“They could have given us a little better area so that we wouldn’t have to puff-in-a-huff!”

Puff-ies in a huff

Confused?

Feeling a sense of loss, of something missing?

Understandable.

For nearly two weeks now, your hair has not been enhanced by that inadvertently acquired, distinct smoke smell; your clothes feel fresh; and your sudden allergy attacks have reduced.

Now, you don’t want to be all judgmental and finger-pointy… but you have to admit this feels good.

You wonder, though, how those large numbers who’ve habitually responded to the smoky Circean call are handling all this.

With some amount of pique, of feeling picked on?

And a “Hey, we may puff, but if you cut us, will we not bleed….?” attitude?

Everyone’s talking about carving out “Designated areas” for this group.

That’s great, but if these areas are even slightly open, playful smoke-rings and odour-filled air need to be told that the word ‘boundaries’ applies to them too.

As for enclosed areas… have you seen them in airports, looking as if a special effects gimmick-machine went horribly wrong somewhere, what with all those thick clouds of smoke, with barely discernible human outlines within?

Some new social rules need to be invented to keep the feast of reason and the flow of soul going between those in the free zones vis-à-vis the designated ones; otherwise the twain will find it hard to meet.

Smoke screens can be so divisive.