Losing and winning, Part 4

This fictional account contains adult language and themes.  If such language
and themes offend you, please do not read farther.  Copyright 1999 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 remuneration is received, directly or indirectly, by the
person reproducing it.

LOSING AND WINNING

4.	Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Kate pulled up in front of the house.  It was past seven.  She was late, as
usual.  She'd stopped at Alyssa's after work.  It was only supposed to be for
a minute.  But they went for a drive so Alyssa could have a quick smoke.  One
cigarette turned into two, and two into three.  Before Kate knew it, she was
an hour late for dinner.

Her dad's car wasn't in the garage.  That wasn't unusual.  He rarely came
home for dinner anymore.  But her mom would be mad.  She should've called and
said she'd be late.  But she forgot.  Damn!

"Hi, Mom," Kate called as she came in.  "Sorry I'm late."  She waited.  No
response.

She heard a noise from the family room.  "I'm on the back porch, Kate," came
the reply.  "I'll be inside in a minute."

Kate frowned.  Her mom rarely sat on the back porch or the deck behind the
porch.  It was her dad's favorite spot, but her mom almost never went out
there.  Odd, she thought.

Lynne came inside.  She wore a cute sleeveless powder blue sun dress.  Her
hair was pulled back.  She looked like the well-to-do suburban housewife.
She also looked flustered.

"How are you, sweetie?" she greeted Kate.  It sounded almost too nonchalant.

"Fine, Mom," Kate replied, but with an edge.  She waited for the scolding.
It didn't come.  Instead, Lynne began heating up dinner.

"Mom," Kate interrupted.  "Are you okay?"

Lynne looked even more dazed.  "Yeah," she said slowly.  "Why do you ask?"

"I thought you'd yell at me for being late.  You always do.  That's all."

Lynne released an audible sigh and smiled.  "You're a big girl.  I get on
your case too much about being on time.  It's okay.  I'm trying to go with
the flow.  You know?"

"I guess," Kate frowned.  Cognizant of the smoky smell on her clothes, she
decided to change before dinner.  "I'm going to run upstairs and change," she
announced.

Kate shortly returned in a new outfit.  The two ate quietly.  They rarely
talked much, and today was no exception.  Her mother seemed edgy, but Kate
decided not to ask what was wrong.  After all, she decided, I don't want Mom
asking me any questions, either.

After they finished dinner, Lynne still seemed preoccupied.  "I'm picking up
Alyssa," Kate announced as she cleared the dishes.  "We're going out for
coffee.  If that's okay."

Lynne smiled.  "Oh, that's fine, dear," she said absent-mindedly.  "Enjoy
yourselves."  She just stared out the window at the rapidly darkening sky.

Kate was really baffled now.  Her mom always complained when she went out on
school nights.  Something was distracting her.  But what?  She decided not to
question her good fortune.  She and Alyssa could smoke for several hours.
"I'll be home by eleven," she announced.

"Have a good time, sweetie," came the half-hearted reply.

As soon as Kate left, Lynne quietly walked to the front of the house.  From a
dark room, she watched her daughter's car pull away from the curb and
disappear down the street.  "Finally," she sighed.  "I thought she'd never
leave!"

It was only three hours since her last cigarette, but Lynne already wanted
another one.  It was strange how fast she'd become accustomed to nicotine's
pleasures.

She walked out the back door to the screen porch, where she'd hidden her
newly purchased cigarettes.  With the porch screens open, no one would know
she'd been smoking.

Hidden by the twilight, Lynne retrieved a new pack Salem Lights 100's from
under the couch, together with a newly purchased glass ashtray.  From her
sundress pocket she revealed a new disposable lighter.  With trembling
fingers she opened the pack.  She removed a long, white Salem.  Before firing
the lighter, she sniffed it.  The cigarette smelled minty, clean and fresh.
She sighed with anticipation.  She wanted to smoke it!

Lynne was nervous, but there was no chance Kate would return.  Lynne put the
cigarette between her lips.  She still wasn't sure how this happened.  As
recently as this morning, the idea of smoking was only a fantasy, something
to be considered solely for Tom's benefit.  Now she wanted to taste smoke for
its own sake.  She wanted to breathe it in, feel it tingle her throat and
fill her lungs.  She wanted to it.  In fact, the feeling of anticipation had
grown to almost a need.

Lynne flipped her long, auburn hair over her shoulders.  With the cigarette
dangling from her lips, she clicked the lighter.  She eagerly drew on the
cigarette as the flame touched its tip, igniting it instantly.  As she
pulled, she felt her mouth fill with smoke.  She breathed in.  Her lungs
welcomed the blue-gray substance cascading down her windpipe.  Yes!  She was
finally smoking again.  And it felt good!

The light was dim, and the cherry end of her cigarette became her focal point
for the next few minutes.  With each puff she watched the Salem's tip grow
bright red, then soften as she removed the cigarette from her mouth and
inhaled.  Her exhales were barely visible in the night air, but she felt the
smoke flowing from her lips.  She loved the feeling!

She was disappointed when she finally crushed the cigarette in the ashtray.
It was so delicious!  She considered dumping the ashtray in the trash, but
decided against it.  Neither Tom nor Kate would be home for hours.  She'd
have time for another cigarette later.  For a moment, she was tempted to
smoke again immediately.  She decided to wait, though she wasn't sure why.

She went in and turned on the TV.  While mindlessly flipping through
channels, a movie on HBO caught her eye.  The thing that grabbed her
attention was the fact that the characters were all smoking.  She watched,
fascinated.  They talked and laughed and smoked together.  Smoking seemed to
be part of the fabric sustaining their relationships.  Based on her own
limited experience, she knew that smoking with Stacie made their time
together more of an event, too.

As she thought about this social dimension, her desire for another cigarette
increased.  Stacie said it took days, even weeks, to get addicted and develop
real nicotine cravings.  Well, Lynne mused, maybe this wasn't a true craving,
but it was something.  Whatever it was, she knew she'd be satisfied only when
she smoked another cigarette.

Well, what the hell? she thought with a wicked smile.  There's no reason not
to smoke again, is there?  Of course not.  She muted the TV and opened the
back door.  As soon as she stepped outside, she started to shiver.  The
evening air was cool, and she still wore only a skimpy sundress.  She decided
to get a jacket to put over her shoulders.

She marched to the coat closet in the front hall and reached for her navy
light jacket.  As she pulled it from its hanger, she inadvertently hooked a
second coat, causing it to fall.  "Damn," she muttered, realizing she'd
knocked her daughter's windbreaker to the floor.  As she picked it up to
return it to its hanger, something fell from its inside pocket and clanked to
the tile floor.

Lynne turned on the light to retrieve the lost object.  It was ... a
cigarette lighter!  She was momentarily confused.  Why did Kate have a
lighter?  Then she realized there was something else nestled inside the
pocket.  It was a rectangular object.  She reached in and withdrew from
Kate's windbreaker a half empty pack of Marlboro Lights 100's.

Lynne's first reaction was anger.  "Why, that little bitch," she exclaimed.
"I don't believe this!  She's been smoking behind our backs!  God damn her!
I'll ground her for the rest of her life!"  She was fuming.  "It must the
influence of that Alyssa Rogers," she decided.  A few weeks ago, Kate had
mentioned in casual conversation that Alyssa smoked.  Lynne looked at the
pack of Marlboros.  Kate must be smoking, too.  The thought of her little
baby girl smoking cigarettes was an unexpected shock.

But Lynne's anger quickly subsided.  She realized the incredible irony.  God,
Kate is smoking, she gasped.  Smoking!  She broke the silent tension with a
laugh.  "And so am I," she gleefully said aloud.  "Let him who is without sin
cast the first stone."  Very carefully she returned the cigarettes and
lighter to Kate's windbreaker.  She put her own jacket over her shoulders and
headed toward the porch.  She saw the message light on the answering machine.
She hadn't noticed it before.  Well, she'd listen to the messages after she
did something else.  Something on the back porch.

The movie played on the screen as she walked through the family room.  The
characters were still smoking.  Lynne smiled.  She opened the back door and
prepared to join them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stacie sat at the bar running her long fingers through her blond hair.  She
was nervous as hell!  She took a sip of her beer and reached into her purse.
Then she stopped.  She hadn't intended to smoke here.  But now she was
reconsidering.  She glanced at her watch.  He'd meet her at nine.  It was ten
till.  "I'll have a quick one," she rationalized.  "It won't hurt.  If I
hurry, I'll be done before he arrives."

This permission made her feel better.  "God, I _need_ a cigarette!" she told
herself.  "My nerves are fuckin' shot!"

