Harland Ramirez lived alone.
After work, he would drive to the corner store, buy a case of Budweiser and a pack of Marlboro, and head home.
Harland had a scratch in his throat for some time, but ignored it. The scratch became constant soreness. Then his voice was gone. A hacking cough developed.
He knew this would happen.
Then a letter came in the mail. He opened it and stared at the sonogram. He was to be a grandpa.
He grabbed the pack of Marlboro from his shirt pocket, tapped out a cigarette, and threw the pack, hard, into the street.
Wow! I didn’t see THAT coming! What a great slice-of-life story.
Great take on the unintended impact of a new life.
A bad cough and a new grandchild are always good motivators to stop smoking. Neat story, Alex.