Cold Turkey, Part 2

All characters in this story are purely fictional.  Any resemblence 
of these characters to real life people are conicidence only, and are 
not meant to cause offence to anyone.  All place names and locations 
in this story are intentionally fictional.  

COLD TURKEY
by Blackbladder

Part 2

It was a clear blue sky as the Vauxhall Cavalier ground to a halt outside
Irene's bungalow.  Denise got out of the car and locked her baby up.  She
always loved her car since she past her test at the age of eighteen.  Denise
had always been an independent, happy child before aiming for a career in
administration.  As Denise strolled up towards the red front door, she
breathed a sigh of relief.  This was her first week alone from the work and
kids and she was planning to enjoy it.  Initially, Denise had wanted Irene to
stay as a guest at her home, but she knew there was tension between her
husband and Irene over the smoking status.  

The door cranked open and Irene emerged, with her purple rainjacket on.

"You ready?" Denise asked enthusiastically.

Irene immediately handed Denise a heavy sportsbag and locked the door as the
mother and daughter walked back towards the car.  Once in the car, Denise
inserted the key then the engine roared to life, begging to be used.  

"So tell me about the big secret, Denise? Where we going?"  Irene inquired.  

"Well, me and you are gonna stay in a log cabin for the week out in the
country."  Denise bragged, excited that she and her mother would be spending
time with each other.  Due to their different working conditions, they never
saw a lot of each other.  

"What we gonna do for entertainment, Denise?" Irene continued her
interrogation.  

"The log cabins are situated next to a big nature reserve.  We can go walks
and just chill out - what do you think?"

Irene pondered her response, then replied "Right dear, it sounds relaxing."

The brunette mother was concerned.  She was a thrillseeker - she loved the
lifestyle of the pubs and clubs.  She loved the city nightlife - now her
daughter was gonna bore the pants of her?, Irene thought.  She looked across
towards Denise, who was concentrating on the driving - like warped in some
sort of hypnotic trance.

Denise beamed "Yeah! this is what this week is all about for us.  Just time to
relax and get to know each other again.  You know its been since christmas
since we last spoke..."

Irene recalled last christmas.  She had been invited to Denise and Pauls home
for the holidays and the tension had began dying down.  This was due to the
fact that Irene had quit smoking for a fortnight during the festive period.
Then one night...

"Who is out here?" Paul inquired as he sniffed the air, an alien source was in
the vacinity.  

Stepping out onto the patio, he peered into the darkness, trying to locate the
source of the cigarette smoke.  Eventually, sitting on the edge of the
staircase to the patio, was his mother-in law - she was dragging desperately
on a cigarette.  The end was glowing bright red, brightening up her face as
she was caught red-handed.

"What's going on, Irene? I thought you quit?.." Paul mumbled as the smoke
irritated his nostrils.

"I had to have one, Paul.  You don't know what it's like for me.  I have done
well for the last two weeks........Give me some credit!" Irene rattled,
annoyed that her efforts to appease the family had been in vain.

"What about if the kids had come out?  What dirty example do you think you are
setting them?" Paul demanded, his tone becoming more authoritive.  His role of
Supervisor in the cleaning supplies factory had added to his assertiveness.  

Irene inhaled deeply again, held in for a few seconds, then blew the smoke
straight at Paul in defiance.  

"Listen Paul, Hannah and Stacey never came out ok? They are too busy playing
with their computer games.  Put a sock in it, please..." Irene retorted.

"Put that damn thing out now! I think I hear someone coming..." Paul asserted.

Irene complied with his demand, despite how much she hated Paul for his
attitude.  Paul was the one reason Irene tried to keep out of their lives.
She knew Paul and him never saw eye to eye.  

Stacey stepped outside and gripped her father's hand.  She looked up to Paul
with her big brown eyes, full of innocence.

"Oh Daddy, come inside.  It's cold.  Come and see me kick Hannah's ass on the
computer." Stacey begged.

Paul smiled at his eldest daughter.  

Stacey sniffed the air around her father and grandmother and commented on the
cigarette smoke.

"You been smoking again, Grandma?" Stacey noted with a frown.

Irene was gutted.  She tried to be a good role model for the children.  As she
put out her cigarette, hidden behind the patio staircase, she stood up, zipped
up her jacket to retain her body heat, and walked towards her granddaughter.

"Yes hun, I am sorry.  It is a disgusting habit and I don't want you ever to
follow my example." Irene lied to her granddaughter.

Paul added "Yes, Stacey, I have brought you up well.  You know never to do
something as disgusting as drugs like smoking or drinking.  Go run inside."

As Stacey returned into the warmth of the dining room, Irene turned towards
Paul fuming.

"Don't you ever show me up like that again, Paul.  I did not deserve that! I
will be leaving now!" Irene muttered quietly.

Denise emerged from the dining room to join her husband and mother on the
patio.  She rubbed her arms, fighting the christmas breeze attacking her skin.  

"Is there a problem?" Denise asked innocently.

"Yeah. The smoking is getting out of hand.  Your mother is leaving now to
return to her killer habit." Paul mocked.

Denise frowned at Irene, disappointed at her mothers collapse from quitting.  

"Oh Mom......" Denise moaned.

"Oh Denise......" Irene mocked, trying to break the ice.  

"You both don't know how hard it is to quit.  Maybe if you both smoked
sometime in your lives, you would understand.  Anyway, thanks for inviting me
but I have outstayed my welcome.  Say Merry Christmas to the kids for me."
Irene stated before leaving through the back gate on the patio.

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