Sunday morning Jeff had come up with a plan. He confronted his dad while he was on the patio playing a phone game and enjoying the morning sun with some coffee.
"Dad," Jeff started. "I've been thinking... if there was a way for us to make it so that only one of us smoked and drank, and the other wouldn't even want to, like they've never done it before, would you play along with me?"
"What? That's not possible," Mike balked.
"But if it were?"
"Jeff, you aren't getting permission to do that outside of guy's night, winning some game or not, its still illegal."
"But if it were possible, like magic, and we'd just know it happened, and one of us were completely free, wouldn't that be better than both of us being hooked?"
"I guess, but..."
"So you'll play then!" Jeff pulled out a pack of Uno and began dealing the cards. "My place at guy's night, as well as all our rights, habits, triggers, desires, and addictions regarding drinking and smoking go to the winner. After this game, one of us will have the rights of a middle aged man, and the other will have no desire to do so and have to wait 5 years before they can legally purchase or consume those items."
Jeff couldn't be sure he could win the game, but he could make sure he throws it so his dad would win and that would at least put his Friday nights back together. Jeff thought about what happened between him and his dad Friday night and realized that during the party, Jeff was probably the only one who could go out and buy tobacco or alcohol between the two of them. He didn't want to accidentally split up the addiction from the right to purchase or consume, that would just be cruel to his dad, and might end up making Jeff his dad's gofer on Friday's which would be bad.
"Jeff, magic isn't real, you're old enough that you should know that by now... What's all this really about?"
"This is what its about dad, just play your turn."
Mike sighed heavily... "Alright, I forfeit. Now where is all this magic to make me quit when I couldn't do it the last 8 times I tried?" Mike pulled his cigarettes from his pocket, lighting one up in exasperation.
"Dad! What have you done?"
Mike saw the terror in Jeff's face and grew equally concerned and confused. "What's wrong?" The universe momentarily heaved and Jeff was now the one who normally comes outside for his morning cigarette. Dad joined him with his coffee this morning to keep him company, and the prior conversation was erased from his head.
Causing a stronger reality shift than last time, the spare packs in Mike's room and car appeared in Jeff's bedroom. The pack currently in Mike's hand moved to Jeff's pocket, and the cigarette Mike just lit was dangling from Jeff's lips. Jeff's beer and liquor stayed in the garage fridge, but it was now off limits to Mike.