My Weekend at Auntie Anne's, Part 3

My Weekend at Auntie Anne's  (Part 3)


Upon awakening on Saturday morning, I immediately went down to the kitchen
still dressed in my pajamas.  There in the kitchen sat Auntie Anne drinking
coffee, reading the newspaper and smoking one of her Marlboro Light 100's.
"Good morning, Sleepyhead.  Did you sleep good?"  

"Uh huh."  

"What would you like for breakfast?"  

"Can I have another cigarette now?"  

"For breakfast!  How about we eat something first.  Wouldn't you like some
cereal or some hot chocolate and toast?"

"OK, some hot chocolate and toast.  But then could I have another
cigarette?"  

"Yes Honey, after you eat something and change your clothes, you can have a
cigarette."  

"Will you teach me how to inhale the smoke today, like you said?"  

"OK Hon, if you really want to try it, we can."

	In no time at all I had finished my chocolate and toast and changed
into my play clothes.  Auntie Anne was finishing up in the kitchen when I came
down, so I sat down at the table right next to her cigarettes and proudly
announced that I was ready for my cigarette.  

"OK Honey, why don't you take my cigarettes with you into the den and light
one up for yourself, and I'll be there in a minute.  Think you can do that
by yourself?"  

"Uh huh."  

"Don't try inhaling it though, until I get there."  

"OK.  I won't."

I grabbed her cigarette pouch and went into the den and sat on the sofa.
Opening the pouch, I took out a long white cigarette and her lighter, placed
the cigarette between my lips and lit it on the first try.  I was really
feeling proud of myself at that point.  

"Hi there, young lady.  Looks like you did that quite well.  Want to light
one for me too?"  

"OK," I said, as I held on to the lighter and handed her a cigarette.  I put
my cigarette in the ashtray on the coffee table and with both hands, I flicked
the lighter and lit Auntie Anne's cigarette too.  She took a nice long puff,
inhaled then blew out a real long stream of smoke.  My excitement was really
building at this point and I could hardly contain myself.  Sensing my
anticipation, she said, 

"So, are you ready to try that?"  

"Oh yeah, that really looked so cool.  I want to do that just like you do
Auntie Anne."  

"OK Sweetie, but it will take you a while before you can inhale that much
smoke.  Now listen to what I say and do it just like I tell you, otherwise
you might start to feel a little dizzy, OK?"  

"OK, Auntie Anne."

"Now, just take a little tiny puff and hold it in your mouth, but don't blow
it out right away.  Then open your mouth and take a big breath of air."  

I took my little puff, but I must not have inhaled it fast enough because I
right away had a coughing fit.  

"Are you OK, Honey?  Think maybe you just want to stick with puffing on it
for a while longer?"  

"No.  I just don't think I did it right that time, and I want to try it
again."  

"Are you sure?"  

"Uh huh."  

"Ok, a real little puff this time, with a whole lot of air.  Watch me."  

With that admonition, Auntie Anne demonstrated the technique.  This time I
followed her example exactly and I managed to inhale my first ever puff from a
cigarette.  It wasn't very much smoke, but oh how I loved watching that little
stream of smoke come out of my mouth.  

"I did it, Auntie Anne, I did it."  

I was so excited, I had to do it again right away.  My next puff was still a
tiny one, but I did inhale and again exhaled a small stream of smoke.  

"Oh Auntie Anne, I'm smoking just like you."  

"Yes, Honey, you did that very well.  Now take it slow and don't take too
big a puff and don't smoke it so fast or else it might make you a little sick
to your stomach.  Your body isn't used to the smoke yet and it takes a few
days to get accustomed to it."  

"OK, Auntie Anne."

I was really flying by this time.  Not from any effects of the smoke, but from
the excitement of really smoking a cigarette and inhaling just like a grown
up.  I continued smoking my cigarette and tried inhaling a little more smoke
with each puff.  When my cigarette was a little more than half gone, the
inhaled smoke began to take it's toll, and I started to feel very light headed
and my stomach started to feel a little upset.  

"I think I've had enough for now, Auntie Anne.  I don't feel so good."  

"That's OK Honey.  Here, let me have your cigarette and you lay down on the
sofa for a while.  Can I get you anything?  How about some water or hot
chocolate?"  

Fortified with another cup of hot chocolate and without the inflow of smoke, I
began to feel better almost immediately.  About 30 minutes later, Auntie Anne
came in to check on me and see how I was feeling.  I told her I was feeling
much better now and immediately asked for another cigarette.  