From her purse she retrieved a leather cigarette case.  She smiled.  It was
burgundy, elegant, with gold trim.  In college she always used a cigarette
case.  She and her roommate felt an expensive cigarette case was a key
accessory.  It meant you were a serious smoker!  Last night she looked in
vain for the one she used in college.  Tonight, on her way home, she visited
a leather goods store to buy a new one.  She loved this one as soon as she
saw it.  The leather looked expensive.  It was.  She clicked it open and
viewed its precious cargo, a fresh pack of Salem Lights 100's.  They waited
for her.  She was ready to partake.

Using her long nails, she removed a Salem, eagerly putting the long white
cigarette between her waiting red lips.  She clicked her lighter and watched
the fire touch the tip.  As she took a long drag, her cheeks caved inward.
God, it was good, she thought.  She pulled hard on the cigarette!  Inhaling,
she held the smoke inside her lungs as long as possible.  Then she pursed her
lips and exhaled an endless stream of smoke, immediately making the air hazy.
Taking a second drag, she inhaled again.  She felt better.  It was strange
how smoking calmed her down.

"Stacie?" a voice called.  "I didn't know you smoked."

She turned.  The clock on the wall said five till nine.  He'd arrived early.
Damn!  Well, there was no hiding it.

"Hi, Tom," Stacie smiled nervously.  "Thanks for coming."

"I didn't know you smoked," Tom repeated as he sat beside her, pointing at
the cigarette between her fingers and the burgundy cigarette case on the
counter.  "When did this happen?"

Before answering, Stacie took another drag.  Tom watched carefully.  He was
almost staring.  Maybe Lynne was right.  Maybe smoking was a turn-on for him.

"I was a smoker in college," she explained, pausing to exhale from the corner
of her mouth.  "I quit six years ago, but you see I started again."
Straggling wisps of smoke continued to escape from her lips and nose.

"It looks that way," Tom smiled, not unpleasantly.  "Don't get me wrong.  I'm
not critical.  I'm just surprised.  What does Lynne think about it?"

Stacie looked around.  "Do you mind if we move to a table?" she asked.  The
bartender, a pretty redhead in her thirties, could hear every word.

"No problem," he replied, standing up.  "Let me get a beer first."  He
ordered a Miller Light, and followed Stacie to a table in a quiet corner of
the bar.

"I assume Lynne's giving you plenty of shit about this new, nasty habit of
yours," Tom reiterated.  "She's very anti-smoking, you know."

"She was," Stacie corrected.  "That's what I want to talk about.  I'm
concerned about you and Lynne.  If she knew I was meeting you tonight, she'd
kill me."

Tom frowned.  "What's the problem?"

Stacie repeated the essential details of Lynne's story, explaining how she
feared Tom would leave her for another woman who smoked.  She didn't name
Kim, but told him Lynne was desperate to save the marriage, and that Lynne
would do anything to do that, including learning how to smoke.

"Lynne begged me to help her," Stacie said, putting Lynne's intentions in the
best light.  "I thought I could help without getting hooked again."  She
shrugged.  "Obviously, I was wrong," she smiled.  "The important thing is,
she loves you.  She's trying smoking, to win you back.  But I don't want her
to get hooked on these damn things if it's in vain.  You know?"

Tom didn't answer.  He stared silently at the smoke languidly curling from
the tip of her menthol cigarette.

"Don't misunderstand," she went on.  "I'm not asking you to admit anything."
She took one last drag and crushed it in the ashtray.  "Your likes and
dislikes are your own business.  I don't know if you get off on women
smoking.  I don't care.  I didn't intend to smoke tonight.  I thought it
might be ... I don't know ... awkward if you have a thing about smoking."
She smiled.  "I didn't want to confuse the issue, which is you and Lynne.
But you showed up early, and you caught me!  So much for my secret!"

"I'm glad I caught you," Tom smiled.  "I appreciate your concern.  You and
Lynne are good friends.  I consider you a friend as well.  We've done things
with you and Bill socially.  It's not like I don't know you, too."

"That's why I felt we should talk," Stacie nodded.  "I do consider you a
friend."

"I'm glad I saw you smoke," he repeated.  He pulled a pack of gold Marlboro
100's from his jacket pocket.  "Do you mind if I smoke, too?"

Oh, my God," Stacie smiled involuntarily.  "You do smoke!  Lynne suspected as
much."

"Yeah, I've been smoking regularly about three months," Tom said, lighting a
cigarette.  From the way he handled himself, he was no novice.  "I love to
watch women smoke, and I finally decided to give in myself.  I started
smoking after Kim Kettering began working at my office.  I bet you've heard
about Kim, haven't you?"

Stacie nodded.  The smell of smoke ascending from Tom's cigarette was divine.
It made her want another one, too.  But she was afraid to say so.  She kept
quiet.

"Kim smokes, and she looks so damn good doing it," Tom continued.  "I started
bumming cigarettes from her occasionally when we worked late during tax
season.  One thing led to another.  Before long I was smoking all the time.
I enjoy it.  I admit that."  He paused.  "I do have a thing about women and
smoking," he admitted.  "Lynne was right.  For years I tried to deny the
attraction.  I repressed my feelings and tried to ignore them.  I realized
that's dumb.  This is part of who I am.  I don't know why, and I don't care."
He noticed Stacie staring at his cigarette.  "If you want another one, too,
don't be shy, Stacie.  Go ahead!"

"Thanks," she said breathlessly.  "I could use another one."  She opened her
cigarette case and took another Salem.  With her manicured nails, she put it
in her mouth.  Before she got her lighter, however, Tom offered the flame
from his.  "Thanks," she cooed, puffing hard on the now-burning cigarette.
"God, I do love these fuckin' things!  Suddenly, it seems like all I want to
do is smoke!"

"I understand," he smiled.  "But tell me.  Is Lynne really willing to try
smoking?"

"She's more than trying," Stacie smiled.  Her cigarette was raised beside her
face, with her wrist cocked and her long fingers curled.  Smoke drifted
between them.  "We smoked together at work today.  She had at least six
cigarettes on breaks and over the lunch hour.  It's amazing.  She's really
taken to smoking."  She paused to manicure her cigarette in the ashtray.  "I
think she surprised herself.  She likes it.  She's a natural.  If you like
smoking women, Tom, you'll be impressed when you see Lynne smoking."

"Oh, God," he sighed.  "I can't believe she'd learn to smoke for me.  But I'm
not sure it'll be enough, Stacie."

"What do you mean?"

"Our marriage has been in trouble for a long time.  Lynne's so goddamn
analytical.  We don't get along.  I'd love to see her smoke, I really would.
I suppose that sounds terrible.  After all, who'd want to encourage someone
to smoke?  But maybe it'd loosen her up, stop her being wound so goddamn
tight.  I'm saying it's going to take more than her smoking to save the
marriage.  A lot more."

He was nervous.  He shifted in his seat.  "Tonight I left a message on the
machine at home.  I was afraid to tell her in person.  I did it the coward's
way - by telephone.  I told her I'm leaving.  I rented a furnished apartment,
one that companies use to house traveling executives.  It's month to month.
But I don't plan to go back home."  He sighed.  "Even if she's smoking."

Stacie frowned.  It was time to be direct.  "Tom, are you fucking Kim
Kettering?"

Tom looked surprised, but then smiled.  "Yes," he admitted.  "I discovered
something else.  I have a real thing for blonds.  Kim is blond.  Lynne's
auburn hair is pretty, but something about blonds really gets me going.
Especially a beautiful blond who smokes."  He stared at Stacie.  "Bill's
lucky, Stacie.  You're gorgeous.  Your blond hair is very sexy.  You have a
great body and a pretty face.  And you smoke!  Bill's got to be in heaven!"

"Thank you," Stacie blushed.  "But Bill isn't happy.  We're breaking up."

"Why?" Tom demanded.  "What's the problem?"

"My smoking," she sighed, twirling her cigarette in the ashtray.  "He hates
smoking.  He said I had to choose, either cigarettes or him.  So, I chose.  I
told him we're through."  She took another drag.  "I'm not changing," she
went on.  "I'm a smoker.  This time I know.  If he doesn't like Stacie Warden
the smoker, he doesn't like Stacie Warden."  Tears welled up in her eyes.

"God, that is unbelievable.  What an asshole!"

Stacie took another extended pull on her cigarette, inhaled, and chained into
a second long drag.  Smoke poured from her nostrils as she puffed the second
time.  After she inhaled, she began to quietly cry.  Smoke burst from her
mouth and lips as the tears fell from her eyes.

