Chapter 5

That night, I had a talk with Margarita.

“She eats a lot, Mr. Raul!” said Margarita, smiling. “Look at this,” continued Margarita as she pulled out a few slips of paper containing some lists and a few numbers. “Here is how much food we used per month two years ago. ….Now here is what we now use.”

“What?” I said, amazed.

I was shocked at how much extra food we were going through. I knew it all could probably be contributed to Heidi. This warranted a talk with Paula, which I had that night.

“And it’s not only the costs that I’m worried about,” I said to my wife. “I saw her the other day and I couldn’t believe how big and fat that belly is! Julio and Roberto from the farm saw her the other day too. They barely recognized her!”

“You’re right, dear,” my wife said, nodding her head. “She has really filled out a lot. …..I hate to dwell, all she does is eat and she’s gotten so lazy and out of shape! I met her coming up the stairs the other day and couldn’t help but notice how red-faced she was! I said “hi” to her and she could barely answer, she was so out of breath!”

I laughed. “I’m not surprised! But I guess it’s the cost that really gets me. Buying all this extra food is going to put us in the poor house if this keeps up! I think we should do something…let's put her on a diet,” I suggested.

“That will be a tall order,” she answered, chuckling.

“I think the best way is to talk to Margarita. I’ll tell her to only serve 'normal' size portions and maybe give her ONE extra helping only.”

“Gonna be a shock to her!” I said smiling.

Once the plan was in effect, I was kind of surprised how easy it was. Margarita said she put up quite a fight at first when she was sent away from the table hungry, but after a few days she seemed to get the message and accept her new, comparatively meager portions.

When steak and eggs day came, I noticed how glum and quiet Heidi was as Margarita gave her her second and final helping. I remarked to my wife how most people wouldn’t consider her limited portions a diet as it was still more than most of us regularly ate.

A month into the new diet, the results were amazing. First of all, we were going through a lot less beef and other meats and the money Margarita spent on making and ordering desserts was much less.

After six weeks the change in Heidi was quite noticeable. She was clearly thinner, and had even switched back to her old, largest sized, velour warm-up suits.

“That tummy is shrinking!” Paula said, as we both read in bed one night.

“Yes, it’s probably better for her in the long run. I hear they are pretty obsessed with being overweight in America. Don’t want her parents after me for making her so pleasantly plump!”

I laughed. “Besides, we’re also saving money. That’s the big thing.”

As well as Heidi’s forced diet was going, it was taking its toll on her demeanor. You could see it in her appearance as well as in her moods. She never put make up on anymore, nor took the time to do her hair. There were dark circles under her eyes these days and she looked like she wasn’t getting enough sleep. Paula had even heard her talking to her mom on the phone about how miserable she was down here.

To make matter worse, her best friend Marisol had gone away to take a job in Asuncion for a few months. She was feeling so positive about herself, she felt the pulling desire to go and experience more of life, now that she was thin and beautiful.

About two months into the diet, just when her dip into depression was making me rethink my strategy, I got a surprise. She came into my office waving an opened letter. She definitely looked thinner now. Her velour suit actually fit almost loosely and even fully covered her tummy. “Heck, she even has a little room to spare in it, now!” I thought.

“Diet’s over. And I want to go shopping!” she proclaimed, smiling and holding up a piece of paper for me to read.

I soon realized this piece of paper was a check made out to me. And it was for 10,000 American dollars!

Heidi smiled a broad smile I hadn’t seen for weeks.

“Shopping?” I asked her.

“Yes,” she said, “I want to buy some livestock…isn’t that what you call it…some cattle…some chickens…some pigs?”