Introduction
Welcome back to the story of Callie Rogers, Britain's youngest Lottery winner. As you read through The Pearl, you saw that Kino's dreams were slipping away. Read through Callie's story in the following two articles. Think back to the ideas of happiness and wealth. Are they dependent on each other?
Lottery winner Callie finds Money Can’t Buy you Love or Happiness
The Globe August 13, 2003
Callie Rogers, 16, a foster child who lived on a council estate, admitted yesterday to “not having a happy moment” since scooping the £1.9 million ($3,000,000 US Dollars) jackpot. Three months ago she was earning minimum wage at her local Co-op. But since her win she has suffered robbery, an estrangement from her father, the break-up of two relationships, faced accusations in tabloid newspapers of stealing another girl’s boyfriend and been allegedly threatened with blackmail. The teenager from Cumbria vowed at the time of the win that her new-found wealth would not change her life.
She was photographed beaming, holding a giant check, and won praise for her kind intentions and down-to-earth attitude. Her first big purchase would be a wheelchair for her foster mother, she said. After that she planned to return to education, and become a social worker. It seemed that, with her level-headed perspective, she stood a good chance of having a normal life. But speaking yesterday about the last few weeks’ events, Callie burst into tears and said, “Terrible things have been said about me. I’ve been accused of stealing somebody’s boyfriend - that isn’t true.”
Brian Holmes, her foster father, said, “I think she is handling everything well for a 16-year-old but the point is, she is only a 16-year-old. ”After winning the lottery Callie said she would not “go wild” and planned to seek advice from an accountant. “Hopefully I will make us all comfortable,” she said. “I just want a normal home, nothing fancy. I want to help my family but I won't change. I am not interested in designer clothes. I have lots of friends who have been there for me and I will be there for them.”
Soon afterwards, however, the teenager fell out with her father Geoff. She bought him a motorbike and they were later reconciled. Also, despite spending £4,000 ($6000 US Dollars) on gifts for her then boyfriend, Mr.Fidler, she discovered two weeks after her win that he had been pledging his love for an ex-girlfriend.
After Callie ended their relationship, the lumberyard worker allegedly demanded £20,000 ($30,000 US Dollars) for the two years’ wages that he claimed she promised to pay him when he gave up his job. Callie was then robbed by a woman who took £50 ($75 US Dollars) from her purse after calling at her house to borrow money. Her next liaison was with Simon Winthorpe, a mechanic, for whom she bought a car and paid £3,000 ($4500 US Dollars) to act as chauffeur as she is too young to drive.
Two weeks later he vanished, prompting Callie to say, “I can’t believe I was stupid enough to put the car in his name but I am fast learning to trust no one.” Her latest relationship is with a friend of Gary Fidler, an unemployed factory worker called Nicky Lawson. But Joanne Thompson, his former girlfriend and the mother of his child, sold her story to a national newspaper last weekend.
Miss Thompson accused the teenager of “worming her way into his affections, buying our daughter presents and him clothes.” Callie was later accused of using her money to entice another girl’s boyfriend, in another tabloid story. Also this week, her step-grandfather was released from prison after a sentence for rape. The teenager said, “Some days I don’t even want to leave my house because people just scream abuse at me. Two months ago I thought I was the luckiest teenager in Britain. But today I can say I have never felt so miserable.”
She was photographed beaming, holding a giant check, and won praise for her kind intentions and down-to-earth attitude. Her first big purchase would be a wheelchair for her foster mother, she said. After that she planned to return to education, and become a social worker. It seemed that, with her level-headed perspective, she stood a good chance of having a normal life. But speaking yesterday about the last few weeks’ events, Callie burst into tears and said, “Terrible things have been said about me. I’ve been accused of stealing somebody’s boyfriend - that isn’t true.”
Brian Holmes, her foster father, said, “I think she is handling everything well for a 16-year-old but the point is, she is only a 16-year-old. ”After winning the lottery Callie said she would not “go wild” and planned to seek advice from an accountant. “Hopefully I will make us all comfortable,” she said. “I just want a normal home, nothing fancy. I want to help my family but I won't change. I am not interested in designer clothes. I have lots of friends who have been there for me and I will be there for them.”
Soon afterwards, however, the teenager fell out with her father Geoff. She bought him a motorbike and they were later reconciled. Also, despite spending £4,000 ($6000 US Dollars) on gifts for her then boyfriend, Mr.Fidler, she discovered two weeks after her win that he had been pledging his love for an ex-girlfriend.
After Callie ended their relationship, the lumberyard worker allegedly demanded £20,000 ($30,000 US Dollars) for the two years’ wages that he claimed she promised to pay him when he gave up his job. Callie was then robbed by a woman who took £50 ($75 US Dollars) from her purse after calling at her house to borrow money. Her next liaison was with Simon Winthorpe, a mechanic, for whom she bought a car and paid £3,000 ($4500 US Dollars) to act as chauffeur as she is too young to drive.
