Conflict of Interest, Part 4

This fictional account contains explicit sexual materials, adult language and
sexual themes.  If these offend you, please do not read further.  The persons
and events described in this work are fictional.  Any similarity to actual
persons or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2002 by SSTORYMAN.  All
rights reserved.  Permission is granted to reproduce this story in any form
and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no financial

This is a sequel to the author's "Revenge" posted March 2000 and "The Affair"
posted January, 1997.  It may be helpful to read (or re-read) them before
reading this story.  There are also some references to characters who first
appeared in the author's "Lisa's Quest" and "The Vacation."  But familiarity
with these stories isn't necessary to enjoy this one.

Finally, thanks to AZ-MAN for his editorial suggestions, support and
encouragement.


CONFLICT OF INTEREST

4.	Grace Under Fire.

   "You eating alone, Grace?"

   The brunette teenager looked up at Penny Preston.  "Yeah.  I guess I am."

   "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

   Grace smiled guardedly.  "No.  I'd like that, actually."

   Penny put her tray on the lunch table and sat down across from Grace.

   "Penny, you usually eat with your friends," Grace commented, motioning
toward a group of popular girls at a table not far away, consisting of
cheerleaders and other fashionable kids.

   "I know," Penny acknowledged.  "But today I felt like sitting with you,
instead."

   "Thanks," Grace shyly smiled.  "That's nice of you."

   Penny took a bite of her macaroni and cheese.  "You know, I really like
your Mom, Grace.  She's pretty cool.  I wish my mom was as laid back as yours
is."

   "Yeah, my mom _is_ pretty cool, all right.  She doesn't give me shit or get
on my case about stuff most of the time."  She smiled.  "They only thing she
cares about is A's on my report card.  If I do that, she's happy."

   Penny took another bite.  "Then your mom _must_ be happy.  As long as we've
been in school together, I've never seen you get anything other than an A."

   "Yeah, I do pretty well in school," the brunette agreed shyly.

   Penny hesitated.  The truth was, she wanted to ask Grace more stuff about
smoking.  Her time with Grace's mother greatly impacted her.  She decided to
bring up the subject directly.  "So, how long did you say you've been
smoking?"

   "A couple years," Grace shrugged.  "Like I said, it's no big deal."

   "Yes, it is," Penny objected.  "I don't mean that in a bad way.  I think
it's neat."

   Grace looked up, surprised, and smiled.  "You do?"

   "Sure.  I mean, I think it's cool as hell that your mom and dad let you
smoke.  Your mom and I talked about it on the way home last night.  I think
it's totally awesome."

   Grace let down her guard.  "It _is_ awesome, but most people don't
understand.  I guess it was different when Dad was a kid.  Those days, he says
everybody smoked.  But now ?."  Her voice trailed off.  "Now, if you smoke,
people think you're some kind of criminal or something."

   "I know.  I don't get it either," Penny agreed.  "Like, I was talking to my
mom after I got home yesterday.  She's like totally freaked out because your
mom smoked in the car while she brought me home."  She lowered her voice.
"Don't worry, Grace.  I didn't tell you smoke."

   "Thanks.  I knew I could trust you, Penny.  You're a good person."

   "Anyway, my mom went on and on about how terrible it is that your mom lets
your sister, Beth, smoke."

   "How did she know Beth smokes?"

   Penny shrugged.  "My sister Prissy told her.  Prissy says Beth smokes
outside the building after school.  Plus, Prissy's seen her smoke at parties,
I guess.  It's no secret that your sister smokes."

   Grace nodded.  "I know.  God damn it, Beth is so lucky!  I can't wait till
I'm older so I can smoke in public, too!"  She frowned.  "So, your mom was
pissed about the smoking thing?"

   "Yeah," Penny confirmed.  "But it's so hypocritical.  I mean, we had this
big discussion a couple weeks ago about my aunt.  She's a lesbian, and my mom
thinks that's totally okay.  But if your mom smokes, she thinks it's terrible.
I mean, what's the difference?"

   "Your aunt is a lesbian?"

   "Oops.  God, I'm not supposed to tell anybody," Penny chided herself.  "I'm
sorry, Grace.  You have to promise you never heard that from me.  No one's
supposed to know."

   "Your aunt who's the head of the lung association?  She's a lesbian?"

   Penny panicked.  "Keep it down, Grace.  Damn it!  I'm in deep shit if my
mom finds out I told anybody.  It's a big, big secret!"

   Grace smiled.  "That's funny.  God, Penny, every smoker knows your aunt.
She's Sandra Rogers, the anti-smoking crusader.  I have to tell you, my mom
and dad make fun of her all the time.  We see her on TV and say rude things
about her.  She hates smokers, you know."

   "Yeah, I know," Penny sighed.  "Aunt Sandy's a nice person, really.  But
she's a little fanatical about the smoking thing.  Anyway, it's hypocritical
to hate smokers and at the same time tolerate lesbianism.  They're just
different lifestyle choices.  Don't you think?"