"Honey, let's wait a little while longer, OK?  Let's give your system a
chance to adjust.  Tell you what.  Let's go do a little shopping at the
mall this morning then stop by the grocery store.  I have to pick up a few
things for dinner and I'm almost out of cigarettes.  What would you say if
we got you your very own pack of cigarettes and your very own lighter while
we're there?"  

"Oh Auntie Anne, my very own pack of cigarettes?"  

"Sure, Sweetie.  You can have your own pack and smoke one whenever you
like.  One thing, though.  I can't let you take them home with you,
because your mom would kill me if she found out, OK?  You'll just have to
leave them here with me and smoke them when you come to visit."  

"OK, Auntie Anne.  My mom would kill me if she found them anyway."  

About an hour later, we got in the car and drove to the mall.  As was her
custom, Auntie Anne lit up a cigarette as soon as we got in the car.  Since
the mall wasn't very far away, I didn't have time to have a cigarette of my
own, but I asked Auntie Anne for a puff of hers.  My excitement was peaking
again because I had never smoked or even held a cigarette in a car before.
Auntie Anne handed me her cigarette and cautioned me to wait until there were
no other cars around before taking my puff because she didn't want us to get
in trouble.  After all, no eight-year-old is supposed to be smoking,
especially with a grown-up's permission.  Making sure I wouldn't be seen by
anyone, I put the cigarette up to my lips and took a puff, only being so
excited, it was slightly more that I intended.  I really had a jolt after I
inhaled and that mouthful of smoke hit my chest.  I didn't cough and just
leaned my head back and blew out my longest stream of smoke ever.  Boy, what a
rush!  I really tasted the flavor of the smoke with that puff and I was
pleased as punch at having exhaled that much smoke.  

"Hey there, young lady.  That was quite an exhale.  It looks to me like
you're really getting the hang of this smoking."  

"You really think so, Auntie Anne?  I really like smoking.  Can I have
another puff?"  

"There's a lot of cars on the road now and we're almost at the mall.  Maybe
you can sneak one in the parking lot."  

"Oh thanks, Auntie Anne.  Did you really mean it when you said you'd buy me
my own pack of cigarettes?"  

"Sure, Honey.  Would you like to try any other kind of cigarettes or do you
want to stick with my brand?"  

"I like yours, Auntie Anne.  Besides, I don't know any other kind but what
you and Grandma and mommy and daddy smoke."

Auntie Anne had finished her cigarette by the time we parked and I didn't get
to have my second puff.  

We shopped for about an hour and Auntie Anne bought me a new pair of shorts
and a top.  She also bought a few things for herself.  Once back at the car,
Auntie Anne unlocked the doors then handed me her purse and asked me to get in
and light her a cigarette while she put the packages in the trunk?"  Being
elated at this prospect, I couldn't get her cigarettes out fast enough.
Checking to see that no one was watching, I bent over and lit up.  I managed
to get two puffs in before handing the cigarette to Auntie Anne.  There were
so many feelings running through me at that time, it's hard to explain them
all.  I was excited about lighting up my first cigarette in a car, thrilled
that Auntie Anne gave me my first cigarette and taught me how to smoke,
nervous about someone seeing me smoke a cigarette, and feeling kind of
naughty, knowing that I was doing something that good little girls weren't
supposed to be doing.  But most of all, I just felt good all over.    

In no time, we were at the grocery store and I almost couldn't contain my
excitement.  I kept thinking about having my very own pack of cigarettes.
Auntie Anne quickly put a few items in the cart, and as we headed for the
checkout counter, my heart started to race.  Auntie Anne stopped in front of
the cigarette rack, pulled a carton of cigarettes from the rack and put it in
the basket, but she didn't get any for me.  Maybe she was just going to give
me a pack from her carton.  Just then she leaned over to me and said, "We'll
get yours up at the counter."

My heart was pounding with anticipation.  As we reached the checkout counter,
Auntie Anne grabbed a two-pack of Bic lighters off the rack and just before we
were through checking out, she said to the clerk, 

"Oh, and give me a pack of Marlboro Light 100's also, in the box please."  

Then she looked over at me and gave me a look and a smile that said, see I
told you I would.  We got our bag and I couldn't wait until we got back to the
car.  I just wanted to hold my very own pack of cigarettes and lighter.  I was
just bursting with anticipation.  

As soon as we were in the car, Auntie Anne lit up her usual cigarette while I
was in the bag reaching for my treasures.  I wanted to open them and have one
right there, but I was afraid that someone would see me.  