Two weeks later he vanished, prompting Callie to say, “I can’t believe I was stupid enough to put the car in his name but I am fast learning to trust no one.” Her latest relationship is with a friend of Gary Fidler, an unemployed factory worker called Nicky Lawson. But Joanne Thompson, his former girlfriend and the mother of his child, sold her story to a national newspaper last weekend.
Miss Thompson accused the teenager of “worming her way into his affections, buying our daughter presents and him clothes.” Callie was later accused of using her money to entice another girl’s boyfriend, in another tabloid story. Also this week, her step-grandfather was released from prison after a sentence for rape. The teenager said, “Some days I don’t even want to leave my house because people just scream abuse at me. Two months ago I thought I was the luckiest teenager in Britain. But today I can say I have never felt so miserable.”
Lotto Winner Callie Rogers is Now Penniless but Couldn't be Happier
The Mirror April 28, 2012
At just 16 Callie Rogers was Britain’s youngest lottery winner. Her fortune changed her life... but not for the better. She frittered the money away and became so depressed she even attempted suicide three times. But today, despite being penniless, she finally has not one, but two big reasons to celebrate... she’s pregnant with twin boys.
As she prepares to give birth next month, the former shop assistant, now 25, says it’s a much better feeling than picking the winning Lotto numbers. “For the first time in my life I really do feel like I have won the lottery,” says Callie, who is already mom to two children. “I’ve learned that money can’t buy you happiness.”
“It’s like I have been given another chance at happiness and for that I am extremely grateful.” Callie, now in a loving relationship with the father of her babies, factory supervisor Paul Penny, says he has helped her to turn her life around. Originally from a broken home, she was living in foster care when she won the National Lottery in 2003.
She had been placed with a kindly couple, Brian and Sheila Holmes, who provided her with the security and comfort she had lacked for so long. But after her win she moved out... and the spending spree began. She bought four properties for herself and her family and then she got a taste for the finer things in life. She spent thousands on cars, gifts, clothing, and other wants.
While Callie was always preoccupied with the way she looked when she first won her fortune, she now says the tough times she has experienced have made her older and wiser. “As a child I used to dream about having a family, as I never really had one of my own after my mom and dad split up. Now I’ve got that. I can’t imagine ever wanting to go and party again and right now my idea of heaven is sharing my time with my family.”
Apart from being tired, Callie says she has loved every minute of her pregnancy. And she’s not in the least bit worried that she doesn’t have millions in the bank to support the babies. “The most important thing is I have a man by my side who is excited as I am and who will do anything for me,” she says. “This time around I’m just going to enjoy every minute of the whole process and I continually pinch myself at how lucky I am.”
As she prepares to give birth next month, the former shop assistant, now 25, says it’s a much better feeling than picking the winning Lotto numbers. “For the first time in my life I really do feel like I have won the lottery,” says Callie, who is already mom to two children. “I’ve learned that money can’t buy you happiness.”
“It’s like I have been given another chance at happiness and for that I am extremely grateful.” Callie, now in a loving relationship with the father of her babies, factory supervisor Paul Penny, says he has helped her to turn her life around. Originally from a broken home, she was living in foster care when she won the National Lottery in 2003.
She had been placed with a kindly couple, Brian and Sheila Holmes, who provided her with the security and comfort she had lacked for so long. But after her win she moved out... and the spending spree began. She bought four properties for herself and her family and then she got a taste for the finer things in life. She spent thousands on cars, gifts, clothing, and other wants.
While Callie was always preoccupied with the way she looked when she first won her fortune, she now says the tough times she has experienced have made her older and wiser. “As a child I used to dream about having a family, as I never really had one of my own after my mom and dad split up. Now I’ve got that. I can’t imagine ever wanting to go and party again and right now my idea of heaven is sharing my time with my family.”
Apart from being tired, Callie says she has loved every minute of her pregnancy. And she’s not in the least bit worried that she doesn’t have millions in the bank to support the babies. “The most important thing is I have a man by my side who is excited as I am and who will do anything for me,” she says. “This time around I’m just going to enjoy every minute of the whole process and I continually pinch myself at how lucky I am.”
Guiding Questions
1. After the lottery win, list some of the negative events that happened to Callie.
2. Who do you believe is to blame for the misfortunes? Justify your answer with examples.
3. Does Callie believe that money leads to happiness? According to her, what is happiness connected to? Do you agree? Explain.
2. Who do you believe is to blame for the misfortunes? Justify your answer with examples.
3. Does Callie believe that money leads to happiness? According to her, what is happiness connected to? Do you agree? Explain.