Tom pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.  "Don't cry," he said
reassuringly.  "You'll be okay."  But Stacie wept harder.  He looked around.
Their corner of the bar was almost empty.  As far as he could see, no one was
watching.  "You'll be okay," he repeated.  "If that asshole doesn't think
you're fabulous, Stacie, he's a loser.  You're better off without the
bastard.  Millions of men would love a chance with a beautiful, fun-loving
woman like you."  He leaned closer and put his arm around her.  By now, she
was racked with sobbing.  Smoke from the cigarettes encircled Stacie's
tearful face.

Crying uncontrollably now, she literally fell into his arms.  After a quick
hit on his Marlboro, he embraced her.  She returned the hug.  Then something
happened that no one planned.  Tom gently kissed Stacie on the mouth.  It was
intended as comfort.  But her response was strictly amorous.  Maybe it was
the wonderful smell of fresh smoke on his breath, or his unquestioning
acceptance - indeed, affirmation - of her status as a hopelessly addicted
smoker.  For whatever reason, Stacie kissed back, softly at first, then
harder.  She nuzzled against him, kissing hungrily, passionately, pulling him
toward her with her free hand, while with the other she held her cigarette
away from his body.

"Stacie, this is insane," Tom gasped as he pulled away.  "We can't do this."

She looked at him.  She was no longer crying.  Offering a meek smile, she
took a long drag on her Salem.  With a wicked look, she french-inhaled smoke
into her nostrils.  Aware of the impact she was having, she retained the
smoke deep inside.  "I know.  I don't want to stop.  God, it felt good when
you held me!  We're smoking, and that made it even better.  I've never had a
man who liked my smoking.  Bill hates it.  But you don't just put up with
it."  She paused to exhale.  "You like it.  You like to smoke as much as I
do, and you enjoy watching me smoke."  She stared at him.  "Don't you?"

"Yes," he admitted, taking a drag.  "I love seeing a woman enjoy a
cigarette."  It was his turn to exhale.  "And you're quite a woman, Stacie.
You're blond, you're beautiful, and you smoke.  But you're also my wife's
best friend ...."

She crushed hers in the ashtray.  "I know.  I'm sorry," she apologized.  "I
didn't mean to come on to you.  I just get so desperate for companionship,
for love."  She smiled.  "I mean, for sex," she added with a wink.  "But I
can't do this to Lynne."  She put her burgundy cigarette case in her purse
and stood up.  "You're a good man, Tom Carlson.  For your sake, I hope Kim
Kettering is a good fuck."  There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.  "But I
hope you change your mind.  Give Lynne a chance.  She really loves you."

"Thanks, Stacie," he smiled with sincerity.  He, too, stood and gave a
friendly, parting embrace.  "I'll go back to my apartment and think about it.
And don't worry.  You'll find someone who loves you for who you are.  You'll
find a man worthy of you, who loves Stacie Warden, the smoker."

"I hope so," she sighed as they walked to the door.  "Because this time, I'm
not quitting!"

Neither of them noticed a blond female, with a large hat over her head, at a
table across the room.  Kim Kettering raised a cigarette to her lips and took
a leisurely drag.  "Well, if that doesn't beat all," she mumbled.  "The
bastard!  He's cheating on me already.  Well, fuck him!"

By nature suspicious, Kim had overheard Tom on the phone arranging to meet
someone at this bar at nine.  She wondered what required him to leave her at
the office alone.  Now she knew.  She couldn't hear the conversation, but the
scene spoke for itself.  He was going home with that blond!  The only words
she heard were Tom calling her name.  Her name was Stacy Warden, was it?
Well, damn him!  She drew hard on her cigarette.  She began composing a plan
to take revenge.  She wouldn't confront him.  That would be too easy.  She
had another idea.  She was sure it would play very nicely....

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

It was almost eleven.  Relaxing on the screen porch, Lynne felt mellow.  She
felt good.  She knew why.  It was 'cause she was smoking ... again.  This was
her fifth cigarette of the evening.  It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
It was almost bizarre.  Most people don't try smoking and immediately get
hooked.  But for Lynne, tobacco had immediately captured her.  She'd taken to
smoking like a baby duck to water.  In fact, all evening the only thing she
thought about was smoking.  She absolutely loved it.  She loved how it made
her feel; relaxed and yet stimulated, mellow and yet powerfully alive, calm
and yet wonderfully excited.  The thrill was almost sexual.  Each time she
raised a cigarette to her lips to partake of another dose of magnificent,
flavorful smoke, the blessed agent that delivered luscious nicotine into her
system, she virtually quivered with excitement.

This strong and positive reaction to nicotine wasn't out of character.  She
reacted that way to any stimulant, and to medication, too.  Alcohol affected
her that way.  A couple glasses of wine and she was completely giggly.  Pain
medicine was the same way.  On two Advil she went completely numb.  More than
most people, her body reacted to pharmacological elements.  Her body was now
responding to nicotine.  The pharmacological effect was sensational.  She
loved it.

She heard the front door open.  Crushing her cigarette in the ashtray, she
glanced at her watch.  It was five after eleven.  She took a sip from her
wine glass, which was the other reason she felt mellow.  She smiled broadly.
"That'd be Kate," she predicted, "and right on time."  It was five minutes
after her curfew.

She'd intended to announce her smoking persona to Tom first.  But he still
wasn't home.  That wasn't unusual.  He often worked late.  But the idea of
telling him was still scary.  What if he reacted badly?  It might be easier
to tell Kate.  It'd be an opportunity to test the announcement before telling
Tom.  Based on what she found in Kate's jacket, she guessed it'd be well
received by her daughter.  Lynne took a deep breath and walked into the
house, to welcome Kate home.

"Hi, honey," she smiled sweetly.  Kate was hanging her coat in the closet.
The jacket she'd worn was the one without cigarettes, Lynne thought smugly.
She wondered if Kate had been without a supply this evening.  "Did you and
Alyssa have a good time?" she asked graciously.  "What did you do?"

"Yeah, we had a good time," Kate smiled half-heartedly.  Ignoring her
mother's second question, she shrugged.  "I'm beat.  I'm going to bed, Mom."

"Oh, please don't, honey," Lynne replied sweetly.  "Come join me on the
porch.  Your father's not home.  I'm just finishing a glass of wine.  Sit and
talk with me for a few minutes."

Kate didn't consider the fact that her mother rarely drank, and never alone.
"I'm not up to it, Mom," she complained.  Actually, she was worried about the
smell of smoke on her clothes and hair.  She and Alyssa had been smoking.  If
she got too close to her mother, she might be found out.  "I'm going to hit
the hay."

"Kate Carlson," Lynne said sharply.  "Come sit with me on the porch!"  She
softened her tone and smiled.  "I have something to show you.  I think you'll
like it."

Despite her fear, Kate was intrigued.  Curiosity got the better of her.  The
smell on her clothes wouldn't be noticeable in the outside air.  "Okay," she
agreed.  "Just for a minute."

They walked through the family room.  Before opening the porch door, Lynne
turned and smiled.  "I wasn't sure how to say this," she began.  "So I
decided to show you.  I hope you won't be upset."  She winked.  "I don't
think you will be."

Kate was perplexed by the strange introduction.  Entering the screen porch,
her nostrils were assaulted by an unmistakable aroma of stale cigarette
smoke.  There were screens on three sides, but the odor lingered in the still
night air.  Someone was smoking.  It never occurred to her it was her mother.

With no lights, the porch was shrouded in darkness.  Lynne sat down.  In the
dim reflected light from the house, Kate saw several things on the table.
One was a wine glass.  In the dusk she couldn't make out the others.  But
what happened next amazed the sixteen year old.

Her mother picked up a rectangular object and gave it a gentle shake.  She
removed a long cylinder and put it in her mouth.  There was no mistaking the
object protruding from her mother's lips.  It was ... a cigarette!

"Oh my God," Kate gasped.  "Mom, what are you doing?"

Lynne grinned.  "I'm going to smoke," she sighed pleasantly, with the
cigarette dangling.  There was a soft click.  A bright flame erupted,
illuminating Lynne's face.  Kate watched in astonishment.  The flame hit the
tip of the cigarette.  Her mother was smoking!  A second click followed, the
lighter extinguished, and darkness returned.  But the cherry red end of the
cigarette shed sufficient light for Kate to see her mother take a long,
initial drag.  In one motion, Lynne took the cigarette between her fingers
and pulled it from her mouth.  She inhaled and showed her daughter a
satisfied smile.  Without a word, she exhaled a cloud of smoke into the still
night air.

Kate was still standing.  In disbelief, she fell into a chair.  "Holy Christ,
Mom," she muttered.  "I don't believe this!"  Then she stopped talking.  Did
her mother know she'd been smoking?  Maybe she was ridiculing her.  Or
perhaps it was some strange punishment.  But why would her mom punish her by
smoking herself?  It made no sense.  Kate was perplexed.

