<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This was a fun piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I really can’t see the punctuation marks, so I
can’t comment on it. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">However,I notice that you don’t have separations
between when each of you are talking. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">They are actually paragraphs. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">They should be separated .</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1497 words<br>
Congratulations! You are a Winner<br>
by C. S. Boyd<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Woo-Hoo! I'm a 3 million 500 thousand dollar
winner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">My phone rings, and I answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“This is John Wesley Harden with readers
Discovery.<br>
Are you familiar with Reader's Discovery?” the caller says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Um, somewhat,” I stammer, thinking this is a
call to get me to buy a subscription.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“You know, with publishers Copy house.<br>
I’m calling to notify you of being a second prize winner.<br>
We sent you a letter, but we didn’t hear from you. You are a Publisher's Copy
House winner as of 16 July, 2019. Your name has been selected as winner of
three million five hundred thousand dollars<br>
and a 2019 C class Metal Mercedes car.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is some more talk. Every so often he asks
a question that should get a “yes” answer. I’m suspicious. I think I grunted
uh-huh a couple of times, but I avoid ever outright saying the word “yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I need you to write down 3 pieces of
information,” he continues. “Go get a pencil and paper to write this
information down.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I tell him to hold on while I go get a digital
recorder and try to get it to start recording.<br>
He was able to hear JAWS (my screen reader) in the background. He thought it
was the TV. He wanted me to turn down the TV so he could give me all my winning
details.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“This is 100% legitimate sure. For me here
today,” he assures me.<br>
“I want you to me listening keenly, so you can have all the information written
the way you are supposed to.<br>
name of company Publisher's Copy house<br>
The rd company. Stands for reader's Discovery.<br>
address for company<br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">101 Winners Circle</st1:street><br>
<st1:city w:st="on">Fort Washington</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NY</st1:state>
<st1:postalcode w:st="on">11727</st1:postalcode></st1:address><br>
I would like you now to have the toll free number for the company.<br>
876 483 7012.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now he asks me to verify that back.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I repeat back what he told me to write down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“That's wonderful,” he says.<br>
“Now, you need my badge number.<br>
badge number PCH-RD881052 (PCH short for Publisher's <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Copy House RD</st1:address></st1:street> stands for Reader's
Discovery)”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He repeated his badge number.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“You're also going to need having down my full
name.<br>
My Full name that’s Mr. John Wesley Hardin.<br>
I am the CEO manager and the prize control manager for both departments.<br>
Now you’re going to have down the amount of money your name was selected for.
on the second place category.<br>
That's three million five hundred thousand dollars. Congratulations!<br>
Is this the first time you've ever won yourself a prize?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“ No, I've won prizes before.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“From our company also?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“No, not from Publisher's Copy House.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“And, you have down your 3 million 500 thousand
dollars??”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I have it down. Three million five hundred
thousand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“And, you're going to have down a 2019 C class
Metal Mercedes?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I have it down.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Do you still drive?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“No. I don’t drive anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“How do you get around?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I have a car. Others drive it for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“You don't sound very excited that you are a
lucky winner here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I’ll get excited when the money is in the bank,
and the car in the garage.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Your prize should be delivered to you on Monday
at 1:35 in the afternoon.<br>
And, the only thing here to be registered by you to be a winner is your
shipping and handling and registration fee.<br>
To register your name under the government legal act so they can see that you
have taken care of your shipping and handling fee and the registration fee on
the prize.<br>
Alright?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“And how much is that fee?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Shipping and handling<br>
that's 38 hundred. Write it down. And, the registration fee, then, is 15
hundred dollars.<br>
The 38 hundred, that is going to be for the arrival of the package because the
package is currently down in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“It is in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>
right now?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Yes, it is in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city> right now. That's the curtesy why
we're calling because you were supposed to receive this package last week, but
we weren't able to get ahold of you.<br>
We sent you a letter, but we still didn't get a response from you. That's you,
the owner of the package.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Unclear here.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That's the reason why your package is in <st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city> and can't be transferred over to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fort worth</st1:city></st1:place>. And, can't get everything
delivered.<br>
So I need you to read back everything from the beginning that you have on the
paper.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I repeat everything back to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">So, now it is time for me to quickly sprint to
my purse for my credit card...<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WRONG!<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I can't pay that,” I say.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This doesn’t make sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">You tell him it is time for you to go to the
credit cards. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He tells you that you are wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">And then he admonishes you because you won’t pay
it. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“You can't, or you won't?” he asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“I won't,” I answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Get off here,” he commanded, and hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I must say that reaction from him surprised me.
