Nic At Night, Part 3

This fictional account contains adult language and themes.  If such language
and themes offend you, please do not read further.  The persons and events
described in this work are purely fictional.  Any similarity to actual persons
or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2001 by SSTORYMAN.  All rights
reserved.  Permission is hereby 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.

NIC AT NIGHT

3.	Kelly's Transformation Continues.

   The next day was Sunday.  Kelly wasn't scheduled to work at Giovanni's.
Karen was disappointed.  There'd be no opportunity to foist the tranquilizers
on her at bedtime to cover up their nocturnal smoking adventure.  But Karen
came up with an ingenious alternate plan.

   After church Kelly spent the day reading The Fountainhead.  She liked the
book, and she liked Ayn Rand's philosophy.  She found the author's ideals,
which strongly endorsed the benefit of selfishness, convincing.  There was
nothing wrong with selfishness.  And like the character in the book, Kelly
decided she needed to be true to herself, too, first and foremost.

   She found something else interesting.  In The Fountainhead, all the
characters smoked.  The book was written in an era when smoking wasn't frowned
upon.  The people in Ayn Rand's novel all smoked constantly, or so it seemed.
Maybe she was too focused on the subject.  But it seemed that everything Kelly
did, or read, now reminded her of smoking.

   While she read, Karen puttered around the house, doing laundry and other
weekend chores.  Although she promised Kelly she wouldn't smoke so much in the
house, she was now smoking constantly.  Kelly was about to remind her mom of
her promise not to abuse her privilege, but something stopped her.  The truth
was, she didn't want her mom to stop.  The smell seemed . . . well, it seemed
really nice.  So the youngster said nothing.  She let Karen smoke without
complaining.

   That afternoon Karen announced they were going out.  "Denise and Sam asked
us to join them for drinks and dinner at The Ranch.  Isn't that great?"  It
was a country-western bar and restaurant.  Kelly and Karen both liked it.  It
was casual fancy, so Karen said she was wearing one of her tight,
"man-catching" outfits, as she called them.  She urged Kelly to wear her tight
black skirt, the one she wore to work, a fancy blouse, and her heels.

   "Don't wear the white tank-top," she smiled.  "Wear that nice, tight, red
sleeveless shirt, the one you got for your birthday.  But the skirt and heels
are a must.  I want you be grown-up tonight, honey, and you look absolutely
stunning in that cute, short little black skirt.  Live a little, Kell, and
dress up with me.  Let's make some mouths water tonight!"

   Kelly wasn't crazy about wearing her heels, but Karen insisted.  "You need
to build up tolerance and get used to them.  You can always take the pills
afterwards," she added carelessly.

   "How about if I take one before we go?" Kelly suggested, pulling her tight
black skirt up around her waist.  "That way my feet won't hurt so bad while
we're at dinner."

   Karen hesitated.  "Uh, you sleep pretty hard when you take the
extra-strength ones," she said thoughtfully.  "How about if I give you regular
Tylenol before we go?  Then you can take the extra strength ones when we come
back if you need them."

   Her mother gave her two regular strength Tylenol.  Kelly noticed the
regular caplets looked nothing like the pills she took at bedtime.  She
wondered about it, but said nothing,.  She took the regular pills as they left
for the restaurant.

   At dinner Karen and Denise smoked constantly, but it didn't bother Kelly.
She enjoyed the smell.  Denise, too, was dressed up.  She was gorgeous with
her hair up, long dangling earrings, and a long dress with a slit up the side
showing her leg up to the thigh.  The long white cigarettes she smoked
strangely enhanced her stylish charm.  Far from seeming gross, smoking seemed
to be an important part of her elegant and sophisticated air.

   Karen also looked fabulous.  But then, she always did.  A tight, low-cut
blouse accentuated her large tits.  The "v" of her exposed cleavage was
breath-taking.  Every man who walked by their table stared, at least briefly,
at the three great-looking women sitting there, of whom Kelly was one.  The
teenage girl's tight, silky, red sleeveless blouse, with her budding but
already magnificent tits inside, were almost as impressive as her stunning
mother's.

   The adults had several beers before, during and after dinner.  Everyone got
pretty loose.  If Karen drank, she smoked more, and that night she smoked with
a vengeance.  She compulsively lit up one B&H after another, laughing and
talking the whole time.  Denise kept pace with her Marlboro Lights 100's.  Sam
didn't smoke as much as she did, but he occasionally 'borrowed' one of her
Marlboros.  There was lots of laughter, lots of alcohol, and lots of smoke at
their table.

   Kelly found herself staring at Denise.  She couldn't help noticing how she
held her cigarette by her face, wrist cocked, with smoke swirling upwards in
ever ascending spirals.  Each time Denise took a puff, it was long, hard and
practiced.  As she held the smoke inside before exhaling, her face glowed.
And when she did exhale, her smoke came out through smiling lips.  The stream
stayed under her absolute control, moving only when and where she willed.  The
sight was fascinating.  Not only was the aroma of smoke pleasant, but the
spectacle of watching Denise smoke seemed intoxicatingly chic.

   Once more, Kelly began toying with the idea of asking for a cigarette.  It
just seemed so cool, so neat, so _right_ somehow.  She'd never felt that way,
but she desperately wanted to try it.  Her mom had had several beers.  Kelly
guessed she wouldn't refuse.  And Denise almost offered her a cigarette after
the last babysitting session.  But Kelly didn't know Sam, and she was afraid
of what he'd say.  So, in the end, she chickened out.  But it was only matter
of time.  She had to try it.  She thought about Ayn Rand's book, The
Fountainhead.  Selfish pleasure wasn't bad.  It was good, she assured herself.
She had to try smoking, at least once.  It was definitely something she had to
do, she decided.

   Driving home Karen was in a good mood; so good, in fact, that she smoked in
the car without thinking that Kelly usually objected.  Tonight, though, Kelly
didn't.  She had a strange and unexpected craving to join in and participate
in her mom's supposedly filthy habit.  Karen gave her some beer after dinner,
so Kelly, too was loose.  So loose, in fact, that she almost asked to try one.
But she was afraid of what Karen might say or do.  So she didn't.

   As Kelly lay in bed a little later, Karen brought her two pills.  "Here you
go, honey.  It's time for your foot medicine," she laughed jovially, still a
little tipsy.

   "Actually, Mom, my feet don't hurt so bad, probably because I was sitting
down instead of standing.  I don't think I need extra strength Tylenol.  I can
get by with the regular ones."

   "Nonsense," Karen huffed.  "Take these, pumpkin.  They're much better for
you.  And I know best.  I'm your mother, after all."

   Kelly was confused by her insistence.  She sensed anger in her mom's voice.
But she shrugged her shoulders and took the pills.  After all, there was no
point in fighting about it.

   Karen was pissed.  She'd gone to a lot of trouble.  She made Denise and Sam
go to dinner with them, and purposely gave Kelly a beer to loosen her up.
Both she and Denise smoked extra heavily on purpose; not that that was a
hardship, of course.  But Karen hoped the combination would finally push Kelly
over the edge and make her ask for a cigarette.  When it didn't happen, in her
slightly inebriated condition, she got mad.  Kelly's reluctance to take her
pills was the last straw.  She _had_ to take them, because Karen wanted to
feed her smoke.  It was the reason she made her wear her high heels again.
It'd seemed like a perfect way to accomplish her goal.  She wasn't about to
let Kelly go to sleep without taking the tranquilizers.  She'd set the stage
for another smoky, late night exchange.

