Taste the Consequences, Part 8

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
any form and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no
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reproducing or using it.

TASTING THE CONSEQUENCES

8.	Epilogue:  The Taste That Can't Be Beat.

   Jodi got home late that afternoon.  She'd been at Kate's, hanging out with
her after school.  Amanda felt impatient waiting.  She wanted to have "the"
discussion, to tell Jodi of her smoking "epiphany" as she described it to
Fred.  She toyed with telling Jodi that she knew all about the little plan
she, Claudia and Kate had concocted to bring about her smoking conversion.
But she decided to wait and see how their talk went.  Because of her
daughter's deceit, though, she decided to have some fun with her before
breaking the good news.

   Amanda was working on the manuscript for the second book when Jodi got
home.  She knew her publisher would approve her outline and give her the
go-ahead to start writing.  She smiled warmly at Jodi and suggested they sit
in the kitchen together to have some coffee.

   Jodi again couldn't help noticing the overflowing ashtray in the office
and the unmistakable fragrance of stale smoke permeating the air in the
house.  She grinned.  Yes, things were all going according to plan.

   Amanda sat at the kitchen table with a fresh cup of coffee.  She casually
sipped it and reached for a cigarette.  Jodi did the same.

   "I want to talk about us quitting," she said deliberately before lighting
up.  She drew on her cigarette a long time, opened her mouth wide and inhaled
deep inside her chest, just like she now virtually always did.  "Is that okay
with you?"

   "Sure, Mom," Jodi shrugged nervously.  "But I thought we were gonna wait
till Sunday."

   "Yeah, but I don't want to wait," Amanda replied, expelling smoke.  "I
don't think I can.  I had a bizarre experience today.  Let me tell you about
it."  In detail she described the insatiable nicotine cravings she endured at
the Junior League luncheon.  "I was a basket case, honey," she concluded,
hitting on her B&H.  "Not smoking for three miserable hours did me in.  I'm
quickly approaching the point of no return.  If I'm ever gonna quit, I'm
afraid it has to be now or never."

   Jodi frowned.  Damn!  "But what if I haven't tasted all the consequences
yet?  What if _I'm_ not ready to quit?"

   Amanda smiled.  "Well, if I were to quit then I guess you'd just have to
keep smoking.  Maybe eventually you'll decide you don't like it."

   "Not like it?"  Jodi was incensed.  "Mom, that's dumb.  Of course I like
it.  I'll always like smoking.  Even you like it.  And isn't that the
problem?  You like it.  You love it.  You're afraid you won't be able to quit
because the more you smoke the more you learn to love it."

   Amanda nodded sagely.  "Yeah, true."  She deliberately dragged hard on her
B&H.  "All I think about anymore is smoking, honey.  I'm utterly obsessed."
She smiled, letting smoke dribble from her mouth and nose.  "I've become a
different person.  Now I'm only happy when I have a cigarette going."  She
hit on hers again.  "I love how cigarette smoke tastes, I adore the way it
feels inside me when I inhale it, and I love playing with my smoke when I
eventually breathe it out.  I especially love feeling it coming out of my
nose.  It no longer smells bad to me; instead smoke smells delicious.  I feel
sad each time I crush one out in an ashtray but I'm deliriously happy every
time I light up another one."  She paused.  "Does that make sense?"

   Jodi remained concerned.  "Yeah, it makes sense, Mom.  I feel the same
way.  You describe me perfectly.  But if you feel that way, why in the hell
would you ever want to quit?"

   "Good question," Amanda mused.  God, it was fun scaring Jodi.  She had to
keep it up a little longer.  "I don't know.  Do you know the definition of an
addict?  It's someone who has a habit and does absolutely anything necessary
to support it.  That's how I've started to feel about smoking."  She
pensively tapped an ash in the ashtray.  "I've become an addict, honey.  I
know that.  I can no longer imagine living without my cigarettes.  I have to
have them.  I need them.  I can't imagine not smoking them all day long.  I
enjoy each and every one of them."

   "Me neither, Mom," Jodi whined.  "That's why I don't want to quit.  There,
I finally said it.  I don't want to.  I don't care if smoking's bad for me.
But even more, I don't give a shit if you smoke.  I don't care.  It doesn't
bother me and never has.  I was glad when you started smoking with me.  I
even like seeing you frantic for a cigarette.  It's one of the things I
especially like.  I love smoking with you, Mom.  It's been nice.  It gives us
something nice to share, something fun that we both understand and both
enjoy."  She hit on her Marlboro Light 100.  "That's why I don't want to quit
and I don't want you to, Mom.  I'm sorry, but I really don't."

   Amanda laughed.  Jodi looked perplexed.  She didn't know what was so
funny.  So Amanda raised her cigarette to her lips.  After a long drag and
sucking smoke in her lungs, she slowly let it escape from her nostrils.  "So,
Jodi, you admit it?  My smoking never bothered you?  You didn't care if I got
addicted to it like you?"  She triumphantly smiled.   "In truth, you wanted
me to turn into a smoker, didn't you?"

