The believing we do something when we do nothing is the first illusion of tobacco. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
When smoking comes to my mind I think of the famous bourgeoisie actor Audrey Hepburn, and how classy she looks puffing her lengthy cigarette. In my mind I always contradicted my father when he said women especially, should not be smoking.
The box of Marlboro lights were sitting on the kitchen table with a bright crimson lighter beside it. Someone had apparently forgotten their carton of cigarettes on the table. I took no notice of the carton but on the second day my eyes were laid on the carton and wondered why anyone hadn’t taken them.
I opened the carton to find one single cigarette left inside. I pondered whether or not I should do it, because there was only one cigarette left. It was too obvious. If the carton was full then it wouldn’t be as noticeable. I walked back and fourth contemplating what would happen if I smoked the cigarette. It was too enticing… I was home alone, there was only one left, it looked so perfect so precise, and flavorful.
My temptation was greater than my conformity. I opened the box of Marlboro and went outside in the backyard and attempted to smoke my first cigarette. I couldn’t believe that I had actually done it. I didn’t have a clue how to light the cigarette and I definitely didn’t know how to hold it. I was struggling with the cigarette the whole time, but I somehow managed to smoke the entire thing. After I was finished I wasn’t sure whether I had actually accomplished something or whether I had just made a big mistake.
I went back into the house and opened the windows, sprayed air freshener everywhere, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and splashed some perfume on; hoping to hide the evidence.
My father came home from work that night, got the mail, and sat at the kitchen table.
“Where is the carton of cigarettes?”
“Oh uh I threw them away there was nothing inside.”
“What do you mean you threw them away? There was still one left. Did you smoke? “
“And why are the windows open you’re usually so cold.”
There was a moment of silence between us and then I replied with a remorseful yes.
It was too obvious and if I lied I would be making a fool out of myself. The carton of cigarettes where gone and the windows were wide open. I didn’t think anyone was going to notice the missing carton of cigarettes, because they were sitting on the table for such a long time. I was being overly cautious when I opened the windows since I smoked the cigarette outside.
I felt a cloud of guilt flouting over my head as I was chewing gum to rid of the atrocious after taste left in my mouth. I was deceived; it looked so good yet tasted so bad. My father didn’t scold or punish me, although I was kind of expecting him to. He just said that he hoped I would never do it again. It was my first cigarette and I’m anticipating for it to be the last.
We all know and have been told numerous times about the hazardous affects of smoking, but do we really know what are inside these sticks of wonder? There must be more than just tobacco in a cigarette for it to cause all of these fatal and deadly cancerous diseases.
There are about 599 other ingredients in cigarettes other than tobacco. Here are just a few of the many ingredients:
Acetone: Fingernail polish removal
Ammonia: Floor/toilet cleaner
Angelica root extract: Known to cause cancer in animals
Arsenic: Used in rat poisons
Butane: Gas: Used in lighter fluid
Carbon monoxide: Poisonous gas/car exhaust fumes
Cadmium: Used in batteries and paint
Chloroform: Anesthetic
Cyanide: Deadly poison
DDT: A banned insecticide
Ethyl Furoate: Causes liver damage in animals
Hydrogen Cyanide: Gas chamber poison
Hexamine: Barbeque lighter
Lead: Poisonous in high doses
Formaldehyde: Used to preserve dead specimens
Methanol: Rocket fuel
Methoprene: Insecticide
Methyl isocyanate: Its accidental release killed 2000 people in Bhopal, India in 1984
Naphthalene: Ingredient in mothballs
Nicotine: insecticide/ addictive drug
Nitrobenzene: Gasoline additive
Nitrous Oxide Phenols: Disinfectant
Polonium: Cancer-causing radioactive element
Stearic Acid: Candle wax
Tar: Substance used to pave roads and driveways.
