The Walk, Part 2

The Walk
Part 2 of 2
an4@anon.lelnet.com

    After they finished eating, Maureen got up from the table, saying she 
needed to use the ladies room. But she headed towards the bar, looking for 
the waiter.
    She saw him duck into the kitchen so she waited. She had taken a 
cigarette from the pack but realised as she was standing there that she had 
forgotten the lighter. She looked back over at the table and saw Jessica 
lighting another cigarette and smiled.
    A voice over her shoulder asked if she needed a light.
    It was the waiter.
    He lit her cigarette for her, and she saw the appreciation in his eyes as 
she drew on it.
    "Is there something I can do for you, miss ?"
    "Yeah, it's my friend's birthday and-"
    "Say no more. I'll bring something right out." He started to turn away, 
then stopped.
    "Look, this is, well- I'm just going to ask- is there any chance you'd 
like to give me your phone number ?"
    Shocked, Maureen was still able to think on her feet. "Why don't you give 
me yours, and I'll call you."
    He wrote it down on a napkin and practically shoved it into her hands, 
and she walked back to the table trailing smoke behind her, on a cushion of 
air.
    "Collecting phone numbers are we ?" Jessica asked.
    Maureen blushed.
    "You told him it was my birthday, didn't you ?"
    "Of course."
    "I hope you didn't tell him which one," Jessica said with a smile, and 
soon she was enduring the staff singing happy birthday in an off-key sort of 
way.

    They didn't get back to the house until shortly before dinner. They'd 
stopped by Jessica's on the way home so they could wash up and drop 
Jessica's stuff off, and by the time they reached the house, the smell of 
braised salmon and the fire in the fireplace filled the house.
    Mr. and Mrs. Lang seemed to be excited about the fact that Maureen had 
brought home a new friend. They talked animatedly to Jessica throughout the 
meal, asking her about her old school and her parents and it all went very 
well. By the time they were pushing back their plates, it was clear to 
Maureen that her parents had taken what granddad called an 'high shine' to 
her new friend. They were even calling her Jessie.
    Mrs. Lang lit a Benson and Hedges and Mr. Lang took out the gold cigar 
clip Maureen had given him and went to work on a cigar.
    Jessica flashed a glance at Maureen.
    "There's nothing like a good smoke after a great meal, is there ? That 
was really wonderful. I'm sure my dad would love to get that recipe Mrs. 
Lang."
    "Sure, I can copy it for you," Mrs. Lang said, clearly flattered. "So you 
smoke, Jessie ?"
    "The first thing we do after dinner is light up, Mrs. Lang." She didn't 
mention that it was usually only because she was encouraged to do so.
    "It's Angie, Jessica."
    "In fact, I think Maureen and I will take a walk-"
    "Nonsense," Mr. Lang said around his cigar. "Feel free."
    Jessica smiled, pulled the pack of cigarettes she'd bought at CVS in the 
mall from her pants pocket, lit one, and then handed the pack to Maureen, who 
looked to her dad for approval.
    He just nodded, pulled on the cigar, and took it from his mouth.
    Jessica's first inhale-exhale was nothing short of art.
    "So your parents allow you to smoke, Jessica ?'
    "The truth is that for the most part I only smoke when I'm around them."
    "Really ?"
    "Well, it's so much more enjoyable smoking around others, don't you 
agree ?"
    "Yes, I think you're right," Angie said, smiling at her husband, who was 
pretending not to follow the conversation very closely. But rather than 
answer his wife, he looked at his daughter with the sort of wry smile on his 
face that Maureen would have called smart-assed had their roles been reversed.
    "Maureen doesn't seem to mind smoking by herself."
    "I prefer this, though," she answered, taking the opportunity to p
unctuate her point by drawing deep on the cigarette. She arched her 
head back and let a long, expansive stream of smoke trail from her pert mouth.
    "How long have you been smoking ?" he asked, turning his attention to 
Jessica.
    "About a year or so."
    "Do you enjoy it, or it just something you do because you can ?"
    Jessie laughed. "Oh god, I love it. I smoke when I want to. I think of it 
as a personally fulfilling social activity."
    "You know I've been insistent that Maureen go out of the house if she 
wants to smoke," he said, and Maureen wondered if he was just testing Jessie 
or if he'd be interested in what she really had to say.
    "She mentioned that. Which is why I really appreciate you extending me 
this courtesy."
    "Sometimes parents feel like they have to make rules because that's their 
job. But a lot of times those rules are silly. Your parents let you smoke at 
home and you seem to have turned out all right."
    Jessie laughed again. "Trust me. I'm a work in progress, Mr. Lang."
    "It's Mike. And we all are." He turned to Maureen. "I think maybe it's 
time I let this rule go by the wayside, honey."
    "Thanks, Dad."
    "Don't thank me. Thank Jessie." He turned and looked at her. "And you're 
welcome here any time."

    Audry got into the car while Jim piled their suitcases into the trunk. 
"God, I am dying for a cigarette. There's a convenience store about a mile 
down the road if you don't get on the highway."
    "No need, Mom." Jessica handed her mom her purse.
    "Oh, you're so thoughtful, honey."
    Her mother took the pack from the purse, noticed it was half empty, and 
found Jessica's lighter.
    "This isn't one of my packs, is it ?"
    "No, it's mine, Mom."
    Audry had pulled two cigarettes from the pack and lit them, planning to 
hand one to Jim. But instead she offered the second one to her daughter, who 
happily took it.
    "Is there anything I should know about ?"
    "Oh, I just made a new friend, Mom."
    "And who is he ?" she asked conspiratorially.
    "I said a made a friend, mom, not met a boy. She helped me realise that- 
well, I was missing something. And she got me a great birthday dinner."
    Jim slid into the back seat, took the cigarettes from Audry and lit one.
    "I see that our daughter missed the opportunity to smoke with us."
    "Yes and no, dad. I missed being with you, but I didn't miss smoking. 
What I really missed was having my own car to drive."
    Jim laughed. "Well, you're going to have to give me a few days on that, 
but I already promised, so you don't need to pump me. As soon as we have 
insurance for you, you'll be driving your own car instead of us sweating 
bullets while you drive ours. And I do want to thank you for not bringing my 
car."
    All three laughed.
    And for the first time while driving with them in the car, Jessica 
actually felt relaxed. 
    "When are we going to meet this friend ?" Audry asked.
    "Tonight. She's coming over for dinner. I've got a great salmon recipe I 
thought dad might want to try."
    "Thanks for thinking of me, hon," Jim said, only mildly sarcastic.
    "Now Jim, she did bring the cigarettes."
    "True. What's that about ?"
    "Well, after all those times you and mom encouraged me to smoke, it 
stuck, Dad. Now I'm a smoker, I guess. I hope you're okay with that."
    "Well, if Mom or I aren't, it's a little late now, isn't it young lady ?"
    "Yeah, I guess so."
    "Jessica," Jim said, realising that had been a bit stiff, "we are okay 
with it."
    And they were.
    
    

    


    
    
    
    
    

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