   "Sure.  Of course I agree.  According to my dad, smokers are the last and
the only group left who it's actually fashionable, and politically correct, to
hate.  Everything else people do is cool, no matter what it is.  Except
smoking."  She shook her head.  "It really sucks.  Smokers are just people."

   Penny smiled.  "I agree with you.  You're a really nice person, Grace."

   "Thanks, Penny.  You know, unlike you I don't have a lot of close friends
here at school.  I can't hang around with kids unless I'm sure they won't rat
on me about my smoking.  I don't want my parents to get in trouble.  So I
appreciate you being so understanding about it."

   "No problem.  But can I ask you a question about smoking?"

   "Sure.  What is it?"

   Penny took a deep breath.  She spoke just above a whisper.  "You said
yesterday you can't skip your afternoon cigarettes, after not smoking all
day."  Grace nodded, so Penny went on.  "But your mom has to smoke, like, all
the time.  I know she likes it and everything, but here's my question.  Isn't
it hard for you, being at school all day, not being able to smoke?"

   Grace grinned.  "It really bites the big one."  She laughed.  "But I'm used
to it.  I smoke in the morning in the car while Mom drives me to school.  Then
I smoke again as soon as I get home.  It's not easy, but I make it through the
day okay.  Why do you ask?"

   "I dunno.  I just wanted to understand how it worked.  So, you're not ready
to slit your wrists right now or anything, just because you haven't smoked for
a few hours?"

   Leaning forward, Grace answered in a quiet tone of voice.  "Needing to
smoke is like needing to go to the bathroom.  You can hold it for a long time
if you have to.  But when you finally go, it's a great relief.  Smoking's like
that.  I'd love nothing more than to have a cigarette right now.  God!  It'd
be wonderful.  But I can't.  So I just look forward to the next time I can."

   "I see," the blond girl nodded, though she really didn't.  "I was just
curious.  That's all."

   Grace looked at her watch.  "Lunch period's almost over.  You're coming
over this afternoon, right?"

   Penny nodded.  "Prissy is dropping me off again after school."

   "Great."  Grace hesitated.  "Penny, thanks for being willing to be my
friend."

   The other teen blushed.  "Hey, it's partly self-interest, Grace.  I'm going
to get an 'A' on our history project because of you."

   "You're right about that, Penny.  If there's one thing I know how to do,
it's get 'A's.'"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Charity walked happily down the street.  It was twelve forty five.
Although she'd been smoking constantly for the last hour, she lit up another
cigarette for her walk back to the office.

   It'd been a good morning.  After Sandy Rogers left, she spent an hour
preparing a threatening letter to Larilyn Dahlberg.  She was pleased with it.
It insinuated damning consequences would follow if she didn't drop her
blackmail scheme.  After a little research, she wasn't sure Larilyn's little
scheme was technically against the law.  She wasn't asking Sandy to do
anything illegal or even immoral, unless smoking could be considered immoral.
But smoking is a legal activity.  There was no slander involved, because
distributing the pictures didn't involve any untruth.  Even so, her
threatening letter rattled the saber in just the right way.  It was being hand
delivered that afternoon.  Hopefully the letter would make the whole problem
go away, and then she'd never have to see Sandy Rogers again.  She shuddered
as she contemplated her own reaction to that strangely mesmerizing woman.

   Charity hated to admit it, but she _was_ turned on by Sandy's blatant
proposition.  She was strangely sexy.  The word "mesmerizing" was the best way
to sum up her persona.  If Sandy was a smoker, instead of being an
anti-smoking activist, Charity knew she might actually have considered taking
her up on it.  She laughed.  It was so ironic that she was helping an
anti-smoking crusader like Sandy Rogers at the same time she was smoking like
a chimney.

   For the last hour she'd been with Rene, and with Randy Myers, at Johnson &
Myers.  Rene got Randy to commit his lunch hour to meet with her.  They talked
candidly about Charity's interest in jumping firms.  Rene prepared the way
quite well.  Randy knew of Charity's strong reputation and her interest.  The
best thing about the meeting, however, was they all smoked the whole time.
She'd had four cigarettes in an hour.  As a result, she felt extremely
refreshed and relaxed.  Having a fifth one on her walk back, she'd be good
until dinner time now.

   Charity took a long drag and sucked the smoke deep inside.  Slowly,
reluctantly, she let the smoke drift from her mouth.  It wasn't exactly an
exhale.  It was more of a slow escape.  She smiled.  Randy Myers said he'd
take the matter up with his hiring committee this week.  If all went well,
she'd have a formal offer by next Monday.  If she got it, she'd give her two
weeks notice at Williams & Connors the same day.  Then she'd be working with
Rene, and smoking to her heart's content, all day long.  Just the thought of
it sent tingles up and down her spine.  God, it was fucking exciting!

   The best thing was, she had absolutely no conflicts of interest with J&M on
any of her existing cases.  After a quick computer review in Randy's office,
it seemed none of her current clients were on the opposite side of a case
which J&M was handling.  That meant her transition would be quick and easy, no
muss, no fuss.