   "Yeah," Jodi whimpered.  "I did.  I knew 'tasting the consequences' would
never work, that it'd never make me want to quit smoking.  I've loved to
smoke for a long time, Mom.  I got addicted fast.  I thought you would, too,
if you tried it.  I secretly hoped you'd like it enough to want to smoke
yourself."  Instinctively the pretty teen hit again on her cigarette.  "I
knew if you did that'd mean I could smoke.  That's all I wanted.  I just
wanted to smoke."

   Amanda put her hand on her daughter's.  "Don't worry, honey, because
that's what I want, too."  Seeing her confusion, Amanda laughed.  "I didn't
say I was going to quit.  I said if I ever was going to, it had to be now or
never.  Well, let me come clean.  It's gonna be never.  I don't want to quit,
either, Jodi.  That's what I really want to say.  The only reason I didn't
want to wait till Sunday night is there's no reason to.  I decided I'm not
gonna quit.  My experience the last few days, and especially this afternoon,
finally helped me decide that I'm gonna keep smoking from now on.  I'm a
smoker and I'll remain a smoker!"

   Jodi felt stunned.  She shook her head.  "Really?  Oh my God, Mom.  That's
fuckin' great!  But then why did you make think you were gonna quit?"

   "I thought your real motive, your ultimate intention, was to lure and
entice me into sharing your nicotine addiction, to use 'tasting the
consequences' against me and force me to become an addict like you.  Well,
honey, it worked.  I should've realized it a couple days ago.  But it wasn't
till this afternoon, when I experienced those cravings at the luncheon and
felt the extraordinary relief of finally lighting up, that I realized what I
want.  Suddenly I knew.  Your dad told me I should only quit if I really want
to.  He's very supportive of me continuing to smoke.  And I figured you will
be, too.  So from now on I smoke.  I'm a smoker.  I tasted all the
consequences of smoking cigarettes and I fuckin' love 'em.  So I'm not
quitting, Jodi.  Not now, probably not ever.  There.  Does that make you
happy?"

   Jodi impulsively gave Amanda a big hug.  "Mom, that makes me the happiest
girl in the world!  I've loved getting to smoke whenever I felt like it, and
I've loved smoking with you.  It's been so cool.  The idea of making it
permanent sounds almost overwhelming.  I'm not just happy.  I'm ecstatic,
Mom, absolutely ecstatic."

   "I'm glad, honey.  So glad.  Now I have to say something else.  All along
your plan was to trick me into smoking so I'd learn to enjoy it.  You knew
I'd learn to love it just as much as you do.  And it worked.  So, I just need
to say thanks.  I now love smoking just like you do, but it couldn't have
happened if you hadn't hoodwinked me.  Thanks, Jodi."

   The teenager blinked in disbelief.  "You're welcome, Mom.  God, I can't
believe you're thanking me.  This is too cool for words."

   "Now, what about Fred, Kate's dad?  Were you and Kate trying to work the
same trick on him?  If so, was Kate's mom involved?  Was Claudia part of your
scheme?"  Of course Amanda knew, but she wanted to hear it directly from
Jodi.

   Her daughter nodded.  "Yeah, months ago Mrs. Coleman first learned Kate
was smoking.  But she didn't say anything to Mr. Coleman.  She knew he'd
disapprove.  Mrs. Coleman felt sorry for Kate.  She understood how it felt to
be a teenage smoker and she wanted to help her.  So Kate and her mom always
smoked together whenever Mr. Coleman wasn't home.  They've been doing that
for awhile now.  You don't think that's terrible, do you?"

   "No, of course not," Amanda answered.  "I think it's great.  So did
Claudia supply you with cigarettes and encourage you to smoke?"

   "I was already smoking when Mrs. Coleman found out about Kate.  But yeah,
Kate told her mom about me and Mrs. Coleman started buying me cigarettes and
letting me smoke with them at their house.  She said if she supported Kate
she may as well support me, too.  That's why I never brought Kate over here.
Mrs. Coleman let us smoke at their house and promised to keep my smoking a
secret from you.  I hope you're not mad."

   "Mad?"  Amanda shook her head.  "Hell no, I'm not mad.  If Claudia hadn't
let you smoke then I wouldn't be smoking today.  No, I owe her," she
whimsically smiled.  "I should thank Claudia.  She did me a great favor."

   "Wow," Jodi exclaimed.  "I'm shocked.  Shocked but pleased.  I thought
you'd be mad."

   "Well, till recently I would've been.  Real mad, in fact.  But something
happened to me."  She smiled.  "I became a smoker and it changed my
perspective.  One of the many things I like about smoking is how nice it is
to share with you."  She smiled at Jodi.  "As soon as we started to smoke
together we grew closer.  That's good.  I have no intention of giving it up."
After pausing to drag on her B&H she went on.  "I'm truly glad Claudia let
you smoke, and that she urged you to trick me into tasting the consequences.
It forced me to encounter smoking and let me see what I was missing."  At
last she exhaled.  "I'd be an idiot to give it up, honey.  I smoke.  Yeah,
I'm definitely a smoker, just like you, just like Claudia and Kate, and just
like your father."