   But Kelly took them.  Fifteen minutes later Karen was back in her room with
her cigarettes and ashtray.  She had to make her sleeping teenager breathe in
smoke again and again, until she became a smoker.  She was slightly drunk, but
she intended to continue her scheme.

   She lit up a B&H, inhaled a lung-full of smoke, and exhaled reluctantly.
She smiled.  God, she _did_ love smoking!  She began her routine of feeding
Kelly smoke by forcing it directly into her open mouth.  Kelly long since
stopped struggling against this onslaught.  Cotton balls in her nostrils were
no longer necessary.

   She blew a thick cloud of smoke into her daughter's open mouth.  The
youngster gulped it into her lungs.  Karen giggled as smoke slowly escaped
from her mouth over her next few breaths.  "God, yeah, that's a _good_ girl,
Kelly!  You're liking this a lot more now.  I can tell."  She took another
hard drag and again exhaled into her open, waiting lips.  Once more the
unconscious youngster breathed in the smoke willingly and eagerly.  "I saw you
watch Denise tonight, honey.  You were studying her smoking style, weren't
you?  You saw how elegant and sexy she looks when she smokes.  Yeah, she looks
_so_ good!  And now you want to be like her.  I know you do."  Another
mouthful of smoke followed.  "And I want you to be just like Denise and the
rest of us.  Oh baby, I am _so_ ready for you to become a smoker!  I almost
can't wait.  I want it to happen so bad.  You'll love it, and I will, too.
I'll love watching you desperately need nicotine and sharing with me in this
wonderful smoking addiction!"

   She pulled on her cigarette and again exhaled into her daughter's open,
almost expectant mouth.  The sleeping teenager readily took each successive
delivery of smoke.  "That's why I told Denise we needed this night out.  It's
why I insisted you wear your heels.  I know they hurt your feet, honey, but I
have to be able to give you smoke like this, now don't I?  You'd miss it
terribly if we skipped a night.  And I don't want you to miss it.  No sir!"

   In her sleep Kelly wore a contented expression.  She looked like someone
having a wonderful dream.  Nicotine was working its magic.  "Honey, remember
when you were little and we watched Nickelodeon?  Remember what they called
their evening programs?  The 'Nick at Nite Club."  She laughed.  "Well, now we
have our own 'Nic at Nite Club,' baby, but instead it's the 'nicotine at night
club.'  You love it, too.  But pretty soon this won't be enough.  Because you
won't be satisfied with just having 'nic at night.'  You'll want your nic a
lot more often than this.  I saw it on your face tonight, pumpkin.  You're
thinking about it.  I could tell.  Pretty soon you'll fall.  God, I hope it
happens quick.  And I'll do everything I can to make it happen fast."

   She double-pumped on her cigarette and unloaded a mammoth amount of smoke
into her sleeping daughter's mouth.  With eyes closed, the sleeping blond girl
breathed it in.  This time, she held it inside and stopped breathing for
several seconds.  Then smoke slowly began coming back out of her mouth as she
began breathing steadily again.

   Karen smiled.  "This is just great, pumpkin.  You're inhaling, pulling the
smoke inside your hungry lungs.  It's nice, isn't it?  Soon you'll figure out
that these pills are tranquilizers, not Tylenol.  So tonight I'm upping the
ante.  I need you to become really dependent on the smoke, honey.  So we're
going to keep doing this awhile longer."  She laughed.  "I hope you don't
mind."  It certainly didn't look like Kelly minded!

   For thirty solid minutes Karen forced smoke into her sleeping mouth.  The
youngster almost seemed to anticipate each exhale of her mom's smoke.  She
breathed it in deeply and eagerly, without fighting.  It wasn't exactly
inhaling, but it was damn close.  No coughing, fighting or choking.  All that
was long since gone.  Kelly was no longer tolerating the experience; she
seemed to enjoy it.  That wasn't lost on Karen, who affectionately fed her
teenager one lungful of smoke after another.

   After a break Karen returned for another marathon session.  She wanted to
inundate the sleeping adolescent with smoke.  Partly due to her inebriation,
she shared several more cigarettes with Kelly, blowing smoke into her mouth
puff after puff.  If she thought clearly, she'd have known the inevitable
result.  But she wasn't thinking, so she didn't realize what would happen.

   The next morning Kelly awoke feeling terrible.  She was sick from too much
nicotine.  But she didn't realize why she felt bad.  She assumed she was
coming down with the flu.  She stumbled downstairs to find her mom, who was
smoking at the kitchen table with her coffee, as usual.

   When Kelly got sick, the last thing she could tolerate was tobacco smoke.
But this morning was different.  The odor of her mom's cigarette didn't turn
her stomach.  Quite the opposite; it smelled thoroughly delicious!  But her
queasiness was bad enough that Kelly didn't immediately realize the
significance of the luscious aroma that assailed her nostrils.  So she opened
the refrigerator and poured some Diet Pepsi, in effort to quiet her churning
stomach.

   "Isn't it a little early for diet pop?" Karen asked sarcastically.

   "I feel sick," Kelly moaned.  She took a sip of soda.  "My stomach feels
awful.  I must be getting the flu."

   The youngster was pale.  Her pasty complexion worried Karen.  She reached
out and touched her forehead.  "You don't feel feverish," she observed.
"Maybe you'll feel better if you eat something."

   "I don't want to eat," Kelly complained.  "All I want to do is go back to
bed."

   "But what about Denise?  She's counting on you to baby-sit today."

   Kelly made a face.  "I don't think I can.  God, I can't do anything.  I
don't know what the fuck is wrong with me!  I feel like shit!"

   Karen had to smile.  She loved hearing her daughter use such language.  Her
conservative, reserved daughter was changing.  Hanging around Giovanni's with
Crystal and Sue Ann was affecting her.  Kelly didn't even realize what she'd
said.  But Karen didn't mind.  The transformation delighted her.  Soon there
would take place an even more important change.  But apparently not that
morning.

   "Why don't you go back to bed?  I'll call Denise and tell her you can't
come today.  Maybe she can get someone else to watch Justin."

   "Oh, God!  Thanks, Mom," Kelly moaned.  She took another drink of Diet
Pepsi.  "I think I just need to sleep.  That's all I feel like doing.  Maybe
my stomach will feel better after I sip some soda and rest."

   For the first time, Karen wondered if her teenager's sudden discomfort was
connected to an overdose of nicotine.  She felt a twinge of guilt.  But
nothing could be done about it.  She took a last drag on her cigarette and
crushed it in the ashtray.  "Go back to bed, honey," she said, pausing to
exhale a plume of smoke.  "I'll call Denise."

   Kelly went back up to her room with her Diet Pepsi.  What amazed her,
however, was the lovely smell of her mom's cigarette.  Despite her queasiness,
she'd wanted to sit down at the kitchen table to keep soaking up the
intoxicatingly pleasant aroma.  She felt wobbly, though.  The right thing to
do was return to bed.  She did and, after finishing her soda, quickly fell
asleep.

   Before leaving, Karen ascended the stairs to check on her.  She saw Kelly
sleeping.  She frowned.  She hoped she hadn't made a mistake by giving her too
much nicotine last night.  Her judgment was impaired by too much beer.  She'd
hoped another visit to Denise's today would give Denise an opportunity to push
Kelly closer toward smoking her first cigarette.  But fearful she'd screwed
up, she left her sleeping daughter without waking her.

