintilla of hint towards the dream , the number and the lottery. But here was Barbara sitting next to Ms Nader with a check for almost $3,000 in her purse.

“ How was your sleep last night?” Barbara asked almost worryingly. It was like forcing a shaken bottle of carbonated soda open, she knew what the response would be.

“ Oh I slept so well, “ she smiled. “ But honey I am hungry!”

Four days passed, then two weeks and then a month. One morning as Barbara drove to the 24 store her 2003 Nissan Sentra’s engine light came on. “ I’ve got to get a new car, she thought. I need good transportation to get to work for God’s sakes. “

Ms Nader had no further remember-able dreams. Barbara thought: no dreams, no numbers, no winning. Oh well she thought, I got lucky just that once and I should be happy at that. And she was- for a while.

But the Sentra’s “check engine light” kept on glowing.

But Barbara was aware of lucid dreams. She knew that there was many over-the-counter supplements that may aide the fluidity and accuracy of lucid dreams. She was aware of the supplements’ advertisements with their distinctive bold square box on the literature stating that the material had not been approved by the FDA. She knew all that.

But what if she could induce a lucid dream in Ms Nader with a harmless OTC supplement? It wouldn’t harm her. After all the FDA wouldn’t allow the sales of these things if they caused harm, right? So over the next few weeks she read all she could uncover about lucid dreams , what supplements may assist; their side effects, if any and especially any possible reaction to Ms Nader’s medications.

Her conclusion: a dose of Galantamine ( an extract from the red and golden spider lily,) just may bring on the lucid dream and hopefully another lottery number. If that didn’t work there was a supplement called Oneirogen . A trip to the local GNC, a review of the merchandise, the purchase a bottle of gel capsules and she headed home . She was fraught with nervousness, but as she read the enclosed supplement’s brochure, she reassured herself Ms Nader would not be in harm’s way.

“ Unless she has a nightmare, “ Barbara worried. That night Barbara plotted how to give the capsule clandestinely. She certainly had ample opportunity. There was always minimal staffing and the cameras only worked intermittently, if at all. Breakfast would be the best opportunity.

She spread a piece of white photocopy paper on the table and practiced opening and emptying the contents using only her right hand. Capsule out of the pocket, thumb and forefinger gripping the capsule and inching the components open. Yes, that’s it, she thought. She opened, spilled the contents ( a creamy colored powder) of 6 capsules and felt very confident of the operation’s success the following morning.

Barbara walked into the 24 store the next morning . “ Angelo, let me buy you a coffee!”

He smiled. “ OK, but only if you give me the number for tonight.” She smiled, but her lips curled. She is a plotter now and little time for delicacies.

“ No number for today, maybe tomorrow.” She mumbled: Little does Angelo know of my scheme. He better pray that I’m successful, it could cost him money. She reached into her pocket and gave Angelo one $100 bill. “ This is for you.”

As she entered the building she stopped in front of a hallway mirror and gazed at herself. Is this the face of a criminal? Why am I doing this? Do I need money so bad as to what… subvert my professional standards? But then the face in the mirror grew dark, the creases around her eyes pronounced. Yes, she told herself you must do this! This is the fate you’ve been searching for. Go and take your rightful station.

Barbara opened her locker and before placing her pocketbook inside, pulled out a small white envelope which contained a capsule of 8 mg ER Galantamine and slipped it into her pocket.

“ Good morning Ms. Nader, how is my girl?” Ms Nader smiled . “ Are we happy today, you look wonderful. Lets get you to breakfast.” And Barbara gripped the handles and turned the wheel chair towards the dining room. She angled the chair into a slot at a round table and began to read the menu to Ms. Nader.

“ Oh the fresh fruit with apple sauce and a muffin sounds wonderful. What do you think?” Barbara asked. Ms Nader nodded with a smile.

The staff brought Ms Nader’s breakfast to the table. And as the staff person brought the plate to the table, Barbara reached out and placed the plate before her. “ Gee I thought we ordered a muffin.” she said and stood up from the table and began to walk towards the kitchen.

“ Barbara, “ Ms Nader called, “ The muffin is on the plate!”

But Barbara kept on walking towards the kitchen and with her right hand pulled out the capsule and as she had practiced , poured the contents onto the applesauce. She stopped, turned and headed back towards the table. “ I must be losing my eye sight!” she smiled, positioning the plate in front of Ms Nader. Barbara stirred the applesauce. “ Here you go darling.”

Barbara had an erratic sleep. It was only natural she assured herself, having committed a breach of… protocol?… ethics?… The next morning she was out of her apartment, started the car and that damn “service engine light soon” was bright and demanding. A stop for coffee and she entered her building. She completed the usual shift start duties, and especially wanted to read the night log. She flipped to the previous evening’s activity and gasped!

