Gross imitations

What’s common to famous personalities like Mark Twain, Sigmund Freud, Winston Churchill, Gunter Grass and Hunter S. Thompson? Besides being exceptionally gifted as writer, you’ll notice a smoking pipe in almost all their portraits clicked in their drawing rooms with the window illuminating the pages they filled. [Related: I’ve taken a liking for asking questions only to reply them myself.] No, not a supermodel-thin cigarette but a healthy short stick to inhale unhealthy fume. It adds charisma to their larger-than-fiction persona. The way a superbike or a sports car does to today’s concept of machismo. Accessory is the word. I wish i did but i don’t smoke so i often find myself typing with a toothbrush in my mouth. It’s an ugly scenario for an otherwise pleasant morning. My toothbrush pretends to a smoking pipe generating this liquidy white smoke — to be spat out as late as possible. If i end up as a good writer (because there’s no such a thing as a great one), i’ll ensure that the foam sticking to my lips leave an impression on nicotine addicts.