"Of course it's because of me." Sally Jefferson declared unabashedly, "We Jeffersons have a stake in Meteor Plaza 1, and many of the mall's managers know me. If I were hurt in a stampede, they would be in hot water."
"Oh, oh!" Ella Lacey, believing it to be true, nodded.
Sally drew Ella onto the grass, took out a cigarette from the pack. She had grabbed the cheapest, nastiest one from the store, assuming that such poor quality would harm Ella's growth. The pack had cost her only three dollars.
"Ella, have another one." She lit the cigarette and offered it to Ella.
Ella took it, but didn't put it in her mouth.
She held it between her fingers, unenthusiastically saying, "Smoking is bad, especially for girls."
Back at the plaza, when Sally offered her a lit cigarette, she began to hesitate. Health classes had been clear -- smoking would harm her future child's health. She wanted a healthy baby in the future. Smoking was far from advisable.