She read the following: Ms. Nader, awake night- 2:17 AM- call out name not understand mumbling sleep in a few minutes.

Ishie

Barbara walked to Ms Nader’s room . She didn’t know what to expect- if anything. Ms Nader was all smiles. “ You look wonderful this morning,” Barbara smiled.

“ I feel wonderful, honey. Just wonderful.”

“ Did you have a good sleep?”

“ I had one of those number dreams. It was so real.” Ms Nader held a small piece of paper. “ Here.”

Barbara’s heart was pounding. What had she done? What fantastic pot of gold had she discovered? But she was stroked with fear, fraught with guilt. She reached out and slipped the paper into her fingers and read a series of numbers: 24,11, 09, 22, 52. With a forced shrug and crippled smile she asked: “ Oh honey what are these?”

Ms Nader nodded and seemed to ramble words before she said: “ Lucky numbers , honey. I think this is your lucky day. ”

With her shift ended Barbara raced to Angelo’s 24 store with the numbers and parked near the front door. And as she turned off the engine , unbuckled her seat belt she hesitated. And wondered. What’s going on? There’s this heavy stream of consciousness carrying me forward. She exited the car and greeted Angelo. He was all smiles.

“ You have another number, a winner Barbara ?” He mused. “ Oh my Barbara has good dreams. You’ll make us all rich!”

“ Yes, I hope “ She handed the paper to him. “ What should I do with these numbers?” Angelo stared at the five numbers . “ You dreamed these numbers? You dreamed a Cash Five play.” He explained the game , the odds and most importantly the payoff. Barbara reached into her pocket book and yanked out a ten dollar bill.

“ Here please buy this number , straight and boxed ”she said. Angelo once again explained the game. He told her the only option was to buy 10 $1 tickets. “ Ok Angelo, you know what to do.” Barbara left the store, tickets in hand and her face was smoky red from the “check engine light” on her dashboard.

The next morning Barbara pulled into the 24 store. Angelo came running out. Jumping, dancing, clapping and almost hysterical! His face was ignited! Angelo came up to her door and began to pound the roof, the window and his head. His voice was muffled, sort of suffocating as Barbara shut off the engine and opened the door. BANG!! Angelo’s lips parted and his voice quivered tinged with ecstatic news.

“ YOU WON!!! YOU WON. Now I know a winner- two times, “ he screamed. His fingers twitched, opened the door and pulled Barbara out of the car. “ Oh my God, “ he called, “ I have a miracle right in my home!” He gave her a huge hug and they made their way into the store. “ My wonderful dreamer!” He called out to the world.

Angelo hand carried Barbara to the lottery machine area. He rubbed his eyes, curled up his forehead. He slapped the lottery machine, and giggled. “ Barbara, your numbers won the drawing – you won $8,000 per ticket. That’s $80,000 !!! I’m screaming.” And he was.

Barbara stood there in silence. Stunned, happy, jolting with emotion knowing that every person who plays the lottery dreams of winning. But was her pot of gold tainted? She creamed: “ YEA!!!!!!”

Her heart raced. There in her hand was the wining number- 10 times over.

A crowd had gathered around the coffee area and the check-out counter. Voices snapped, eyes glanced and Angelo quickly processed their purchases and shuffled the gathered out of the store. Barbara was standing at the lottery station , quiet and pensive.

“ What’s going on?” she asked.

“You are winning! This is your time, dear girl, “ He said in a clear and confident tone. “ Do not question. Do not be afraid; your fate cannot be taken from you; it is a gift.”

“Joel Osteen?” she asked.

“ No Dante.” And then he whispered: “ If you don’t mind, can I play the same dream number if you get one?”

“ Yes, my friend.” she said knowing well that another number was just around the Galantamine corner.

Barbara would pace herself and Ms Nader. There are of course side effects from Galantamine . And besides, winning on a continuous basis would certainly the draw the attention of lottery officials. So Barbara would wait for some days and then apply the drug and await the dream. By this time Barbara had bought a new Ford Taurus, some clothes and put the balance into her savings account. She also set aside some money for taxes A couple more fruitful dreams, Barbara thought and I’ll buy a house.

A couple of months passed and Barbara thought the time had come to create the number dream. But one morning as she read the daily log, she took a breath. Ms Nader was relocating this day to a new home closer to family in another state. Oh well she shrugged, everything is OK. I am not a greedy person.

But that night as she sipped a glass of wine she stopped and said: “ Why don’t I take the drug, maybe it will work on me!” She placed a pad and pen on the bed stand- just in case. The next morning she awoke and glanced at the pad. Her eyes opened wide, her heart began to pound. There on the pad was a series of numbers. She bolted upright and gripped the pen, her hand shaking. “ Oh my God, “ she stuttered. “ What have I done? What is happening to me? Am I out of control?”

