Picture this: Saturday night, family car ride. Dad’s driving. Mom’s in the passenger seat scratching a $30 “MAX-A-MILLION” ticket she grabbed at the Quality Mart on Cotton Grove Road. In the back, her son casually drops, “I hope you win on number 55.”

And then—because life sometimes loves a dramatic twist—55 hits.

Emily Praytor watched the numbers line up and felt that dizzy, “is this real?” rush. It wasn’t just a win; it was the game’s first available $100,000 second-tier prize. Cue the stunned silence, followed by, “Did we really win this?”

On Monday, Emily took the ticket to Raleigh, signed all the forms, and walked out with $71,758 after taxes. Her review of the experience: “This is pretty awesome.”

What happens next? She’s a mom of three boys, so the money’s getting the responsible treatment: home renovations first, savings second. Sensible. Solid.

But the real headline isn’t just the cash. It’s that backseat moment—the tiny, fearless hope of a kid calling his shot, and the universe answering, “Yep.”