I grew up in an all-female household. Mom and my Aunt were pretty independent women who really knew how to manipulate men to get their way. One day my 15 year old sister came home with a note saying that she had a disciplinary hearing in school because she was caught with cigarettes. Mom had to go in the next day with her to see the principal. Now both Mom and Auntie hated the principal who both described as being a pompous ass. Nevertheless the next day Mom got up early and dressed to manipulate. She wore a low cut blouse, push up bra, short skirt, taupe pantyhose, and high heels. She also made sure that both she and my sister had the same purse.

When she went into the principals office she sat where the "horny bastard" could get a good look at her legs. She made it a point to cross and un-cross her legs, dangle her shoe, and bend forward on occasion to show a little cleavage. She flattered the principal and explained that my sister's having cigarettes was her – mom's – fault since she had taken the wrong purse when she left for work; after all they were identical. The principal understood and said he expected such things from women. Mom wanted to hit him for that but she'd manipulated the entire situation and got my sister off clean.

That evening when we got home my sister expected to catch hell for getting caught with cigarettes but she didn't. Mom and my Aunt, both pack-a-day Virginia Slims smokers, enjoyed smoking and if we wanted to learn to smoke then she'd teach us! After dinner Auntie gathered us around the kitchen table. She put out cigarettes, lighters, and ash trays. Then she told us a little about cigarettes and showed us how to light up; she watched as we did so in turn. Then she told us to draw the smoke into our mouths and exhale. None of us got any particular thrill from this other than that we were smoking. Once we went through two cigarettes like this to get used to the taste it was time for the pleasure of inhaling. Now she told us to draw the smoke into our mouths and then to inhale it. All of us coughed but eventually managed to do so and so discovered the nicotine hit. The Virginia Slims Luxury Lights that Auntie had us smoke were far from light. They packed quite the punch! She had us smoke another and then it was off to do homework and get ready for bed. Before we turned she called us into the living room and passed the cigarettes for a 'bed time smoke'. No one refused and we all enjoyed a relaxing moment. The next morning when we got up, Auntie again passed the cigarettes and we smoked the "first one of the day" and after breakfast another one before going off to school. When we arrived home it was smoke time again. Before long we were on a routine of cigarettes before and after meals, one after school, two while watching TV and one before bed; a total of eight to ten cigarettes a day depending if we had lunch at home. And if we wanted more, well they were there all we had to do was ask.

Auntie made some strong rules about smoking. No smoking or cigarettes at school and no smoking in public unless Auntie approved. We could smoke in the car or when visiting relatives. Auntie set us up for about a half pack a day but we were soon doing – and enjoying – more than that. Allowing us to smoke eliminated issues at school and allowed Auntie to keep control of things. Aunties sisters did the same in their households and established the same smoking rules and restrictions.

To this day my sisters and i are all Virginia Slims 120 smokers. the 120s are long and luxurious and feminine too. I don't mind the feminine since smoking VS 120s has started a lot of conversations with women for me.