Fame and Fortune, Part 2

Fame and Fortune

Part 2 - Fame's Power


   Cindy got home and gave the letter to her parents explaining that they
should read it now.  She then made her way to her room.  Betty and Dave found
a check for $250,000 and a letter.  They read:


   Cindy has tried our product and will soon get others to try it.  You are to
support her as you see fit, keeping in mind our one year deal.  Let us remind
you of our right to sue you if you do not honor it.  As you are aware, recent
changes in government policy have created new markets for many products that
didn't exist before.  We have found that those under seventeen are a vastly
under-tapped consumer group that can enjoy our product.  We appreciate your
giving help and support to Cindy as she introduces it to many others.  Without
her help and the help of others like her and Gina, we could not reach our
target.  We, and now Cindy, are selling Fame.  It is a brand of cigarettes
that by law can now be sold to those under seventeen providing the seller is
under twenty and no tax is collected.  You are to say nothing about this to
anyone as the information might lead to unwanted competition for our market.
Cindy will have others in your house and get them to try Fame. If you are
present, you are to discuss our product with a positive light.  Again, anyone
in your immediate family can use our product free of charge.


   Betty stared in disbelief at the letter.  It couldn't be true.  "Our
daughter is smoking now?  What did we get ourselves into?"

   "I'm not sure honey, but we better play along for now.  We don't want a
lawsuit on our hands.  I don't like it any more than you do, but what can we
really do?"

   "I don't know Dave.  I guess we have no choice."

   "Let's talk to Cindy about it."  He called her into the room.  When she
came in, he began," Your mother and I have just read the letter you brought
us.  Apparently, you'll be smoking now."

   "I'm sorry Cindy," Betty said.  "I know you never wanted to smoke.  Had I
known, I would never have signed that stupid paper."

   "You didn't know?"

   "No, we weren't told what it was until we read the letter," Dave answered."

   "It's ok, I'm not mad at you.  It wasn't hard to learn.  Will you guys be
ok with me smoking around the house?"

   "I don't know if I'll be ok with it, but I'll have to learn to live with
it," Dave answered.

   "As much as I don't want to, I'll be supportive," Betty told her.

   "They gave me some cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays.  I guess I'll be
needing them.  I better put out some ashtrays."  She went to her room and got
a few.  She put one on her nightstand, one in the living room, and one in the
kitchen.  She decided to have another cigarette before going to bed.  In her
room she took out the open pack of Fame 100s.  She took one from the pack and
lit it.  She again mimicked Elaine's actions, blowing out the first puff and
taking a long second puff, which she inhaled.  She exhaled and looked at the
cigarette and the pack she just put on her nightstand.  Being alone while
smoking allowed her to reflect on her feelings.  She began to think that maybe
Elaine was right. She enjoyed smoking this cigarette more than the other two.
She liked the taste and the way the smoke felt inside her.  She smoked in
silence occasionally looking at herself in the mirror.  It was a strange sight
to see herself smoking, but she thought it gave her a more mature appearance.
She went to sleep and awoke the next morning.  After breakfast, she had her
first cigarette of the day.  She lit it at the table and pulled the ashtray
toward her.  She took a drag as Betty watched her.  She pulled the smoke into
her lungs and felt it go to work.  She held it for a few seconds before
exhaling.

   "You look comfortable with that cigarette Cindy," Betty said.

   "I'm getting used to it."  Cindy finished smoking and got ready to leave
for school.  Her day passed quickly and she returned home to her mother's
welcome.  

   "How was your day Cindy?"

   "Nothing special mom.  I got an A on my math test."

   "Keep up the good work."  Cindy went to her room and got a pack of
cigarettes.  She opened it, extracted one and lit it.  Her first inhale
relaxed her.  She went inside to her mother carrying her pack and lighter in
her left hand and her freshly lit Fame 100 between her index and middle finger
of her right hand.  She sat on the couch and put her pack on the table.  She
brought the cigarette to her mouth for another pull.  She inhaled deeply and
exhaled a tight cone.  

   "So how's smoking Cindy?"

   "Pretty good.  I think I'm going to like it."

   "I still wish you didn't have to do it."

   "Well I do, so I might as well enjoy myself.  Don't forget, I'm not paying
for them."

