The Power, Part 2

The fictional account contains adult language and 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
financial remuneration is received, directly or indirectly, by the person
reproducing it.

THE POWER

2.	Spreading the Wealth.

   Becky Gerhardt left Gregory's office feeling happier than she
remembered being in a long time.  She felt at peace.  She was content, and it
felt damn good.  The spring weather was warm.  True to her word she lit up a
cigarette as soon as she got outside.  She pulled the smoke from her first
drag deep into her hungry lungs.  She felt pure pleasure invading her petite
body.  God, it felt terrific!  Yeah, there was no doubt.  She _did_ love to
smoke.  What the hell was she thinking to even consider quitting?  She
couldn't imagine giving up her glorious little habit.  Not now and not ever!

   As she walked down the street smoking her Marlboro Ultra Light a
breakthrough idea suddenly occurred to her.  "Jesus!  Why do I still smoke
these stupid ultra lights?  I'm a smoker, for God's sake.  I've finally
come to terms with it and it means I love smoke.  But the smoke from these
ultra lights has no flavor.  It's like sucking air!  Shit!  I only switched
to `em because of the lower tar and nicotine.  That was so dumb.  Why should
I deprive myself of the pleasure I deserve by smoking stupid ultra lights
instead of a stronger brand that I really enjoy?  I'm not worried about the
consequences of smoking anymore.  Nothing bad will happen if I smoke.  All
the anti-smoking propaganda is bullshit.  I deserve to smoke a stronger
brand.  Hell, I need something more substantial if I'm gonna smoke.  And I
_am_ going to smoke!"

   She passed a convenience store.  She made a quick decision.  Flipping
her ultra light to the ground she marched inside.  The blond sales clerk
behind the counter looked like a college student.  She seemed bored.  She was
busy reading a magazine.  No one else was in the store.

   "Give me a pack of Marlboro Lights," Becky forcefully announced.

   "Box or soft pack?"

   "Soft pack," Becky replied.  She never liked buying cigarettes in a
box.  She preferred the soft pack.

   The blond sales clerk put a pack of Marlboro Lights on the counter.
"Four dollars and seventeen cents," she blandly droned.

   Becky looked at it and frowned.  It was her old brand, the same one
she learned to smoke with five years ago.  She'd smoked them for years.
They were lots better than the ultra lights she endured for the last year.
She knew that from experience.  So why did she still feel dissatisfied?

   "Is it any more for 100s?" she suddenly asked, without knowing why.

   "Nope," the clerk said.  "Same price."

   "Then give me a pack of Marlboro Lights 100's instead," Becky
decided.  "I want the longer ones."

   "Okay.  By the way, I need to see some I.D.," the clerk mumbled.

   Becky pulled out her driver's license and showed it.  The girl
nodded, took the money and pushed the Marlboro Lights 100's across the
counter.  Becky took the pack and gazed at it.  Yeah, _this_ was what she
wanted.  The idea of smoking 100's suddenly seemed so inviting.  She licked
her lips in anticipation of having one of those long white cigarettes in her
mouth!

   "Have a nice day," the girl in the store added without thinking.

   Becky tapped the pack on her wrist and began to pull off the
cellophane.  "Oh, don't worry," she smiled broadly.  "I will."  She
paused.  "By the way," she asked.  "Do you smoke?"

   The blond behind the counter looked stunned.  "Uh, why do you care?"

   "Just curious," Becky smiled warmly.  "You sell `em to people all
day.  Do you smoke?"

   "Uh, yeah," she mumbled, pushing her blond hair out of her face.
"Yeah, I do."

   "Good for you," Becky jubilantly replied.  "I'm glad.  And don't
let anyone ever give you shit about it, either.  I mean it.  Okay?"

   "Okay," the clerk hesitantly answered.  "Whatever."

   "No, I really mean it," Becky insisted.  "Don't you like to smoke?
Don't you enjoy it?"

   The girl hesitated.  "Yeah, sure, I guess," she said slowly.  "But
what -?"

   "Nothing," replied Becky.  "I'm just making a point, that's all.
Those of us who smoke are damn smart.  We know how great smoking is.  Don't
ever apologize for it.  Ever!"

   The girl finally smiled.  "Okay," she said more forcefully.  "I
won't."

   Becky turned and walked toward the door.  "I'm about to have the
nice day you just talked about," she explained.  "Because I'm going to
light up one of these nice long cigarettes and enjoy smoking it."  She left
the store, leaving behind a very perplexed sales clerk.

   Becky lit up one of the Marlboro Lights 100's when she got outside.
It wasn't the first time she ever smoked a 100 millimeter cigarette.  She
occasionally bummed cigarettes from her friends when she ran out and
sometimes they were 100's.  But it was the first time Becky ever bought a
pack of them for herself.