"You look puzzled," Lynne smiled generously.  "In fairness, I should explain
what's happening."

"That'd be nice," Kate said hesitantly.  "You've always been so anti-smoking,
Mom.  I don't get it.  What's going on?"  Seeing her mother smoke, all of a
sudden Kate desperately wanted one, too.  But she couldn't admit it.  She
needed to find out what was going on.

"What I'm about to say isn't easy, I'm afraid," Lynne began.  She paused for
another long hit on her cigarette, and tapped some ashes into the glass
ashtray.  She exhaled, and continued.  "I've been worried about your father.
He's been very cold recently.  I'm losing him.  In fact, I fear he's having
an affair."  As her words sunk in, she saw the distress on her daughter's
face.  But she took a breath and went on.

"Years ago, your dad admitted he has a 'thing' about women smoking.  Women
who smoke are attractive to him.  Sexually, I mean.  To be blunt, it's a
turn-on.  He said it's no big deal, but lately I've been concerned about Kim
Kettering.  She smokes, you know.  I think your dad is mesmerized by Kim and
her smoking."

Hidden by darkness, Kate's face turned white.  "Really?" she mumbled.  What
was her mom saying?  Was her dad fucking Kim?  Oh, God!  In her heart, she'd
suspected.  Was it true?

"I was always against smoking.  But I had no choice.  I had to fight fire
with fire, so to speak.  I figured if I smoked, I could compete."  Lynne took
another drag, turned her head, and exhaled toward the light.  "That's why I
did it.  Do you remember my friend Stacy from work?  Well, Stacie used to
smoke.  I talked her into helping me.  At first, she was reluctant.  She said
I had no idea what I was getting into.  God, she was right!  I intended to
smoke just to please your father.  But amazingly, I like smoking.  I mean, I
_really_ like it," she said with emphasis.  "I can't seem to get enough of
it," she added with a giggle.  She paused for another long drag.  "It's so
strange," she continued whimsically, before stopping long enough to exhale
upwards.  "Smoking makes me feel _so_ good.  But you already know about that.
Don't you, Kate?"

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"Don't be coy.  Tonight, when I came outside to smoke, it was chilly.  I got
this coat from the closet to put on my shoulders.  In the process I
accidentally knocked your jacket from its hanger.  What do you think I found
in the inside pocket of your windbreaker?"

The jig was up.  Kate wondered whatever happened to that spare pack.  Now she
knew.  "Was it a pack of cigarettes?" she asked hesitantly.

"Exactly," Lynne smiled triumphantly.  She crushed her cigarette in the
ashtray.  "A pack of Marlboro Lights 100's, to be exact.  You've been
smoking, Kate Carlson.  I should be upset, but I'm not.  Actually, it's
ironic.  If I'd found those cigarettes last week, I'd have been furious.  I'd
have grounded you.  It's that damn Alyssa's influence, isn't it?"

Kate hesitated.  "Yeah, the fact that Alyssa smokes had a lot to do with it,"
she admitted.  "But it wasn't ...."

"Never mind," Lynne interrupted.  "The point is, I'm making an announcement
here.  I'm now officially a smoker.  I didn't intend for it to happen.  But
it did.  Smoking isn't good for me, and it certainly isn't good for you.  But
I don't care.  I want to smoke anyway."  She looked at Kate.  "And I suppose
you want to keep smoking, too, don't you?"

Was Kate hearing what she thought she was hearing?  This was better than she
could've imagined.  "Yeah, I'd like to," she smiled sheepishly, hoping her
mother was about to give her approval.  "I've only been smoking a little
while, but I really like it.  Yeah, I'm like you, Mom.  I'd like to be able
to smoke.  If you and Dad let me, that is."

"I'd be a hypocrite if I said you couldn't.  As for your father, who the hell
cares what he thinks?  Here, I'll give you permission, right now.  Get your
cigarettes.  Let's smoke together.  Sort of a coming out party for both of
us.  Don't you think that'd be fun?"

"Mom!" Kate objected.  "I can't smoke with you, for God's sake.  You're my
mother!"

"Relax," Lynne sighed.  "It's okay.  Jesus, Kate!  Don't you think it was
hard for me, to smoke in front of you?  But now I want to see you smoke.
C'mon on."

Lynne stood up and grabbed her Salems, her lighter and the ashtray.  She
walked across the porch and opened the door to the family room.  "Let's go
inside," she urged.  "There's no reason to hide in the dark any longer."

As she followed her mother inside, Kate was dazed by the unexpected
revelation.  Shit!  This was her mother who, after opposing smoking as long
as Kate remembered, had just proudly proclaimed herself to be a smoker!  If
that wasn't weird enough, she wanted her to smoke with her.  Kate was still
too shocked to be happy.

Lynne sat on the family room's overstuffed couch.  "I left your cigarettes in
your jacket," she explained with a smile, putting the ashtray on the coffee
table.  "Go get 'em!"

Kate walked obediently to the closet.  Sure enough, the half empty pack of
Marlboro Lights 100's were still in her jacket pocket.  She returned to the
family room with them.  Still stunned, she sat in the comfortable chair
beside the couch.

"Kate, we haven't gotten along very well the last couple years."  Her voice
sounded completely sincere.  "Much of that has been my fault.  I know."  As
she spoke, she retrieved a Salem from the pack on the table and placed it
between her smiling lips.  "Maybe this can be a new beginning for us.  What
do you say?"

Kate nodded.  She put a long white cigarette in her young mouth.  Lynne
smiled at this extraordinary sight.  It was amazing!  Her daughter suddenly
resembled someone who was completely grown-up!  She looked unusually mature,
not a kid anymore.  Without a doubt, it was that long cigarette, elegantly
dangling from those pretty, young lips, that made all the difference.  Lynne
sighed, and an unusual confidence filled her breast.  She knew this was the
right thing to be doing with her sometimes rebellious teenager.

Filled with satisfaction, Lynne happily flicked her lighter.  As always, the
smoke tasted so good to her.  She immediately offered a light to her
daughter.  Kate eagerly leaned forward and caught the waiting flame.

Kate's nervousness ended that moment, as soon as she tasted that wonderful,
warm cigarette smoke filling her hungry mouth.  It was heavenly!  With the
cigarette lit, she exhaled a small cloud of smoke from the corner of her
mouth.  Then she comfortably leaned back, ready for a luxurious, long opening
drag.  As she partook, she knew her pleasure would increase as soon as she
was able to inhale the luscious smoke deep into her impatient lungs.

Lynne watched Kate's cheeks cave in.  This was no hesitant, uncertain smoker.
No!  Kate's initial pump displayed a veteran's confidence; self-assured,
practiced, and hard.  It lasted for what seemed like an eternity.  Finally,
with a quiet "whoosh," Kate opened her mouth and sucked the blue-gray smoke
deep inside.  Her young breasts eagerly elevated, permitting her lungs to
fully accept the delectable bequest.  A look of strange satisfaction broke
across her face as the Marlboro's sweet, fragrant fumes impregnated her
lungs.  After a long pause, Kate turned and blew a jet stream of smoke up
into the air.

"Oh my God, that tastes so good!" she gasped.  "Jesus, I was _so_ ready for a
cigarette, Mom!"  Smoke burst from her lips while she spoke.  "Thanks, Mom.
You're the best!"

Lynne was dazzled.  "Did Alyssa teach you to smoke like that?  How did you do
that?  My God, Kate, you make me look like an amateur by comparison."

Kate blushed.  "Oh, Mom.  It's easy.  I just count silently to five while
taking a drag.  Then I count to five a second time while holding the smoke
inside.  It's a silly ritual, but it gets lots of smoke into my lungs.  It
also makes me look like an experienced smoker, doesn't it?"  She giggled
proudly.  "And the best part is, it feels really good."

Lynne was mesmerized.  "Can I try it?"

"Yeah, sure," Kate smiled with a satisfied shrug.  "Go right ahead, Mom."

Lynne put her cigarette in her mouth, sealed her lips around the filter, and
sucked energetically.  She drew long and hard, silently counting to five.  It
was the longest puff she'd ever taken during her brief career as a smoker.
Finally, she removed the cigarette.  Although Kate hadn't said to do so,
Lynne consciously lifted her torso to expand her chest and let the smoke go
as deep inside as possible.

"That's great," Kate coached, seeing her mother's breasts elevate.  "Now,
count to five again.  Let the smoke sit there for awhile before you exhale."