   "I just have to get used to seeing you smoke."  The phone rang and Betty
answered it.  "Hello?"

   "Hi Betty, this is Gina.  Is Cindy around?"

   "Hold on, she's right here."  She passed the phone to Cindy.  "Its Gina."

   Cindy took the phone from her mother.  "Hi Gina, what's up?"

   "Not much, I just wanted to see how you were doing.  Have you been
smoking?"

   "Yes, in fact I'm having one now."

   "Good.  Isn't it great?"

   Cindy thought for a moment before answering.  "Yea, it is," she agreed.  "I
didn't think it would be like this."

   "Neither did I at first, but that changed in a hurry."

   "I think I know what you mean," Cindy said, taking another long puff on her
Fame 100.

   "Then forget about that stupid minimum and smoke a little more.  Trust me,
you won't be disappointed."

   "Maybe I will.  I'm going to go now; my show is coming on TV.  Bye Gina."

   "I'll talk to you later Cindy."

   Cindy hung up the phone and began watching.  "What did Gina want," Betty
asked.

   "Just checking up on me.  She said I should smoke more.  I think it's a
good idea."

   "If you want to, there's no point in me saying anything to you.  They gave
you so many."  

   Cindy thought about the carton in her room.  There was plenty there, so why
shouldn't she smoke more.  She smoked three more that day and went to bed
looking forward to smoking in the morning.  She woke up and the first thing
her eyes fixed on after sitting up was her cigarettes.  Having one right away
seemed like fun so she got one and lit up.  She continued smoking and quickly
felt a buzz.  She decided she would try this again tomorrow.  With her
cigarette about half finished, she went to breakfast.  She sipped her coffee
and finished her cigarette before she began eating.  When she finished, she
lit up another.  Smoking more was agreeing with her. She got ready and left
for school.  When she got inside, Mr. Milan, her math teacher stopped her in
the hall.

   "Cindy, I was wondering if you could help me.  One of my other students is
having a little trouble with her grades.  Would you mind tutoring her to help
her improve?"

   "It would be my pleasure Mr. Milan."

   "Thank you so much Cindy.  I'll tell her the good news.  Come to my class
after school and I'll introduce you."

   "I will.  See you in class."

   "Bye Cindy."

   Cindy went through her day of classes then went to Mr. Milan's classroom.
"Hi Mr. Milan."  She noticed a girl who looked to be about thirteen was there.

   "Hello Cindy.  This is Andrea.  She's the girl I told you about.  Andrea,
this is Cindy.  She'll help you with your studies."  The two girls exchanged
greetings.  "If you have the time Cindy, Andrea can go home with you now."

   "Sure, I'm free after school today.  I'll be glad to start helping Andrea.
Just follow me, I'll get you up to speed in no time."  The two girls left Mr.
Milan's room and went to Cindy's house.  As they were going, Cindy realized
that she had cigarettes all over the house and Andrea would be there when she
lit up when she got home.  It didn't bother her.  Instead, she looked forward
to smoking.  She then remembered about the part of the agreement with the
makers of Fame about getting others to try it.  She'd see if she could get
Andrea to try them.  They got to Cindy's house and Cindy introduced Andrea to
her mother.  "This is Andrea.  Mr. Milan asked me to tutor her for a while."

   "Hello Andrea, call me Betty."

   "Hi Betty, nice to meet you."

   "Let's get started Andrea," Cindy said.

   "I'll leave you two alone to study," Betty said and then left the room.

   Andrea sat down and started to get her books out.  "I'll get us something
to drink before we start," Cindy said.  She went to the kitchen and got two
sodas.  When she returned, Andrea was ready to begin.  "What do you need help
with?"

   "Algebra mostly.  I get confused with all those letters."

   "I aced that class when I took it.  I'm sure I can teach you a thing or
two.  I'll make up a few test problems for you to do so I can see how to help
you."  Cindy scribbled five problems on a piece of paper.  "Work on these and
when you finish, I'll correct them and help you understand the ones you get
wrong."  She gave the paper to Andrea, who got to work.  Cindy took the
opportunity to have a cigarette.  She took one out and lit it.  Her first drag
was strong and she held it for four seconds before releasing the smoke.  She
immediately began a second drag.

