Anita Story had been on the job at Metro Visitor since June. It was October and the trees were turning colors. Suddenly Margie Morningside, her preppy editor, called her in to the office.
Would it be a lecture on chewing gum?
Was she fired?
What kind of dog and pony show should she cover?
So, Anita properly disposed of her gum and walked into Margie's office.
Anita, Margie said.
I have a story for you that has possibilities of being the feature for the next edition.
Fat chance, thought Anita. Margie always does the feature for the weekly publication targeted at convention visitors. She gets the tea society stuff.
"Next week, the Merryout is hosting the Late Bloomers Society," Margie said. "I want you to do the advance and cover the convention."
"what's a late bloomer," Anita asked.
"This," Margie said, "is a society of women who started smoking in later life."
"Speaking as one non-smoker to another, why would anyone past 16 start smoking," Anita asked.
"That's the story," Margie said. "That should be your first question.
All I know is that they are going to speak on their experiences of starting, shocking their friends and husbands or boy friends.
"Your contact is Blanche Phuff and here is her phone number. Call her tonght. She works days."
That night, Anita called Blanche.
Expecting to hear a rasphy voice, Anita heard a woman's soft voice with a southern accent.
"Hi," she said. "I'm Anita Story with Metro Visitor and I want to do a story on your organization and your convention."
Anita needed to say no more.
"Well, honey, we're a group of women who started smoking later in life.
I started at 46 myself. I started to blow smoke in my husband's face. He needed to quit. He's quit and I've started. That was eight years ago.
"All these girls have a reason for starting. Some because of divorce or loss or spouse. Some when they married. Some to cope with the kids. some to lose weight. Some to get their husband to come home. On blamed it on her doctor. Some were just being silly and liked it. Some had to sneak it on hubby. These are girls that are pure first-time starters, not restarters."
Finally Anita managed to get in a word. "Are you the oldest one to start?"
"Not at all honey but I'd say I above the average age. Our criteria is for women who started for the first time after the age of 20. How old are you?"
"Twenty three and I don't smoke."
"Neither did any of us at one time. Some of us, including me have really had to eat our words."
Anita could hear the click of the Bick as she continued to talk to Blanche.
The story will continue soon. What do you think so far? Chapters are being gathered as we write. If you know an odd way a woman started tell me. I'll embellish it. Blanche was a real woman. Anita and Margie are not.
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