Taste the Consequences, Part 7

This fictional account contains adult language and sexual 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 2004 by SSTORYMAN.
All rights reserved.  Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this story in
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reproducing or using it.

TASTING THE CONSEQUENCES

7.	The Delicious Taste of Incessant Cravings.

   The Junior League lunch was crowded.  Many old friends were there,
including Claudia Coleman.  Before Amanda sat down to autograph copies of
'Tasting the Consequences' for them, Claudia pulled her aside confidentially.

   "Hey, Amanda, how's it going?" she asked in a conspiratorial whisper.
"Tell me.  Has it gotten to Jodi yet?  Your smoking, I mean?"

   "I don't know, Claudia," she admitted hesitantly, looking around to make
sure no one heard.  "But it's sure getting to me!"

   Claudia seemed perplexed.  "What do you mean?"

   "I mean, it's getting to me.  It's not gonna be as easy to quit as I
thought," she nervously answered.  "You know?"

   Claudia shook her head.  "No.  I don't know what you mean."

   "I mean, it's so addictive," Amanda went on, thinking Claudia would
understand.  When she still didn't acknowledge what she was saying, Amanda
rolled her eyes.  "What I mean is, I'm starting to feel cravings to smoke,"
she said as quietly as she could.  "And they're really strong!"

   "Oh," Claudia said nonchalantly.  "Don't worry about that, Amanda.  That's
perfectly normal."

   "Yeah, well, maybe.  But normal or not, it's sure not gonna make quitting
very easy."

   Their conversation got interrupted, but not before Claudia whispered you
"simply have to do what you have to do," or something along those lines.
That comment didn't make Amanda feel any better.  Simply doing what she had
to suddenly didn't sound very practical.

   At the event itself Amanda signed and sold over 50 copies of her book.
They lined up by the dozens to get her signature.  In total, including all
those previously purchased books brought by the people in attendance at the
luncheon, she signed more than 75.  

   She sat at the speakers' table with the Junior League's President and
Secretary.  The room was packed.  Over 200 women attended the meeting.  After
lunch the President introduced her, and Amanda delivered a speech based on
the principles contained in her book.  It was a speech she'd given before; it
wasn't difficult.  After her talk, she left time for questions.

   The first few questions were easy, like big fat softballs thrown right
over the plate.  But then came one that proved unexpectedly tough.

   The questioner was an older woman.  She was more than a little pudgy and
pretentious as hell.  "Ms. Eagle," she began in a whiny voice.  "How do your
child-rearing ideas deal with the substantial problem of teenage smoking
today?"

   Amanda hesitated.  Until the last few days she could have answered it with
confidence.  Now she wasn't so sure.  She smiled and paused to take a drink
of water.  What exactly should she say?

   "The principles espoused in my book apply equally well in every
situation," she smiled.  "Parents often make the mistake of building
communication barriers between themselves and their teens.  All communication
barriers are destructive because they demolish the relationship that exists
between parents and children.  Once the relationship is broken, teens often
free fall out of control.  'Tasting the Consequences' is based on the premise
that maintaining open lines of communication is central to successful child
rearing."

   "You didn't answer the question," the woman whimpered.  "How does it work
if your teens are dabbling with smoking?"

   Amanda smiled grimly.  Hell, she didn't really know anymore.  "Well, I
believe you simply apply the principle by allowing your teen to experience
the negative consequences of their experimentation, whatever those might be."
That is, assuming smoking _has_ negative consequences, a fact that at that
point she wasn't sure she any longer believed.

   "So, Ms. Eagle, would you just let _your_ teenage daughter smoke openly
and hope she realizes how dangerous it is?"

   Amanda gulped.  She glanced at Claudia in the audience, who sat there
grinning.

   "Let me answer that in a roundabout way.  I'll explain.  Not every problem
involved in raising your teenager is of equal importance.  By that I mean,
some issues don't require the same level of attention because they're simply
not as important as others.  Smoking is a good example of what I mean.
Unlike other aspects of teenage rebellion, like drinking, promiscuous sex and
drug use, the mere fact that your teenager experiments with tobacco won't
damage his or her relationships with you or others.  As vices go, it's
relatively insignificant.  Therefore, I believe I'd simply keep my powder dry
for the other issues that are more important in the long run."

