With a joking manner, I often ask my friends who smoke,
"Why are you killing yourself? Are you having such a hell of a life that you want to throw away your precious money and kill yourself slowly that way?"
They would only answer,
"It's already become a habit.."
Then when I ask them again,
"And why are you killing me? Have I been cruel to you?...Why are you killing your friends faster than you kill yourself? I'm inhaling all these awful smoke of yours u'know... Is it also a habit of yours being a killer?" ..aha.. it does start to sound serious..(giggle...)
Then, they'd give a second thought.. Most of them would never smoke at my pressance, but there's the one and only, the meanest among my friends...
*
It was at the beginning of our college life, back in mid of 1996. Among 15 of us in the double storey house converted into a student hostel.. there were 7 girls and 7 boys, and on the 3rd day of college.. came the 15th, a tom-boy who have given everyone else a puzzle in their mind.. whether she's a lesbian or straight. Yes..!! That was the unpredictable Ellie Ng..(lol...!!) But among all 15, Frankie Lim was the meanest maniac who often care less..so full of his pride and attitude.. just enough to annoy almost every girls there.
"Oye!! Frankie!! How could you teach all the others how to smoke?!"
I still remember how I have raised my voice at him for the most terrible thing he was doing.
"Ey...I never force them wo..."
He answered.
Errgh......this maniac...!
One night, as usual, I was doing my homework upstairs at the guys' study area, I saw Kevin.. still practicing how to smoke. (..thanks to our Mr. Frankie Lim..) Kevin was mumbling and complaining to himself..looking so awfully down in his mood..dwelled so deep in his thoughts..trying to figure out the idea for his graphic design project. I was looking at him with a smile in my heart..in complete silence..having a strong instinct that something was about to happen..I was then, trying to step in his shoes.. and wonder... And so...
Smokey Chokey!
Life's a hectic, I must say
out of a busy, lonely day
learning that I'm nobody
to compare with everybody.
*
Reaching home with emptiness
feeling rather hopeless
searching for a dim light
to make everything bright.
*
Then I reach for the little box
and I gave it a little knock
out a cigarette I took
light it up and smoke
..ahak! ahak! I was choked.
- 17th August, 1996-
With that funny title for the poem, you can actually imagine how funny I was feeling at that moment ...and I just couldn't help laughing at him.. so loud, "..ha..ha..ha..! Of all the good things in the world, you choose to learn how to smoke!" That's what happened to Kevin.. our funny guy.
Sigh...Frankie.. In more than 10 years of knowing him..I have seen him changed.. from a college rebel..to a fine young man. He have become more mature in his thinking, excel in his profession... but yet still smoking! Gosh! All my advise for him.. all these years..just went 'up in smoke' with his habit.. that seems to have grown as solid as a rock! So stupborn!
Somehow, a miracle happened! It was about this time..last year.. the meanest maniac have quit smoking! Just one useful warning from the doctor,
"This endless cough of yours is a sign of lung cancer from your excessive smoking..."
...and so, Frankie have quit smoking in just one week!
Yes! 1 week!
"Wow...! Frankie!! Frankie!! Frankie buddy...!! You've finally did it! Congratulations! Ahhh......!!! I'm so happy for you!!"...I said to him so happily..almost jumping up and down.. (..ehem.. that's a bit over reacted, doesn't it?) I was too surprised and happy to hear it straight from him...and I gave him a big hug for that. Thanks to the doctor.. his one piece of good advise.. and my friend is now a much healthier person. Isn't that great?!
To, Kevin, Khee Hong, Ah See, Wah Chai, Ah Siang and Tarzan...
"..our Frankie have quit smoking! How about you guys?"
*
...(lol..!!) My dear friends.. Please do think more than twice when you're about to touch that cigarette. Don't throw your life and health away..'up in smoke'. "The maniac have quit smoking.. How about you?"
And as for dear Frankie.. I salute you! I will always love you as a good friend... love the way we tease and pinch each other... love the way we drive each other nuts... There is no other like my Frankie buddy... "Don't be angry, ok.. I dedicate this especially for you.." he..he..
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