Lynne did as instructed.  While waiting, she experienced an overpowering
sensation.  Her lungs felt absolutely satiated.  There was now more thick,
rich smoke inside her body, and deeper inside, than ever before.  It felt
good!  It was as if she could actually feel the nicotine entering her
bloodstream.  She smiled, and began exhaling a thin but plentiful river of
smoke from her pursed lips.  Then she stopped, breathed in again, and turned
toward Kate.

"Wow, that was awesome," she exclaimed, as shreds of smoke proceeded from her
smiling lips.  "Oh my God!  This makes smoking so much better!  God, it's
fabulous!"  She tapped some ashes in the ashtray.  "My compliments to Alyssa.
I suppose she learned this watching her mother smoke.  I love it!"

Without thinking, Kate corrected her.  "Actually, it wasn't Alyssa.  It was
Kim who showed me.  But it is really cool, isn't it?"

Lynne stopped and stared.  "Did you say Kim?  Kim Kettering?"

Kate was in the middle of another drag.  With a panicked look, she quickly
inhaled.  "Oops," she gasped, holding the smoke inside.  "Shit!  I didn't
mean to say that."  She paused to prematurely release a cloud of smoke from
her mouth.  "I'm so sorry, Mom," she added.

"Exactly who taught you to smoke?  It wasn't Alyssa, was it?"

Kate turned white.  "No," she stammered.  "It was Kim.  Kim taught me."

Anger mixed with curiosity.  "Tell me about it," she said softly.  "The whole
story."

Kate told her mother the entire tale, about how Kim took the initiative to
get them together.  She told her how Kim eagerly encouraged her to try
smoking, bought cigarettes for her, and taught her to take long, hard drags
and deep inhales.

Lynne was stupefied.  She didn't know what to say.  So she asked a question.
"God, Kate!  Exactly what do you know about your dad's relationship with that
bitch?"

Kate shrugged.  She didn't want to voice her suspicions.  At least not yet.
"What do you mean?" she asked nervously.

"Is he sleeping with her?" Lynne asked bluntly.

"I ... I don't think so," she stammered.  "Why are you asking me?"

"Because I figured you'd notice the signs.  I told you about your father's
fetish.  For months I've been worried about that woman.  I don't want to put
you in the middle.  But if I had to guess why he's so cold towards me, I'd
guess he's sleeping with someone else."  She squinted and looked at her
daughter.  "If I had to guess, I'd guess it's Kim."

"God, I don't know, Mom," Kate sighed.  She shook her head.  "But you're
right about one thing.  Kim and Daddy are close.  On Tuesday I asked Kim if
she was in love with Dad.  She said no."  She paused.  "That doesn't prove
anything, does it?"

"No," Lynne said smugly.  "But don't you think it's an odd coincidence?  Kim
Kettering smokes; she gets your father to start smoking; and now she gets you
to smoke, too."

"Wait a minute," Kate objected.  "Daddy doesn't smoke."

Lynne offered a rueful smile.  "Oh, yes he does!  We sleep in the same bed.
I know the aroma.  He smells like smoke all the time.  Your father's been
smoking for several weeks, maybe longer.  It began after Kim started working
at his office.  I'm willing to bet she got him started smoking, and then
decided to make you her next victim."

"But I don't get it.  Why would Kim want to do that?"

It was all becoming clear to Lynne.  "Don't you get it?" she asked.  "She
wants to lure your father away from me.  She knows that smoking turns him on,
so she ...."

"Oh, God!" Kate interrupted, as the light began to dawn.  "I can't believe
this!  I feel so stupid!"

Lynne nodded sympathetically.  "Wait.  Let me finish.  Like I said, your
father has this thing about women who smoke.  He's watched women smoking as
long as I've known him.  But lately it's become more than a visual
distraction.  Kim Kettering made damn sure of that."

"God," Kate moaned.  "I didn't know.  Maybe I should have figured it out.
But I'm not sure I wanted to.  Holy shit!  That explains why Daddy lets Kim
smoke at the office!"

Realizing she'd used foul language, Kate waited for her mother's negative
reaction.  But none was forthcoming.  She was relieved.  Usually her mother
scolded her for such talk.  Maybe this _was_ a new beginning.  She smiled and
finished her thought.  "Anyway, the way Kim explained it, Daddy was just
being extra nice when he let her smoke."

"I hate to say it, but there's more going on.  A lot more.  Don't get me
wrong.  I don't blame your father for his interest in women smoking.  There's
probably nothing he can do about it.  It's just how he's wired.  But Kim took
advantage of it.  Now she's out to convert you, too."

"But why?  Why would Kim care whether I smoked?"

"Let's think about that," Lynne mused.  "Why would Kim want _you_ hooked on
cigarettes?  Okay.  How about this?  She figures once you're hooked, the
scenario would be complete.  She knows how much your father loves you.  He
wouldn't leave if it meant leaving you, too.  She probably figured if Daddy
left me, you'd be torn.  So Kim decided to make the decision easy.  I bet Kim
figured you'd choose to live with two smokers rather than with a non-smoker
like me - assuming she gets your father to leave me.  Daddy might leave me,
but he'd never leave you.  He loves you too much!"

"But Daddy isn't leaving you," Kate protested.  "Is he?"

Lynne sighed.  "I don't know.  I hope not.  But it would all fit.  That may
not be Kim's plot, but I think it's a pretty good analysis.  I bet the next
thing that happens will be your father announcing to me that he's moving out,
and moving in with Kim.  Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't think so.  Then your
dad will ask who you want to live with.  With him, where you can smoke?  Or
with me, where they assume you won't be allowed to smoke?"

"Oh, God, Mom," Kate sighed.  "It would explain everything.  What are we
going to do?"

"I don't know," Lynne admitted.  "None of it has happened yet.  By smoking
myself, however, I intend to throw a big wrench into Kim's little plan."  She
nervously stroked the plush quilting on the couch.  "But first, I'd like
another cigarette!"  She smiled wryly at her daughter.  "If you don't mind,
that is."

"Not at all," Kate eagerly agreed, as Lynne again reached for her Salems.
All this analysis made Kate, too, feel quite stressed.  Smoking another
cigarette sounded wonderful to her, too.  Without asking for permission, she
decided to just join her mother in lighting up another one.  "One good
thing," she added, as she shook another Marlboro from her own pack.  "If
you're right about Kim's plan, then when Daddy comes home tonight he'll find
things have changed, huh?"  Kate put the cigarette between her lips.  "Daddy
can't be too upset if he finds us smoking together, can he?"

"No, I think not," Lynne said with a twisted smile.  She happily reached for
her lighter.  The two women, mother and daughter, lit up again.  In silence
they together took long, protracted inaugural hits.  Lynne followed Kate's
lead, holding her smoke deep inside her chest for a five count.  Together
they simultaneously released satisfied exhales.  Cigarette smoke hung heavy
in the family room air as they concurrently began large, second drags.  As
expected, the nicotine kick charmed them both.  Suddenly, the phone rang,
pulling them back to reality.

"Jesus Christ!" Lynne muttered, in involuntary response to the abrupt noise.
"Shit!"  Smoke was flowing from her nostrils as she stood up to grab the
phone.

Kate couldn't help but stifle a smile.  She couldn't remember her mother ever
talking like that before.  It seemed ... so nice.  Maybe smoking was helping
her mother loosen up a little bit.  God knows she needs that, Kate thought.

While walking to the phone, Lynne again noticed the message waiting light
blinking on the answering machine.  It said two messages were waiting.  "I
missed a couple calls on the back porch," she mumbled.  Well, she'd pick up
them up after answering this call.

"Hello?" she said politely.  Suddenly, she realized she still had her
cigarette with her.  It was reposed in her left hand as she talked into the
receiver.  But far from seeming peculiar, having a cigarette between her
fingers was strangely comforting.  She smiled at this realization.

"Lynne?" asked a male voice.  "Hi, this is me, Tom."

"Oh, hi, Tom," she sighed cheerfully.  She was glad to hear his voice.  "Are
you coming home tonight?" she asked innocently.

He seemed surprised.  "That's what I want to talk about.  Didn't you hear the
message I left on the machine?"

"Uh, no," Lynne admitted.  "I ... I haven't picked up any messages tonight.
I've been busy."  Again she gazed at the freshly lit cigarette burning in her
fingers.  Wisps of smoke from its tip danced lazily toward the ceiling.

"Good!  Don't listen to the message I left on the answering machine earlier,"
Tom said hastily.  "I left it for you before ... before I talked to Stacie
tonight."

"You talked with Stacie?  Tonight?"  She was flabbergasted.  She hadn't
planned on Stacie talking to Tom.  Damn her!  She'd give her hell!  Without
thinking, she reflexively took a hit on her cigarette and quickly inhaled,
pulling the smoke deep into her waiting lungs.