   Kelly finally awoke at ten o'clock.  She felt fine.  Her nausea was gone,
replaced by ravenous hunger.  After getting up to pee she decided she felt
completely normal.  Looking at the clock, she decided to call Denise.

   "Denise, this is Kelly.  Mom told you I was too sick to watch Justin today.
But I feel fine now.  I don't know what it was; maybe something I ate last
night.  Anyway, if you still want me to watch Justin, I can come."

   There was a sigh on the other end of the line.  "That'd be great, Kell.  I
was just going to take Justin to my mom's.  But it's not a good day for her.
If you can come, if you're sure you're okay, I'd appreciate it.  If you're
sure you're not sick, that is."

   "No, I'm definitely fine," Kelly confidently announced.  "I'll be right
over."

   As she got ready, her thoughts turned to smoking.  That strangely tasty
sensation of smelling her mom's smoke at breakfast was replaced by an unusual
craving.  On Saturday Denise told her she should try a cigarette.  For reasons
she didn't understand, she knew Denise was right.  She definitely _should_
give smoking a try.  She made up her mind to talk to Denise about it if the
subject came up.

   Unfortunately, it didn't.  Denise thought Justin would be going to her
mother's, so she hadn't put him down for a morning nap.  She tried putting him
down after Kelly called, but with no success.  His schedule was off, and he
refused to close his eyes.  By the time Kelly arrived, Justin was incredibly
fussy.  Denise had to go, leaving her with a crabby baby to care for.  There
was no opportunity to ask Denise about her offer to help her learn to smoke.

   Justin was irascible.  Kelly read to him, rocked him, and played with him.
Nothing helped.  Lunchtime with him was usually fun, but today it was pure
hell.  He threw his food, cried, and generally acted impossible.  Around one
o'clock he finally laid down, but he awoke again shortly before his mother got
home.

   Denise got home late from the restaurant.  It was three when she finally
arrived, and by then Kelly was totally stressed.  Like Justin, she was grumpy
and on edge.  Her nerves were shot.  Denise was out of sorts, too, faced with
the prospect of dealing with her unruly son who needed to sleep but who
refused to lie down.  They briefly exchanged pleasantries, but there was no
real opportunity for Kelly to bring up her newfound interest in smoking.  If
Denise had stopped to light up before the teenager left, Kelly still might
have broached the subject.  But Denise didn't, so Kelly went home.

   She puttered around aimlessly, unable to focus on reading.  She didn't know
why she felt so irritable.  She tried eating, and tried watching TV awhile,
but nothing satisfied her.  Shortly after four o'clock she found herself
staring longingly at a half-empty gold pack of Benson & Hedges that Karen left
on the kitchen counter.  She felt drawn to it like a magnet.  The idea of
smelling smoke seemed like something she very much wanted.  She seriously
considered taking out a cigarette and lighting it up, just to experiment, when
suddenly the phone rang.

   It was Sue Ann at Giovanni's.  One of her servers called off, she said.
She needed someone to cover.  She asked if Kelly could come in, though she
wasn't on the schedule that night.  Kelly thought.  She was going crazy there
at home.  Her mom wouldn't be home till after five, but it was only a fifteen
minute walk.  If she got ready right away, she could be there by her usual
start time.

   "Okay," she announced.  "I can be there by five."

   "Oh, God," Sue Ann heaved a sigh of relief.  "Thanks, Kelly.  The sooner
the better.  Kid, I owe you big time.  Thanks again.  See you soon."

   Kelly dressed quickly, and pulled on her black panty hose last.  She
stopped to admire herself in the full length mirror in her mom's bedroom.
God, she sighed.  She _did_ look great in her hostess outfit!  The tight
tank-top really accentuated her well-rounded breasts, making them look even
bigger, and the slinky little blank skirt showed off her shapely hips and
legs.  In admiration she slowly ran her hands up and down her curvaceous body,
finally resting them on her tits, as she stopped to prop them up even more.
She liked looking sexy, she decided.

   She gave her breasts a gentle squeeze, and felt her crotch grow wet.  The
pretty blond had recently started to enjoy squeezing her tits.  She began
massaging them more vigorously.  She gasped, almost involuntarily.  God, it
felt so damn good to do that!  As she watched herself in the full-length
mirror, she pleasured herself for several moments.  Then she looked at her
watch.  Damn!  She didn't have time to properly enjoy this, though she was
sorely tempted to.  She'd have to wait till later to really masturbate.  She
gave her breasts one last, gentle squeeze, and headed down the stairs.

   She knew she'd never make it to Giovanni's in her high heels.  She put them
in a bag and donned her tennis shoes instead.  She set out on her trek to the
restaurant, not remembering till she was half-way there that she should call
her mom and tell her where she was.

   She got to Giovanni's just after four thirty.  A relieved Sue Ann met her
at the door.  The restaurant didn't open till five, but the cooks and most
servers got there around four thirty.

   "Thanks so much for coming in, honey," Sue Ann smiled.  "Here's what I'm
doing.  Crystal was supposed to hostess, but I'll use her as a server.  She's
done it before.  She knows the ropes.  You'll be my hostess.  Crystal can back
you up if you need help.  How does that sound?"

   Kelly shrugged.  "Fine," she smiled.  "Can I call my mom and tell her where
I am?"

   "Absolutely.  And tell Karen I really appreciate you helping out!"

   Kelly sat at the bar to take off her tennis shoes and put on her high
heels.  She dialed the phone to call her mom's work number.  She told her
about Sue Ann's frantic call and assured her she felt fine; her morning
queasiness had vanished.  Karen was okay with it.  Indeed, it would've been
hard to say otherwise, under the circumstances, because Kelly was already
there.  Karen only asked her to call home when she was ready to be picked up.

   The restaurant wasn't open, but the servers were trickling in.  Four thirty
was start time, but many didn't show up till close to five.  Crystal was
already there, though the hostess ordinarily didn't start till five thirty.
She'd come in with Sue Ann.  In her white tank-top, black skirt and heels, the
other teen ambled up to the bar and sat down with Kelly.

   "How're ya doin'?" she mumbled.  "Ready for another exciting night?"

   Crystal was a pretty girl.  She was a little taller than Kelly, and
relatively flat-chested by comparison.  But she was attractive, in a thin,
super-model sort of way.  Crystal had chestnut brown hair, which she wore
flipped over her shoulders.  Her face was thin and angular, and she wore
glasses, which gave her a somewhat intellectual look.

   "Aren't you excited about getting to be a server tonight, Crystal?"  Kelly
thought Sue Ann's plan was exciting.  She was jealous of Crystal's on-the-spot
temporary promotion.

   "Nah," the other girl sighed.  "I've done it before.  I practically grew up
in this restaurant.  I've done it all, including cooking in the kitchen.  It's
no big deal."

   "Oh," Kelly said, a bit deflated.  "Well, I think it's cool.  I'd like to
be a server someday."

   "If you stick around, you'll be a server before you know it.  Mom doesn't
hire servers unless they look the part; I mean, they have to look mature.  But
you, Kelly, my God!  You look plenty old enough to be a server."  She grinned.
"It's those fuckin' big tits," she added slyly.  "You could easily pass for
eighteen with those hooters."

   "Thanks," Kelly blushed.  Like her mom, she was proud of her figure.  "I've
never had much trouble passing for older.  At least, not in the last couple
years."

