This week, I have lived in Covington, Kentucky for one year. For the most part, I like the area I live in and like the people I’ve met. Some of those people are characters and probably the one that stands out the most is Kris.
He’s a young guy who seldom wears a shirt. He constantly wants something from me.
A few times, he’s asked me for change. So far I haven’t given him any. He likes my walking cane and he’s not getting that either. The one thing Kris has asked me for that I’ve given him is cigarettes. This has been a big mistake. I think he considers me his free cigarette dispenser.
I’ve tried to back off on this telling him I don’t have any on me which will lead him to bugging other people, but Kris always knows that sooner or later I’ll give him a cigarette. Not anymore.
Walking to Walgreens last week, there was Kris looking for me. You know what he wanted.
“Got an extra cigarette?” he asked.
“Kris, I stopped smoking,” I said.
“What?”
“I had to give it up,” I replied. “My doctor said I should quit.”
“Man,” Kris said. “What I’m I gonna do now?”
“Maybe buy your own,” I said.
“You really quit?”
“Yes. Sorry.”
Sure my doctor would like me to quit smoking, but I haven’t. I lied to Kris.
I’m not in the habit of telling lies as lies are hard to keep track of. It’s easier to tell the truth and keep one’s life honest, but with Kris, it was becoming too much and I figure I can keep track of this little lie. That’s not to say it doesn’t create problems.
All because of Kris, I can’t walk up to Walgreens smoking a cigarette because Kris might see me. Those bus benches in front of Walgreens? Kris walks by there all the time so I can’t light up. In fact when I’m out and about, I’ve stopped smoking all together. Kris seems to be everywhere.
In a way, this actually works out. I seem to be smoking less because of this secret. Maybe I should thank Kris for making me quit smoking. Of course I really haven’t, so I’ll keep my mouth shut.
Sometimes Kris still comes up to me when he sees me out walking.
“You still not smoking?” he asks.
“I’m not smoking,” I usually reply. This sends Kris on his way looking for somebody else who will give him a cigarette.
Sometimes when you’re a smoker, you have to be a nonsmoker around other people. When it comes to Kris, I’m gonna stay that way.
(Image found on Google)
![Eigerøy lighthouse III [Explored #4]](http://static.flickr.com/2879/8805431526_732f27a085_t.jpg "Eigerøy lighthouse III [Explored #4]")
My thing now is if someone wants a cigarette, I’ll offer to sell them one for a quarter. I’m still probably coming out on the losing end, but cigarettes are too damn expensive to just give away.
What’s all the fuss? Just tell the guy to buy his own!
J.R., I understand where Larry is coming from. Once you open the gate, sometimes it is hard to close it and he doesn’t want to hurt Kris’s feelings or make him mad. I don’t want to see Larry having to defend himself with his cane!
I finally gave up smoking a few years ago and this is the one thing I don’t miss – people wanting a cigarette from me. It was rude of them and expensive for me.
Kris has become a recurring character in your blog posts and columns. Maybe consider giving him cigarettes in return for such funny material
Maybe just stay outside 24/7 and you could kick that bad habit of yours.
I’m glad you’re finally wiping the world sucker off your forehead.
I’m glad you are finally dealing with this Kris character. Is he mentally unbalanced? Sounds like it from the stuff you have written about him. I have no tolerance for this kind of bullshit. If it were me and if I walked with a cane. I would have stuck it up his ass a long time ago, handle first.
Dandy, if the man is unbalanced, your response would be to kick his ass? That would find you handcuffed in a cop car. Think about it.
Sean, No of course I wouldn’t. But if the guy is just a prick, he would get one warning and then POW.
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