Henry’s Last Cigarette

This came from free writing I was doing so it’s not a cohesive story but I think it’s pretty good.

Henry Stain sat on his back porch smoking his last cigarette, his fifth “last” cigarette this month. He looked at the burning end of the cigarette, then at the orange of the setting of the sun. Henry got up, put out the cigarette, threw it and the cigarette pack in the trash before dragging the can to the curb. “Last one.” he told himself.

Henry went to the front door before remembering it was locked, so he went around the house to the back door, into to the kitchen. An orange tabby sat on the counter, the tabby greeted him with a “meow”. “You hungry Benny?” Henry asked the cat as he scratched its head. Benny replied with a “meow”. Henry opened up a can of cat food, put it on a plate, placed the plate on the counter, pored lactose free milk into a small bowl, and placed it next to the plate. “There you go.” Henry said as Benny ate his food.

In the living room Henry sat next to his pregnant wife, Serra Hue-Stain, reading something off her tablet. Smelling the cigarette Serra asked: “Another smoke?”

“Last one.” He replied.

She put down the tablet and looked at him.

“I threw the rest away and took out the trash, we won’t have money ’till Saturday, and it should be easier now that your showing” He looked down at her belly.

She went back to her tablet, “You’ll just bum one from Jake again.”

“Real supportive.” He said sarcastically.

She looked at him, handed him her tablet, got up, left the room, came back with a box of nicotine patches. She sat, gave him the box, then and took her tablet back.

“How much did this cost?” He asked, looking at the box.

“I used a credit card.” she replied, looking at her tablet.

“Which one?” Henry looked at Serra,

She inhaled, looked at him, “It’s worth it, it will save us money in the long run, and we need that money.” she said sternly.

Henry signed, “Hopefully,” he said, looking back at the box. He paused, looked at Serra, kissed her cheek. “Leigh’s worth it.”

“Brandon or Cassy.”

“Leigh works for both.”

“But Brandon’s manlier name.”

Henry looked at Serra’s belly, “You may never get named.”