Unit5

　　Mydaughtersmokes.

　　Whilesheisdoingherhomework,herfeetonthebenchinfrontofherandhercalculatorclickingoutanswerstohergeometryproblems,Iamlookingatthehalf-emptypackageofCamelstossedcarelesslycloseathand.

　　Ipickthemup,takethemintothekitchen,wherethelightisbetter,andstudythem—they'refiltered,forwhichIamgrateful.

　　Myheartfeelsterrible.

　　Iwanttoweep.

　　Infact,Idoweepalittle,standingtherebythestoveholdingoneoftheinstruments,sowhite,sopreciselyrolled,thatcouldcausemydaughter'sdeath.

　　WhenshesmokedMarlborosandPlayersIhardenedmyselfagainstfeelingsobad;nobodyIkneweversmokedthesebrands.

　　Shedoesn'tknowthis,butitwasCamelsthatmyfather,hergrandfather,smoked.

　　Butbeforehesmokedcigarettesmadebymanufacturers—whenhewasveryyoungandverypoor,withglowingeyes—hesmokedPrinceAlberttobaccoincigarettesherolledhimself.

　　Irememberthebright-redtobaccotin,withapictureofQueenVictoria'spartner,PrinceAlbert,dressedinablackdresscoatandcarryingacane.

　　Bythelatefortiesandearlyfiftiesnoonerolledhisownanymore(andfewwomensmoked)inmyhometownofEatonton,Georgia.

　　Thetobaccoindustry,coupledwithHollywoodmoviesinwhichbothmaleandfemaleheroessmokedlikechimneys,completelywonoverpeoplelikemyfather,whowerehopelesslyhookedbycigarettes.

　　HeneverlookedasfashionableasPrinceAlbert,though;hecontinuedtolooklikeapoor,overweight,hard-workingcoloredmanwithtoolargeafamily,black,withaverywhitecigarettestuckinhismouth.

　　Idonotrememberwhenhestartedtocough.

　　Perhapsitwasunnoticeableatfirst,alittlecoughinginthemorningashelithisfirstcigaretteupongettingoutofbed.

　　BythetimeIwassixteen,mydaughter'sage,hisbreathwasawheeze,embarrassingtohear;hecouldnotclimbstairswithoutrestingeverythirdorfourthstep.

　　Itwasnotunusualforhimtocoughforanhour.

　　Myfatherdiedfrom"thepoorman'sfriend",pneumonia,onehardwinterwhenhislungillnesseshadlefthimlow.

　　Idoubthehadmuchlungleftatall,aftercoughingforsomanyyears.

　　Hehadsolittlebreaththat,duringhislastyears,hewasalwaysleaningonsomething.

　　Irememberedonce,atafamilyreunion,whenmydaughterwastwo,thatmyfatherpickedherupforaminute—longenoughformetophotographthem—buttheeffortwasobvious.

　　Neartheveryendofhislife,andlargelybecausehehadnomorelungs,hequitsmoking.

　　Hegainedacoupleofpounds,butbythenhewassoslimthatnoonenoticed.

　　WhenItraveltoThirdWorldcountriesIseemanypeoplelikemyfatheranddaughter.

　　Therearelargeadvertisementsignsdirectedatthemboth:thetough,confidentorfashionableolderman,thebeautiful,"worldly"youngwoman,bothdraggingaway.

　　Inthesepoorcountries,asinAmericaninnercitiesandonreservations,moneythatshouldbespentforfoodgoesinsteadtothetobaccocompanies;overtime,peoplestarvethemselvesofbothfoodandair,effectivelyweakeningandhookingtheirchildren,eventuallykillingthemselves.

　　Ireadinthenewspaperandinmygardeningmagazinethattheendsofcigarettesaresopoisonousthatifababyswallowsone,iti