Chapter 2

“That feels nice, but people are going to start staring,” Kelly said, gently grabbing my hand.  “Plus, I think I need to walk this off a bit.”

 

We rose and started strolling again, still holding hands.  I chuckled at the way Kelly walked, leaning back slightly with her free hand atop her stomach.

 

“What?” she asked suspiciously.

 

“You look pregnant.”

 

“I feel pregnant,” she sighed.  “I’ve got a monster food baby.”

 

“I told you we should have gone to the maternity store,” I teased.

 

This time she just shook her head good-naturedly.  We kept walking, seeing different sights for the next couple hours.  Eventually we came across a tent with a big sign –

 

**PIE EATING CONTEST**

 

I stopped and turned to Kelly with a huge grin.

 

“No,” she replied flatly.

 

“C’mon,” I insisted.  “Looks like fun.  And you love pie!”

 

Kelly opened her mouth with the clear intent of disagreeing, but then looked at me thoughtfully.

 

“Ok,” she said.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yep, but only if you do something for me.”

“What?” I asked warily.

 

“Take me out on a date next Friday night?”

“That’s really what you want?”

“Yup.”

 

“Dea l,” I told her with a smile.  “Now get up there and earn your date.”

 

She quirked a half smile and went over to the sign-up table.  I took a seat and watched eagerly as she eventually took a place at the head table.  It looked like there would be close to a dozen contestants.  I was happily surprised that there were three other rather attractive girls – one fairly heavy, one borderline plump, and one rather slim. 

 

Each contestant started eating a personal-sized blueberry pie when the gun went off.  About half of them were unable to finish the first pie, even though it was rather small.  The somewhat plump girl gave up with just a few bites left in the pan, leaning back in her chair and puffing out her cheeks in defeat.  I suspected that she, like Kelly, had already eaten quite a bit today.  The second pie was peach, and I noticed the heavy girl started to flag.  She was rubbing her generous paunch as the third (apple caramel) was set before her.  She only managed about a third of it before giving up with a stifled belch.  As the fourth pie came out, it was down to Kelly and the slim girl. 

 

Kelly was certainly looking a little green, swaying slightly in her seat and staring vacantly.  The other girl, a cutie with short dark hair, didn't look much better.  The crowd watched in anticipation as the remaining two slowly matched each other bite for bite.  I noticed that Kelly's left hand had dropped to her lap and was fiddling around with something at her waist, then all of a sudden she seemed to get a second wind.  Her tin plate was cleaned, and the other girl only had a few bites left.  Then the girl faltered, clapping a hand to her mouth and swallowing hard.  With an audible groan she pushed away the not-quite-empty plate.

The MC helped Kelly to her feet, then grabbed her left hand and held it up in victory as he announced her the winner.  The audience applauded quite loudly for her, but I doubted she really heard it.  With her hands raised over her head, her shirt pulled up to reveal that not only was her belt unbuckled, but her shorts were definitely unfastened also.  Kelly put a fist to her mouth to stifle a belch as she accepted her 1st place medal (and a gift certificate to a local bakery).