   The sun felt good as she walked.  She took another hit, which quickly
turned into a double-pump, and she bathed her lungs with more smoke.  When she
joined Johnson & Myers, she'd be coming out as a smoker; coming out for good!
She laughed out loud at the thought.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   A messenger brought a package to Larilyn's desk.  She was at her office at
work.  "Package for you, Ms. Dahlberg.  Sign here, please."

   She did.  She looked at the envelope.  The return address was the law firm
of Williams & Connors.  She didn't know anyone there.  What could it be?

   She opened the letter and read it.  Shit!  Sandy had gotten herself a
lawyer!  She couldn't believe it.  How could she be this stupid?  No threats
were going to stop her from making good her threat to release the pictures.

   She read the letter again.  Immediate legal action?  A court ordered
injunction to prohibit release of the pictures?  A court seal of
confidentiality on the contents of the suit to stop publicity of the pictures?
Attorneys' fees and court costs?  Punitive damages?  She shook her head.  Her
hands were now trembling.  Her response was immediate and predictable.  She
needed to have a cigarette!

   "Brianna, I'm going downstairs to smoke, right now."

   Her petite brunette secretary poked her head in.  "It's too early for our
afternoon smoke break."  The two of them went down together to the smoke room
in the basement every afternoon at three.

   "I know," Larilyn gasped.  "But I can't wait.  I gotta have one now.  No,
make that two or three!  Shit!"

   "What's wrong?"

   "Brianna, if you want to talk, you have to come with."  She hid three
cigarettes inside an envelope, along with her lighter, and headed for the
door.  "Because I need to smoke!"

   The pretty, tiny, be-speckled brunette was right behind her.  "Let me get
my Slims, Larilyn," she said with a laugh.  "I never mind us going early.
Wait up."  She, too, carried an envelope with her cigarettes inside.  If
anyone saw them, they'd think the two women were delivering papers to another
office.  In fact, the only thing in their packages was a nicotine fix.

   Minutes later, Brianna and Larilyn were in the smoke room in the basement.
Its existence was unknown to most people who worked there, including most
smokers.  But Brianna had a friend named Annie on the maintenance staff.
Annie let Brianna and Larilyn use the maintenance staff's secret smoke room
for their breaks every morning and afternoon.  It beat the hell out of
standing around outside.

   "Oh, God," Larilyn gasped, her lungs literally bursting with smoke.  "God,
did I ever need this!  This really hits the spot."  In her hand was a freshly
lit Benson & Hedges 100.

   "Okay.  What's wrong?" Brianna asked as she lit up a Virginia Slim.

   "Here, read this," Larilyn urged, still holding smoke inside and handing
her assistant the letter she received by courier.  "You remember I told you
about my plan to blackmail Sandy Rogers?  Well, I underestimated her.  She got
herself a fuckin' lawyer!"

   Brianna quickly skimmed the letter.  "Damn," she exclaimed.  "This is
serious, isn't it?  Can she do this?"

   "I don't know.  Maybe," Larilyn acknowledged.  "Or maybe it's just a bluff.
That's what I need to find out."  She drew hard on her cigarette.  "Maybe I
should get myself a lawyer, too."

   Brianna smiled.  "My roommate Adrienne says there's a law firm here in town
that defends smokers.  She says they're damn good, too.  It's called . .  .
what is it?  God, I think it's Johnson and somebody or other."

   "Johnson & Myers," Larilyn replied.  "I've heard of them.  They defended
the restaurant and bar owners' association when the city tried to pass a
no-smoking ordinance several years ago.  Sandy Rogers fuckin' hates those
guys."  She grinned.  "That is definitely the law firm I should talk to!"

   "Adrienne knows one of the lawyers who works there.  I met her once.  She's
named Rene something-or-other.  I don't remember her last name.  But I'll get
it from Adrienne."  She raised her Slim to her lips.  "You'll like Rene,
Larilyn," she teased before puffing.  "She's bi-sexual.  Adrienne used to
screw around with Rene sometimes.  You know Adrienne!  She knows every bi and
lesbian professional woman in town."

   Larilyn nodded.  "I don't care about her sexuality.  But if she's good and
sympathetic to smokers, she can help me.  There isn't a smoker in town that
wouldn't love to bring down Sandy Rogers!"

   "You're preaching to the choir, Larilyn," Brianna smiled, stopping to
exhale a cone of smoke into the air.  "We'll teach her to fuck with you!  I'll
get Rene's name and number from Adrienne as soon as I get home.  You can call
her tomorrow morning."

   Larilyn shook her head.  "No, let's call Adrienne as soon as we're back
upstairs.  I want to call this lady today.  The letter says they'll file
papers in court Friday afternoon if I don't turn the negatives over.  I gotta
get in touch with somebody today."

