chapter 2

The Bodacious Brew Pub was one of the places that they could go where they each could find something on the menu they liked. For Rob it was a light beer, and a chicken or a salmon salad. For Mary, it was an IPA, and buffalo wings, or a burger, or pizza. And dessert.

They arrived and found a table, and the waitress came over for drink orders. Rob ordered his light beer, and Mary ordered a new IPA. Rob leaned over and whispered, "Mary, maybe you should have a light beer," poking at her midsection. "Time to cut back some, right?"

Mary's green eyes flashed, she looked up at the waitress and said, "Make mine the 24 ounce, please. I could use it." That pissed Rob off. The waitress left and they two of them glared at each other.

The waitress came back with their beers, and asked if they were ready to order. Rob looked expectantly at Mary, who answered, "Yes, I'll have the nachos for an appetizer, the Two Fisted Bacon Burger, and an extra large order of fries." The waitress scribbled furiously to keep up, then looked at Rob, who ordered his usual salmon salad. Once the waitress left, Rob looked at Mary, obviously angry and snarled, "What, are you trying to get fat? That's enough food for three, and it's loaded with fat!"

"Maybe I do want to get fat, Rob. You're so damn concerned with my weight, that seems to be all you care about. Who know, if I blimp up some I may find out that you never cared about me, you just cared about my skinny figure."

"I do care about you, Mary. And I want you to be healthy. You need to start eating healthy, or..." he trailed off.

"Or what, Rob? I'll get fat? If I ever decide to diet, it'll be because I decided to, not because anybody else decided for me! In the meantime, health boy, I'll eat whatever the hell I want."

At about that time, the nachos arrived. Mary dug into them, enjoying the heavy layer of hot cheddar cheese on them. Rob sat there, tight-lipped, and wouldn't touch them. Mary, with a defiant look, finished the whole platter, just in time for their meals. Rob's salad was one bowl, while Mary's was an oversized plate to hold the mammoth burger and the mountain of fries. Rob slowly worked through his salad, while Mary tore into her dinner with abandon. Rob finished first, since his meal was so much smaller. Mary offered him some fries, which he refused with a virtuous shake of his head. Mary finally finished her plate, every bit of it. She leaned back, one hand on her belly, her other hand over her mouth, and quietly burped. "Ah," she purred. "That's better. Now for dessert." Rob said nothing, just sat erect with his arms folded, leaving no doubt how he felt about that. Mary caught the eye of the waitress and said, "I'll have that Bourbon Glazed Cake you're so famous for. Can't pass that up, right?"

Once the waitress left, Rob couldn't stay silent any longer. "You really are going to get fat, aren't you? You keep eating like that and you'll be a big fat..." They both knew that he was going to say "pig" and had stopped himself. Not that it mattered. It was too late. They both knew that the word "pig" hung unspoken in the air. Mary was furious.

"Maybe I'll get fat, Rob. And if I do, it's because I decided I'm going to eat what I want instead of eating rabbit food. And it'll be because I wasn't going to let anyone, and I mean anyone, nag me into not doing what I want."