My friend's name was Bobby, the teacher was Miss Santanelli. Not exactly gorgeous for my money, but she did smoke Winstons and seemed to be fond of Ben. He did not, best I know, have the fetish, I did, so it was a vicarious thrill sort of thing.

The first time I witnessed this phenomena, here's how it went. He told me that she'd given him one a week or whatever previous, so Bobby suggested we walk by her place. He claimed that, if she was on her porch, which she often was in the warm weather, he'd ask and she'd give, making him come on the porch for the cigarette.

She was right there, sitting on her porch late one afternoon. She was smoking while reading. Bobby said hello, she smiled and waved. He moved a bit closer, then asked for a cigarette. Without saying anything, she reached for her pack while motioning him up onto the porch. As I watched from the sidewalk, she lit him up, which totally astounded me. She then noticed me staring, handed Ben one for me, and off we went.

This routine was repeated several times while he was in her class.

I have no explanation for it, no insight as to why a teacher would give a 12 year old student a cigarette, but she sure did.