Behind the Lines: by David Heiller

David Heiller Our family spent a few days in Kentucky two weeks ago. It was an interesting experience. It’s hard to come to any conclusions about a state after only four days, so call these impressions very preliminary. Roger, Maria, David, Cindy and Noah walking in Kentucky. A land of tobacco. A lot of people smoke in Kentucky. I saw more smokers in four days than I have in the last year, and that is not an exaggeration. In Somerset, where we stayed, there was a drive-through store for discount cigarettes. I can only imagine using that. A tinny voice mumbles through a speaker, “May I take your order, please?” The man says, “Yeah, I’d like a carton of Winston, a pack of Red Man Chaw, and two Swisher Sweets for dessert.” “Honey,” his wife says in a reminding tone. “Oh yeah, a pack of Virginia Slims for the missus.” “Daddy!” comes a voice from the back seat. “All right,” the old man sighs. Then he says into the microphone, “And a tin of Copenhagen, mint flavore...