Surprisingly, Jon's sister Zoe was wearing a plain white blouse and a black pleated skirt. Compared to how she usually dressed, her new look was downright proper. She wasn't wearing any of her Goth make-up or piercings, giving her a natural and fresh look about her. Mikey also surprised Jon. He was wearing a collared shirt beneath a sweater, and a pair of slacks. Looking down at his own clothing, Jon realized that all three of them were dressing quite conservatively ... which, for some reason, he couldn't quite feel upset about. Surprised, yes, but not upset.
And then there was Linda ... er, their mom. She trudged into the kitchen wearing one of Zoe's black T-shirts (with the logo of a metal band on the front), a pair of black panties, and flip-flops. And nothing else.
"That's my shirt," Zoe said, recognizing it immediately.
"You want it back?" Linda asked her.
"No, you can keep it. It's ... it's not really my style anymore," she said, shrugging. "In fact, just take all my clothes, if you want."
Linda shrugged. "Okay." Then she walked over to the various drawers and cabinets, opening them one by one.
"Mom, what are you looking for?" Jon asked, after watching her desperately trying to find something.
"Cigarettes," she said, checking another drawer. "I really need one right now."
Jon just stared at her. "But you don't smoke."
Suddenly, Linda stopped, and looked thoughtful. "Shit, you're right. What was I thinking?"
Zoe went red with embarrassment.
Jon noticed. "Zoe? What is it?"
"I smoke. But ... ugh, just the thought of putting one of those things in my mouth. It turns my stomach," Zoe said. She had no idea why she ever started smoking in the first place. It was a nasty habit and she was glad that she no longer felt the need to smoke. Odd, it never occurred to her that going cold turkey like that shouldn't have been so easy.
"You have any left?" Linda asked, a look of hope in her eyes.
"Mom," Jon said, glaring at her.
"Oh, right. I don't smoke." But she felt like smoking, even though the act was foreign to her. Maybe she could get them from Zoe's room without her knowing. She started to leave the kitchen, heading to the stairs.
"Mom, where are you going?" Jon asked, accusingly. "Get back here and eat your breakfast."
Linda slumped her shoulders, then went and sat at the table, and then ate with everyone else. At the back of her mind, she could feel the rising need for a cigarette. How would she get one?