The next morning she raced for the lottery machine station. Angelo was speaking with a customer when he noticed her. His eyes fumed, his chest heaved. And he hurried to Barbara and glanced at the piece of paper. In a low, pensive almost whispered tone, he said: “ Another dream, Barbara“ They both looked at each other and said nothing.

“ I’m nervous, Angelo. I’m nervous because I may win and I’m nervous that I may not win. “ She shook her head. “ I should be so lucky to have this problem. But my friend,” she said in a matter of fact manner:” how should we play this.” And handed the paper to Angelo.

“ A four digit number. Jesus! We should play it the same way we did back then. Barbara I’m shaking. ” Angelo stood at the lottery machine ready to punch her tickets ( and his own.) He looked at Barbara. “ What do you think? Cause as I asked ...” his voice trailed away and then in a whisper: “ I’m playing this too.”

“ 10 $1 tickets 50cents box and 50 cents straight. Go.” That night Barbara sat in her kitchen and promised that this number would be the last . She was fraught with uncertainty and contemplated watching the live drawing. But the drawing occurred @ 11:00PM and she was too tired .

The next morning she knew she had won. She just knew it. And sure enough as she pulled into the 24 store lot, Angelo came racing and banging out the door. His wide, wide ecstatic grin said it all. “ I can’t do this anymore, “ she mumbled as Angelo opened the car door and gave her a big hug.

When she entered there was a group of people mulling around the lottery machine and all turned to gaze at the winner. Barbara heard whispers as Angelo escorted her to the counter. ; “ that’s the lady!”; “ she’s won like 10 times!” She demurred and looked away.

“ Can I talk to you Angelo, alone.” He brought her around the counter and into a supply room.

“Angelo, I have to tell you how I am having these dreams. I just have to tell someone. Can I?” She began to shiver and tears popped onto her cheeks. She told him about the Galantamine and pronounced it : gal-anta-meen; and how it may induce lucid dreams ; And that she had taken some capsules that resulted in dreams and the winning numbers.

“ But I am not doing this again. I-we- have had a good run and it is over.” Barbara said confidently. “ I can’t live like this.”

Angelo gave her a hug. “ You are my special dreamer, I love you and that’s it!” They reemerged into the store , conducted lottery business and as Barbara was heading toward the door, Angelo said: “ How do you spell that? That galantameen stuff.” Angelo held out a pen and paper. Barbara wrote “Galantameen.”

“ It’s gal-anta-meen, Angelo. You can get it at any CVS.”

Weeks passed then months, and every morning Barbara stopped by the 24 store, hugged Angelo and they parted knowing that she held a special power that could make people rich.

“Especially me,” thought Angelo.

Funny how small inconsequential happenings can change one’s determination. Barbara now had new neighbors in her apartment building. One had a barking dog and another smoked cigarettes and played loud music. One night as she sat sipping a wine she thought “ I should dream again, win and buy a house. Get out of this dump. And why not?”

The next morning she smiled at Angelo and motioned him to come closer. “ I’m gonna try and dream tonight. I thought you should know.” She held his hand. “ We have to prepare for this.”

But Angelo was prepared. He knew the day would come that Barbara would want to have the dream. He, too had taken galantamine on numerous occasions, but to no avail. Nothing. And he also knew of the potential side effects. And he knew that it was Barbara who held the secret.

And Angelo was prepared. For as he poured Barbara a cup of coffee he emptied 4 capsules of the powder into her coffee. “ Jesus, give us those number dreams.”

That night Barbara emptied the contents of a single capsule into her wine glass, sipped, placed a pen and pad next to her bed, brushed her teeth and fell fast asleep.

A week passed and no Barbara. Angelo began to ask about her to his customers. And then one morning, he was told that Barbara had died in her sleep. She had suffered a seizure. Angelo’s face turned ashen white. Oh my god, he breathed . But he was hooked. A lucid dream had become Angelo’s rainbow gold.

Suddenly 2 police officers entered the store.

“ Are you Angelo?” one asked. Angelo nodded. “ Do know a Barbara Pinto?”

Angelo nodded. “ Yes she comes in here every day and she has been winning the lottery.”

“ OK, you’re the one. We’ve been trying to find an Angelo . We found this note next to her bed.” The officer handed Angelo a copy of a handwritten note. It read: ANGELO LUCID DREAMS SHOULD BE A GIFT, NOT A CURSE.

“ Do know what this means?” the other officer asked.

Angelo shrugged. “ No, but did she write down anything else. Numbers?”

“What?”

The officers left the store and as Angelo was filling the coffee cup dispensers, a regular customer, small and elderly, walked over to Angelo. “ Angelo, we hear that the lady lottery winner saw numbers in her dreams. I have vivid dreams, you know but I never seen numbers. Always wished I did.”

Angelo asked if she’d like a cup of coffee- on the house.