   Brianna watched her boss crush out her first cigarette and immediately fire
up another.  She grinned.  "Okay," she agreed as she, too, chained into a
second cigarette.  "Sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire."

   Larilyn smiled.  "And for us smokers, fire is one of our very best
friends!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   The second day in a row, Prissy dropped Penny off at Grace Crawford's after
school.  Penny didn't care what her mom thought.  She was determined to be
Grace's friend.  She liked her, and she liked Grace's mom, too.  The fact that
her mother considered Mrs. Crawford a monster, just because she smoked, made
liking her that much more satisfying.

   Grace answered the door with a cigarette in her hand.  She'd just gotten
home herself.  Seeing her friend holding a cigarette seemed perfectly natural.
Grace had a certain unusual style and grace in how she carried herself while
smoking.  Penny knew her mom was wrong about smoking and smokers.  Of that,
she was certain.  Smokers were just people, after all, people who enjoyed
smoking cigarettes.

   The girls got Diet Pepsi and pretzels and began working on the report.
Penny was preoccupied.  She wanted to discuss other things.  Finally, she put
down her pen and looked at her new friend.

   "Grace, tell me again how much you like to smoke, and why."

   The brunette girl grinned.  "At lunch all you wanted to talk about was
smoking.  Now you're at it again.  What's up with you?  We're supposed to be
working on our report!"

   "I know," Penny admitted sheepishly.  "But I've never known anybody who
smokes before.  That's all.  I have lots of questions.  Tell me again why you
like it," she repeated.

   Grace held her cigarette beside her face with her wrist cocked.  A dreamy,
far-away look came into her eyes.  She sighed happily.  "Okay.  Here goes.  I
like to smoke because it always makes me feel good.  Having a cigarette in my
mouth, lighting it up and then smelling that wonderful fresh smoke, and
knowing that the smoke will flow deep down into my lungs is, well, it's
fabulous!  Every time I light up, I take a long, powerful first drag, so hard
that my cheeks cave in.  Then I breathe it in, and I pull all the smoke way
down inside into my chest.  Oh God!  It feels so good!  And then I open my
mouth and, voila, the smoke comes pouring out.  I love how it looks.  I like
to watch as it comes out of my mouth.  Sometimes I let it come through my nose
instead.  I like that, too."  She started to put her cigarette in her mouth
for another hit, but instead she began giggling.  "God, you ought to try it,
Penny.  It is the coolest!"

   Penny stared at her.  Grace was exhaling smoke through pursed lips.  She
screwed up her courage.  "I do want to try it, Grace.  I really do.  Do you
think that would be okay?"

   She looked at Penny, somewhat surprised.  "You're kidding, right?"

   "No, I'm not kidding.  I want to try it.  It looks like fun."

   Grace shook her head.  "I won't let you smoke, Penny Preston.  Your aunt is
the head of the lung association.  Nope.  No way."

   Penny waved her hand in the air, as if to indicate Grace's concerns were
unfounded.  "Don't be silly, Grace.  My aunt will never know.  I just want to
try it.  That's all."

   "Penny, don't _you_ be silly!  You can't just _try_ smoking, dumb-ass!  In
no time you start to like it.  Then you want to smoke more.  Pretty soon you
want to smoke all the time.  Your parents aren't dumb.  They'll figure out
who's responsible for turning you on to the smoking habit.  I can't take the
heat, Penny.  My mom would kill me.  Forget it, okay?"

   Penny shook her head with fierce determination.  "You're treating me just
like my mother.  She thinks I'm a child, but I'm not.  I can make my own
decisions, and I want to try smoking.  I can be careful.  No one will find
out."

   Grace took a last drag on her cigarette and crushed it in the ashtray.
"Penny, you're so naïve!  What about the smell on your clothes?  And what
about buying cigarettes?  It may sound like a good idea, and I suppose it is,
in theory.  But in practice you'll get screwed, and in the process, so will I,
and so will my mom.  Why not wait a few years?  Wait till you're eighteen."

   "That's three fuckin' years!"  Penny's voice was filled with exasperation.
She'd  purposely used the 'f' word to underline her point.  "I don't want to
wait, Grace.  I want to try it right now."  She softened her tone.  "It looks
like so much fun.  I'm going to be working with you every day on our project
for a couple weeks.  This is a _perfect_ time for me to try it.  Please?"

   Grace shook her head.  "Penny, trust me.  Smoking is great.  I love it.
But if you get caught, and eventually you probably will, the shit will hit the
fan for me and my folks.  I don't need that.  I really don't.  I don't want my
family to hit your aunt's radar screen when you tell your parents who gave you
your first cigarette."

   "I can keep a secret, Grace.  No one will know you let me smoke.  Even if
my mom finds out, I'll lie.  I'll tell her it's somebody else at school.  I'll
protect you, I promise."

   "I'm sure you'll try.  But your parents will suspect we were involved, and
then they'll tell your aunt.  Bam!  My family is screwed if that happens.  My
mom and dad don't want people yelling at them because they let us smoke."

