The lottery grants couples a limited chance to have children; a recent large drawing has pleased several residents.
A winning couple receives a year in which to try for a child, within a system intended to let parents have two children to replace themselves. Deaths can create new opportunities: Holston and Allison’s opportunity passed to another couple before their year ended, and Dr. Nichols said the lottery moved on after his premature son died without officially counting as born. Juliette disliked lotteries following so closely on deaths and preferred fixed dates.
Mission Jones contrasted an earlier baby boom after violence with the smaller number of births tied to natural deaths and lottery wins. He and Allie discovered her pregnancy after their ticket expired, though she said conception had occurred within their permitted window. Most recently, Lukas reports that a large lottery held during the week pleased a number of residents.
It regulates opportunities for couples to have children, linking new births to the population’s losses.
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