   She took a long first drag and sucked smoke into her chest.  The
stronger, richer flavor of the lights compared to ultra lights was nice.
Very nice.  She liked them!  Of course that was no surprise.  She'd smoked
Marlboro Lights before.  But after the ultra lights it was a real pleasure to
return to a slightly stronger brand.  She tipped her head back to release a
long stream of smoke into the breeze.  Yeah, there was more smoke, she
realized, and it was thicker.  She liked that.

   Becky gazed fondly at the cigarette in her hand and smiled.  "God,
these things are lots more elegant than my old cigarettes.  God, they're so
sexy!  It's because they're longer," she mused.  "Damn!  Why didn't I try
these years ago?  They're _much_ longer and better.  The short ones are ugly
by comparison!"  She followed with another long drag on her 100.  The
thicker, richer smoke felt wonderful in her chest.  "That's another
advantage.  These cigarettes last longer."  She pursed her lips to exhale.
"So I can smoke longer without smoking more."  She giggled with delight.
She felt satisfied, sexy and provocative with a 100 millimeter cigarette in
her hand.

   "I'm buying these from now on," she decided.  "If I like to smoke,
and I do, then why shouldn't I smoke cigarettes I really like?"  The answer
was obvious.  She should!

   Becky arrived at her apartment humming a tune under her breath.  She
felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.  She
felt good.  In fact, she felt great.

   "So, how'd it go?"  Her roommate Donna was waiting as she walked in
the door.  "How was the session with the student assistance guy?  Did you
sign us up for a stop-smoking class?"

   Donna was also a college senior.  She and Becky had roomed together
over two years.  Donna was a buxom blond, shorter and heavier than Becky but
exceptionally well built.  Becky smiled and shook her head at her roommate.

   "Nope," she said impishly.  "I didn't."

   Donna seemed disappointed.  "Why not?  I thought that was the whole
point."

   "I thought so, too," Becky acknowledged.  "But the strangest thing
happened.  You won't believe it.  But I'll tell you anyway."

   Donna's curiosity was aroused.  "What?"

   Becky hung up her jacket.  "Let me get situated and I'll tell you."
She got her new pack of cigarettes and her lighter from her purse.  She
settled into a chair.  An ashtray was on the table beside her.  "But first I
need another cigarette."

   "What's going on?  When did you start smoking those?"  Donna
motioned toward the pack of Marlboro Lights 100's.

   Becky exhaled an initial puff of smoke.  "Today," she announced.
There was an air of pride in her voice.  "From now on I'm done with those
stupid, fucking ultra lights.  They're like sucking air, Donna.  You know
that.  I hate `em.  These are more satisfying."  Becky took a lengthy,
luxurious drag on her long cigarette.  "I stopped at the store.  I realized
I can buy 100's for the same price."  She paused to exhale.  "From now on
I want to enjoy smoking, Donna.  And I want to smoke more, too.  So I'm
smoking these."

   "What the hell?"  Donna was mystified.  "I thought we agreed you'd
enroll in a stop smoking class.  If it sounded good you were going to sign me
up and I'd take it, too.  Now suddenly you come home, you're smoking
stronger cigarettes, and you say you want to smoke more?  What gives?"

   Becky blushed.  "I met this cute counselor named Gregory.  To quit
smoking, he said I had to know the real reasons I smoke.  I had to get in
touch with my inner feelings.  So Gregory hypnotized me to find out what I
really think.  It worked.  God, did it ever!  And what a shock.  It turns out
I don't want to quit after all.  I love to smoke, Donna.  I'm crazy about it.
I don't want to quit so I'm not going to."

   "But what about the health thing?  Smoking's bad for us, Becky.  We
need to quit."

   Becky shot her a condescending glance.  "Donna, don't be dumb.  We
all know anti-smoking rhetoric is all bullshit.  That's really no reason to
quit.  Nothing bad's going to happen to us.  Health consequences won't
happen, if at all, for years and years.  When I was hypnotized I learned that
that's how I really feel."

   Donna was stunned.  "But what about the job thing?"

   "Look, Donna, I'm a smoker, for Christ's sake.  I smoke.  I love it
and I don't want to quit.  Ever.  As for the job thing, why in the hell would
I want to work at a place where they look down on me because I smoke?  I
wouldn't!  So I'm not gonna worry about it.  People should accept me for who
I am.  I'm a smoker.  If they don't like that then they're fucked up."

   Donna shook her head in disbelief.  "But why go back to Marlboro
Lights instead of the ultra lights?  Ultra lights are much safer, Becky."

   The pretty brunette took another drag on her cigarette.  "I changed
back to my old brand because I realized I like smoking.  I like it way too
much to quit.  So I thought, what the hell?  I should smoke the brand I like
best.  I like my old brand better.  I'm done compromising, Donna.  I smoke.
I'm hopelessly addicted and I intend to stay that way and enjoy it.  Period,
the end!"

   Donna squinted suspiciously.  "Exactly what happened when you were
hypnotized?"