I would have liked to continue the conversation a little longer to find out
what he would have come up with for me to pay the $5,300 in fees to get this
bogus prize. Of course, I knew from the start that this was one of those scam
calls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">How did I know?<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The names used in the script are fictitious, but
I'm very familiar with the types of prizes offered by the company he claimed to
represent. This is not the way they operate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He said they had sent me a notice the week
before and not heard from me. I never received any kind of letter or notice
that I won any prize. I have won prizes before. Sometimes the prize just
arrives in the mail. Other times, I get a phone call. Once, I had to go pick up
the prize in a local contest. Any time I have won something in a contest I
didn't enter, it has been a promotion of some type. I have never won a prize in
a contest or sweepstakes I didn’t enter. If you haven't entered a contest,
something is not right.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Did you notice how many times he tried to get me
to say the word “yes?” If this is a scam call, they may be trying to get you to
say “Yes.” So they can record it and use it as proof that you authorized a
charge on a credit card or purchased a product or service.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This guy claims to be the CEO manager and the
prize control manager for both departments. Why is this guy making these calls
himself? If they can afford to give away 3.5 million dollars and a Mercedes as
a second prize, shouldn’t he have a staff to do this? That’s like the letters I
get signed by the president. He is probably the only person in the department
so he only manages himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">By law, they cannot require you to make a
purchase. Granted, the shipping and registration fees are not technically a
purchase, but I think if there is a registration fee involved, surely the
company would be the one to pay that. I have never had to register any prize I
have won. The shipping and handling fee is like the “Thank you” gifts I get
from companies from time to time where I have to pay shipping and handling to
get my free gift that I could buy for about the same cost as the S&H fee at
any dollar or office supply store. It isn't a gift if I have to pay shipping
and handling, or Buy a meal to get my free dinner. These last two are not a
scan. They are promotions or a form of advertising. You do get something for
the money spent. It's just not really a gift.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">To my knowledge, there is no government
regulation requiring a person to register their prize. I have never had to
register any prize I have won.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He had worked to polish his speech so he didn't
have a detectable accent, but the way he talks shows that the script was not
professionally prepared by a person who knows correct English usage. Or, maybe
it was. They sometimes use this technique of a foreign sounding person or
broken English to weed out the people who are not likely to fall for the scam.
Those people will usually hang up as soon as the promoter starts talking. They
are looking for the naive gullible greedy person who just can't resist the
possibility that it might be real.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">However, as soon as my 3.5 mill is in the bank,
and the new Mercedes safely in my garage, I'll gladly pony up the $5,300
shipping and registration fees if they are required.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The really
bad news is that what these people are doing is cruel and unethical, but is not
technically illegal according to the police and phone company. So, watch out folks.
Don't get taken in. This was cheap. Not all of them are. Once they get your
money, there is not a lot that can be done to prosecute or get your money back.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Leonard Tuchyner via Group1<br>
Sent: Feb 12, 2020 5:22 PM<br>
To: "C. S. Boyd"<br>
Cc: Critique Group 1<br>
Subject: [Critique Group 1] Leonards poem for critique<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Lines: 26<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Thus her pattern was
established.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Trust not, for they will
let you down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">They still see each
other.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">They will try again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This time there will be
counseling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Maybe love will win in
the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">She has finally grown to
know<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv7519583530msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that each of them has a
story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>