Tobacco Parable #2

Mr. John Bain had been sitting in his library for several hours, and had approached the last third of his cigar. Bain was a man who enjoyed each and everyone of his cigars unconditionally, and he always looked forward to the next. Though usually he smoked when he was writing or in a train of thought, Bain could could not latch any topic that night and so he only starred intently at his surroundings.
As soon as he entered the fabled position of mind called "No Thought", the door knob of his abode rattled and proceeded to swing open the door. It was his significantly younger friend, Francis, with a confused face of joy and disbelief. Francis was not Bain's idea of a great friend, but a friend nonetheless. Francis swooped in and greeted Bain saying, "John, I am shocked, but still incredibly happy!" " Why is that?" Said Bain in a Monotone voice. "I proposed to that coffeehouse barista girl, Maria, and she agreed wholeheartedly! I had not given it one thought what I should do if she were to agree; but I don't care Bain! I am a very fortunate man!" Francis was a man of spontaneity. Bain replied, "Well, I suppose fortunate is one way to look at it, Francis, but congratulations either way."
Bain looked down at his cigar and saw that it's life was near ending, and right as the thought occurred to Bain to supply himself another cigar, Francis said, "John, I do know one thing I ought to do tonight: I must smoke a cigar. I was thinking I could relieve you of one of yours, Sir." "Certainly, boy." Bain said, as he rose from his chair to his humidor. He opened the chest, and lifted up the empty top shelf. Bain only saw one cigar left. He had been anticipating two cigars in one night, and paused just looking at his meager stock. Francis tilted his head looking at Bain, curious to know his shadowed thoughts. Bain got over himself and quickly remembered that it would be improper for him to have his last cigar to himself; he knew there would be more in a few days and suppressed his desire. He grabbed the cigar and handed it to the man who "must smoke a cigar." Francis thanked his significantly older friend and Bain welcomed him and said nothing more.
Mr. John Bain was left with no cigar, but who was he to think he had anymore right than the other fellow smoker. This act of self-control put Bain one step closer to being a great smoker.

By Evan Gunn Wilson