   Andrea was too engulfed in her quiz to hear the lighter but smelled the
smoke from Cindy's exhale.  She looked up to see Cindy removing the cigarette
from her lips and inhale the smoke.  When Cindy exhaled, Andrea said, "You
smoke?"

   "Yes, I just started but I love it."

   "What about your parents?  They let you?"

   "They're fine with it," Cindy took another puff and continued while
exhaling, "Do you smoke Andrea?"

   "No, I'm thirteen."

   "What's that got to do with it?  I just turned fifteen and that's not too
much older."

   "I thought only bad kids smoke."

   "Am I a bad girl Andrea?"

   "No, you've been very nice to me by offering to help me."

   Betty walked through the room and asked, "How's it going so far?"

   Cindy took a drag and exhaled before answering, "We just started, but good
so far."

   "Let me know if you need anything."

   "I will mom."

   When Betty left the room Andrea said, "She really didn't say anything about
your smoking."

   "I told you it was ok.  Did you ever think about trying a cigarette?"

   "Not really.  There was this one time when one of my mom's friends was
smoking and I wondered what it was like while I watched her do it."

   "Do you want to find out?"

   "I'm not sure."

   "If you want to, I'll let you try it.  You don't have to worry about my
mother, she won't mind."  She extended her cigarette to Andrea.  "Here, take
it."

   Andrea's curiosity was aroused.  "Ok, I'll try it."  Andrea's hand make
it's way to the offered cigarette.  She took it and brought it to her mouth.
She pulled in a bit of smoke and blew it out.

   "Try some more and let the smoke sit in your mouth a little before you blow
it out.  Andrea did as she was told.  "What do you think?"

   "I like blowing out the smoke, it's fun."

   "You want to finish that one?  I'll just light myself another."

   "Ok, I will."  Andrea took another puff and blew it out after a bit.  Cindy
lit up a fresh Fame 100 and smoked with Andrea.  Andrea took a few more puffs
before putting out her cigarette.  "Thanks, that was cool."

   "I think you're cool Andrea.  Now get back to work!"

   Time passed quickly as Cindy worked with Andrea.  Her mother came into the
room and said, "I'm going to start dinner.  Will you be staying Andrea?"

   "Can I call my parents to see if it's ok with them?"

   "Of course, go ahead and use our phone."

   Andrea called and was given permission.  She was told she could even stay
longer if it meant more studying.  She got a little more help before Dave came
home and everyone sat to eat.  When they finished, Andrea said, "Thank you for
dinner Betty, it was good."

   "My pleasure Andrea.  Do you want to stay and study?"

   "Yes, if it's ok with Cindy."

   "Fine by me.  Want to get back to the books now?"

   "Sure."

   "Let's study in my room so we won't be distracted."  Andrea followed Cindy
to her room.  When they got there, Cindy lit up a cigarette.  She took out
another and offered it to Andrea.  "Do you want one?" she asked, twirling it
between her thumb and index finger at Andrea.

   Andrea liked her previous encounter with smoking so she accepted.  She took
it and brought it to her lips as Cindy extended a flame.  She sucked it to
life and took a puff then blew it out.

   "Try inhaling the smoke next time."  She watched as Andrea took a puff and
instead of blowing it out, inhaled shallowly and exhaled.  "Not bad.  Try
again but inhale a little deeper."  Buoyed by her success, Andrea tried again.
When she exhaled, Cindy asked, "How is it?"

   When Andrea inhaled she felt as if she were being hugged from the inside.
She exhaled.  "It feels good inside me."  She then felt her head start to
tingle.  "I'm a little dizzy."

   "That will pass.  Just take it easy and enjoy yourself."

   Andrea tried another puff, inhaling like before.  She felt the warmth in
her chest then exhaled.  The tingling grew pleasantly stronger.  "That was
wonderful.  Thanks for letting me smoke."

   "You're welcome Andrea.  Ready to study?"

   Andrea took another puff, exhaled and answered, "Yea, let's go."  They
finished their cigarettes while working and put in an hour when Andrea said
she should get home.  She gathered her books and said goodbye to Cindy's
parents.  "Thank you for the help.  I think I'm starting to get it."

   "You're welcome Andrea.  I'm free tomorrow after school if you want to come
by."

   "I'll tell my parents tonight and meet up with you after school tomorrow."

   "See you then."

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