Smoke And Mirrors, Part 21

This fictional story contains adult themes and descriptions. If such offends
you, read no further.  All persons and situations depicted are fictional, any
similarities to real persons or events is purely coincidental. All rights
reserved. This story cannot be reproduced without the written prior approval
of the author. You can notify the author at del999@yahoo.com.

Smoke & Mirrors
Part 21: The Program:

Fearful about the whole experience, Giselle had taken a small tentative draw
on her cigarette. She had breathed it in just as Danielle had directed. She
had not coughed. The taste in her mouth was very unpleasant and foreign. This
isn't the least bit enjoyable, she thought to herself. I don't get it. It
wasn't pleasurable at all, she thought sadly. She started to feel
lightheaded.

"How are you doing?" Danielle asked compassionately.

"Fine, I guess. I really don't know what to expect. I'm surprised that I
didn't cough," she said rather proudly.

"You're a natural, Giselle. Give it a chance. It gets better. I promise you
it will. It just takes a little practice. That's all. Wait a moment and then
try it again. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Giselle said, trying to hide her disheartened attitude. She
paused then inhaled again.

The second drag was just like the first. Small but deeply inhaled. It nearly
caught in her throat as she exhaled, but she was able to suppress it. She
started to feel very dizzy.

Danielle interrupted. "It's great, isn't it?"

Giselle didn't want to share her thoughts. She would try to be upbeat. "It's
okay, I guess. Not quite what I expected. It doesn't really taste that good-"

"Are you feeling a bit dizzy yet, Giselle? That's natural, that will soon go
away," Danielle said authoritatively.

"Well, yes. A little dizzy. Why is that?" she said as the room continued to
spin.

"It's just that you're not used to it. That's to be expected. You'll get used
to it soon enough. Once you get past this initial stage it will become the
most natural thing to you." Danielle said as she exhaled another billowy
cloud of smoke.

"Well, I guess you're right." Her hand with the cigarette in it was now
trembling ever so slightly. She noticed that her hands had become a bit cold
and there was a slight ringing in her ears.

"Give yourself a minute, to gather yourself. You're doing really great for
your first time. Have a sip of coffee." Danielle said.

Giselle uncrossed her legs, putting both feet on the floor, hoping that this
might help reduce the spinning sensation in her head. She took a long sip of
coffee. At least the coffee was able to wash away the unpleasant taste in her
mouth.

"The first cigarette is always the hardest one to get through. You have to be
patient. You'll see.

"If you want to learn to smoke so that you enjoy it, you will have to
practice. I mean smoke every day. That's what I did. I suggest you follow my
sister's advice. Try to smoke at least 5 cigarettes a day. You can sort of
space them out throughout the day. That way it will be easier for you to
quickly get over the initial stages of being a beginner, so you can start
enjoying it sooner. Also make sure you smoke one first thing in the morning
and one just before you go to bed. That's what I did and it worked like a
charm. I learned to smoke in no time at all." She again inhaled deeply.
Smiling as the smoke escaped from her pursed lips.

"Oh, I'm not sure if I could do that. I'm feeling very dizzy and a bit queasy
right now." Giselle said nervously.

"Giselle, listen to me. This is only temporary. Once you get used to it, it
will get easier. Trust me; I'm not wrong on this." These words gave Giselle
the strength to inhale one more drag. This time she sucked a little harder,
hoping that it would at least shorten the unpleasant experience. The smoke
seemed to go down her throat more easily to her relief.

"Why don't you come over for coffee tomorrow morning? Lately, it's been very
lonely for me, and it would be great to have some company. I'll help you
practice. Would you like that?" she said longingly.

Giselle thought to herself. It would be nice, to not have to be alone in the
house all day.

"Do you watch the soap operas? All My Children is my favorite," Danielle said
smiling.

"Well actually, yes I do." Giselle said with an embarrassed tone.

"Lets make it a standing date to get together. I never miss it. Ten o'clock,
at my house tomorrow morning. - Okay?" Danielle said

Giselle started to regain her composure, as she had not taken a drag for a
few minutes. "Yeah, that would be nice. I'd like that."

"As I said, it will give you a chance to practice. It's much more fun smoking
with someone." Danielle said smiling. She knew that Giselle needed a little
encouragement to get her past the initial stages.

