Posted by EnglishBill "Sarah!" Wow, this she hadnt expected. Sarah had just cleared customs and got into the terminal and there was the whole clan turned out to greet her. Mind you, she had been away for a whole year. Everyone was there. Her mother Louise, and all of her sisters, Tania, Michelle, and Emma. All there to greet twenty-two year old Sarah back from her year off, travelling around Europe. And everyone was talking at once. "So good to have you back hon", said Louise. "Great to be back Mom." And it was. Good old, same old mom. Sweet as pie, but somewhat shy and lacking in confidence. Ever more so since her divorce a few years back. "You look really well", said Michelle. "And you sweetie," replied Sarah, discreetly ignoring the fact that her eighteen year old sister had to have gained twenty pounds since she had last seen her. And she hadnt been too svelte in the first place. "So come on then, tell us all about it. Meet any good-looking guys?" It was Emmas turn now. Sixteen years old and boy-crazy. "Or girls come to that?" And that was Tania, eighteen years of age, out of the closet for the last two, and out-spoken as ever. The family continued to chat away as they walked towards the entrance to the terminal. "You know you havent changed a bit" observed Michelle, as they exited through the sliding doors. "Well, maybe a little" replied Sarah. And as she said the words, she fished in her bag and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. There was a brief silence as she extracted a long all white menthol cigarette and lit it. "You smoke?!" Emma was the first to speak. And then they were all talking at once again. Was this really the girl whod left as a non-smoker, now inhaling deeply on a cigarette? "Well, yes. Everyone does in Europe. France, Italy, England, everywhere. In Spain its practically compulsory." What Sarah didnt tell them was how she had started almost as soon as she had left, and had quickly grown to love it. And the more she smoked, it seemed the more she had wanted to smoke. Half a pack a day had soon grown to one, and by then end of her year abroad, one pack had grown to two. Which meant that she pretty much chained into a second cigarette by the time she had finished her first, having been deprived of nicotine for so long on the flight. The rest of the day passed quickly. They drove home, caught up on the news, and her mother fixed a big family reunion dinner. Although she wasnt yet ready to tell her non-smoking family about the depth of her new habit, during the meal Sarah found herself wondering if any of them would also ever take up smoking. They didnt appear particularly pro- or anti- her habit - no-one had a problem with her smoking in the house - though all displayed a certain curiosity in their own different ways. It suddenly seemed strange that none of them had ever smoked. She mused at what cigarettes might do for each of them. Take her mother. Perhaps smoking could give her more confidence. She had confided shyly that there was a nice man at work who was seemingly paying her a lot of attention. But as ever with her mother, she was too shy to reciprocate. Maybe a cigarette or two could help. But then perhaps the guy at work was a non-smoker, so maybe not. And then there was Michelle. All fun-loving and friendly, giggles and glasses, curls and curves. Her expanding waistline bore witness to her love of food, though the extra weight had distributed itself evenly and well. Maybe cigarettes could help her cut down on her eating a little. But would they take her over? She certainly had an addictive personality. Then again, they all seemed to in that family, to some extent. Just look at Tania. Before coming out, she had been so far back in the closet she was practically in Narnia. Then she had brazenly announced she was lesbian to the family one day and had never looked back. One girlfriend after another. But for the last few months she had had a regular partner, and one, judging from the reactions of the rest of the family, who they didnt think particularly highly of. A fitness freak apparently, and a rabid anti-smoker to boot. She had got Tania on a health kick too. And because Tania never did anything by halves, she had become a fanatical gym junkie. If that was what she really wanted, all well and good, but
That left Emma, the youngest. Sixteen years old and wanting to know everything about everything. Thoroughly outgoing, though not the best looker of the family, it had to be said. It seemed that she was more interested in boys than they were in her. Maybe if she had an extra weapon in her armoury? Or was she too young? After dinner, Sarah had to unpack. One by one, the others all headed off to their rooms to listen to music, do homework, whatever. Alone in her bedroom Sarah finished putting away her clothes, along with the various bits and pieces she had picked up in her year away. As she opened her third pack of the day, she noticed she had nearly finished the carton of St Moritz menthols she had brought back from England. She wondered if they had those in the States. Maybe she should try out a new brand tomorrow. She looked down at the leather pouch she had picked up in Barcelona that held a packet of 100s and a lighter perfectly. There too was the beautiful gilt cigarette case she had picked up in Paris. Not to mention the Edwardian holder she had found on a junk stall in a London market. It was true. She loved everything about smoking. And the more she smoked the more she loved it. Surely she couldnt be the only one on her family who would ever feel the same way. All of a sudden she made a decision. Picking up her pack of cigarettes and an ashtray, she slipped out of her room, headed across to one of the other bedrooms, and knocked gently on the door
on 4/23/2002, 10:17 am
Family Fortunes
"Hey sis!"
"Yay... youre back!"
"Wow, Sarah, I cant believe its been so long
welcome back Sis!"
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