Patti, Part 4

Patti's story
Part 4

Patti told her mother she wanted to try going to a Public high school.  She
had been home schooled all the time before, and wanted to see how it would be
to have classmates.  Actually, she was a very outgoing girl, and was always
very friendly to everyone.  She missed having friends she could be with and
do whatever friends do whenever they get together.  She had taken the
standardized test for eighth grade students and scored at the eleventh grade
level on all her subjects, so her mother was proud of the job she had done
teaching her.

Parri started her first day of Public School at Miami Rural High School on
December 1.  For her first few days she was amazed and overwhelmed by so many
people in one building and one room, even though her largest class was 26.
There were 44 in her whole freshman class.

Her favorite classes were art and physical education.  She found she could
run faster than anyone in the school.  Smoking had not seemed to shorten her
wind at all.

She was a very small girl.  The smallest in the school.  She stood 4'8" and
weighed about 70 lbs.  She had jet black shoulder length hair and very dark
eyes which always seemed to be twinkling.

She tried to be friendly to everyone and to make friends, but aboout everyone
seemed to try to ignore or avoid her.  She thought that maybe these people
did not take to strangers or maybe she was trying too hard to make friends
and they thought she was pushy.

She kept her eyes and ears open and thought she saw a senior named Donna and
a freshman named Sheryl get into a car one day after school and that Donna
took out a cigarette and lit it.  Donna seemed to be the only girl in school
who smoked.  Patti decided to try to meet Donna and see if she could be her
friend.  So after a couple of weeks, she approached Sheryl and asked if she
could get a ride.

Sheryl asked Donna, and Donna said, "Sure."

When they got in the car, Donna lit up a Marlboro, and so did Sheryl.  They
both took deep double pumps and exhaled.  Patti said,"Sheryl, I didn't know
you smoke.  You seem to quiet and shy and really perfect in everything you
do."

Sheryl said, "Well, I like to smoke too."

Then, to Sheryl's and Donna's surprise, Patti pulled out her own pack of
Marlboros, lit one, and did her own double pump.

Donna said, "Where to?"

Patti said, "Wherever you are going.  I knew Donna smoked and I wanted a
smoking friend.  Now that my mother is coing volunteer work no one is at home
and I get very lonely.  I just wanted to be friends with you and hang out.
Sheryl, maybe we could study together."

Sheryl said, "You make all A's.  I don't think I could help you study."

Patti said, "Yes, having someone to study and smoke with would really be a
big help."

The next day after school, Patti again headed for Donna's car and that
day(Thursday), Sheryl's sister Maxine joined them.  Donna and Maxine got in
the front seat, and Sheryl and Patti in the back.  Donna and Sheryl lit their
cigaretees, took their usual deep double drags, and thenn Patti decided to
put on a show for them.  She took out two Marlboros, did a double pump on
each as she lit them, and then put both filters between her lips.  She did a
cheek hollowing drag, inhaled quickly, another deep drag, inhaled, and then
she took a drag that lasted about 10 seconds, opened her mouth, a very thick
ball of smoke came out about an inch, and she snapped it into her throat.
Then she closed her eyes and exhaled a very thick cloud.

Maxine said, "OH NO, not another one!"

Patti said, "Oh Maxine, don't you smoke too?"

maxine said, "Heavens NO!  I tried it and it about killed me.  I don't see
how you can do that."

As they were riding, Maxine said to Donna, "Will you give me a ride to the
party Saturday?"

Patti popped in, "A party!  Ooh, I love parties.  Can I go?"  The only kind
of parties Patti in her sheltered life knew of was birthday parties with
cake, ice cream, and soda pop.

Maxine said, "I don't think so."

Patti said, "Why not?"

Maxine said, "you aren't old enough."

Patti said, "Yeah?  I can do anything you can do.  I can outrun you.  I can
outsmoke you, or anything else you name."

maxine thought a moment and said, "Well, if you really want to, I suppose we
can take you."

Donna said, "I'll pick you up about 8 O'clock."

Patti thought this was a little late for a party to begin, but said she'd be
ready.  She asked, "What should I wear?"

Maxie said, "Jeans, and a long sleeved shirt."

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