Tooth for a Tooth
“Just you and me.’ Gilchrist’s fingers trembled as he eased his cigarette into the flame.
‘Now suck in.’ The heat from the lighter seemed to fire his mouth, and he almost let go.
‘Now take a deep breath,’ Jack said. ‘Hold it. Then puff it out.’ Gilchrist inhaled as he was told, felt dizziness surge through him, watched his brother’s face shift and shimmer. Then he let it out, but could not hold back a cough.
‘Feel good?’ ‘I think so.’ ‘Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it.’ Gilchrist sat back,... holding the cigarette deep between his index and middle finger, his hand clasped over his mouth. He took another draw and exhaled through his nose, just the way Jack did.
‘Here,’ said Jack, handing him the lighter.
The silver lighter gleamed as good as new, except . . .
‘It’s scratched,’ said Gilchrist.
Jack nodded, blew smoke from his nostrils. ‘Two nicks. One for me and one for my girlfriend.’ He took a quick draw, pouted it out.
‘Do you like your girlfriend?’ ‘She’s special.’ ‘Will you get married?’ Jack retrieved his lighter and removed a penknife from his back pocket.MoreLess
‘Now suck in.’ The heat from the lighter seemed to fire his mouth, and he almost let go.
‘Now take a deep breath,’ Jack said. ‘Hold it. Then puff it out.’ Gilchrist inhaled as he was told, felt dizziness surge through him, watched his brother’s face shift and shimmer. Then he let it out, but could not hold back a cough.
‘Feel good?’ ‘I think so.’ ‘Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it.’ Gilchrist sat back,... holding the cigarette deep between his index and middle finger, his hand clasped over his mouth. He took another draw and exhaled through his nose, just the way Jack did.
‘Here,’ said Jack, handing him the lighter.
The silver lighter gleamed as good as new, except . . .
‘It’s scratched,’ said Gilchrist.
Jack nodded, blew smoke from his nostrils. ‘Two nicks. One for me and one for my girlfriend.’ He took a quick draw, pouted it out.
‘Do you like your girlfriend?’ ‘She’s special.’ ‘Will you get married?’ Jack retrieved his lighter and removed a penknife from his back pocket.MoreLess
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