Lucky

On Lucky’s 11th birthday, her father steals some diamond earrings for her. She can’t wear them because her ears aren’t pierced. When she mentions this, John makes her feel bad for asking for more, and so she goes to the mall to grift alone. Lucky brings a shoebox filled with broken glass shards and a gift tag that says “To Mom” with her. She finds a woman to bump into and pretends that the woman broke an expensive gift. The woman, who has a sullen teenage daughter, believes the lie and gives Lucky $160 from an ATM to replace the gift she supposedly broke. Lucky cries when she gets back from the mall. John realizes that she wants a mother and friends and suggests that they visit Darla and Steph.

Lucky walks two hours from the Grand Canyon to Tusayan. There, she stops in a diner and sees a news story about her and Cary’s aliases. People at other tables believe that her marks (con victims) are more financially vulnerable than she thought they were, and she feels guilty. The next news story is about the unclaimed lottery ticket, highlighting the store where it was bought. The store looks familiar to Lucky. After she pays her check, she goes to a convenience store and asks for a printout of the winning numbers. She checks them against her ticket in a fast food restaurant bathroom and the numbers match. However, if she claims her winnings, she will be arrested. Lucky puts the ticket in her shoe and tries to think of a new identity, but she can only think of her own name.

John and Lucky arrive at Darla’s house, and Darla immediately forgives John for running out on her. Steph is excited to see Lucky, who pretends that the treatments for her illness worked and she was cured. Darla pays Lucky’s tuition, and Lucky excels academically at the same school as Steph. The girls become like sisters. Lucky tries to enjoy herself as much as possible, thinking that this is temporary.

In 2008, Lucky pretends to be Lisa, a hairdresser attending a salon trade show in Williams, Arizona. She hangs out at the bar in the hotel, and eventually a man hits on her. She thinks about Cary being her only lover and turns him down. When another man sits down near her and starts reading a book, she talks to him about it. After a few tequila shots and flirting, Lucky gives the man, who is named Tim, a head massage. While he is distracted, she steals his wedding ring, watch, and wallet. Lucky tells him to meet her in her room (which she doesn’t have), and he agrees.

Then, Lucky changes her clothes in the lobby restroom and leaves without Tim noticing. Lucky pawns Tim’s personal items but can’t bring herself to pawn her crucifix. She uses the money to travel to California, starting with visiting San Quentin.

One day, Darla insists on Lucky seeing a doctor for a checkup. John argues with her (because Lucky’s illness is a lie). Steph asks Lucky to convince her dad to take her to the doctor where Darla will pay for her appointments. Lucky talks to John in private, suggesting that she just see a doctor and continue pretending that she is cured, since he’ll find no illness. John says that he could never love a mark like Darla and is anxious to leave. Lucky asks for them to stay in one place for an entire year, and he agrees, which makes her feel lucky.

Lucky visits her father, who is now incarcerated in San Quentin, in 2008. She uses the name Sarah Armstrong and pretends to be his niece. As she enters, another visitor, Marisol Reyes, is leaving. This woman was part of the scam that put John in prison. Reyes says that she now abides by the law and runs a nonprofit dedicated to getting third-strikers (someone who has been convicted of a third offence and sentenced to life in prison) out of prison. She mentions that she saw Lucky on the news and offers to help. Lucky is concerned that Reyes will involve Priscilla, another person from the scam. Reyes warns Lucky that John is having issues with his memory.

When Lucky sees John, he doesn’t remember the current alias that she is using. Lucky tells him about Cary running out on her and having a winning lottery ticket. John warns Lucky against getting help from Reyes. Lucky suggests giving the ticket to her mother. John tells Lucky more than he usually does about Gloria: that he is still technically married to her and she’s near Cooperstown. Then, John suggests that Lucky ask Darla and Steph for help cashing in the ticket. When she disagrees with that plan, he suggests going to Priscilla, which upsets Lucky. Lucky compares Cary—whom she still believes ran out on her—with her father. She tells John that Cary is “exactly like you” (88). John regrets not trying harder to separate Cary and Lucky.

On Christmas Eve, Steph and Lucky get books as early presents, with many more gifts to come the next day. John had hoped that Lucky would hint that she wanted gold jewelry (that they could sell later), but she refused. However, Steph gives Lucky a gold charm bracelet and promises to get more charms for her on future holidays. Lucky is upset by this gift and lies to Steph, saying that she only wants to wear the necklace from her mother. Lucky and John sneak out that night, and he makes her take the bracelet. She wants him to settle down and get a normal job, but he refuses to change.