A New Start, Part 2

A New Start: Part 2

Paul arrived at the bus station early and sat patiently waiting for Emma to 
arrive. When her bus pulled in, he stood to greet her and was stunned to 
see how radiant she looked. She wore a skimpy white top and black jacket, 
with tight black pants and carrying a little bag. she came over, giving 
Paul a kiss on the cheek before opening her bag and pulling out an unopened 
packet of Marlboro. 

"Had a good day?" Paul asked, 

"Not to bad," she replied, unwrapping the cellophane from her packet, 
"pretty busy in the shop though, I'm worn out. The packet unwrapped, she 
opened it, pulled out the foil and then a cigarette which she placed in the 
centre of her mouth before flicking the lighter and lighting up. As she put 
her fastened up her bag, she pulled on the cigarette and exhaled a large 
cloud of smoke, before pulling again; this time exhaling a tight stream of 
smoke as she looked won at the ground. "So what do you fancy?" Paul asked, 

"What about the pictures?" Emma answered, "the new Bond movie opened 
yesterday." 

"Yeah, sounds OK....lead the way." 

Emma smiled at Paul, taking his hand in hers while she dangled the 
cigarette in the other. As they walked, they talked about themselves, Paul 
telling Emma about their move and his dads new job. Emma listened, puffing 
happily on her Marlboro as she did, taking care to blow the smoke away from 
Paul following her shallow inhales, before telling Paul about her life. 

"your family sounds a lot more exciting than mine!" Emma commented, smoke 
bellowing from her mouth as she spoke, "my dad left us a couple of years 
ago, just before my sister was born, so it's been a difficult time for 
us...especially mum. She was only sixteen when she had me, so to bring 
another baby up on her own now is a struggle....but we manage." They 
continued the conversation as they walked up to the cinema where Emma 
finished off the cigarette as Paul went to purchase the tickets. 

The rest of the evening was pleasant; following the movie, which they both 
enjoyed, they walked across the road to McDonalds where Paul treated Emma 
to a burger and chips, washed down by Diet Coke and a Marlboro. Finally, 
they jumped in a taxi together, driving first to Emmas where they stopped 
outside where Emma turned to Paul, 

"Thanks Paul, I really enjoyed tonight," 

"Yeah," Paul replied, "fancy doing it again soon?" 

"Sure....what are you doing tomorrow?" 



Over the next month, the two saw an awful lot of each other as the romance 
blossomed and Paul settled in nicely at his new school. The time soon came 
for Emma to meet Pauls family; she was extremely nervous as she walked up 
the path to the door, which was opened by Paul before she had to knock. 
Dinner was served almost immediately and everybody seemed to get on well. 
After the meal as they retired to the lounge in the big house, the phone 
rang. Shortly after, Pauls dad entered the room, "Sorry honey," he 
apologised to his wife, "I have to go, there's been a serious road 
accident, they need everybody in...sorry Emma, hope you'll come again 
soon." 

"Oh, how awful," his wife answered, "you take care of yourself," 

"See you later Mr Farnham," Emma shouted as picked up the car keys and left 
the house. As the door closed, Tracy, Pauls mum, picked up her packet of 
cigarettes of her chair arm and lit up, relaxing back in her chair as she 
took a long, deep inhale of the thick smoke. Julie then stood and walked 
over, taking one of the cigs for herself; since she had turned sixteen 
recently, her mum allowed her to smoke when her dad wasn't in, knowing he 
would disapprove of his young daughter choosing to damage and pollute her 
lungs, as her mum did, rather than take a moer sporting lifestyle. 

"You smoke don't you Emma? Julie asked, 

"Er, mmm, yes....sometimes" Emma answered sheepishly, 

"Want a cig?" Julie offered her, 

"Yeah, thanks" she answered, feeling uneasy at this, 

"Don't worry," Julie assured her, handing her a Marlboro and lighter, "mum 
doesn't mind, you are sixteen aren't you?" 

"Yeah" Emma answered, lighting up the cig, and taking her usualy shallow 
drag. 

"Does your mum know you smoke?" Tracy asked Emma, 

"Yeah, she knew when I was 14, but didn't really bother....she smokes 
heavily herself so......but I didn't really smoke in front of her until I 
was 16". Julie and Tracy listened intently, while Paul appeared bored by 
the conversation. 

"Yeah," Tracy continued, "I knew Julie was smoking when she was about 14, 
but I let it go. Both my parent smoked, and I started when I was 10...and 
up to a pack a day when I was 12...so I'm hardly a good role model am I!" 

Paul stared at the television, beginning to get irritated as the room began 
to cloud over with the smoke from the three ladies as they puffed happily 
on their Marlboro. Emma was beginning to feel more relaxed as she smoked 
with the others, noticing how deep the mother and daughter inhaled. 

"My mum was the same," Emma continued, "she was up to a pack a day by the 
time she turned 8!.......now, she rarely smokes less than 60 a day. She 
says she was on 40 a day when she was pregnant with me!" 

"Yeah, I smoked when I was pregnant with Julie," Tracy nodded, "much to 
Brians annoyance, he didn't half give me grief...I only smoked a few each 
day though, for the sake of argument." 

The women finished off their cigarettes as they continued the conversation, 
a layer of smoke floating around the room from the three cigarettes.And so 
the evening continued; the women continued to smoke with the conversation 
while Pauls boredom increased. 

"You study sciences don't you?" Julie asked Emma, throwing her another 
cigarette, 

"Yeah," she answered before pausing to light up, "biology, chemistry, 
physics," 

"Same as me...we must have the same work!" Julie exclaimed as she exhaled 
the smoke from her nostrils, "we'll have to get together sometime, do the 
work together!" 

"No problem, I'd like that." Emma replied, happy tht was getting on well 
with Julie. 

"Good, we'll sort something out soon." 



The night continued in the same way until Emma announced that it was time 
for her to go home. Paul volunteered to ring for a taxi, before Tracy, 
who'd had only a glass of wine, offered to drive her home. Emma kissed the 
quiet Paul goodnight, sensing his displeasure at the way the night had 
gone. Tracy climbed behind the wheel of the Land Rover Discovery, 
immediately lighting up two Benson & Hedges, and handing one to Emma who 
was now comfortable in the presence of Pauls family. The two ladies smoked 
as they drove home, the rain outside preventing them from opening the 
windows with the result that the car began to fill with the damaging smoke. 
Emma began to fell uncomfortable with it, such was its density, but she 
noticed that Tracy was unnaffected by it. 

Emma thanked Tracy as she was dropped off at her door and walked up the 
path fumbling for her keys, as her boyfriends mum drove off. 

Emma began to visit the Farnham house more often, her friendship with Julie 
becoming more involved that that with Paul, who seemed to disaprove of the 
girls friendship. After she had been to the house a few times, Emma invited 
Julie round to her own house for a revision session, an offer which Julie 
accepted with pleasure................. 

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