   "How will you get screwed?  You yourself said there's nothing illegal about
what your parents are doing by letting you smoke!"

   "Yeah, that's what my dad says, but who knows?  People don't like kids
smoking these days.  It'd be different if your family wasn't so tied in with
the anti-smoking movement in town."

   Penny was completely frustrated.  Irritated, she grabbed Grace's pack of
Salem Lights 100's.  "I can't believe you won't help me," she raged.
"Somebody helped you learn to smoke.  I can't believe you won't return the
favor and let me try it out!"

   Grace sighed.  There was no sense arguing.  Penny obviously had made up her
mind.  "God, okay!  I give up.  I'll help you.  Just don't you ever blame me
for what happens."

   Penny smiled victoriously.  "Don't worry, Grace.  I won't.  Thank you so
much!  I just want to try it.  That's all."

   Resigned to the fact that her friend couldn't be dissuaded, the little
brunette took back her pack of Salems.  She shook out two, and handed one to
her blond companion.  "Okay, here.  Let me show you how it's done."

   Grace lit up a Salem and handed it to Penny.  "Take this one," she
instructed.  "I'll light another and keep it for myself."

   Grace took the lit cigarette.  She carefully looked it over, turning it in
her hand.  It was long and sleek and white.  Smoke flowed from the burning
end.  Small curls of smoke twisted from its filter as a result of Grace's
powerful first drag.  She grinned.  "I'm excited," she gushed.

   "It gets more exciting real fast," Grace said knowingly, exhaling a stream
of smoke from her first puff on her cigarette.  "You need to get used to the
feel of it, and that takes awhile.  Put it in your mouth, and take a real
small puff.  Pretend you're sucking on a straw, and you just want a tiny
little sip.  Don't breathe it in, either.  Just puff and blow the smoke out
right away.  Got it?"

   Penny nodded.  She put the burning cigarette in her mouth and 'sipped,'
just the way Grace told her to.

   The taste of smoke was bitter and yet, somehow, strangely sweet at the same
time.  She made a face.  "Oh God!  It tastes weird," she frowned.  "I don't
think I like it."

   "Don't worry.  You will.  Try it again."

   The blond girl did.  Her heart raced as she put the burning cigarette in
her mouth a second time.  She puffed harder this time and blew it out.  "Yech,
it's awful!"

   Grace laughed.  "I warned you.  It takes getting used to.  Do you want to
quit?"

   "No," Penny resolutely.  "I want to learn how to do this."

   Grace sighed.  "Okay.  You can't learn by just smoking once.  It takes
practice.  I _hated_ my first cigarette.  But I kept at it, because I knew
it'd get better.  And it did.  It got much better, real quick.  Try it again."

   Penny repeated the exercise a few times, stopping between puffs to tap the
lengthening ash in the ashtray.  With each puff, it became less bitter, less
offensive.  But her head began buzzing, and she felt wobbly.  "Whoa, this
makes me feel funny.  Why is that?"

   "It's the nicotine.  Your body isn't used to it.  Don't worry.  That
sensation will soon go away, too.  Or at least you'll get used to it.  Maybe
you should put it out and stop for now."

   "I want one more puff," Penny stubbornly insisted.  "I want to get used to
it."  She put the shrinking cigarette back between her lips for another drag.
She was tired of going slow.  She wanted to _really_ smoke, like Grace.  She
took her longest and hardest puff so far, and didn't blow it out immediately.
Instead, she held it in her mouth for a few seconds before exhaling.

   The spinning feeling in her head intensified.  She opened her mouth and
released a thick, uninhaled cloud of smoke.  "Ooh," she gasped.  "I feel
strange."  She clumsily crushed her cigarette in the ashtray.

   "Congratulations," Grace grinned.  "You just smoked your first cigarette,
Penny."  She noticed the pasty color of her friend's face.  "Have a sip of
Diet Pepsi," she instructed.  "You'll be fine in a minute."

   Penny sipped some soda.  The room was spinning.  She felt queasy.  "Oh God.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all!"

   Grace drew again on her cigarette.  "Just part of the learning process,"
she confidently asserted.  "Don't worry.  Like I said, my first cigarette was
a disaster.  My second was better.  By the time I finished my third cigarette
. . . ."  She stopped to exhale.  "Well, let's just say by that point I was
definitely a devoted fan of nicotine, and I never looked back."

   Penny took Grace's words to heart.  She then and there decided not to worry
about her initial response.  She knew Grace liked it.  Silently she vowed to
stick with it until things turned around, like Grace said it would, and she'd
start to like it, too, just like Grace so obviously did.

   They worked awhile on the project.  Thirty minutes later Grace smoked
again.  Another half hour passed, and the grandfather clock in the living room
bonged four thirty.  Penny put her pen down on the table and looked up at her
friend.

   "Hey, Grace, aren't you ready for another cigarette about now?"

   "Uh, yeah, sure," she slowly replied.  "Are you thinking about trying it
again?"