   "Yeah, I'm sure," Crystal sighed enviously.  She took a pack of Marlboro
Lights 100's from her purse and stuck one in her mouth.  "That's one reason I
started smoking," she added.  "It makes me look older."  With that, she
clicked her lighter and lit up her cigarette.

   The resulting second-hand smoke smelled delicious to Kelly.  She watched
Crystal take a long hard drag, sucking smoke deep into her lungs.  It looked
so pleasant, so nice, and it smelled so wonderful.  "When did you start
smoking, Crystal?  I just have to ask.  I'm curious."

   The curly haired girl shrugged.  "I was about twelve.  Mom didn't know, but
I started sneaking 'em from her.  It wasn't hard.  I had no trouble getting
cigarettes whenever I wanted."  She held the burning cigarette between her
fingers, propped beside her face, almost exactly like Denise.  She smiled.
"Mom always has a open packs around the house."

   Kelly nodded and smiled.  "Yeah, just like my mom."

   "So anyway, I was curious about it," Crystal continued.  "I tried a
cigarette one day, and thought I'd puke on the spot.  I got so sick to my
stomach I thought I'd die."

   Kelly recalled her sick feeling earlier that morning.  "Really?  Then why
didn't you stop?  What made you keep going?"

   Crystal smiled knowingly.  "I knew you had to develop a taste for
cigarettes.  You know?  Well, maybe you don't.  Anyway, I knew it'd get better
if I stuck with it."  She smiled as she took another long, luxurious drag.
"It sure did.  Before long I was sneakin' a few smokes a day."

   "Then what happened?  Did your mom find out?"

   "Yeah, in a few months she figured out what was going on."  Crystal called
her mother 'Sue Ann,' which amazed Kelly.  "That summer Sue Ann asked if I was
smoking.  I didn't lie.  I said, yes, I was, and what did she intend to do
about it?  She just smiled and said, nothin'.  She was just curious, she said,
that's all.  And she never said anything more about it, except to ask if I
wanted her to buy me cigarettes when she went to the store for hers."  She
smiled.  "I took her up on that."  She shrugged.  "I've been smoking for three
years.  But I didn't start smoking all the time till I started helping out
here at the restaurant.  Everybody smokes here, and it was easy to just join
in and get completely hooked.  That's what happened to me."

   "Wow!"  Kelly couldn't help staring at the cigarette between her friend's
slender fingers.  The smoke rose slowly from the burning end, making striking
spirals in the air.  It looked so graceful.  "Wow," she repeated.  "Your mom's
pretty cool."

   Crystal nodded.  "Yeah, Sue Ann's okay.  She doesn't give me shit about
smoking, or about my boyfriend, or even about having a drink every once in
awhile here."  She smirked.  "I like to have a beer at night before I go home.
Mom doesn't care.  Yeah, she's pretty cool."

   Kelly gulped.  She couldn't stop herself.  "You know what, Crystal?  I've
been thinking a lot about smoking lately.  I think I'd like to try it.  Could
I?"

   "You mean you want a cigarette?  Right now?"  Crystal asked the question as
if it was the most reasonable request in the world.  "Oh yeah, sure.  Here.
Have one of mine."  She held out her half-empty pack of Marlboro Lights 100's.
"Go ahead.  Be my guest."

   Before she could stop herself Kelly pulled a long white cigarette from
Crystal's pack.  She held it in her fingers.  It felt nice in her hand; nice
and light, light as air, in fact.  She stared at it for several seconds,
mesmerized by the sight.

   Crystal interrupted her musings.  "Hey.  Do you want me to light you?"

   Kelly looked up.  Crystal was sitting there, with her lighter poised, ready
to click it.

   An overwhelming sense of anticipation gripped Kelly.  The young teenager's
hands trembled.  She was full of excitement and fear at the same time.  She
heard herself answer Crystal.  It was as if she was standing outside herself
and someone else was talking.

   "Yeah, please, Crystal," she said confidently.  She put the unlit cigarette
in her mouth, continuing to hold it between her fingers.  Something made her
answer before she could think about whether it was a mistake.  "Yeah, I'm
ready.  Light me up, please."

   Crystal gave her a knowing smile.  She clicked her lighter and moved the
dancing flame toward Kelly's face, touching the tip of the cigarette dangling
from the youngster's lips.  

   Without stopping to consider the implications, Kelly sucked.  She felt
smoke in her mouth.  But it felt amazing, wonderful, like it belonged there.
Without hesitating, she finished her first drag and inhaled the smoke down
into her lungs, as if it was second-nature to do so.

   A wave of euphoria swept over her as the smoke soaked in her lungs, deep
inside her eager young body.  God, yes, she thought.  Oh, yeah!  Shit, this
was good!  No, it was more than good.  It was fuckin' great!  She smiled, and
released a long stream of smoke into the air from both her mouth and her
nostrils.  It came out like it went in, effortlessly.

   Crystal smiled as she put down her lighter.  "You've been shitting me,
Kelly.  You said you never smoked."

   "I haven't," Kelly answered.  As she did, wisps of smoke continued to flow
through her lips.  The sight of smoke escaping from her mouth, combined with
the blissful sensation in her chest, made her feel like laughing.  "No, this
is my first time," she said, trying hard not to giggle.

   "Oh, come on.  Bullshit.  I've never seen any of my friends inhale smoke
like that, and enjoy it that way, unless she's smoked before."

   Kelly let out a contented sigh.  She looked at the cigarette in her hand
and grinned.  "God, I don't know what to say.  This cigarette tastes good.  So
good!  It really does.  But I swear, Crystal, I've never done this before."
She paused while reflecting on her own words.  "But I like it, though.  I
mean, I really, _really_ like it.  I want to do it again!"  She took a second
drag, longer than her first, and without thinking inhaled the smoke deep into
her body again.  Having it inside her chest made her feel marvelously alive,
rejuvenated, and very excited.

   She laughed.  "Oh yeah, I like smoking," she said firmly, speaking over her
exhale.  "My God!  Why didn't I ever try this before?  God, I _really_ like
it!"

   "Duh," Crystal replied, knocking some ashes from her cigarette in the
ashtray.  She looked into her cohort's eyes.  "Kelly, are you _sure_ you've
never smoked?  Think hard."

   "Absolutely," she answered.  She raised her cigarette to her mouth, sealed
her lips around the white filter, and drew again.  Pulling the smoke into her
lungs was easy.  It was as if the tobacco smoke belonged inside her.  "But
man, I can really see why people like smoking.  It's great."  She began to
giggle uncontrollably.  "God, it's fuckin' great!"

   At that moment Gretchen walked into the bar.  She smiled seeing Kelly and
Crystal both smoking.  She pulled up a bar stool and joined the younger girls.

   "Hey, Kelly, what'd I tell you?  I knew eventually you'd start smoking."
With a smile Gretchen put a Virginia Slim in her mouth.  She had her lighter
ready.  "Honest, though, I didn't think it'd quite be this soon," she added,
lighting up her cigarette.

   "Oh God!  You were _so_ right, Gretchen," Kelly smiled.  "I definitely
understand now why you all like to smoke so much."  She took yet another hit
and inhaled deeply.  The satisfaction she felt was tangible.  "Fuck!  I feel
like I was born to do this," she chuckled uncontrollably.  "It is _so_ cool!"
She turned her head and released another plume of smoke.

   The next person to walk by was Sue Ann.  She started to yell at the girls
for not being ready.  The clock was about to strike five.  But seeing Kelly
with a cigarette, she stopped short.  "Oh my God," she gasped in mock
surprise.  "I don't believe it.  Kelly Sims!  You're smoking?"