   Jodi sighed.  "Wow, if you and Daddy both smoke now, I guess it means I
can, too, all the time, whenever I want.  God, it's so cool."  The teenager
dragged on her cigarette.  "Mom, now that you're gonna smoke, do you think
you and Dad will get back together?"

   Amanda laughed.  "He wants us to.  Joe says he likes me better as a
smoker."  She manicured her cigarette before taking a drag.  "Hell, I like
myself better as a smoker," she laughed caustically.  Smoky rapid-fire bursts
escaped her lips.  "I don't know what'll happen between us.  I guess we just
have to see.  But with both of us smoking it'll be easier for us to get back
together, no doubt.  But regardless, I'm sure your dad and I will spend more
time together.  I enjoy smoking with him just like I enjoy smoking with you.
I just hope Fred Coleman gets on board, too.  That'd be nice for Claudia and
Kate, wouldn't it?"

   "Yeah, sure would.  Hell, tasting the consequences worked on you, Mom.  So
maybe it'll work on Mr. Coleman."

   "I bet that very soon Fred Coleman will start to show a real affinity for
nicotine," Amanda smiled mysteriously.  "And when that happens, Claudia,
Fred, Joe and I, and you girls, too, will all be better friends than ever."

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

   Amanda's prediction came true immediately.  That night Kate called with
good news.  At supper her dad announced he liked smoking so much that he
didn't want to stop.  He also didn't want Claudia to quit and didn't care if
Kate smoked with them.  Kate was ecstatic and, she reported, so was Claudia.
Jodi eagerly shared the exciting news with her mom.  Amanda simply announced
with a smile that she, too, was very pleased.

   Amanda and Joe spent more time together in the ensuing days.  Eventually
he convinced his ex-wife that he was sincere in wanting to reestablish their
broken relationship and he moved back in with Amanda and Jodi.  Amanda didn't
want to re-marry, so they just lived together.  Jodi didn't care.  She was
just glad to see her folks reconciled and relating as friends and lovers.

   Meanwhile Amanda fulfilled her promise to her daughter and herself.  She
continued to smoke relentlessly.  While she worked on her second book at home
she had ample opportunity to deepen her nicotine habit.  Soon she was smoking
over a pack of full flavor Benson & Hedges 100's every day, often closer to
two.  But she never regretted her decision.  She dearly loved nicotine being
her new boss, incessantly ordering her to light up and smoke.  She treated
herself to an ever deepening dependence on nicotine's magical pleasures.

   Jodi soon settled in at a pack a day habit, joining her parents as an
irrepressible smoker.  She discarded her Marlboro Lights 100's in favor of
her mom's brand.  The teen loved full flavor B&H 100's and, as Claudia
predicted, Amanda didn't mind.  She understood why Jodi wanted to smoke her
brand instead of lights.  For efficiency's sake Joe also switched to Benson &
Hedges 100's.  Amanda bought several cartons a week to keep them all
supplied.

   Fred Coleman eventually apologized and thanked Amanda for forcing him to
continue smoking.  He soon developed a love for nicotine that rivaled his
lovely wife's.  Claudia never knew Amanda saved the day for her by keeping
her scheme on track to turn her non-smoking husband into a bona fide addict.
The two couples began to spend time together socially, largely due to their
common commitment as smokers.

   In a few months Amanda's second book came out.  "Let Them Go and Let Them
Grow - Helping Teens Become Real People" didn't sell as well as "Tasting the
Consequences," but provided a steady income stream and too many chances to
speak.  As Joe suggested, Amanda was discrete, not flaunting her
uncontrollable nicotine habit in front of the non-understanding world of
psychologists and professional counselors.  Her ideas in the second book
created some controversy, like her suggestion that parents shouldn't try and
stop teens from smoking or swearing.  The book suggested it was futile to
stop teenagers from experimenting with such things.  All Amanda's convictions
came from her experience with Jodi.  She firmly believed letting teenagers
find out what they truly want is the critical step toward successful
parenting.

   A few months later Amanda, Joe and Jodi sat together in front of their
fireplace.  A smoky fire burned inside it and each of them was smoking, too.
Raising her cigarette to her lips, Amanda couldn't help but think about the
amazing transformation that had taken place in her life and the life of her
family.  'Tasting the consequences' didn't work out like she originally
planned.  It never did deter her lovely teenage daughter from smoking.  But
now she was damn glad it didn't.  Without the failure of 'tasting the
consequences,' she'd never have tried smoking and discovered the taste of the
consequences associated with smoking cigarettes is nothing short of fabulous.

   The pretty blond happily put her cigarette to her lips.  She dragged on it
her customary five seconds.  She pulled thick, rich creamy smoke from her
Benson & Hedges 100 deep inside her hungry lungs and held it in for another
five seconds.  At long last she opened her mouth and slowly released a
leisurely exhale simultaneously through her lips and her nostrils.  God,
yeah!  No doubt.  'Tasting the consequences' worked after all, even though
not the way she planned.  But in the final analysis it turned out that all of
the consequences she'd tasted were smoky, and all of those smoky consequences
tasted just great!

THE END

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