   "Uh-huh," Penny smiled.  "You _said_ it takes practice.  And where else do
I have any chance to practice some more?"

   "Nowhere else," Grace acknowledged.  In fact, she was pleased Penny wanted
to keep going.  She loved to smoke, and loved the idea of introducing her new
friend to the smoking routine.  Although she _was_ worried about potential
fallout, Penny wasn't dumb.  Even if she got hooked, she'd be careful.  She'd
have to be, living in a family of anti-smoking zealots.

   "Tell me this.  Why do you want to try smoking again?  I thought you didn't
like it."

   "I didn't say I didn't like it."  Penny grew a bit testy.  "I only said it
made me feel weird.  But the idea of it seems so cool.  I really want to
learn."

   "Well, yeah, it _is_ cool," Grace nodded.  She handed Penny a Salem.
"Here.  Let's teach you how to light it up yourself this time."

   The young but experienced smoker showed the novice how to light a cigarette
in her mouth.  "I'll hold the lighter.  With the cigarette in your lips, move
it toward the flame.  When it hits the tobacco end, suck just hard enough to
pull the flame into the cigarette.  Then blow out the smoke like before, but
leave the cigarette hanging in your lips after it's lit up.  Okay?"

   Penny nodded.  "Okay.  But don't I need to hold it with my hand?"

   Grace laughed.  "No, just let your lips hold onto the cigarette.  A
no-hands light up looks more elegant.  Trust me!"

   The unlit Salem dangled from her inexperienced lips.  Her friend clicked
her pastel disposable lighter and held the flame.  Penny guided the cigarette
towards the dancing flame, stopping just as it touched the tip of her friend's
cigarette.  The youngster sucked, got a nice even light, and then exhaled some
smoke from the corner of her mouth.

   "Wow!  Very good," Grace encouraged, egging on her companion.  The lit
cigarette was still hanging from Penny's lips.  "Now do this.  Take another
puff, harder this time, make a 'V' with your fingers, and take it out of your
mouth."

   Penny did as instructed.  She dragged a second time and the tip burned
bright orange as raised her fingers in a 'V' to take the cigarette from her
lips.  She closed her mouth as she removed the Salem, holding the smoke in
uninhaled for several seconds before releasing it.

   "God, you _are_ good," Grace exclaimed.  "I'm impressed.  How does it
feel?"

   "Fine," Penny shrugged.  She tried to look nonchalant, but inside she felt
extremely excited.  She'd just lit up a cigarette, like a real smoker!  The
exhilaration she felt was breathtaking.  Without being told, she returned it
to her mouth for another puff.  On this one, too, she dragged pretty hard.
Grace nodded approvingly as Penny exhaled another mouthful of uninhaled smoke.

   "Oh my God," Grace giggled.  "You're doing great!  That's much better than
I did when I first learned to smoke!"

   "Gosh, thanks," Penny blushed.  She tapped her cigarette in the ashtray.
"Aren't you going to smoke, too, Grace?"

   "Oh, God!  Yes, I am," she laughed.  "I almost forgot, I was so caught up
watching you!"  She quickly lit up a Salem of her own.  "There," she sighed
contentedly.  "God, this is cool!  Don't misunderstand my being nervous.  I
really _like_ having you smoke with me, Penny.  It really is great."

   The blond girl blushed again.  "Thanks.  I'm excited about it, too."

   She took a few more puffs, still expelling the smoke immediately.  Half-way
through the cigarette, Grace suggested she take the next step.

   "Would you like to try inhaling, Penny?  I think you're about ready."

   The brunette frowned.  "What do you mean?  What's that?"

   "Haven't you noticed that the way I smoke is completely different from what
you're doing so far?"  Penny nodded, so she went on.  "I breathe the smoke in.
It's called inhaling.  It makes smoking much more fun.  And I think you're
ready to try it."

   "I think I am, too."  She felt excited that her friend had confidence in
her.  "I feel much better about smoking this time."

   It was true.  Penny _did_ feel more comfortable smoking this cigarette.
She was getting accustomed to the taste and feel of the smoke in her mouth.
She still felt a buzz in her head, but her queasiness had disappeared.  "I
want to learn to do this right," she stated, with emphasis on the last word.
"Show me how, Grace."

   "Okay.  On your next puff, hold the smoke in your mouth, just like you've
been doing.  But this time, instead of blowing it right back out, open your
mouth and breathe it inside instead.  Let the smoke go all the way down your
windpipe into your lungs.  Hold it down there for a second, and after that
breathe it back out through your mouth.  Like this!"

   In order to demonstrate, the pretty little brunette dragged on her Salem.
The tip crackled and burned bright orange while she sucked.  She removed the
cigarette and closed her mouth, holding the smoke inside.  Then she opened it
and breathed in, in one swift movement.  A large, round ball of thick, white
smoke hung in mid-air and then vanished inside her body.  She tipped her head,
opened her mouth again, and exhaled an exquisite and endless stream of smoke.