   Suddenly Kelly felt scared.  "But Sue Ann.  You said you didn't care if I
smoked."

   "Oh, I don't, honey," the older woman grinned, sitting down.  "I didn't
mind when Crystal started a couple years ago.  I don't care if you smoke,
either.  Go ahead.  Enjoy yourself.  And it looks like you _are_ enjoying
yourself, too.  Shit, I guess I'll join you girls for one more myself before
we open the doors."  Sue Ann promptly lit up, too.

   Kelly self-consciously tapped an ash into the ashtray.  "You promised not
to say anything to my mom, remember?  I'm going to hold you to that.  Please?"

   Sue Ann nodded at the well-endowed teenager holding the long white
cigarette.  "Look, Kelly, honey, I don't think your mom will give a rat's ass
if you want to smoke."  In actuality, she knew Karen would be thrilled; she'd
been in on Karen's scheme from the start.  But she couldn't admit that to
Kelly.  So she went on.  "Your mom smokes like a chimney, hon.  In fact, she
and I started smoking in high school at the same time, back in the early 80's,
when we were about the same age as you girls."

   Kelly continued smoking, but she had a perplexed look on her face.  "What?"

   "Sure," Sue Ann went on.  "Your mom and I went to high school together.  We
started smoking at the same time.  But you want to hear something really
ironic?" she asked with a smirk, not waiting for an answer.  "Karen was the
girl who got me started smoking."  She laughed out loud.  "And now look at
this!  I don't believe it.  Twenty years later, my daughter introduces hers to
the same obnoxious habit, the one that Karen sucked me into back when we were
in high school."  She giggled.  "God, I fuckin' love it!"

   "Who's Karen?" asked Crystal.

   "That's my mom," Kelly explained.  "But Sue Ann, this isn't Crystal's
fault.  Really, I was the one who asked her for a cigarette just now."

   "Oh, don't ruin it," Sue Ann grinned.  "I'd like to think Crystal had at
least a little to do with your decision.  But regardless, trust me, hon.  Your
mom won't care.  She'll probably be relieved, to tell the truth.  It's a lot
easier living with another smoker.  Isn't it, Crystal?"

   "It works for you and me, Mom," the brunette laughed.  "You were right,
Mom.  Kelly asked me for a cigarette tonight, just like you predicted she
would."

   "What do you mean?  What 'prediction' are you talking about?" Kelly asked.

   "Oh, nothing," Sue Ann said, too casually.  "It's just that I've seen so
many girls come and go over the years while running this restaurant.  Almost
every one who starts out as a non leaves here as a smoker.  After awhile, I
just expect it to happen."  She glared at her daughter.  "That's all Crystal
is talking about."

   Kelly nodded.  It seemed logical.  She took another drag.  The marvelous
sensation she felt holding the smoke inside seemed to energize her.  "Well, I
do like smoking, but I want to tell my mom myself.  You have to promise me,
Sue Ann.  You can't say anything to her.  Promise?"

   Sue Ann nodded.  "Okay, I promise.  I do wish I could be there to see it,
though."

   Kelly crinkled her eyebrows.  "You seem awfully sure Mom won't be unhappy?"

   Sue Ann laughed.  "Honey, I've known your mom for twenty years.  If she's
upset because you want to smoke, I'll be shocked."  She looked at her watch.
"Hey, girls, we need to cut the crap.  It's time to open.  Finish those
cigarettes.  You'll have plenty of time to smoke on your breaks later,
especially if we're not busy tonight."

   Kelly looked at the cigarette in her hand.  It had at least a couple puffs
left.  Crystal and Gretchen were in the same situation.  They double-pumped
before crushing theirs out.  Kelly decided to do the same, pulling a massive
volume of smoke into her lungs in the process.  It felt good; damn good.  Yes,
having smoke inside her body was very nice.  She was glad she'd tried it, and
resolved to do it again on her break.

   It was Monday, and the restaurant was slow.  Kelly spent a lot of time at
her hostess station just staring into space.  The smoking section was in the
front of the restaurant, and she had a perfect view of the people sitting
there, so she watched them.  At one point four teenage girls came in and asked
for a table in smoking.  None were over seventeen.  Kelly seated them, and
then watched with interest.  As soon as they sat down, in unison each girl
pulled a pack of cigarettes from her purse and lit up.  They talked, giggled
and smoked.  They all seemed happy to be smoking.  Kelly finally felt she
understood.  It was a real nice thing to be able to do.  She wondered why
she'd always been against it.  In truth, she decided, she'd been an uneducated
ass.

   At seven thirty it was time for her break.  Kelly thought Crystal would
cover the hostess stand while she took a break, but instead Gretchen ambled
over.  "Sue Ann wants me to fill in while you take your break," she winked.
"Crystal's taking hers, too.  Sue Ann says you can smoke with Crystal.  That's
assuming you want to smoke again.  Do you?"

   Kelly vigorously shook her blond head.  "Oh, yeah," she giggled impishly.
"God, yes!  I'd very much like another cigarette.  I've been looking forward
to it."  She motioned to the group of teenage girls in the smoking section.
"I've been jealously watching those gals for the last half hour," she
explained.  "They've been smoking almost non-stop since they got here."

   Gretchen nodded.  "Yeah, I served them.  I emptied their ashtrays twice,
and they're full again.  It must be a night out, away from the parents.
They're smoking to their hearts' content.  From what Sue Ann says, it sounds
like you won't have that problem with your mom."

   "Maybe not," Kelly agreed.  "Yeah, I think my mom will probably be okay
with it.  She might almost be glad if I decide to start smoking."

   An evil glint was in Gretchen's eye.  "If?  What do you mean 'if?'  You
mean, _when_ you start smoking on a regular basis, don't you, Kell?"

   Kelly laughed as she left the hostess stand.  "Yeah, I guess I probably do,
Gretchen."

   Entering the break room, Kelly found Crystal.  Her cohort just lit up a
Marlboro Light 100.  Kelly sat down beside her.  Without being asked, Crystal
slid her pack across the table.  "Go ahead, have one, Kell," she said.  "My
treat."

   "God, thanks," Kelly smiled, eagerly pulling a long, white cigarette from
the pack.  "You know, Crystal, I've really been looking forward to this.  It's
strange, don't you think?"

   Crystal watched her blond friend light up.  Kelly handled the lighter with
no hesitation.  "And why should I think it's strange that you're looking
forward to smoking again?"

   "Because," she replied, softly exhaling an initial cloud of smoke.  "See, I
always hated smoking.  But the last few days I started feeling completely
different."  She put her lit cigarette between her middle and index fingers
and consciously cocked her wrist, imitating Crystal's smoking posture.  "What
the hell happened, Crystal?  Why do I suddenly think smoking is so great?"
Without awaiting an answer, she put the cigarette between her lips and drew
hard.

   Crystal lowered her voice.  "Don't you get it, Kelly?  Just think a minute.
It's so damn obvious."

   The blond frowned as she pursed her lips to release a long exhale.  "What
do you mean?"

   "I mean, look at everything that's happened.  How do you think you got this
job?"

   "It was because my mom knows your mom.  They're old friends."

   "Right," Crystal agreed.  "They've been buddies since they started smoking
together back in high school.  But your mom also knew that my mom lets me
smoke here."

   "So?"

