#43. A PIPE TALE

 

#43. A PIPE TALE 

Today’s scene starts with me sitting quietly on a bench. 

A young woman sits down next to me, but I don’t look at her. Suddenly a cloud of smoke engulfs my head. I turn and see she’s puffing vigorously on an old fashioned wooden pipe! The only pipe I’ve ever seen in the Park. I cough. I can’t keep quiet.

             “Excuse me, do you know it’s against the law to smoke in this Park?” 

             “No.” 

             “Well, it is. In fact, in every park in New York City.” 

She looks befuddled.

             “I know, it’s a smoking free-for-all in this park. Park Rangers won’t enforce it.              But just so you know, it’s one law the cops might enforce. At least in other                 parks.” 

            “I just moved here a few months ago. I didn’t know it was a law.” 

Ah. An NYU student. From the hinterland. Her dorm is a hundred yards away. 

“So, puff away!” 

 And I rise to leave the cloud behind.