Juan nervously took the lighter; he lifted it up to the cigarette and started the flame. He instantly choked and coughed and wheezed. Some kids laughed, but Lucas gave them a sharp glance and they stopped. After a little while, Juan got the hang of it. When he had finished his first cigarette, several small conversations had broken out. Lucas beckoned to Juan to come closer to him. The conversations continued all around him as Juan approached Lucas, Carmen and several other seniors. When he got to the group Lucas looked him over well, and Carmen looked into his eyes. Juan spoke first. “May I have another?” He asked. Lucas looked surprised. Juan looked at the shocked faces immediately around him. He felt small before them, and he knew he had said something wrong. Lucas threw back his head and laughed an evil laugh. “Sure, my main man!” Lucas cried. Handing him a pack. “Have all you want!” Juan walked home; it was about an hour after his first Cigarette. He had already smoked half a pack. It was about ten minutes from his house. Juan thought to himself, “What the hell, one more won’t hurt.” He reached into his pocket and took out a cigarette and a lighter. He cupped his hand so the flame would not blow out. He lit the cigarette, and inhaled deeply. He lowered his hand to find, there in front of him, his mother and father out for a walk. He opened his mouth and the cigarette fell to the ground. After a moment of silence, his father stepped forward, as his mother covered her now open mouth. His father put his hand down firmly on Juan’s shoulder. “Come son,” he said in a cold voice, “we are taking you home. We will discuss this.” The walk home was painful for Juan; the silence, the occasional tear rolling down his mother’s cheek. However, the real pain came with the lecture that followed. When they reached the house several things were made clear to Juan. The main one was, that if he was ever caught smoking again, he could say goodbye to all chance at continuing football.