"Uh, yeah," Tom replied slowly.  He recognized that sound.  Unless he was
mistaken, Lynne was smoking - right now, right there, in their kitchen.  The
realization made his cock harden.  He waited in vain for the telltale sound
of an exhale.  Catching herself, however, Lynne had carefully exhaled away
from the receiver.

"So," he went on, gathering composure.  "Stacie told me you're smoking now.
I think that's great," he added, trying to sound genuinely supportive.

"You do?" Lynne replied eagerly.  Wisps of smoke drifted from her lips into
the phone.  She smiled at the discharge escaping from deep within.  "Well, I
did it for you, you know, Tom."

"That's what Stacie said," he replied.  "And I really appreciate it.  I'd
like to come home and see it," he began.  "I mean ...."

"I know exactly what you mean, honey," Lynne purred.  She purposely made her
tone seductive.  Assured of a positive response from her husband, she took
another long drag, this time making sure the sound carried over the
telephone.  She audibly made a "whoosh" as she inhaled.  "I'd love you to
come home and watch me smoke," she hummed happily into the phone.  She
purposely exhaled a burst of smoke directly into the receiver.  That sound
was unmistakable!

Tom knew what she was doing.  It made him hot.  "I'll be there right away,"
he promised.  "I'll see you real soon!"

"Bye, bye," Lynne sighed.  She smiled as she hung up.  Twin streams of smoke
trickled from her nostrils.  She turned and gazed at her amazed daughter.

"I think I just fucked up Kim's devilish little plan," Lynne said sweetly.
She reached over with her left hand, the one still holding her cigarette, and
gently pushed the "play" button on the answering machine.  "I'd say your
father is real glad that I'm smoking," she sighed.  "Real glad."

"Puh-leeze, Mom," protested Kate in mock horror.  "You're grossing me out."
She watched her mother take another long, satisfied drag from her rapidly
shrinking cigarette.  "And I don't think I've ever heard you use the word
'fuck' before, Mom," Kate added.  "What's up?"

"I dunno," Lynne grinned.  A second time, twin streams of smoke exited her
nose.  "Maybe I'm being a little bit of a bad girl, now that I'm smoking like
this .  It's just that smoking makes me feel ... I don't know ... sort of
evil or something."  Her smile reached from ear to ear.

"Whatever," Kate smiled.  Her mom seemed loose indeed.  It was nice.

Their thoughts were interrupted by the answering machine.  "First message,"
it droned.  The next thing the women heard was Tom's voice.

"Lynne, I have something to tell you," the message began.  "I'm moving out.
I'm seeing someone else.  I'm sorry to tell you this way.  But I want you to
get over being mad before we talk face to face.  I got a little furnished
apartment at Corporate Village, the place on Wilson Road where business
executives stay.  I'll call you later.  It's not your fault.  I just need
some space.  I have to move on."  There was a pause.  "Sorry."

Lynne was simultaneously vindicated and stricken.  "What did I say?" she
asked.  "Did I predict this, or what?"  She took a quick hit on her
cigarette.  "Sounds like I started smoking just in time," she said with
satisfaction.

Before Kate could respond to her mother's statement, the answering machine
continued.  "Thursday, six thirty seven, p.m.," it said mechanically.  "Next
message."

The next message surprised both of them.  The voice was unmistakable.  It was
Kim Kettering.  She sounded irritated.

"Lynne, this Kim Kettering.  From Tom's office?  God, I'm not sure why I'm
doing this.  I guess it's because I'm so _pissed_ at your fuckin' husband!
By now you know that he's leaving you, to move in with me.  Tom said he left
you a message.  Nice, huh?  I should be calling to gloat, and say, hey, sorry
baby, you lost.  But I'm not.  Tonight I followed the bastard to a bar.  He
met some blond bimbo named Stacie.  The two of them were hugging and kissing
all over the place!  Well, fuck him!  I'll be damned if I'll let him cheat on
me!  I'm dumping him, Lynne, back into your hands.  Sorry for the bad news,
babe.  He's two-timing both of us.  I figured by ratting on him to you, I'd
get double revenge.  I'll let you deal with him.  I hope you hurt him real
good!"

There was a pause.  Kate and Lynne stared at each other.  Their faces
reflected disbelief.

The message continued.  "Oh, one more thing.  I hate being the bearer of more
bad news, darling, but check out what's happening with your sweet daughter,
Kate, these days.  You know, I understand she started smoking.  In fact,
she's smoking like a chimney these days.  I'm sure you're not happy about
that, either.  So, after you deal with your philandering husband, you'll want
to ground your daughter for a couple years!  'Bye."

Neither woman spoke.  "Thursday, nine fifty-three, p.m.," droned the
answering machine.

Kate's face slowly turned red.  "That goddamn bitch," she exploded in rage.
"She pretended to be my friend!  I thought she liked me.  Boy, was I dumb!
She's an absolute ass-hole!  Well, fuck her!"

Lynne smiled with sympathy at her daughter's outburst.  While she watched,
Kate immediately reached for her cigarettes and lighter.  Her daughter's
impetuous reaction seemed completely automatic.  The teenager knew what she
needed.  With trembling hands, she violently thrust a Marlboro Light 100 into
her mouth.  Without hesitation, she at once flicked her Bic and sucked
frantically on the cigarette as she lit up.  Lynne smiled again.  She
recognized something.  This wasn't a teenager who was tentatively
experimenting with cigarettes.  Instead, Kate had the look of a definite
smoker as she took consecutive, rapid-fire drags.  It was ironic; Kate sought
comfort from her smoking habit, the very habit with which Kim had betrayed
her.

Smoking frenetically calmed Kate somewhat.  Lynne walked and put her arm
around her.  "I'm sorry, Katey," she stated tenderly, as Kate continued
smoking wildly.  "I know you feel betrayed.  But I agree with you on one
thing.  That woman has proven herself to be a real bitch!"

Suddenly and unexpectedly, Kate burst into tears.  Sobbing uncontrollably,
she fell into her mother's arms.  Lynne was both surprised and touched by
Kate's obvious desire for comfort from her mother.  Gently Lynne guided her
into the family room, where the two women sat side by side on the overstuffed
couch.

"There, there," she whispered soothingly, stroking Kate's hair.  "Go ahead
and cry, honey.  It'll be okay."  As Kate bawled, Lynne noticed the ash on
her cigarette growing dangerously long.  To avoid ashes falling on her sofa,
she put her fingers on top of Kate's and gently removed the cigarette from
her daughter's hand.  The ashtray was right there, on the table beside the
couch.  Lynne reached out and de-ashed the cigarette, quietly tapping it on
the edge of the ashtray.

Kate continued sobbing.  She'd forgotten the cigarette.  Lynne considered
crushing it out.  But it was far from finished.  "No sense wasting it," she
thought.  She raised the half-smoked cylinder to her own lips, took a long
drag, and pulled the smoke into her lungs.

For some reason, the non-mentholated cigarette seemed exceptionally pleasant.
The taste, flavor and feel of the Marlboro's smoke differed from her Salems.
Marlboro Lights 100's were what she "bummed" from Randy in the parking lot of
the library earlier.  She liked that cigarette, and she liked this one, too.
She pursed her lips and exhaled a long stream of smoke.  Yeah, she liked
these cigarettes, all right.  A lot.  The smoke lacked the coolness of the
menthols.  Perhaps because of that, the tobacco flavor seemed stronger.  They
were good.  She returned the cigarette to her lips for a second drag.

Kate interrupted her mother.  "Mom, you're smoking my cigarette," she
whimpered.  But now she was smiling.  The crying had subsided, but tears
continued running down her pretty cheeks.  She wiggled her fingers at Lynne
and made a face.  "Can I have it back?" she pouted with a mock frown.

Lynne tipped her head and released a long exhale.  "No," she snapped with an
evil laugh.  But her feigned arrogance showed she was teasing.  "Light up
another one if you want.  But this one's mine.  You gave it to me."  With her
free hand, she poked Kate in the stomach.

The women laughed.  This exchange broke the gloom, and replaced it with
playful kidding.  After wiping her tears, Kate reached for her pack and did
indeed light up another cigarette.  "So, Mom," she sighed, with a freshly lit
Marlboro dangling from her lips.  "Do you like my cigarettes?"

Lynne nodded vigorously.  She was busy with another drag.  "Yes, I do," she
admitted with a grin as she inhaled.  She stopped talking 'til her hold was
complete.  Then she exhaled, and went on.  "Stacie suggested I smoke
menthols, but God, I prefer these!"  She noticed wisps of smoke drift out as
she talked.  She knew that was a result of the longer holds she'd learned to
take from her daughter.