   The questioner frowned.  "But Ms. Eagle, teenage smoking is a huge
problem.  Did you know the American Education Association says 25% of 17 year
olds smoke on a daily basis?"

   Amanda took another sip of water and smiled.  "No, I hadn't heard that
statistic."  Hmm, she mused silently.  Sounds like there's lots more like
Jodi in high school than I ever realized.  God, twenty-five percent smoke
every day?  I never knew.

   "And of course at least one in three of those poor unfortunate children
will ultimately die of smoking related diseases some day," the pudgy woman
droned on.

   "So, what's your question?"

   "My question is, what do you think we as parents should do about this
national tragedy?"

   Amanda kept a brave smile on her face.  "I stand by my previous answer.
The 'tasting the consequences' principles work in any situation.  But we as
parents need to prioritize our responses to the challenges facing our teens.
I view as the primary problems facing our children those things that destroy
communication and trust, the things that fracture relationships.  I simply
don't agree with you that teenage smoking is as significant a problem as many
others."

   Amanda purposely turned away.  She wanted to be done with the subject, but
from the corner of her eye she saw the pudgy women raising her hand in the
air again.  Suddenly she saw another hand go up.  She looked.  It was Claudia
coming to her rescue.  Amanda nodded at her.

   "Ms. Eagle," Claudia said with a smile.  "I'm glad to hear you say that
communication breakdowns are the real problem parents and their teenagers
have today.  Can you give us some ideas on how to improve communications when
our kids reach their teenage years?"

   Amanda heaved a sigh of relief.  Not only was it another softball right
over the heart of the plate, but it moved the discussion away from the
subject of smoking, a subject that she simply didn't want to talk about
anymore.  Thank you, Claudia!

   "Sure, I'd be glad to," she began cheerfully.  "Now here are some things
that you might want to try with your teenager ?."

   The remaining question and answer session went fine.  At one thirty the
Junior League President stood up and thanked her.  She received a large round
of applause from the audience as the meeting broke up.  Amanda exchanged
pleasantries with all those at the speakers' table for several minutes
afterwards.  But inside she was elsewhere.  Inside all she could think of was
getting the hell out of there and smoking a cigarette.  Once she was done
speaking and adrenaline no longer flowed through her veins to sustain her,
she felt her cravings reappearing in full force.

   As she shook hands with the women coming up to offer congratulations, she
suddenly realized she hadn't brought her cigarettes with her.  The drive home
was thirty minutes.  She wiped a bead of perspiration from her forehead.  She
wasn't sure she could make it that long!

   She saw Claudia walking toward the door on the other side of the room.
"Excuse me," she said, politely disengaging herself from a discussion with
one of the Junior League officers.  "I must speak to Claudia Coleman over
there for a moment."  She hurried across the room to cut Claudia off before
she got away.

   "Claudia," she said breathlessly, after traversing the room to catch her.
"Can I talk to you for a second?"

   "Sure.  Hey, great talk, Amanda.  Very nice."  Claudia lowered her voice
and smiled.  "Nice dodge on the whole smoking issue, by the way.  'National
tragedy' my ass!  That lady needs to wake up and realize that smoking isn't
exactly the biggest issue we parents face today."

   "Yeah, I agree," Amanda nodded eagerly.  "But listen, Claudia, I need
something from you.  God, I really, really need you to give me a ?."

   Just then a woman walked up and interrupted.  Rather impolitely she began
to tell Amanda how much she enjoyed her book.  Damn!  She needed to talk to
Claudia alone.  But soon other women congregated around them.  Claudia
stepped away and Amanda's heart sank.  She missed her opportunity.

   Politely she attempted to quickly deflect the compliments and questions
from the gathering crowd, while trying to keep her eye on Claudia.  She lost
sight of her for a moment.  Then suddenly Claudia reappeared, pushing her way
through the crowd of women.

