"Wow it's smoky in here." Zoe commented, going into Mackie and Olivers's room.
"Yeah, I wonder why." Oliver replied. "So, what do you want?"
Zoe coughed.
"Some fresh air would be nice. I wonder where it's all coming from?"
Oliver just shrugged.
"So, umm, anyway, Mom wanted me to make sure you were all packed."
"Yep."
"Ok, cool. Talk to ya later." Zoe coughed again.
She walked out and bumped into Mackie.
"Hey Mackie. Do you have any idea how smoky your room is?" she asked.
"Smoky?" Mackie repeated. "Umm, yeah… must be something outside."
Zoe nodded and bounded off. Mackie went in the room and glowered at Oliver.
"You should be a lot more careful. What if Zoe happens to mention the smoky room to someone? And I'm telling you, Mom and Dad are not gonna buy 'dunno' or 'it must be something outside'." He scolded.
Oliver shrugged. Mackie coughed.
"You're gonna wreck your voice with all this y'know."
"Stuff you."
"Oliver! Just, just, next time you're gonna smoke at least do it on the balcony so that I don't have to smell it. And you'd better hope that no one smells the smoke on us."
Oliver didn't answer.
**********
"Honey, do you think there's something wrong with Mackie?" Diana was asking Walker.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, he's been a lot quieter lately."
Walker paused.
"Yes, I suppose, now that you mention it, he has been hasn't he?"
"What do you think is wrong?"
"I don't know. Maybe he's just homesick. I know there's a girl back in Tulsa that he likes."
Diana smiled.
"Hmm, yes, that could be it."