How Could She Say No?, Part 8

    8. The Final Turning Point.

    It was late July. Patti and Mark sat side by side in the dark as the
credits began to roll down the movie screen in the theater. After dinner with
Steve and Trish and now a movie, it had been a fun evening. Patti stood up.
She felt the comfortable nagging desire for a cigarette. Looking down the
aisle at Trish, she smiled at the realization that all four of them would
light up as soon as they reached the outside of the theater.

    The theater was crowded, and the line moved slowly toward the exit door.
As they passed the popcorn stand, Patti heard a familiar voice.

    "Patti," came the call. "Patti Rogers."

    She turned around. It was Ralph Wisdom. Ralph. The man in whose face Patti
swore she would blow smoke for firing her. She smiled politely at him. Despite
her previous hunger for revenge, she now only wanted to escape his presence.

    Ralph must have been watching the same film. He pushed his way forward in
the line leaving the theater, determined to reach Patti. Her heart sank. What
could he possibly want?

    "Patti, can I talk to you?" Ralph asked breathlessly when he finally
reached them. He looked at her husband. "How are you Mark? Nice to see you
again."

    Mark smiled pleasantly. He did not speak. Trish and Steve stood by
impatiently. Patti knew they wanted to get outside for a smoke. But they
waited for Patti's interchange with Ralph to conclude.

    Cornering them by the drinking fountain, Ralph began to talk. "Patti, we
made a terrible mistake last month. By letting you go, I mean. We decided to
keep Marianne Robinson instead of you. I admit, it was largely a political
decision. We felt we needed to showcase the school's commitment to racial
diversity by keeping a black female on the faculty. But what we didn't count
on was the fact that Marianne had no loyalty to the school." Ralph paused for
effect. "Yesterday Marianne told me she's leaving us for a better position
with another private school. Imagine! Waiting until the summer is almost over
and leaving us without anyone to fill the position."

    Ralph flashed a cautious smile. "That's why I'm so delighted I saw you
tonight," he went on. "I was going to call you tomorrow, Patti. I'm here to
ask you ... no, I'm here to beg you to come back to the school this fall and
resume your old position." 

    For the first time Ralph looked embarrassed, but he continued. "I know we
didn't treat you fairly. I feel badly about it. And believe me, I've learned a
valuable lesson. In a situation like this, you find out who your friends
really are." He straightened his jacket. "You've been a loyal member of our
school's faculty for four years, Patti. We didn't treat you right when we let
you go. I know that now. Please give us a chance to show you how sorry we are
and to make it up to you. We'd like to have you back."

    Patti looked over at Trish and Steve. By the way they were fidgeting she
could tell they were ready for a cigarette. "Uh, can we step outside, Ralph?"
Patti asked innocently.

    "Certainly," Ralph replied with a smile. They made their way through the
crowd and passed through the doorway. As soon as they were in the open, Steve
and Trish lit up. Mark waited to see what Patti would do. She did nothing.
Meanwhile, Ralph didn't seem to realize the two smokers were with Mark and
Patti. He continued to speak.

    "Look," he began again. "We'll give you complete creative control over the
D.A.R.E. program. And of course you will return to your old English classes. I
can have a contract ready for you tomorrow. What do you say?"

    Patti looked confused. "I don't know, Ralph," she muttered. "I've taken
another position. It doesn't pay much, but I'm happy there. See, I've come a
long way since June."

    A knowing look emerged on Ralph's face. "It's about money, isn't it?" he
smiled smugly. "I'll tell you what, Patti. We're prepared to give you a
sizable increase if you'll come back. Ten percent over last year's salary.
Plus creative control over the D.A.R.E. program. And a two-year contract. Just
so you know we're committed to you. What do you say?"

    Patti said nothing. "Honey," Mark interrupted. "It's what you've always
wanted. More money, a no-cut contract, and the ability to run the program the
way you want. Of course, it's up to you. But it's okay. I'll understand if you
decide you want to say yes."

    "Mark's right," Trish interrupted. "The most important thing is for you to
be happy. If you want to go back, go for it! I'd say you've been vindicated,
kid!"

    "She's absolutely right, Patti," Ralph Wisdom agreed. "You have been
vindicated. We made a terrible mistake letting you go. I know that now. What
do you say? Make me a happy man and come back. With a ten percent raise!"

    Patti paused. Suddenly she opened her purse and removed a pack of
cigarettes. "You don't understand, Ralph," she said with a wry smile as she
placed a cigarette in her mouth. "I told you - I've come a long way, baby."
With that, Patti lit up a cigarette and took a big drag. "I'm not sure you
want me back, Ralph. I've changed. For the better." Turning toward him, Patti
let the smoke escape from her mouth into Ralph Wisdom's face. "And if I ran
the D.A.R.E. program now, Ralph, I probably wouldn't say a single bad word
about cigarette smoking!"

    It was now Ralph's turn to look confused. Mark, too, lit up, and it
finally dawned on Ralph that these two smoking couples were together. "Well,"
he stuttered. "I can respect that." He looked desperate. "Patti," he went on.
"I'll be blunt. We need you. Even if you're now a ...." He almost couldn't
force himself to say the word. "A smoker," he muttered. "How about an increase
of 15% over last year's salary? We just need you back. Frankly, we're up shit
creek unless you agree to come back."

    Patti just smiled sweetly. She held the cigarette erect between her
fingers. It stood for something. Something she was now proud of. Finally she
understood the narrow-minded past from which she'd successfully emerged. She
understood what made people like Ralph Wisdom tick. Patti motioned for him to
stand closer. "Ralph," she whispered. "the answer is no."

    As they drove home, Trish turned toward the back seat of their car and
looked at Patti. Patti and Mark were both smoking - again. "Why'd you do it,
Patti?" she asked. "Why didn't you go back? It was lots more money. It was
more control. Hell, I think he was even willing to let you keep smoking if he
had to."

    Patti took a drag on her Salem. "Because," she answered simply. "I can't
go back to those people. People who are more committed to their own prejudices
than to their friends. People who try to run other people's lives for them.
People without sincerity. By going back with them, I'd be condoning what they
stand for. And I can't do that. It's not about money. And it's not even about
smoking. It's about being true to your friends. Last month they showed they
were never my friends. By not going back, I'm showing that I was never one of
them." Patti stopped to take another puff. "Besides," she exhaled. "I do want
to be able to smoke. Without guilt. So I'm staying where I am."

    "I'm proud of you, Patti," Trish smiled. The same infectious grin. "But
I'm not sure you're very smart. You turned your back on more money, a better
job, and an opportunity to call your own shots professionally. For what? For a
stinking little habit which will forever inconvenience you and embarrass you,
and which probably isn't good for your health, either."

    Patti just smiled. "Trish," she reminded her. "All that may be true. But,
you see, now it's my stinking little habit. I like it. And I'm not leaving it
behind. My cigarettes are my friends. I wouldn't give them up. Any more than
I'd give you up, Trish, you goofball!"

    Trish grinned and turned around. The conversation was clearly finished.
Patti had decided and that was that.

    Patti was pleased with herself. How could she say no? Patti took another
hit on her cigarette. As always, the inhale felt heavenly. How could she say
anything but no?

    THE END

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