   "Excuse me, ladies," Claudia said, shoving several of them aside.  "Excuse
me.  I need to give something to Ms. Eagle before I go."  Finally she broke
through and was standing beside her.  "Here you go, Amanda," Claudia said
with a naughty grin.  She gave her several tissues that covered something
wrapped up inside.  "You asked me for a breath mint, remember?  Or some
lozenges to help your throat feel better?  Here they are, dear.  I hope you
feel better soon!"

   One of the little old women standing around smiled at Claudia.  "That's
sweet, dear.  Poor Ms. Eagle must be all talked out by now.  Giving her a
breath mint or throat lozenge is so thoughtful."  She turned to Claudia while
Amanda slipped the wrapped items in her purse without so much as looking at
them.  "What kind of lozenges do you use, dear?  Listerine?  Those are the
ones I like."

   "No, I prefer the B&H brand," Claudia mysteriously answered the little
busybody.  "Are you familiar with them?"

   The woman hesitated.  "No, I don't think so.  Are they strong?"

   "Oh yes indeed, they're very strong," Claudia grinned wickedly.  "But also
they're so soothing.  Once you try them your whole mouth and throat feel
positively wonderful.  They do take a little getting used to, though."

   The woman frowned.  "Oh?  My my, I need to write that down.  Did you say
they're called B&H?"

   Amanda interrupted.  "Yeah, they're B&H and they're incredibly wonderful.
Believe me, they're so refreshing.  My friend Claudia Coleman here introduced
me to them a week ago.  I haven't been without them since.  In fact I use
them almost constantly."  She winked wickedly at her brunette friend.
"Thanks so much, Claudia.  I'm sure these will help me feel much better!"

   "Yes, I know they will, Amanda," Claudia winked mockingly.  "Now remember.
Take three right away and then at least two every hour afterwards till all
your symptoms completely disappear.  Don't forget!"

   "Don't worry, I won't," Amanda grinned.  "Thanks again."

   Claudia departed but the older woman was still puzzled.  "Three right
away?  Isn't that a lot to take at once to relieve your symptoms?"

   Amanda laughed.  "Oh, the symptoms begin to disappear immediately.  But to
get them to totally go away it takes several applications.  Once you really
need this medicine it's smart to completely refresh yourself by having at
least three.  Then you keep using them to make sure your symptoms don't come
back."

   Mystified, the older woman again shook her head.  "I guess my mouth and
throat simply never get that uncomfortable."

   "Oh, trust me.  I'm feeling pretty darn uncomfortable right now."

   "Well, go ahead, honey.  Take one.  I don't mind."

   Amanda smiled at the little old woman.  "To be honest?  They're kind of
smelly.  I don't usually indulge myself till I'm away from the crowd.  Now,
if you'll excuse me, I need to go."

   "Thanks, Ms. Eagle.  Nice presentation.  I hope your mouth and throat feel
better!"

   "Don't worry," Amanda called back pleasantly.  "I'm sure they will very
soon."

   She hurried to her car.  She pulled out into traffic.  When she was a
block from the hotel where the meeting had been she finally opened her purse.
There, wrapped in tissue, were three 100 millimeter Benson & Hedges
cigarettes and a disposable lighter.  "God bless you, Claudia," she groaned
gratefully.  "I owe you big time.  Now _this_ is a sight for sore eyes!"

   Her cravings now felt overwhelming.  According to her watch it was over
three hours since her last cigarette.  She could hardly drive, she felt so
stressed and edgy.  She pulled up to a stoplight and rested her foot on the
brake.  She picked up one of the long white cigarettes from inside the tissue
and thankfully slipped it in her mouth.  With no delay she clicked the
lighter and touched the dancing flame to the tip of her ready cigarette.

   Ignition!  Amanda's cheeks hollowed and she pumped once, twice, three
consecutive times on the burning cigarette.  After each drag she sucked smoke
in her chest.  Each deposit felt wonderful and yet still only whetted her
appetite.  She smoked like a fiend, frantically attempting to satisfy her now
almost critical hunger for nicotine.