   "So, your mom wanted you to work somewhere you'd start smoking, too.  I
happen to know she almost begged my mom to hire you.  She engineered the whole
thing, Kelly."

   Kelly frowned.  "I don't get it.  That wouldn't guarantee I'd change my
mind about smoking."

   Crystal looked like she knew a delicious secret that she couldn't wait to
share.  "Before I tell you, let's just make sure of something.  You really do
like it, don't you, Kelly?  Smoking, I mean.  You really want to be a smoker
now.  Am I right?"

   Kelly rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, I sure do.  God, I never thought I'd say
that, but I can't seem to get enough of it."  She gingerly manicured her
cigarette in the ashtray.  "The smell of smoke, and the whole idea of smoking,
it all seems completely wonderful to me now.  But I still don't understand . .
. ."

   "Okay, let me ask a few questions.  Since you've been working here, you've
been waking up in the mornings with your mouth smelling like stale smoke,
haven't you?"

   Kelly startled.  "Yeah, but how did you know . . . ?"

   "And your mom's been giving you two little pills every night before bed,
because your feet hurt from the high heels, hasn't she?"

   Kelly frowned.  "Yeah," she slowly answered as she took another puff and
inhaled.

   Crystal smiled watching her blond friend exhale in stages.  "And the smell
of smoke in your bedroom is pretty strong in the mornings these days, isn't
it?"

   "That's because my mom's smoking in our house again.  Isn't it?  Crystal,
what exactly are you suggesting?  That my mom's been smoking in my bedroom at
night?"

   "Yeah, but not just smoking in your room, dummy.  Every night she drugs you
with tranquilizers and blows smoke into your mouth over and over, getting you
used to having the smoke inside your lungs.  She's been teaching you to smoke
while you're unconscious, Kelly, slowly making you nicotine dependent.  That's
why you can smoke like such a champ, and why you like it so much, even though
you don't remember ever having tried it.  You've been virtually smoking every
night since you started working here.  Don't you see?"

   Kelly was stunned.  "But that's crazy."

   "It's not crazy," Crystal smiled.  "It was all part of a carefully designed
plan.  Your mom desperately wanted you to smoke, Kelly.  That's the truth."

   "But why?"

   Crystal shrugged.  "You have to ask her.  But I'd guess she just got tired
of your anti-smoking bullshit.  She probably did it in pure self-defense.  By
turning you into a smoker, she never has to worry about your crap again,
because now you'll be smoking, too."

   Kelly shook her head.  She manicured her cigarette in the ashtray.  "It's
hard to believe.  You mean my mom orchestrated all this, just to turn me into
a smoker?"  While waiting for Crystal's reply, she returned the cigarette to
her lips for another powerful drag.

   Crystal nodded.  "Yep, and I'd say she succeeded.  Wouldn't you?"

   "Okay, yeah, but why?"  Kelly tipped her head and released a jet of smoke
this time.

   "Like I said.  It's because you've been such a bitch about it.  My mom told
me all about it.  You mom told Sue Ann she's desperate to get you off her
back.  She wants to smoke without being carped at.  So she and Sue Ann
concocted this little scheme.  I think another friend of your mom's is in on
it as well.  They knew the best way to change things was to convert you, to
turn you into a smoker yourself.  After all, your mom knew that once _you_
started smoking, you'd never be able to give her shit about it.  Her life
would be easier."  The brunette smiled.  "Plus, she also knew that once you
finally started smoking, you'd like it every bit as much as she does!"

   Kelly's mind was racing.  Everything Crystal said made sense.  There was
the strange taste of smoke in her mouth in the mornings; the strong smoky odor
in her bedroom; and her mom's insistence that she take those pain pills every
night, which were supposedly extra strength Tylenol.  Yep, it all added up.
She took another drag and sucked more smoke into her lungs.

   "Well, I'll be damned," she muttered, spurting smoke through frowning lips.
"So Mom's been coming into my room at night and filling my mouth with her
smoke?"  She scowled.  "That bitch!  So that's why she wants me to wear these
uncomfortable shoes all the time, so I'll take the pills.  God, is Denise in
on it, too?"

   "Who's Denise?  Is she the lady you baby-sit for?  The one who smokes?"

   Kelly nodded.

   "Yeah, she's in on it.  I'm not supposed to tell you, Kell, but since
you've decided you want to smoke, you ought to know.  Before you started here,
Sue Ann told me you were coming and specifically asked me to try to get you
smoking.  Of course I'd probably have done it anyway," she laughed.  "Sue Ann
said she was doing a special favor for your mom.  She said she and some other
lady were planning it.  Tonight Sue Ann called Rob and asked him not to come
in.  There was no 'crisis.'  She promised your mom she'd beg you to come in
tonight, to keep you wearing these uncomfortable high heels, so your mom could
keep feeding you smoke in bed.  You see, it's been a conspiracy from the
start."

   "I'll be damned," Kelly repeated, shaking her head.  "Mom really _does_
want me to smoke, doesn't she?"  She took a last drag on her cigarette.  "It
sort of pisses me off, but I have to admit, it sure worked.  Smoking is just
so yummy.  I do love it."  Glancing at her watch, she looked expectantly at
Crystal.  "Do you think I have time for another one?"

   Crystal laughed.  "Yeah, sure.  I was hoping you'd ask.  That's why breaks
are fifteen minutes.  It's just enough time for two cigarettes back to back."
Kelly lit up another Marlboro.  "I'll join you," Crystal smiled, shaking one
from her pack for herself.  "You know, I'm glad you're smoking, Kell.  It'll
be more fun working with you now that you smoke.  I hate smoking alone."

   Kelly exhaled another thick stream of smoke.  "Before long I suspect I'll
be smoking as much as you, Crystal."  She immediately took another long drag.
"God, Mom's little plan worked, all right.  But I have to think of a way to
get back at her, to teach her a lesson."

   Crystal giggled.  "I'm sure your devious little rain will think of
something.  But in the meantime, welcome to the club, Kell.  You're a smoker!"

   "Thanks, Crystal.  Thanks for the encouragement, and thanks for telling me
the whole story.  And finally, thanks for letting me bum your cigarettes."

   "No problem," laughed the brunette.  "In the next few months I'm sure
you'll have plenty of opportunities to pay me back!"

   It was Kelly's turn to laugh.  She looked at the cigarette in her hand,
with smoke luxuriously curling from the filter-tip as well as the burning end.
"I think you're right," she sighed, before taking another drag.  "I'll
definitely return the favor by sharing my cigarettes with you."  The phrase
"my cigarettes" resounded in her ears.  Yes, by tomorrow morning, she would
have her _own_ cigarettes!  She suspected her mother would be more than
willing to let that particular prediction come true!

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

   Kelly was quiet on the drive home.  She was rubbing her feet.  "Are they
still sore, honey?" her mom asked.

   The blond girl nodded.  "They hurt like hell, Mom.  I can't wait to take
some Tylenol.  I really fuckin' need it tonight!"

   Karen smiled with satisfaction.  "That'll help, I'm sure," she soothingly
replied.  "So everything went okay tonight?"

   "Yeah, Crystal and I are becoming friends.  I like her.  She's so cute, and
so cool.  At first I was put off by the fact that she smokes all the time.
But I've sort of changed my mind about it.  Actually, I think it's kind of
cool.  Smoking, I mean."

   Karen was amazed, but pleased.  "Yeah, smoking has its positives, honey.
There's no doubt.  I'm glad you're being so open-minded.  That's quite a
change in attitude for you."

