No. 4, Cigarette
My grandfather lives in the back room of our house. He is very sick all the time. You smoked too many cigarettes the doctors told him, you are going to die. Not here he said, so they sent him to live with us. He doesn’t get out of his bed much and mom said we have to be quiet in the house. He gets headaches she explained you kids can have your fun outside. He doesn’t tell us stories anymore like he used to we said. Mom said don’t disturb him he needs his rest ok we’ll be good we said. One day I went into his room. I brought him a sandwich. Come here Maxi he said you’re a good boy for bringing me my lunch thanks granddad I said. I want you to do something for me Maxi what’s that I said. I want a cigarette boy. But mom said you shouldn’t. Shouldn’t but I want to, he said, help me boy go get one from your mother’s purse. Ok I said so I got one for him and lit it because his hands shake. I watched him smoke it he coughed a lot but he looked pretty happy so I was glad I did it.