   "Now that's how it's done," she said with a self-satisfied smile.  "Can you
do that?  Do you want to try?"

   "Yes, I want to," Penny nodded vigorously.

   She imitated her friend's movements, taking a puff and holding the smoke in
her mouth.  Then, parting her lips, she breathed in, and the smoke disappeared
inside her body.

   She felt an indescribable sensation in her chest.  It was strange; thick,
warm and full.  She knew the smoke in her lungs was causing it, of course.
But it didn't feel bad.  No, indeed, it felt strangely pleasant.  She didn't
cough, but the buzz in her head intensified.  She smiled and let out a sigh.
As she did, bits of smoke escaped from her mouth.  Seeing it, her grin got
larger.  She pursed her lips and released an almost endless stream of
blue-gray smoke.

   "Wow!  That was _so_ cool!"

   "I thought sure you'd cough," Grace interjected.  "But you didn't, did
you?"

   "No, I didn't _feel_ like coughing at all," Penny mused, absent-mindedly
manicuring her cigarette in the ashtray as she spoke.  "But oh my God!  That
felt so unbelievably good!"

   It was Grace's turn to smile.  "Congratulations.  You did it.  _That's_
what real smoking is all about!  That's it, Penny.  Now you've done it."

   "I want to try it again," the excited teenager replied.  "Right now!"
Returning the cigarette to her mouth, she dragged again.  In her newfound
enthusiasm, she hit on it harder and longer than before.  She took it from her
lips and opened her mouth.  Another huge ball of smoke hung there for a
moment, only to quickly disappear down her windpipe as she breathed it in.

   A euphoric expression covered her pretty face.  "Oh, wow," she moaned.  She
pursed her lips again and exhaled another endless stream of thick,
creamy-white smoke.  "That is so nice!"

   Grace nodded.  "It _is_ nice, isn't it?  Isn't smoking fun?"

   "God, it is the best," Penny exclaimed.  "I can't believe how nice it is!"
She looked down at the shrinking cigarette between her index and middle
fingers.  "Oh God, you beautiful thing, where the hell have you been all my
life?"  Without vacillation she put it in her mouth again.

   "Hey, be careful," Grace warned.  "You don't want to overdose, kid."

   Penny nodded, but already she'd deposited another load of thick mentholated
smoke into her lungs.  Tipping her head back, she exhaled one more dense veil
into the air.  She giggled.  "Don't worry.  My head's spinning, but I don't
want to stop!"  Smoke continued to flow from her mouth as she spoke the words.

   "But maybe you should stop."  She looked at Penny's hand.  Her fingers
holding the cigarette were trembling violently.  "You can have another one in
a few minutes.  This one's almost done anyway.  Why don't you give it a rest
now?"

   Penny grimaced.  "Okay," she reluctantly agreed.  She took a last, more
modest drag and crushed the Salem in the ashtray.  As before, she inhaled and
then exhaled the smoke from her lips.  "I am pretty shaky here," she admitted.
"But God!  I really like it!"

   "I'm glad.  I'm not surprised, either."  Grace took another hit of her own
and put hers out, too.  "I told you smoking's cool.  Now you've learned that
for yourself."

   "Boy, have I ever!"  Penny's hands still trembled.  She picked up her Diet
Pepsi for another long sip.  She sighed.  "God, doesn't anybody else realize
how great smoking is?"

   "Yeah, about fifty million other Americans do," Grace laughed.  "It's not
like it's a secret, Penny.  Why do you think people like your aunt constantly
preach against it?  If it weren't cool, there'd be no need for her to rant and
rave against smoking and smokers."

   "I guess," Penny agreed.  She shook her head.  "Wow!  I definitely want to
do it again."

   "Okay.  But first let's make some progress on our report.  I'll let you
have another one later, before you have to go."

   The girls again worked on the report, but Penny was obsessing over what
she'd just accomplished.  She wanted to smoke another cigarette.  She felt a
bit unsettled, and her head ached.  But even so, she wanted to smoke again.
She didn't care what her mom, her aunt, or anyone else thought.  Smoking made
her feel good, and she was going to keep right on doing it!  Grace was really
onto something.  She bided her time, eagerly hoping her friend would soon give
her the green light to smoke again.

   Finally, after another half an hour, she impatiently spoke up.  "Grace,
don't you think it's time?"  It sounded more like a plea than a request; it
was a virtual appeal for mercy.

   "Oh, yeah, all right," Grace sighed.  The truth was she wanted another
cigarette, too.  She was ready, and loved having someone to smoke with.  The
prospect of indoctrinating her new friend even more deeply into her habit
greatly appealed to her.  So she handed her pack to Penny.  "Let's do it.
Let's see if this time you can light up all by yourself."

   Impatiently, Penny put an unlit cigarette in her mouth.  Grace gave her the
lighter.  Penny fumbled before finally figuring how to ignite it.  Then she
confidently held the flickering flame in front of her face while deliberately
directing the tip of her dangling cigarette into the fire.  Bingo!  She got
it!  A hand-free light up!