   "Well, I mean, everybody at Giovanni's smokes.  Sue Ann, the cooks, all the
servers, like Gretchen, Rob and Suzanne, and of course Crystal.  They're all
really nice.  And they all seem to enjoy smoking so much.  It's very
interesting to think about."

   "Smoking is relaxing," Karen smiled.  She was pleased by an opportunity to
reinforce her daughter's surprising new attitude.  "Yes, those of us who smoke
find it highly enjoyable.  Maybe being around other smokers has given you a
new appreciation for that aspect of my habit."

   "It definitely has, Mom.  I've been way too narrow-minded.  I can
understand now why you guys like it so much."

   They entered the house and Kelly headed straight to the kitchen.  She
turned on the coffee maker.  "I want to have a cup before bed, Mom.  Do you
want some?"

   Karen grinned.  Her daughter was experiencing a real change of heart.
"Sure, honey.  I'd love a cup, as long as it's decaf."

   For fifteen minutes they shared coffee and talked.  Karen was tempted to
light up, but decided not to push her luck.  She was pleased with Kelly's new
tolerant attitude, and didn't want to screw it up by smoking in front of her.

   Finally Kelly sighed.  "I'm ready for bed, Mom.  Can you get me some extra
strength Tylenol?"

   "Coming right up, sweetie," Karen smiled as they headed upstairs.

   As Kelly sat in bed Karen brought her a glass of water and the pills.  She
was about to take them when she pointed to her chest of drawers.  "Mom, can
you get me some socks?  My feet were cold last night.  I want to wear socks to
bed."

   Karen went to the dresser.  As she did, Kelly pretended to take the pills,
but instead she palmed them and slipped them under her covers.  "Thanks, Mom,"
she smiled as Karen handed her thick, white socks.  "Gosh, I'm beat tonight.
I think I'll sleep really well."

   "I'm sure you will, honey," Karen replied pleasantly.  She took the glass
from her daughter and turned out the light.  "Sweet dreams."

   "G'night, Mom," Kelly said.  "I'll see you in the morning."

   Twenty minutes later Karen peeked in Kelly's room.  She heard slow,
rhythmic breathing.  As usual, Karen had her B&H's and ashtray.  She turned on
the light and sat on the bed, putting the ashtray on the nightstand.

   "I'm so glad you're changing your mind about smoking, honey," she purred.
"I'm sure its largely due to all this smoke I've been feeding you every
night."  She paused to light up a long, white B&H in her mouth.  "I probably
gave you too much last night.  I was a little drunk.  I'm sorry it made you
sick this morning.  But look at it this way, pumpkin; we're increasing your
nicotine tolerance.  It'll just make it easier for you to start smoking some
day soon, sweetie.  The more nicotine you get, the more you'll want."

   She double-pumped, inhaled shallowly, and leaned toward Kelly's motionless
body, exhaling a thick stream of smoke into her open mouth.  The motionless
girl kept breathing normally, and pulled the smoke into her lungs.

   "Yes, it's time for the 'nic at night club' again," Karen sighed.  She
directed another mouthful of smoke into her daughter's lips.  "You know what?
I think you already like nicotine, honey.  You're breathing in the smoke like
a real champ now.  And I want you to learn to absolutely love it.  I want you
to need it, to have to have it, just like me."  She followed with another
quick exhale into her daughter's face.  Kelly's deep breathing continued, and
she dutifully absorbed yet another lungful of smoke while resting peacefully.
"Yeah, I can tell you like it, baby.  You want it, and I'm going to keep
giving it to you, too."

   Karen turned to tap some ashes in the ashtray.  She heard a sound that
almost made her drop her cigarette to the floor.  "Hey Mom," came a voice from
the bed.  "Why don't you just give me the cigarette, so I can smoke it
myself?"

   Karen stared.  Kelly's eyes were wide open, and she was smiling.  Karen
froze.  She didn't know what to do or say.

   Kelly laughed.  "Mom, I didn't take the pills tonight."  She had a sly grin
on her face.  "And I know what they are.  They're tranquilizers, aren't they?"
Her mother nodded, and she went on.  "I wanted to see exactly what you've been
doing to me these last few nights.  Now, here.  Give me that damn thing."  She
pointed to the B&H in her mother's hand.  "Come on, let me have the cigarette.
I want it!"

   Karen didn't move, so Kelly reached out and grabbed the cigarette.  "I'm
tired of doing this second-hand," the youngster teased.  "If I'm going to
smoke, Mom, let's do it right."  She raised the B&H to her mouth and sealed
her lips over the filter.  She took a long drag.  "Mmm," she mumbled as she
inhaled the smoke into her lungs.  "God, this tastes _so_ fuckin' good!"
Karen was clearly flabbergasted.  "You know what?  Can I keep this one, Mom?
But go ahead and light another for yourself.  I don't mind.  In fact, I hope
you will.  I hate to smoke alone."

   "But what . . . ?" Karen managed to say.  "Kelly, you weren't asleep?"

   "No, apparently not," the teenager laughed, exhaling a stream of smoke.
"Surprised?"

   "Shocked," Karen gasped.  "But that means . . . ."

   "Yes, it means it worked, Mom.  Congratulations.  You win.  You converted
me.  I smoke now.  I love it.  Just like you do."  She took another hit on the
shrinking cigarette.

   The astonished older woman began to understand.  "But how . . . ?"

   Kelly interrupted.  "At work tonight I broke down and finally asked Crystal
for one of hers.  God, I'd been thinking about it all day long.  I had become
completely obsessed with the idea of smoking a cigarette.  All this night-time
conditioning you've been doing the last few nights worked perfectly.  By
today, smelling other people's smoke really made me want to have some for
myself.  And so, when I smoked with Crystal, she told me the whole story."

   Karen shook her head.  "That little bitch!  But you're not mad?"

   "Why would I be mad?  I understand why you did it.  Now that I've tried
smoking, I _really_ understand.  Believe me, I get it."  She paused.  "Go
ahead, Mom.  Smoke with me.  Don't you want to have one, too?  I know you do."

   "Yeah, sure," she answered.  Karen shook another B&H from her pack and put
it in her mouth.  "God, I can't believe this."

   "But isn't it what you wanted, Mom?  Didn't you want me to start smoking?"

   "Oh, yes, absolutely," Karen replied.  She was relieved, and exhaled an
initial puff of smoke into the bedroom air.  "I just sort of thought it'd take
more time to get you on board.  I didn't think it'd be this easy.  That's
all."

   "Mom, I've been a pain in the ass the last few months, making you smoke
outside and trying to get you to quit.  I see that now.  But until today, I
didn't understand.  Now I do.  You were right.  Now I like smoking.  But I
guess you can tell."  Kelly took a final drag and crushed her cigarette in the
ashtray.  "At work tonight I had three cigarettes with Crystal.  Each drag
tasted better than the one before.  I can't seem to get enough of it.  It's
great!  In fact, I'd like to start smoking all the time now, just like
Crystal.  What do you think?"

   Karen let out a sigh of relief.  "Oh my God!  I'm so glad.  I was afraid
you'd be pissed at me.  But you're not, and that's the nicest thing you could
possibly have said or done."

   "How many times do I have to say it, Mom?  I'm not pissed.  God, this is
the best thing that's happened to me in a long time.  Smoking is so cool.  I'd
like to be a regular smoker.  You know?  I think I'd like to start smoking all
the time, if you don't mind."