   On her thirty minute drive home she smoked all three of the cigarettes,
one after another, even though neither she nor anyone else had ever smoked
inside her car before.  But she didn't care about that.  She had to smoke.
Her Lexus didn't have an ashtray, which proved to be an issue only till she
realized she could crack her window open and de-ash by protruding the end of
her cigarette outside it.  She did this successfully, finally disposing of
each spent cigarette butt by simply dropping it to the pavement below.

   At the end of her street she saw the convenience store.  She hesitated and
pulled in.  "I need more cigarettes," she quietly decided.  "Because even if
I did decide to quit, and right now I'm almost sure I don't want to, I sure
as hell can't make it till then unless I buy more!"

   She turned off the car and walked inside.  The same girl sat behind the
cash register.  But this time Amanda noticed her name tag.  It said her name
was "Heather."  She approached her with a big grin.  "Hi, Heather.  Two packs
of Benson & Hedges 100's, please."  She said it with not even a hint of
apology.  She felt pleased with herself.  "So, how are you doing today?"

   "I'm fine, Ms. Eagle."  Heather put two gold packs down on the counter.
"And how are you doing?"

   "I'll be better once I get more cigarettes," Amanda said, continuing to
grin.  "I had a major nicotine fit a little while ago.  I decided I had to
make sure I don't get caught short again."

   The girl laughed as Amanda gave her a twenty.  "I thought you were
thinking of quitting?"

   "Yeah, I was.  But know what?  Now I'm not so sure."  She put the gold
packs in her purse with the change.  "I'm not sure I want to quit.  To be
honest, I don't think I could."

   The girl nodded.  "I understand.  Believe me, I do!"

   "Hey, Heather, here's an interesting fact.  Did you know 25% of all 17
year olds say they smoke every day?  I've thought about what you said the
other day about all the secret smokers.  I'm beginning to think there's a lot
more of them out there than I ever realized."

   "Yeah, there are.  And a lot of those 17 year olds come in here to buy
their cigarettes from me," she laughed.  "Lots more people smoke than anyone
realizes, Ms. Eagle.  And it looks like you decided that you're going to
continue to be one of them."

   "Yeah," Amanda nodded.  "Yeah, I have.  I guess I've decided I'm gonna
keep smoking.  At least for awhile."

   "I'll tell you another secret, Ms. Eagle," Heather giggled.  "The truth
is, 'awhile' really means forever.  All the people who say they're only gonna
smoke for awhile are the ones who wind up smoking forever."

   Amanda nodded.  "Yeah, I suspect you're right about that, too.  Say, tell
me, Heather.  Do you sell cigarettes to the underage kids who come in?"

   The girl nodded.  "Yeah, but before I do I make 'em go outside and smoke a
cigarette for me, to prove they really do smoke.  The government runs busts
these days.  I don't want to get in trouble if kids are setting me up."  She
grinned.  "The real teenage smokers really appreciate it, though.  Hell, I
understand.  They need to get cigarettes somehow.  I was in their shoes once.
I was a teenage smoker not all that long ago.  How can I say 'no' to 'em?"

   Surprisingly, Amanda found herself agreeing.  "Yeah, I suppose you're
right.  How _can_ you deny them?"  She grinned.  It was odd, but suddenly her
mind was made up.  She'd finally decided.  "Hey, thanks, Heather.  You may
not know it but our conversation the other day really helped me think through
whether I actually wanted to quit.  Finally I realize I don't.  You were a
big help.  So thanks again.  From now on I suspect you'll be seeing me in
here regularly buying cigarettes."

   The girl shrugged.  "No problem, Ms. Eagle.  Always glad to help another
smoker.  And if you're serious, next time you might want to think about
buying 'em by the carton!"

   As she drove home Amanda thought about Heather's remark.  Heather called
her "another smoker" and it was true.  She _was_ a smoker now, and she
intended to remain one.  The only thing left was to figure out how not to
disappoint Jodi with that revelation.

