We won the lottery (Quick Reads)

Here, you will read the first 200 words of the book.  You can read it on screen, or download the text here.

First of all, read it for 1 minute and 20 seconds. Note where you read up to. 

Go back to the beginning of the story and read for another 1 minute and 20 seconds. Note where you read up to again. You should be able to read further on this second reading.

Continue timing yourself reading until you have read the whole text

All this time I was walking around like a zombie with the winning ticket in my jacket pocket. I went downstairs to where I did the beauty treatments. I did someone’s nails but for once barely spoke to the customer. I can’t describe how it felt other than being detached from everything around. I knew I had promised to tell 77-year-old Mary first if we won, but she wasn’t in the salon then. That was the only thought I could focus on. I finished the client’s nails and then went straight upstairs to telephone Mary. I don’t know why I didn’t tell everyone at the same time. There was just this urge in my head: phone Mary, phone Mary. Beyond that I couldn’t think. I got through to her and just said, ‘Mary, we’ve won the lottery.’ ‘Don’t say that to me, hen,’ she replied. The phone is by the main salon so everyone heard. It stopped the salon dead, customers and staff. The hairdryers stopped, everyone looked at me and I remember dropping the phone. Everyone started screaming as they realised we had won. Everybody was so excited.

Go back to the beginning of the story and read for another 1 minute and 20 seconds. Mark where you read up to again. You should be able to read further on this second reading.

Continue timing yourself reading until you have read the whole text.

Use this timer to time yourself reading: