chapter 4

After lunch we were shown to our dorms where we were allowed a 2 hour siesta, and then we received the principle's official welcome in the conference theatre where we were told a lot about how the school operates and what we will be doing during our time here. In many ways it's just like a normal college, we'll get lessons as you might expect, it's just that most of the subjects have been specially tailored for the school. In fact the only common subjects I've heard of are English and Mathematics and even then they only teach up to GCSE standard. Apparently they want us all to have reached a basic level of education, but the emphasis is far more on preparing us for our future lives as the fat wives of the rich princes and business men who we'll end up marrying and who prize us so much. Many of the subjects have intriguing names such as Living with Obesity, Eating and Nutrition and Fat Sexuality, and we've all had fun speculating madly as to what the curriculum's might be. Lots of practical sessions I hope! Also being a boarding school the life style's going to be very important. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed we're going to be trained to act, talk, dress and eat in the way that will be expected of us, and taught daily habits and routines that should continue long after we've left the school and probably the whole of our married lives.

Anyway I should probably try and get some sleep, the dorm lights went out over half an hour ago and I can hear a gentle snoozing coming from the other girls. There are three others in my room and luckily Rebecca is one of them, although we only managed to stay together by swapping rooms with someone. I'd probably find it easier to sleep if I could turn over onto my side but my stomach is so full that I'm forced to lie on my back with my belly stretching up towards the ceiling. I guess I'm going to have to get used to sleeping like this if we're going to eat this much every day. I can't believe the amount of food we've all eaten; my parents brought me up to have a large appetite, but it was a huge amount of food even for me. They just seem to feed us at every opportunity, not only at meal times but also during the breaks. There always seems to be a selection of cakes and pastries or a plateful of snacks and sandwiches around for us to help ourselves to while we drink our tea.

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The dorm lights have just come on and I hear the rattle of what sounds like someone wheeling a trolley into the room. I shrink down under the duvet, pulling it up around my face in an attempt to shut out the noise and light.

"Madame, your breakfast."

A soft spoken voice bearing an Asian accent addresses me from the side of my bed. I peer out from under the covers to see a dark young man standing over me.

"Ohh, what time is it?"

With bleary eyes, I slowly pull myself up the bed and sit up against the headboard, arranging the soft pillows behind me.

"Madame, your breakfast is here. Lot's of nice things, you tell me what you like."

"Ohh" I'm still not quite with it, still in a sleepy stupor.

I look over at the trolley next to him laden with hot food, the pans of bacon, sausages, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast and underneath jugs of juice alongside large chrome pots of coffee and tea. Without waiting for an answer he's already started serving food onto a plate, placing it on the bed table which he wheels over the top of the bed to make it conveniently within my reach. To my surprise, instead of going on to serve the next person, he then pulls up a chair and sits there watching me, as if waiting for something to happen. I look back at him somewhat awkwardly, wondering what it is that he wants me to do.

"Oh, very sorry!" he jumps up, "You need some help?"

Before I can answer he's picked up my knife and fork, cut off a large piece of sausage and is holding it up to my mouth. I instinctively open wide and he carefully pushes it in.

"My name Gurdeep" he grins, offering out a hand.

I raise up a hand and he gently squeezes my plump fingers. As I chew and swallow I see each of the other girls has a similar trolley and young man, some of whom are also feeding the girls while other watch tentatively while she eats. I go to talk but as I open my mouth a forkful of mashed potato is carefully pushed inside. I quickly swallow before he's ready with the next lot.

"So Gurdeep, do you work here?"

As soon as I say it I realise that it's a dumb question, but he pleasantly humours me.

"I am housekeeper" he replies proudly, "I am just starting, one year."

"Year one?" I ask, "So how many years do you do?"

"Is three and then I diploma. But is very nice for me here."