   She pulled up to her house and saw a car parked out front.  Fred Coleman
was inside!  Pushing her garage door opener she drove inside.  Fred got out
of his car when she did.  She was a little irritated but smiled politely at
him and walked around to the front of the house.

   "Hi, Fred.  What's up?"

   "Amanda, we need to talk.  After you didn't call back I remembered Claudia
said you were speaking at the Junior League luncheon.  I figured you'd be
done by one thirty so I decided to drive over, guessing you'd come home after
the meeting.  Can I come in?"

   "Yeah, I guess."  She opened the front door.

   Fred nervously followed her in the house.  She put her purse on a chair
and sat with him in the living room.  "So what's so urgent that you had to
come over and see me?"

   He seemed uneasy.  "It's about Claudia.  Last night I overheard her
talking to Kate.  Amanda, something's going on that you need to know about."

   "Oh?"

   Fred took a deep breath.  "I was getting ready for bed last night when I
heard them talking quietly at the foot of the stairs.  They didn't realize I
could hear.  Apparently you and I weren't told the whole truth.  You remember
Claudia said she was horrified Kate started to smoke?  Well, that's not true.
She's actually pleased that Kate is smoking.  It turns out Claudia's been
providing Kate with cigarettes for months now, and she's actually been
encouraging Kate to smoke along with her."

   Fred wiped perspiration from his brow.  Amanda was puzzled.  "God, that's
weird.  Claudia's been _encouraging_ Kate to smoke?"

   Fred nodded frantically.  "Yeah, but that's not the worst.  It was all a
scam, the idea that you and I should smoke to scare Kate and Jodi.  It turns
out Claudia, working together with Kate and Jodi, intends to use 'tasting the
consequences' against us.  Their real plan is to get us both hooked on
cigarettes.  They want you and me to become addicts, Amanda, just like they
are."  He stared at the ground.  "I can't believe it but I heard it with my
own ears.  Claudia and the girls only want us to smoke so that we'll get
hooked like they are and won't be able to quit."

   Amanda didn't answer.  She let his words sink in.  "Really?"

   "Yeah, it's terrible.  I'm mad and upset.  I thought I could trust Claudia
but obviously I can't.  I guess the idea is that if we smoke Claudia's full
flavor cigarettes long enough we'll change our minds and we won't want to
quit.  Kate's been telling me she just needs a little more time to decide if
she's upset enough by my smoking to want to quit.  Based on what I heard, I
doubt Kate will ever be ready to quit.  She's waiting till I don't want to.
I bet Jodi's using the same ploy on you.  Does she keep putting off a
timetable for quitting?"

   Amanda slowly nodded.

   "See?  That's it.  It'll never happen.  It's always a few more days till
they're ready.  A few more days over and over, till it's too late for us!
Claudia originally said it was critical that I smoke like she does, inhale
smoke deep in my lungs and hold it in a long time.  Now I realize it was just
part of a dastardly plan to get me hooked, Amanda.  I'm sure Jodi did the
same thing to you."  Wearily he groaned.  "We need to figure out what we're
gonna do about this, Amanda."

   "Yeah, I guess so," she replied with a wry smile.  "So, Fred, I gather you
don't like the idea of becoming a smoker like your wife and daughter?"

   "God, no!  What a ridiculous question!  Why do you even ask?"

   "I dunno," she smiled sweetly.  "But I guess this means Claudia's plan
hasn't worked on you yet.  Tell me, though.  Haven't you found smoking her
cigarettes the least bit pleasant?"

   He hesitated.  "Well, it has begun to seem sort of enjoyable, in a sick
sort of way."

   "Yeah, that's been experience," Amanda nodded.  "How many a day are you
smoking now?"

   "I haven't smoked since I overheard their discussion last night.  Before
that I averaged maybe ten a day."

   Amanda thought.  "Hmm.  "That's not quite as many cigarettes as I've been
smoking.  But I work at home all day, so I've undoubtedly been smoking more
than you."