"Yeah, I like these, too," Kate admitted.  She appeared fully recovered.  But
it was strange discussing the relative benefits of different brands with her
mother.  "Weren't you upset by Kim's message, Mom?" she asked.  "Do you think
Daddy's having an affair with Stacie?"

"No," Lynne said firmly.  "I'm not sure what Kim saw.  But Stacie's my best
friend.  She'd never do that.  Besides, if your father's fooling around with
Stacie, why tell me he saw her tonight?  No, there's some other explanation.
I'm sure we'll hear about it when he gets here."

"But aren't you mad at him?" Kate went on.  "I mean, Kim confirmed she's been
sleeping with him.  And he admitted he made plans to leave you.  God, Mom,
I'd think you'd be pissed."

"Watch your language, young lady," Lynne chided, though her smile betrayed
lack of concern.  "I'm not happy, but I knew he was seeing someone.  I
guessed it was Kim.  See, I want him back.  If I didn't, I wouldn't have
started this."  She raised her almost finished cigarette in the air.  "In my
heart, I've already forgiven him.  As long as he wants to come back, I'll do
whatever it takes to keep him."  With that, she took a last drag and crushed
the cigarette in the ashtray.

Kate smiled.  "That won't be too hard, assuming Daddy does like you smoking.
But don't you think that it's a little weird or something?"

"Not at all," Lynne smiled.  "Everyone has peculiarities and idiosyncrasies.
I can deal with this one.  In fact," she admitted, shifting in her seat.  "I
rather like smoking, too, in a similar way.  I mean, of course it feels good
to smoke.  But it also seems - I don't know - deliciously decadent or
something.  Whatever.  I don't want to quit, whether or not it pleases your
father."

"I know what you mean," Kate smiled, taking a long drag on her cigarette.
Inhaling deeply, she continued talking.  "I loved smoking from the start.  I
know it's not good for me, but I don't care.  It makes me feel good."  Smoke
compounded with her words while she spoke.  "And I like how it tastes.  I
just love doing it.  I can't explain it any better than that."

"Right," Lynne nodded.  She let out a deep sigh.  She eyed Kate's pack on the
table in front of her.  She toyed with the idea of lighting up another one,
but decided she should wait.

"And I really appreciate you letting me smoke like this, Mom," Kate added,
with great sincerity.  "I mean, God, here I am, sitting here talking with
you, and I'm smoking!  Most parents wouldn't be this open-minded.  Take
Alyssa's mom, for example.  Alyssa says she'd be grounded, like forever, if
her mom found out she's smoking.  But you're so completely cool about it.
It's awesome."  She leaned over and gave Lynne a quick hug.  "You're the
best, Mom," she beamed.  "I really mean that.  Thanks."

"You're welcome, honey," Lynne blushed.  "I suppose I _should_ be concerned.
I mean, after all, smoking is bad for you.  Hell, I suppose it's bad for me,
too," she smiled wryly.  "But, like you, I don't give a damn.  I'm just so
excited.  I love it.  It's like I discovered a wonderful new treasure."  The
combined smell of Kate's cigarette and the excitement of talking about
smoking pushed Lynne over the edge.  She leaned over to pick up Kate's pack.
"Do you mind if I have another one?  I don't know why exactly, but I want to
keep smoking!"

"Of course, Mom," Kate grinned broadly as she puffed again.  "How could I
object?  Go ahead.  Be my guest.  Have another one.  Have as many as you
want!"

"Be careful when you say that," Lynne chided.  She smiled as she removed
another Marlboro from her daughter's pack and put it in her mouth.  "God, I
don't know why I like these better than those Salems," she said
apologetically.  "But I do!"  As Kate watched with a bemused look, her mother
lit up again.  A rush of pungent smoke filled Lynne's mouth as she pulled
hard on the cigarette.  "Oh, God," she sighed, after drawing the smoke deep
into her expectant lungs.  "I never get tired of these things!  Do you know
what I mean?"

"Don't worry, Mom.  I know exactly," Kate agreed.  She confirmed it by taking
a drag of her own and, following her mother's lead, pulling as much smoke as
possible into her own chest.

Lynne performed a combination nose and mouth exhale.  Kate smiled and did
likewise, giggling as the smoke encircled her head.  "God, Mom, you are _so_
cool," she sighed contentedly.  "Smoking with you is, like, even more fun
than smoking with Alyssa.  I guess it's 'cause you so totally like to smoke."
She laughed again.  "God, we are terrible, aren't we?"

"We sure are," Lynne agreed, as she released a satisfied sigh from deep
within.  "We sure are," she repeated.  She felt so close to Kate right now;
much closer than she had for a long time.

The family room air was now dense with smoke.  The atmosphere was almost
opaque.  In a strange way, however, it made the room seem friendlier, more
intimate.  Lynne smiled.  "From now on, you and I'll spend lots of time
smoking together, honey," she predicted confidently, and then paused for a
drag.  "Lots of things will change for the better, I think."

Before Kate could reply, they heard the front door open.  "Oh my God," Kate
gasped.  "It's Daddy."  She rushed to crush her cigarette in the ashtray.

Lynne held up her hand.  "Whoa!  No, don't do that," she decreed, but with a
big smile.  "It's okay.  Let him see you smoking.  He won't mind.  I'm sure
he won't be surprised.  I think he expects to see both of us smoking
eventually.  Why not right now?"  She giggled.  "To tell you the truth, I
predict he'll join us!"  Absent-mindedly, she set her cigarette in the
ashtray and fixed her hair.  Picking it up, she smiled at Kate.  "Are you
ready?  It's Showtime!"

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

Stacie and Lynne sat at the same table they had at Jimmy's Deli the day
before, nestled smack in the middle of the smoking section.  The same
waitress, the pretty Jennifer, took drink orders as they settled in.  On
their way over from the library, Lynne had told Stacie all about smoking with
Kate the night before.

Stacie was still giggling.  Lynne understood her enthusiasm.  But her blond
friend's delight was so flagrant, it seemed almost inappropriate under the
circumstances.

"Oh, my God," Stacie sighed.  "That's so cool!  I can't believe you actually
smoked with her last night.  That's great!"  She gave a knowing smirk.
"Trust me, it's every teenage girl's ultimate dream:  an understanding mother
who won't give her shit for wanting to smoke."

Lynne smiled contentedly.  "Yeah, I'm sure that's true.  God, it is fun
smoking with Kate.  I suppose I should've been upset she's smoking.  But you
know?  I'm not.  I suppose it's 'cause I understand why she likes it so damn
much."  She put her napkin on her lap.  "I'm not kidding, Stacie, I am
completely converted.  I like smoking more with each passing minute."  She
giggled and opened her purse.  "In fact, I'm ready for a smoke right now.
And wait 'til I tell you what happened when Tom came home."  As she spoke,
she pulled her cigarettes form her bag.

Stacie whistled as Lynne put her cigarettes on the table.  "Whoa," she said
dryly.  "Those are Marlboro Lights 100's!  What happened to the Salems?"

"Oh," Lynne replied absent-mindedly, tapping the pack and removing a
cigarette.  "It's Kate's brand.  I smoked of hers some last night, and
decided I like 'em better."  She gave an embarrassed grin as she put one in
her mouth.  "Sorry," she said sheepishly, firing up her lighter.

"Girl, I don't care what you smoke," Stacie replied sarcastically, her eyes
twinkling.  "I'm just glad you haven't decided to abandon me and quit."  She
eyeballed Lynne's introductory drag.  "Obviously, you're not quitting," she
kidded.  Lynne's hard, vigorous pull on the freshly lit cigarette made that
point abundantly clear.  "I'm just surprised you changed brands so fast,
that's all."  Stacie licked her lips in anticipation.  From her burgundy
cigarette case, she removed a Salem, depositing it between her moist lips.
She clicked her lighter and lit up.  The same satisfaction Lynne experienced
was immediately shared by Stacie.  The smoke tasted good!

Lynne was in the midst of a second, much longer drag.  Using Kate's
technique, she deeply inhaled and held the smoke inside for a five count.
She smiled while she waited to exhale.  Stacie's jaw dropped.

"Oh, my God," Stacie gasped when Lynne finally exhaled a thin stream of
smoke.  "Your approach has matured, dear, to say the least.  Since when have
you been smoking like that?"

"Since last night.  Kate showed me how," she proclaimed proudly.  Contentedly
she held her cigarette beside her face.  Smoke drifted from her nostrils over
the next several breaths.  "It's more fun if you inhale real deep.  Don't you
think?"

