Paul goes from one stage to another increasingly taxing to try to understand and satisfy his mother. Paul is the stories protagonist, a young boy from a middle-class background, whose mother, Hester, is constantly chanting, "There must be more money- (Lawrence 255). As a result, Paul equates "luck- with having material possessions. Paul then decides that it is up to him to supply the money his mother is wanting, believing that is what will bring good luck back to his family. Paul learns that by riding his wooden rocking horse he is able to know which horse is going to win the race at the track. He knows if he is absolutely sure or not so it is a for sure bet. His mother has never shown love and he thinks its because she has always been let down so he thinks that if he can win her money she will show him love.
Paul's quest to satisfy his mother's demands begins with his attempts to define luck. Initially, he confuses it with lucre, believing luck and money are synonymous because his Uncle Oscar often refers to "filthy lucre- (Lawrence 255). His mother explains that luck is "what causes you to have money. If you're lucky you have money. That's why it's better to be born lucky than rich. If you're rich, you may lose your money. But if you're lucky, you will always get more money."" (256) Paul's relationship with his mother is what drives him toward the racing. Paul has a constant need for his mothers approval, and the only way he can succeed is by changing their bad luck to good. His mother has repeatedly held her husband responsible for their financial woes, condemning his as "very unlucky- (256). Because his father has let her down, Paul believes it is up to him to change the family's luck or "good fortune."" Since Paul's father has obviously failed miserably at satisfying his wife, the son feels pressured to fulfill her needs, through her desire for more money. Paul does this by riding for hours on his wooden rocking horse, putting himself in a sort of trance, Paul "wanted luck, he wanted it, he wanted it.