   "We must stop this madness, Amanda, but I don't know what to do.  If I
confront Claudia she'll just deny it.  But I must do something.  Maybe I
should report her to the authorities.  It's not legal to give Kate cigarettes
like she does.  You're undoubtedly just as upset as I am, because I suspect
she's supplying Jodi, too."  He paused.  "One idea I had is to call the local
lung association.  Maybe they can give us some advice about what to do."

   Amanda just smiled.  Poor Fred.  The stupid ass didn't realize he was too
late.  He never dreamed her conversion was already a fait accompli.  He
assumed she'd share his horror and disgust if she learned the truth.  Quite
the contrary, Amanda felt liberated.  No, more than that, she was utterly
delighted.  A huge weight had lifted off her shoulders.  This meant Jodi
wouldn't be disappointed after all that she no longer wanted to quit smoking,
that instead she yearned to keep feeding her newly beloved nicotine habit.
But Fred obviously wasn't there - yet.  She caught herself thinking it was
too bad for Claudia.  Her friend longed for her husband to share the joys of
smoking with her.  Amanda wished she could do something to change Fred's
mind, to help him find what she found.  Then it hit her.  There was something
she could do.

   She smiled at him.  "Fred, here's how I see it.  You and I have two
choices.  Either we can dig in our heels and fight them, or we can give in
and let it happen the way they hope it will.  What I mean is, we could decide
to let ourselves become real smokers, not just pretenders, like they want us
to.  Isn't that right?"

   He stared at her, obviously confused.

   "Here's the deal, Fred.  I've been smoking lots more than you the last few
days."  She said it nonchalantly, and slowly reached for her purse.  "I was
astonished to find just how pleasant smoking can be.  I never knew.  It's
fuckin' wonderful.  That extraordinary feeling I get now from lighting up a
cigarette, particularly when I haven't had one in awhile?  God, it's so
delicious!"  Opening her purse she pulled out a pack of Benson & Hedges
100's.  "So if Claudia and the girls did try to trick us into becoming
smokers like they are, then I think they did us a big favor!"  She put an all
white cigarette between her lips.  "I'll cut to the chase, Fred," she said,
before pausing to light up her B&H.  "I like smoking.  I don't intend to
quit."

   He watched in horror while she exhaled a thick smoky stream from pursed
lips.  "You, Amanda?  Oh my God, no!  I don't believe it!"

   "Believe it, Fred," she laughed wickedly.  "Because it's true.  I can't
stop smoking now and I don't want to, either.  Jodi and I were supposed to
talk Sunday night about quitting.  I've been thinking about it constantly the
last couple days.  I finally decided today I don't want to.  I don't want to
quit.  I worried she might be mad.  But thanks to you, now I know she won't
be.  Instead she'll be delighted, because that was her plan from the outset."
She drew long and hard on her cigarette and sucked the smoke deep inside her
chest.  "God, I'm so glad Claudia taught me how to do this properly," she
added with a wry smile, pausing to release a prodigious mixed mouth/nostril
exhale.  "I never plan to stop smoking this way."

   Fred shook his head.  "God, then I'm too late.  They already got you.  I'm
so sorry, Amanda.  Hopefully you'll come to your senses and realize what a
mistake you're making!"

   "It's no mistake, Fred," she grinned.  "No, you're the one making the
mistake.  I'm the smart one, not you.  And you see, I owe Claudia.  I'm glad
Claudia and the girls tricked me into smoking.  I love it, and I feel
grateful.  So I owe it to Claudia to help her out, to force you to fall into
line and behave."  He looked perplexed, so she went on.  "Remember all the
free advice I've given you over the years, Fred?  Remember how you'd call and
want to chat about your problems?  You're too damn cheap to pay for the
advice.  You figured you'd just get it from me for free, because our
daughters are such good friends?"

   "So?"

   "I know a lot of things about you that I bet you never want Claudia to
know.  For instance, remember the discussion we had a year ago about your
little pornography habit?"