   "Mind?" Karen chortled.  "God, no, I don't mind!  That was my goal in doing
this 'nic at night club' thing.  I wanted you to learn to like tobacco as much
as me.  I love it, you know, and I very much wanted you to feel the same way.
And I guess you're saying that you do like it."

   Kelly laughed out loud.  "Like it?  I love it!  In fact, could I have
another cigarette right now?  I'd love another one.  Like I said, I can't seem
to get enough of them."

   "Sure," Karen happily replied, handing her pack to her daughter.  "Be my
guest."

   "Mmmm," Kelly sighed blissfully as she lit up.  "You know what?  These
cigarettes taste better than Crystal's.  They're really good, Mom."

   Karen smiled.  "Crystal smokes Marlboro Lights 100's, honey.  My Benson &
Hedges aren't lights.  They're stronger.  They have a richer taste, and
deliver more nicotine than hers."

   "God, I really like 'em," she exhaled noisily, examining the cigarette.
"You know what else?  It's cute the way 'Benson & Hedges' is printed longways
on the side of the cigarette.  It's cool.  It's really elegant-looking."

   "Honey, I agree.  And I'm so relieved you're not mad.  I can't believe it!"

   Again Kelly laughed.  "No, I'm not mad.  Actually, I think it's cute the
way you called it our 'nic at night club,' like the TV network."  She paused
to drag on her B&H.  "It _was_ pretty wicked of you, though.  You fed me smoke
while I was out cold.  It was something I wouldn't have wanted.  If I'd known
what you were doing, I'd have been pissed.  But I wasn't awake.  And in the
end, you were right.  I'm glad you made me see the light, Mom."

   Karen shook her head.  "I can't believe we're having this conversation
smoking together in your room."  She laughed.  "I guess this means you're not
worried about health risks?"

   "What health risks?" the youngster giggled impishly.  "God, I don't know
what in the hell you're talking about."  She took another drag off her B&H and
looked deep into Karen's eyes.

   "Look, Mom, I want to enjoy myself.  It's like Ayn Rand says in that book
I'm reading.  Selfish pleasure isn't a bad thing.  I want to do things that
make me happy.  Smoking is something that will make me _really_ happy.  I
don't give a shit about that health stuff.  From now on, I'm going to enjoy
myself."  She enjoyed another long hit on her cigarette.  "I want to smoke,
because it makes me feel good.  I like it."

   "I'm glad, honey.  I really am.  Well, I guess I'll have to start buying
more cigarettes when I go to the store from now on."

   "Yeah, you sure will," Kelly agreed as she delicately de-ashed her
cigarette.  "Tomorrow I plan to start smoking at Denise's, at work, and of
course here at home.  I hate to say it, Mom, but you've created a monster,"
she laughed.  "You said you wanted me to want it.  Well, I do."

   "Dear, wanting to smoke doesn't make you a monster.  It makes you a smoker.
And you know, some of my favorite people are smokers."

   "Mine, too, Mom," replied Kelly, giving her mother a spontaneous hug.
"Mine, too."

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

   The next morning Kelly had a cigarette with Karen over morning coffee.  She
quickly learned how well the two go together.  She was excited to spend her
first full day as a smoker.  But she didn't know how to decide how much to
smoke.  Karen told her to simply let her feelings be her guide.  "Smoke
whenever you feel like it, honey," she reassured her.  "No more and no less.
Don't worry about it.  Just listen to your body.  If you want to smoke, then
smoke."

   And Kelly did.  By the time she left for Denise's a little after ten, she'd
had four cigarettes.  In her purse she dropped a gold pack of Benson & Hedges.
Karen gave the neophyte her own pack that morning.  But putting it in her
purse made Kelly feel sophisticated.  She wanted to smoke with Denise, and she
fully intended to do just that.

   "Hi, Kell," Denise said as she walked in the door.  "You're early today."

   "A little," Kelly agreed.  "But I wanted to show you something.  Do you
have a minute?"

   "Sure," Denise smiled.  "I just put Justin down for his nap.  What's up?"

   She opened her purse and took out the gold pack of Benson & Hedges along
with a disposable lighter.  "I decided I want to be a smoker," she announced.
"I hope you don't mind if I smoke while I'm here?"

   Delirious laughter escaped from Denise's throat.  "Oh my God," she roared.
"I don't believe it!  When did this change in attitude occur?"

   "Last night," Kelly declared, sticking a long, white cigarette in her lips.
"I know you've helped Mom convince me to do this.  So I thought you'd want to
know it worked."  She clicked her lighter and lit up.  After a long first drag
she inhaled the smoke deep inside, so deep, in fact, that her tits visibly
elevated.

   "Wow," Denise exclaimed.  Seeing her baby-sitter smoking made her reach for
her cigarettes.  "Kelly, the smile on your face tells me you're happy about
this.  My God!  Tell me all about it, honey!"

   She did.  The women talked and smoked till Denise had to go.  They each had
two cigarettes while they gabbed.  When Denise left, the blond teenager felt
strangely energized.  Smoking made her feel good.  She liked it.  And she
liked knowing that Denise didn't mind if she smoked while taking care of
little Justin.

   Denise got home at two thirty, and they again shared cigarettes, this time
over coffee.  Kelly had only smoked once while Denise was gone, so when she
left she'd consumed nine so far that day.  She felt satiated, but happy.  The
next two hours she had two more, bringing her total to eleven by the time
Karen dropped her off at work.

   She kept smoking at work.  She had two cigarettes with Sue Ann and Gretchen
on her break, and two more with Crystal while they wrapped silverware and did
their outs.  She liked smoking with the girls.  It made her feel part of the
team.  When she picked her up, Karen insisted on having a cigarette with
Crystal and Sue Ann, so Kelly had another one, too.  When she and Karen got
home, they shared one last B&H over coffee.  It brought Kelly's total on her
first day as a smoker to seventeen cigarettes.

   As they prepared to light up the day's last cigarette, Karen smiled at her
blond daughter as she touched the flame of her lighter to the tip of the long,
white B&H dangling from her ready lips.  "Kelly, honey, it looks like you
enjoy being a smoker.  Am I right?"

   Kelly grinned, but before replying she exhaled a long stream of smoke from
her mouth.  "Oh, God, Mom, I sure am!  It's the best!  From now on I'd like to
smoke all day, every day.  I know I'm technically too young to buy cigarettes.
But if you buy them for me, I'd like to keep smoking."  She paused for another
hit on her B&H.  "They taste so good, and the nicotine makes me feel wonderful
every time I light one up."

   "That's what I hoped you'd say," Karen admitted after taking a drag of her
own.  "You see, honey, I've been smoking for twenty years.  I still relish
each and every cigarette.  I hate to say this, but if you start smoking, I'll
probably smoke even more.  There's just something about sharing cigarettes
with a girlfriend that's so nice.  And though we've always been close, sharing
this will make us even closer.  We're becoming real girlfriends, honey, more
than just mother and daughter."

   Kelly sighed.  "I agree, Mom.  So thanks for initiating me into the 'nic at
night' club.  The only thing is, having nic at night just isn't going to do it
for me anymore.  Now I'm going to want my nic all day long, too."

   "I understand, dear.  You're becoming just like the rest of us.  We smokers
can't turn it on and off.  We need our nicotine; we have to have it.  And we
love it."

   "Yes, we do.  I do love it, Mom," Kelly grinned.  "I really do, too.

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