"Yeah, sure," she smiled.  Stacie recognized the transformation happening
before her eyes.  She'd seen it before, in her college days, with other new
smokers.  The familiar pattern was always the same:  Suddenly they became
preoccupied with smoking.  In fact, they wanted to light up constantly.  They
took longer drags, and deeper inhales.  Yes, Lynne was certainly progressing
according to schedule.  She'd be hooked in no time.  In fact, Stacie knew,
Lynne was probably hooked already.  It was so predictable.  She sighed.
There was no stopping the inevitable progression now.  But none of this
surprised Stacie.  Actually, she'd sort of expected it, given Lynne's initial
positive attitude.  Not surprisingly, however, at that moment Lynne's obvious
neophyte excitement exactly mirrored Stacie's own feeling of exhilaration
about smoking.  Stacie took a somewhat longer than normal drag of her own and
smiled broadly at her friend as she inhaled.  "Okay," she proclaimed, holding
the smoke inside.  "Tell me about it."

Lynne grinned.  "Sure," she sighed.  She told her the whole tale, about
smoking in the dark on the porch early in the evening, discovering Kate's
cigarettes, smoking in front of Kate when she came home, and finally the two
of them smoking together.  "I don't know who was happier," she said
contentedly, "Kate or me.  But we had a ball smoking together."

At that point, the waitress brought their drinks.  "Excuse me," Jennifer said
as she put down Stacie's coffee and Lynne's Diet Coke.  "I didn't mean to
eavesdrop.  But did you say you found out your daughter smokes and you
actually gave her permission to keep on smoking?"

Lynne smiled.  "That's right.  Do you think that's bad?"

"God, no," Jennifer exclaimed.  "I think it's great.  Boy, I wish you'd talk
to _my_ mother."  She sighed.  "My mom nags about my smoking all the time."
She smiled at Lynne.  "Believe me.  Your daughter doesn't know how lucky she
is."

They gave Jennifer their orders, and Stacie asked for the rest of the story.
"You said Tom came home last night," she said eagerly.  "Tell me what
happened."

"Okay," Lynne replied.  First she told Stacie of the strange call from Tom
and the two messages on her machine.  "What happened?" she asked.  "Did you
meet with Tom last night?"

"Yeah," Stacie admitted nervously.  "But it's not what you think, Lynne.  I
didn't intend for Tom to see me smoke.  He arrived early and caught me.
Well, I explained how much you love him and how you're willing to do anything
- including smoke for him - to get him to stop seeing Kim.  Then he asked me
  about Bill and me, and I ... well, I just sort of lost it."

"Lost it?" Lynne repeated.

"Yeah," she sighed, grabbing another cigarette from her burgundy case.  "I
started crying about losing Bill and shit like that.  Then Tom put his arm
around me - you know, just to comfort me - and I ... well, I sort of kissed
him."

"Sort of?"

"Okay, I kissed him," Stacie admitted, as she lit up a second Salem.  "It was
too tempting.  I don't know why.  I mean, I was smoking, and he was smoking,
and his big strong arms were wrapped around me.  I can't explain it.  I guess
it was instinctive.  But it was over in a second.  It wasn't his fault,
Lynne.  It was mine.  I never intended to hurt you or anything."

"I know," Lynne said reassuringly.  She, too, impulsively put another
cigarette in her mouth and lit up again.  "That's pretty much the story Tom
told me," she added, with the cigarette dangling from her lips.  "I believe
you."

"Thanks," Stacie breathed a sigh of relief.  "Believe me, it meant nothing.
So, what happened when Tom got home?"  She was eager to change the subject.

Lynne was pleased to tell the tale.  "Well, he walked into the family room.
Kate and I were just sitting there, but we were both smoking away.  The look
of absolute amazement on Tom's face was priceless!  I mean, I think he
half-expected to see me smoking, 'cause you tipped him off."  She gave a
mischievous grin.  "But he was dumbfounded Kate and I were both smoking, and
smoking together, too.  I explained what'd happened.  He just sat down beside
me on the couch in total disbelief.  But I could tell he wasn't unhappy.  Not
in the least."

"So he wasn't upset about Kate?"

"No.  He admitted later in the evening that from the very beginning he knew
all about Kim's little plan to get Kate hooked on cigarettes, too.  So Tom
knew Kate was smoking.  Kim had reported Kate's progress to him on a daily
basis.  He'd even spied on her on Tuesday night, unbeknownst to Kate.  I
think it pissed Kate off just a little.  But she was so happy to have her
father's blessing, I don't think she really cared."

"So, then what happened?" Stacie asked eagerly.

Lynne made her wait, first taking another long drag on her Marlboro.  "I
asked if he wanted to join us," she smirked, sucking the smoke inside while
continuing to talk.  "It was so funny.  He was so excited!  His hands
literally shook as he got his Marlboro 100's from his jacket pocket.  I held
the lighter for him and lit him up.  As we all smoked together, I explained
to him that I liked smoking, a lot more than I ever expected.  I told him I
would keep on smoking whether he decided to stay with me or not.  I said I
also thought it would be unfairly sanctimonious of us not to let Kate smoke,
too.  After all, it wasn't her fault Kim tricked her.  He also confirmed, by
the way, that Kim's scheme was to get Kate hooked so she'd live with the two
of them, instead of with me, after we broke up."  She smiled.  "But Kim's
plan backfired.  The three of us really bonded last night.  Except for the
cigarettes, it was truly a Hallmark moment."

"Wow, that's cool," Stacie beamed.  She asked the big question.  "So, is Tom
going to dump Kim?  Is he going to stay with you?"

"Going back to Kim isn't much of an option," Lynne said smugly.  "She
over-played her hand last night.  Tom was pissed.  Regardless of his original
feelings, I don't think he'll fall for her sweet line any longer now that he
knows she ratted on him.  I think she was after his money the whole time.  He
doesn't need to fall into her bed to have a smoking woman of his very own.  I
showed him that definitively last night."

"The details, girlfriend," Stacie giggled.  "Give me the details."

"Okay.  We had one more cigarette with Kate.  Then Tom and I went to our
room, and Kate went to hers.  Well, I'd been flirting with him; you know,
trying to look sexy when I smoked, generally acting seductive.  He picked
right up on it.  As soon as we hit our room, he started pulling my clothes
off.  We had great sex."  She paused.  "For the first time in years, we made
love twice in one night.  I shouldn't tell you, but the second time, he
wanted me on top, and I smoked for him while we fucked.  God, it was great!
It made me so hot, having a cigarette in my mouth and sucking smoke into my
lungs while we did it."

Stacie bubbled with excitement.  "God, Lynne, that's unbelievable.  You're so
lucky!"  She took a drag and assumed a more somber air.  "But I should tell
you a few other things Tom said last night.  He thinks you're too cold and
calculating, too analytical.  Did he tell you that?"

"Yeah," Lynne smiled, exhaling a cloud of smoke.  "He's right, too.  I said
I'll try not to be so logical.  I want to be more like you, Stacie.  You
know?  I want to be someone who just enjoys the moment, without analyzing
everything to death.  It drives Tom crazy.  I know."

"What about your hair?  Did you talk about that?"

"No," Lynne admitted.  "What about my hair?

"Okay."  Stacie took a deep breath.  "Tom said one of the things that
attracted him to Kim, in addition to her smoking, was her blond hair.  He's
decided he has a thing for blonds.  Have you ever thought about coloring your
hair?"

Lynne frowned.  "I don't have the skin color for it, Stacie," she grimaced.
"I couldn't be a blond if I wanted.  Do you think it's really important?"

"Who knows?  But why find out the hard way?"  Putting her cigarette between
her lips, Stacie quickly rummaged through her purse.  "Here it is.  Call my
beautician.  If anyone can change you into a blond, she can."  She handed
Lynne a card.  "Her name's Maya Wilson.  She's Hawaiian, and works at a shop
downtown.  She's amazing.  She re-made my image a year ago."

"I remember," Lynne agreed.  "It was when you lightened your hair."

"Right.  That's Maya!  So, make an appointment.  Tell Maya you need a new
identity.  Tell her you have to be a blond.  You're right about one thing.
You're too dark for real yellowish blond hair like mine.  But I bet Maya will
find you a darker shade of blond that works with your complexion.  Trust me.
It's worth it.  If it was important enough for Tom to mention, you should do
something about your hair.  Besides, getting your hair done is always fun.
Don't you think?"

"I guess," Lynne mumbled.  The idea of turning blond wasn't appealing.  But
Stacie was right.  She'd said she'd do anything to keep Tom happy.  She
puffed nervously on her cigarette.  Smoking didn't turn out bad.  Maybe
changing hair color would be easier than she feared.

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