   Fred gulped.  "Yeah?"

   "Well, I know you don't want Claudia to know.  God, she'd be disappointed
to find out about all the hours you spend in front of your laptop visiting
porn sites.  When you first asked me for help you were sure it'd devastate
her and might ruin your marriage.  Remember?"

   He just stared.  Finally he nodded.

   "I gave you good advice about how to break your porn habit.  But then you
called back a week later and told me the rest of the story.  That's when you
told me about that girl at work you were seeing on the sly.  Remember?  Yeah,
I thought you did!"

   "But I broke it off," Fred groaned helplessly.  "I took your advice,
Amanda.  I ended it."

   "Yeah, you slept with her how many times?"  She cackled as she hit on her
cigarette.  "God, I think it was at least half a dozen.  Or was it more?"

   "You won't tell Claudia," he wailed.  "You can't.  It's illegal for a
counselor to reveal secrets disclosed in private by a patient.  It'd be
unprofessional and illegal to tell Claudia."

   "Yes, Fred, that's right.  I'd get my counseling license pulled if anyone
found out I disclosed patient secrets.  Except for one thing.  You weren't a
patient.  You never paid me.  There's no record of you ever being my patient.
It was all free advice."  Tapping an ash in the ashtray she grinned.  "So if
you want me to keep quiet about your shit, Fred dear, you have to play ball
with me."

   "What ??  What is it you want?"

   "Well, I'll tell you.  Like I said, Fred, I owe Claudia.  See, I've had a
fuckin' epiphany.  Now I love to smoke.  I've become a real smoker.  I'm
already addicted.  It's not even just a habit.  It's a goddamn obsession.
All I think about is my next cigarette.  I dream about the next time I get to
drag more of that delicious, thick, rich creamy cigarette smoke into my
lungs.  Mm, it's so nice!"  As if to prove it she hit on her cigarette for
her usual five seconds.  "So if Claudia wants you to be a smoker, Fred, I
feel I owe it to her to help it happen.  So instead of letting you quit I'm
gonna insist that you pick up the pace.  Like Claudia, I want you to smoke,
Fred.  I intend to help make Claudia's perverted little dream come true."

   "But you can't do that," he groaned.  "It's not right."

   "It's not about right and wrong, Fred.  It's about power.  And I have the
power, all of it.  So, like Claudia, I want you to smoke like a fiend till
you feel the same way your wife and I, and our daughters, feel about smoking
cigarettes.  I want you to experience our cravings, the same hungry feeling
we get whenever we don't smoke enough.  I want you to feel like I felt after
the Junior League luncheon today.  I'd have done anything to smoke, Fred.  I
was desperate for a cigarette."  She grinned evilly.  "But luckily your
lovely wife Claudia helped me out.  She slipped me a few cigarettes so I
could smoke in my car on the way home.  I was too dumb to anticipate it.  I
hadn't brought my own.  So Claudia gave me some of hers so I could feed my
insatiable cravings.  I want you to feel those same fuckin' cravings I had
today, Fred.  I want you just as addicted to nicotine as I am, just like
Claudia and just like our girls."

   "God, you wouldn't really tell Claudia about my affair?"

   "Oh yes, I sure would," Amanda grinned.  "Don't test me.  If you do you'll
be picking up the pieces for a long time.  It's better for you if you do what
I ask.  Claudia never needs to know of your past indiscretions.  Don't you
agree that's better?"  He glared.  "Yeah, I thought you'd see it my way,
honey."  She held out her gold pack.  "So, here you go.  Take one of my
cigarettes and smoke with me now.  Because from on you're gonna be smoking
just about all the time!"

   Reluctantly Fred accepted a cigarette.  "I don't want to become a smoker,
Amanda."

