Who does she think she's fooling?

I have to take a little break from mom week and get this one down...it still makes me chuckle a day later. 

Last night I had to do a quick milk run when Pa Torm got home.  He got home at 8:00 in the evening, so again, it was another long day.  The store is just a few blocks away but since I needed milk I drove rather than walked. 

I made my way up and down the aisles and eventually found my way to the check-out line. Only one was open, it's just a small market and it was getting close to closing time.  I happened to get in line behind 2 women with a cart full.  Diapers in two sizes, the same bread that I had, a snickers bar...you know, the essentials.  The older women had offered that I could go first since I just had a few things and she was also going to purchase mulch and cigarettes - purchases that require a little extra time for the process. 

I replied that I was just fine.  Afterall - this was my big outting for the evening...totally not a problem. 

She wanted soft carton Marbolo's - but they didn't have those by the carton - so she debated between the box or just getting a single pack, etc..  She turned around again to me and apologized - embarrassed at how much longer her transaction was taking then she had planned on.  Again, I replied, so not a problem. 

At this time I was pretty confident that I knew who this woman was.  I had been adding up the clues - the two sizes of diapers, my own memory, a few things that she mentioned to her daughter... and when I finally felt 100% certain that I'd nailed it and wouldn't make a fool of myself I said, "Your Jacob's mom, aren't you?"  To which she replied, with a bit of surprise, 'why yes!' 

My Allan plays with Jacob several times a week and they walk home from the bus stop together - they live on the far side of the block. 

Now - while you may wonder why we didn't recognize each other visually - we have spoken on the phone a few times, but I'm mostly familiar with Jacob's older sisters.  Jacob is the second to the bottom of 7 kids and has many of the same family values that we have.  As far as run around with the neighbor kid choices go - I like Jacob.

After we talked about the boys for a bit then - she then sheepishly says as she's tucking the cigarettes into her purse (she decided on the one box of soft side) "don't tell the boys I bought these"  I told her that her secret was certainly safe with me. 

Eventually we all made our way out of the local mart and once again at home I mentioned to Allan that I had been in line behind Jacob's mom.  And I laughed until my eyes watered at his response.....

"She smells like cigarettes doesn't she?"

Who does she think she's fooling?   

Comments

[tania]

hahaaaaahaaa.
that's funny.
can't fool kids, that's for sure. they are far smarter than most give them credit for.

[susan]

why can't people who smoke realize they can't hide it FROM ANYONE.It usually announces itself before you even see the person...Sigh. Sorry its a hot button for me as my mother-in-law insists she is not smoking yet we know she still does.

[Magpie9759]

I think you just don't notice the smell on yourself when you are used to being around it. My dad smoked for the first 30 years of my life, but I never had any idea my clothes and house, etc., smelled like smoke. Until after I moved out, that is. Then when I visited my folks it would hit me how strong the smell was! Quite a revelation.

[Heidi Heinonen]

That is too funny! I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke and I completely agree, people who smoke never seem to know how strong of a smell they have!