   Becky shrugged.  "I don't really remember, but it doesn't matter.
Gregory said I felt very strongly about it and he's right.  I consider myself
a smoker, Donna, first and foremost.  The thing that's made me feel bad
recently is apologizing for being what I am.  So I won't do that anymore.
Never again will I apologize for my smoking habit."  She smiled at her buxom
blond roommate.  "Hey Donna!  Don't you want to join me?"

   Donna sighed and reluctantly reached for her cigarettes.  They were
Merit Menthol Ultra Lights.  "God, this is very disturbing.  Unfortunately I
need a cigarette right now, too.  Damn these stupid things!"  Donna lit up,
and her cheeks caved in.  She drew long and hard on her low tar and nicotine
cigarette.  "Becky, we've been rooming together and smoking together for two
years," she said, exhaling a stream of smoke.  "I thought we were going to
quit together.  I don't know about you but I don't want to be addicted to
these things the rest of my life.  I want out!"

   Becky just laughed.  "Donna, that's ridiculous and you know it.  You
love to smoke.  You've been smoking way too long to give me that stupid
bullshit.  Remind me.  Exactly _when_ did you start smoking?"

   Donna sat quietly.  "I started smoking when I was only fifteen."

   "Seven years ago," Becky said triumphantly.  "You've been a smoker
seven years now and you love it.  You know you do.  You're like me.  You
don't want to quit.  Not really."

   "Yes, I do," Donna objected.  "Becky, this is the truth.  I think
about the things that might happen to me because I smoke, thing like lung
cancer, and it scares the shit out of me!"

   "Then _don't_ think about them," Becky countered with a mischievous
giggle.  "Instead, just smoke your cigarettes and enjoy the hell out of
them!  Donna, you can't spend your time in the present worrying about the
future.  You need to live life and enjoy it."  She took another powerful hit
on her rapidly shrinking cigarette.  "That's what I intend to do now."  She
tipped her head, laughed and expelled a long stream of smoke through pursed
lips.  "I'm going to enjoy life as a smoker!"

   "But that makes no sense," Donna began.  "It's stupid."

   "Wrong," the pretty brunette replied sharply.  "I beg to differ.
It makes no sense to quit.  Now _that's_ stupid!  Look, Donna, I don't know
about you but I love to smoke.  I love everything about it.  I love holding a
cigarette, I love puffing on it, I love inhaling smoke, and I love watching
it come out of my mouth.  I love the social aspect of it, and I like smoking
alone.  I'm a smoker, Donna.  I finally realize it.  End of discussion.
I'm not quitting and I can't see myself quitting any time in the
foreseeable future.  So there!"

   Donna was horrified.  She expected Becky to return from the SAP with
a concrete plan to quit and she'd intended to ride her coattails and quit
herself.  Instead Becky came back with a renewed commitment to her habit.
She even switched back to lights from the ultra lights she and her roommate
smoked for the last year.  That wasn't what Donna expected.  Her right hand
shook as she raised her own cigarette to her lips for more.

   "My God, Becky, I don't believe this shit.  Something weird's
going on.  What on earth did this Gregory guy do to you?"

   "Nothing," Becky smiled confidently.  "He didn't do a thing.  But
I think he likes me.  He and I are having dinner together tomorrow night."

   "What?  But what about Phil?"  Phil was Becky's current boyfriend.

   "Phil doesn't smoke, Donna, so he and I are through.  I'm finished
spending time with non-smokers like Phil.  Frankly, in my opinion anyone who
doesn't smoke is fuckin' stupid!"

   Donna shook her head.  Now she was truly suspicious.  "And what did
this Gregory guy think about your sudden about face today?  Tell me.  Does he
smoke?"

   Becky sighed dreamily.  "Yeah, Gregory smokes.  And he's so cute.
Actually Gregory was very supportive of my decision.  He says the important
thing is for me to be happy.  I agree, and smoking makes me happy, Donna.  So
I made up my mind once and for all to stop thinking about quitting.  And I
also deciding to stop apologizing for being a smoker.  Since that happened I
feel absolutely great.  Gregory says that's the main thing and I agree with
him."

   "So Gregory wasn't unhappy you decided to abandon any plan to quit?"

   "No.  He and I are kindred spirits when it comes to smoking.  No, he
wasn't at all unhappy.  God, I can't wait till tomorrow night.  He's 26,
Donna.  You'd like him.  Maybe I'll bring him back to our place after we
have dinner."

   Donna frowned skeptically.  "I suspect he's hoping you'll bring him
back, Becky.  But not to meet me.  For something else."

   Becky took a last hit on her cigarette and crushed it in the ashtray.
"C'mon, Donna.  I never sleep with guys on the first date.  Well, almost
never," she blushed.  "I might bend my rule with Gregory.  I just felt so
happy being with him.  If he's interested in me I probably will sleep with
him.  Maybe even tomorrow."

   "I'm sure he's _very_ interested in you, Becky," Donna nodded
knowingly.  "Why don't you bring him by tomorrow after dinner?  I'll stick
around.  I'd like to meet him."

   "Okay," Becky enthusiastically agreed.  "It's a deal."

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