"Let's wait until we get home before you open them, OK, Honey?  I'll let you
have a puff of mine on the way."  

"OK, Auntie Anne."

As we pulled out of the parking lot, to my surprise and delight, Auntie Anne
handed me her cigarette. 

"If you're worried about anyone seeing you, just slide down in the seat a
little."  

Without any hesitation I reached for her cigarette and slid myself down in the
seat just like she said and took one puff and even took a second puff inhaling
each one, before handing the cigarette to Auntie Anne.  

"Think that will hold you until we get home?"  

"No.  I'd really like to have one of mine right now."  

"Let's wait 'til we get home anyway.  We can share this one, OK?"  

"Oh, Ok Auntie Anne."  

With that, she handed me her cigarette and I took two more puffs before
handing it back to her.  On the way home, I was really feeling happy.  So far,
this has been a weekend beyond my wildest expectations.  I was just sitting
there hoping it would never end.

Clutching my new pack of cigarettes and the lighters, I literally ran into the
house.  I just couldn't wait to open MY cigarettes.  

"Slow down, Sweetie.  Go on into the den and I'll be there in a second to
show you the proper way to open your pack of cigarettes."  

Within a minute, Auntie Anne came in and sat down next to me on the sofa.  

"See that little cellophane tab on the side of the pack?"  

"Uh huh."  

"Well grab that with your fingers and gently pull it around the pack and take
off the top part of the wrapper.  That's it.  Now lift the lid gently,
being careful not to tear it, and grab the flap of the foil, lift it up and
pull it straight out the top.  Pull a little harder...perfect.  You did
that just like a pro."  

"Auntie Anne, how come my pack is different than yours?  They're both the
same kind of cigarettes, aren't they?"  

"Yes Hon, they're the same cigarettes, but I got you the ones in the hard
pack, or box as they're usually called, because they'll stay fresher longer."
"A lot of women like the box because their cigarettes won't get all crushed
when they carry them in their pocket or purse.  I prefer the soft pack
because it fits much better in my cigarette pouch."  

"Will you buy me a cigarette pouch?"  

"Yes Honey.  I'd love to buy you a cigarette pouch, but I'm not sure it's
quite the right time yet.  Let me think about it, OK?  So, are you going
to let me have one of your cigarettes or what?"  

"Oh sure, Auntie Anne.  Please have one of mine, won't you", I said, as I
offered her the pack.  

She pulled one out for each of us, handed one to me then lit both our
cigarettes with one of the new lighters before handing it to me.  I put my new
pack of cigarettes and lighter on the coffee table and sat down on the couch
next to Auntie Anne.  I just felt so grown up sitting there and smoking with
her.  For the rest of the afternoon, I just sat there and watched TV and
smoked a few more cigarettes.  Normally I would have been bored silly, but
with my new "hobby", I was perfectly contented.  I actually smoked three more
cigarettes that afternoon, spacing them about an hour apart and inhaling
almost every puff.  With each cigarette I smoked, I would try to take an extra
big puff and just blow it out.  To tell you the truth, each whole cigarette I
smoked would still make me dizzy so I waited until the feeling went away
before having another.  With this new freedom I really wanted to smoke the
whole pack but my young lungs simply couldn't handle it.

That evening, Auntie Anne ordered us in a pizza, my favorite.  I ate four
slices and was very full.  After we finished eating, Auntie Anne immediately
lit up a cigarette.  She then told me that cigarettes always taste the best
right after a meal and that it would become one of my favorite cigarettes of
the day.  Taking her at her word, I opened my box and took the sixth cigarette
out of my new pack.

Auntie Anne was right.  This cigarette tasted better than all the others I had
today.  This was the first cigarette I had where I really liked the taste of
it rather than just the thrill of smoking.  Having the freedom to smoke as I
pleased, by the time I was ready for bed, I counted only 10 cigarettes left in
my new pack.  That meant I had smoked a total of nine cigarettes on my first
full day of smoking, not counting the one I gave to Auntie Anne.

With my shallow puffs, it took me about twice as long as Auntie Anne to finish
my cigarette, but I didn't care as long as I was able to smoke.

When it was time for bed, Auntie Anne let me take my pack of cigarettes to bed
with me, but I wasn't allowed to smoke anymore in the bedroom.  She did light
one of her own and let me have a couple of puffs before tucking me in for the
night.  Some kids would have gone to sleep clutching their favorite doll or
teddy bear, but that night, I fell asleep holding on to my very own box of
Marlboro Light 100's.  Without a doubt, that Saturday was the best day of my
whole life.

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