Writing Practice 50: Spending some time with Damon

1.
Damon: I think I'm going to lay off drinking for a while.
Richard: Oh, yeah? Why's that?
Damon: Because I'm broke.

Richard laughed.

2.
Damon was a heavy smoker. Throat Cancer attacked and killed him. Damon always had a pack of cigarettes on him, though he never shared. Damon rolled his own cigarettes and in each one he included a small portion of marijuana. It was a dose tiny enough that he could hardly feel it, but he could feel it. Smokers who had run out of cigarettes or had left their pack somewhere beyond arms reach would see Damon smoking and ask:
"Can I have a cigarette?"
Damon would respond the same every time. "Absolutely not. I don't support other people smoking and it's important I practice representing my morals."

Some would be surprised his phrasing and how well rehearsed it sounded. They wouldn't really hear every word beyond the surprise of  hearing "Absolutely not" and would get a little confused. The confusion replaced any trace of potentially being offended, and the situation would take care of itself. They'd say something like: "Oh. Alright, no problem." And ask someone else.

Some WOULD hear every single word past the "absolutely not", be surprisingly impressed and accept his response humbly and entirely.They'd say something like "Good for you."

But most would get offended by being denied a cigarette and would lash back at Damon in their frustration. They'd say something like: "And you're smoking? Doesn't that make you a hypocrite?"
To which Damon would respond: "I don't really want to explain, so, let's just not be friends."