"Okay it's a date. Sometimes, you can come over and we can watch it here too,
if you want." Giselle said, wanting her to know that she would also be
welcome. She thought how easily it would to become friends with Danielle. She
could use a new friend about now.

"Oh that would be great, I just love my soaps," Danielle said giggling.

Danielle noticed that Giselle had not taken a drag for a number of minutes.

"Giselle, you're not going to let that cigarette just burn away. Are you?
They are expensive you know," she said laughing.

"Oh sorry, I just got carried away with our conversation."

Giselle was feeling a bit better now. She took another small sip of smoke,
and breathed it in deeply, just as she had been shown. This drag was the
easiest of the whole cigarette. With the coffee taste still in her mouth, she
realized that the smoky taste was not quite as unpleasant, as it had been
before. As she exhaled her small puff, she awkwardly crushed out her
cigarette. She was happy that it was over. She hoped that her heartbeat would
slow down. It took a few minutes, but she slowly regained her composure.

"So what's the verdict? Are you going to give it a try?" Danielle said
enthusiastically.

"Well, I guess you're right. It wasn't that bad," she said, feeling a slight
bit of achievement now that she had finished her first whole cigarette.

"This is going to be so much fun! Would you like me to give you this pack? I
have lots at home. That way you can practice a bit on your own," Danielle
said smiling.

Giselle smiled rather confidently. "No thanks. I don't think I'll need them."
She casually got up and went to the pantry. "Are these any good?" She said as
she placed the carton of VS100's menthol on the table.

"Oh Giselle. A whole carton?" she laughed. "I guess when you decide to try
something, you don't hold back."

Giselle smiled. That was true. Giselle thought to herself.

Danielle continued. "Those are really good, similar to my Misty's. I buy
them sometimes for a change. They are a very good choice. I know you'll like
those a lot. And after, all it's a woman thing," she said, winking. "Plus,
like my Misty's, they are very feminine. Don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right, they certainly know how to package these
cigarettes. They use such nice pastel colors," she said, realizing that she
had never really noticed that aspect of cigarette packaging.

Danielle felt a little better after seeing the carton. She had felt that
maybe she had put undue pressure on Giselle. After all, if she had bought a
whole carton already on her own, she was already interested in learning how
to smoke. She just needed a little help to get her over the hump. Danielle
would help her learn. It had not taken Danielle long; Giselle would soon
agree that smoking was absolutely wonderful.

"So are you going to follow my advice? You know, the five cigarettes day?"
Danielle said, wanting to provide encouragement and create resolve in the
novice smoker.

She remembered Serge's words. "You'll have to learn how to smoke, because it
won't make an impression if you don't do it properly." I might as well get
this over with as fast as possible. If smoking five cigarettes is the way to
do it, then that is what I'd have to do. The goal driven Giselle made a
personal commitment. She would do it; no matter how uncomfortable it made her
feel. She hoped that it would get easier.

"Yeah, I'll do my best. Do you think that will work?" she said meekly.

"It's guaranteed to work. I promise you," she said smiling.

Giselle's body had now adjusted to the new drug flowing through her blood
stream. She poured more coffee for the two of them. They continued to chat.

After about half an hour, she felt better and gathered up her courage to try
it again. Giselle reached for the carton of cigarettes and removed one of the
packs as she again read the words on the carton. "200 cigarettes." At five a
day, it would take her 6 weeks to get through the carton. That would be two
weeks ahead of schedule. Oh well, she thought, that way she knew she couldn't
fail.

At least its not a sin, she thought. After all, Father John smokes too.

With that thought, Giselle awkwardly stripped the cellophane from the package
she had just removed from the carton. "I guess it's time for  number two. One
down and four to go," she said to Danielle.

Danielle brightened up. "That's the way, Giselle. You're doing great. You'll
see. You're going to just love it. Just give it a chance." The Colibri
lighter somehow felt very heavy but comfortable in Giselle's hand. It quietly
did its magic. She brought the flame to the tip of her VS. She inhaled the
small sip of smoke deeply. As the smoke entered her lungs, she realized that
it was already getting easier. Danielle just might be right. She couldn't see
any difference between the Misty and the VS. All she knew was that they both
made her very dizzy.

Giselle Leblanc, the lifetime anti-smoking advocate was now sitting in her
own kitchen table smoking her second cigarette. Located by her elbow were a
carton of cigarettes that she was about to smoke over the coming weeks.
Wasn't life amazing?

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