   She laughed.  "Yeah, you say that now.  I did, too, at first.  But soon
your feelings change, Fred honey.  After a while you begin to feel
differently.  All of a sudden you _want_ to smoke another cigarette.  You
can't wait.  You look forward to it and it feels so fuckin' good when you
finally get to."  She clicked her lighter and held it out.  Without a word he
caught the flame.  "Yeah, Fred, that's a good boy!  Just like that, take a
nice long hard drag on the cigarette for openers.  Then suck all that yummy
smoke way down deep inside your lungs.  Oh yeah, Fred, that's right.  Now let
it soak in awhile, delivering the delicious nicotine that your body's slowly
but surely learning to crave!"  She giggled.  "Isn't it good?"

   "That's just the problem," he groaned, as smoke escaped from his lips.
"It's too good."

   "Bullshit, Fred.  Nothing's ever too good.  You already started down the
road to addiction.  And if I'm gonna live there, and I sure as hell am, I
intend to make sure you do, too.  Again, Fred.  Take another drag for me."

   He did.  She watched approvingly as he inhaled the smoke.  "God, yeah,
isn't that nice, Fred?  Tell your friend Amanda it tastes good and feels
nice."  He said nothing so she changed her tone.  "Say it, goddamn it!  Tell
me you like it, Fred.  I want to hear you say it out loud."

   "I like it," he slowly answered.  

   "No, that's not quite right.  It's more than that.  You don't just like
it, Fred," she cooed.  "You love it.  Tell me you love it and that you never
want to quit smoking."

   "But ?.  But it's not true."

   "Oh, but it will be soon, Fred.  And saying it out loud will help make it
true faster.  So let me hear it, honey.  Tell your friend Amanda that you
love to smoke and you never want to quit."

   "I love to smoke," he gulped helplessly.  "I never want to quit."

   "Perfect.  Very good.  Now keep sucking on that delicious cigarette,
honey.  Each time I drag and inhale smoke I want you to match me.  Make your
drags just as long as mine and hold your smoke deep inside your chest just as
long as I do.  Okay?  Let's try it."

   Amanda took her usual five second drag on her cigarette.  Fred did the
same.  She opened her mouth and pulled the smoke deep inside her chest.  He
followed suit.  She waited forever before finally breathing it out and again
he mimicked her.

   "God, it's so good doing it that way," she sighed happily.  "Fred, can you
honestly tell me you don't find that enjoyable?"

   He shook his head.  "No, I told you before, Amanda.  That's the problem.
It _is_ enjoyable.  That's what I'm afraid of.  I'm afraid if I keep smoking
I'll start to like it too much."

   She laughed.  "Fred, I told _you_ before, it's impossible to like it too
much.  I want you to feel that way about it, for Claudia's sake.  Now let's
do it again."

   Over and over they duplicated the exercise.  Each time Amanda and Fred
retained prodigious inhales deep inside their chests for a long time before
exhaling.  Finally she crushed out her cigarette and he did as well.  She
grinned.

   "Now Fred, tell me honestly.  Didn't that feel good?"

   He slowly nodded.  "Of course it did, you bitch!  God, I can't believe
you're doing this, Amanda.  I can hardly believe you'd force me to get
addicted to these things.  At least Claudia was subtle.  But you're being
shamelessly evil."

   "Yes, I am, aren't I?" she grinned proudly, shaking out another cigarette
and smugly depositing it between her smiling lips.  "So come on, Fred.  We're
doing it again.  No sense in waiting.  I want you to get a good head start.
Tonight you'll tell Claudia you decided you don't want to quit.  You'll tell
her you love to smoke and you don't want to stop, now or ever.  If I don't
hear from Claudia that it happened I'll be paying her a visit.  You catch my
drift?"

   Fred took another cigarette and groaned.  "It's blackmail, Amanda, nothing
more and nothing less.  God, how can you live with yourself doing this?"

   She first lit up her cigarette, then his.  "Easy, Fred.  Claudia didn't
realize it but she did me the biggest favor anyone's done for me in a long
time.  By suggesting this to Jodi she forced me to experience smoking.  I'm
just returning the favor."  She let out a smoky giggle.  "Before it's all
done, Fred, I expect you'll thank me just like I'm gonna thank Claudia and
the girls."

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