   Instinctively Penny's finger released the button on the lighter, and the
flame disappeared.  Her cheeks caved in, and she drew long and hard on the
freshly lit Salem.  This was a girl who knew what she wanted.  After sucking
for several seconds she made a "V" with her index and middle fingers and
retrieved it from her lips.  Her mouth opened and a ball of smoke quickly
disappeared into her waiting lungs.

   "Oh," she involuntarily moaned.  She smiled contentedly.  "God, this is so
nice!"  Along with her words, smoke began escaping.  She giggled as it did,
making it come out in several successive bluish-gray bursts.

   Grace shook her head.  "Penny Preston, I have _never_ seen anyone take to
smoking so enthusiastically!  You are amazing!"

   "No, smoking is amazing.  I think I'm really getting it, though.  It
doesn't seem hard anymore.  And I really like it.  You were so right!"  With a
flourish she put the cigarette back between her lips for another hit.  "Do you
really think I'm moving too fast?"

   Grace shrugged as she watched Penny repeat her performance with the
cigarette.  "Nah, there's no such thing as moving too fast when it comes to
smoking," she observed with a wry grin.  "Just move as fast or as slow as you
feel comfortable.  If it feels good, I say, go girl!"

   Penny exhaled another plume of smoke.  "It feels good, Grace," she giggled.
"And so I'm going for it!"

   After her next drag, followed by a monstrous exhale, the girls began
laughing.  They never heard the front door open.  Suddenly, there in the
doorway was Beth, Grace's older sister.

   "God damn, Gracie!  You're an asshole!  Mom warned you, but you got the
Preston girl here smoking with you!  You are such an idiot!"

   Penny froze.  She still had her cigarette in hand, and smoke wafted from
her lips as a result of her last inhale.  Beth walked in and circled the two
freshman smokers.

   "But I have to say this, Penny.  You smoke pretty good for a beginner.  I
assume you _are_ a beginner?"

   "Uh, yeah," the fifteen year old mumbled.  "I just told Grace I wanted to
try it."

   Beth smiled.  "You're doing a hell of a lot more than trying it, girl!  The
way I see it, you're smoking like a goddamn veteran!"

   Penny smiled.  "Thanks, Beth.  I think that's a real complement, coming
from you."

   "Yeah, well, it is a compliment," Beth sighed, getting out her pack of
Marlboro Lights 100's.  "Your older sister Prissy will be real proud of you."
Pausing, she lit up, too.

   "What do you mean?"

   "What do I mean?" Beth asked.  "God, girl, you mean you don't know?"

   Penny shook her head.

   "I mean, your sister would be damn proud to see you smoke like that.
Prissy smokes, you know."

   Penny looked like someone who'd just been sucker-punched in the stomach.
"No!"

   "Oh yeah," Beth said, exhaling a stream of smoke.  "Recently Prissy has
become a real regular member of our group of after school smokers.  I suspect
she'll be real glad to see you've signed up, too, Penny."

   Penny surprised both the Crawford girls with her response to the
revelation.  "Damn!  This always happens!"

   "What do you mean?" Grace asked.

   "I mean, Prissy always gets to do everything first.  I'm sick of following
in her footsteps.  I thought this would be something where I'd be different
from her."

   Beth shrugged.  "Well, it's not like you're going to tell your parents.  So
what does it matter?  I thought you knew.  I figured that's why you got Grace
assigned to be your partner."

   "No," Penny explained.  She smiled at Grace.  "It wasn't till I got here
that I found out you and she smoke.  I'm glad it worked out, though.  I think
I want to become a smoker, too."

   "You and Prissy can support each other," Beth observed wryly.  "Don't be
upset.  This is a great opportunity.  Until our parents found out, Gracie and
I always covered for each other.  It works better to have an ally, Penny, if
you want to start smoking all the time."

   "Do you _want_ to start smoking all the time, Penny?"  Grace's expression
showed she hoped the answer would be 'yes.'

   The blond fifteen year old nodded energetically.  She looked at her
cigarette and raised it to her lips for another hit.  "Yes, I really think I
do," she said serenely.  She paused to exhale again.  "I like smoking.  It's
totally cool."

   Beth smiled at her little sister.  "Congratulations, Gracie.  It looks like
you finally found a friend in your class who will smoke with you."

   Grace grinned.  "Yeah, and that makes me really excited.  Penny, I think
you and I will wind up becoming really good friends.  And my mom's pretty
cool.  I bet she won't mind if you want to start hanging out here with me at
our house, so you can smoke with us all the time."

   Penny took a final puff on her cigarette and reluctantly stubbed it in the
ashtray.  "Yeah, it'd be great."  She didn't tell the Crawford girls about the
problem this idea would create at her house.  There had to be a way to make
her mom not follow through on her threat to stop her from seeing Grace
Crawford after this history class project..  Penny thought a moment.  Yep,
she'd figure something out.  She had to.  She wanted to be a smoker!

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