Don't You Know

As I was leaving the library yesterday (yes, I read!), there was a guy smoking a cigarette on the bench near the entrance. Walking toward me and the library entrance was a young woman. She didn't look at me, but instead looked straight at the guy who was smoking. They apparently knew each other. She said hello. He said hello back. And then, just as she began entering the library door, she looked back at him and said: "Don't you know smoking is bad for you?"

I couldn't resist. As I made my way down the stairs toward the parking lot, I had to look back to see what ensued.

"Wait!" he said. "Are you serious?"

"Chyeah!?" she replied and paused at the entrance. "Don't you listen to the news? Haven't you read the warnings and stuff?"

"What news? Do you mean recently? I haven't seen the news recently."

"What do you mean? For years it has been known that cigarettes are bad!"

"Then I should probably stop, huh?"

"Chyeah!?"

"I'm really glad you told me. Thank you. I will quit today!" as he took a final drag off the nearly finished cigarette.

"Then I guess my work is done here," she said, as she walked into the library.

I looked at the guy as she faded from view and we smiled at each other. I gave him a nod as he put another cigarette in his mouth.

"Gotta light?" he asked me.

"Sure," I said, as I walked over to him and loaned him my lighter.