chapter 4

Over the summer, the residents of Forest Park West cooked up a storm, and ate heartily. By September, they were all twenty to thirty pounds heavier. A few really got into it and gained over forty pounds. It was a happy neighborhood, with everyone well fed and sexually satisfied.

Next to the Forest Park subdivision was the Whispering Pines subdivision. Although a state road divided them, a lot of the residents knew each other. Some through working together, and some through various social clubs. As the Forest Park residents grew plump and happy, word spread into Whispering Pines.

Conversations across the subdivisions went on, at first quietly, then more openly. Wives and husbands embraced the idea that they could quit dieting as long as they got their significant other to plump up along with them. By Christmas, Whispering Pines was also a subdivision of fat and happy couples. From there, word continued to spread, subdivision to subdivision. The holiday season that started with Thanksgiving and carried on through Christmas and New Year's saw an expansion of bellies across the town. So much so, that the Mayor took notice.

Winter was ending, the spring election was coming and the Mayor had a strong opponent this year. He was looking for an edge to seal the votes he needed. His assistant was in his office talking strategy.

"Mr. Mayor, we need some way for you to connect more strongly with people," mused the assistant. Our focus groups show that you're not seen as being one of the average voter. We have to find a way for you to appear to be one of them." As he was talking, he glanced over at the local paper. It happened to be open to a page with a story about the recent boom in the economy, led by grocery stores and restaurants. "Mr. Mayor, have you noticed how many people have gotten kind of fat in the last year? It was mostly in the suburbs, but now I'm seeing more and more new bellies in the downtown area."

"You see it too?" asked the Mayor. "I thought I was imagining things, but you're absolutely right. This has become a town that if you want to fit in, you'd better have a pretty good belly on you. Maybe it's time for me to tie on the feed bag!"

"That may be just what you need, Mr. Mayor. Not just you, though. For public appearances, your wife needs to put on some significant weight, too. That could count for a lot of votes."

"She'll love that!" exclaimed the Mayor. "She's been on a constant diet for years to support my political career. Getting to finally eat all she wants will be heaven for her! I'm calling her right now!"

The Mayor's wife was thrilled to finally quit dieting, and when he got home that night she had a lavish meal set out. The first of many lavish meals. The two of them stuffed themselves every night. When they weren't together, they each continued to stuff themselves at brunches, luncheons, mid-afternoon snacks, and every opportunity that came along to eat a little more. After all, an election was at stake. Sure enough, by the week of the election, they were both downright chubby. The campaign took a picture of the Mayor standing sideways so that his belly stuck out, with the slogan that said, "Vote for the candidate who is growing with his city." His opponent had caught on to the idea of gaining weight too late, and on election day, the Mayor won re-election in a landslide.

One thing politicians notice is who is winning elections and why. The mayors and city councils of the surrounding towns saw two things. One, that the candidate with the new fat belly won, and won big. Two, they saw their own constituents gaining weight. For whatever reason, town after town was indulging in gluttony. Townspeople were expanding, belly by belly, butt by butt. As elections approached, city officials grew as quickly as possible. The campaigns, of course, got ugly. One mayor was accused of padding his suit. In truth, he was. But he was able to hold off his opponent and the media long enough that he got his weight up and got rid of the pads. To win, he knew he needed a dramatic moment. So he arranged a photo opportunity at the local lakeside. He showed up in shorts and a buttoned shirt that was stretched tight across his new belly. He timed it so that just as the photographers were taking his picture, he arched his back, stuck out his belly, and popped four buttons. "Anybody see any padding here?" he bellowed. "I'd like to see what my opponent has to say now!" This was the first election won by a "wardrobe malfunction."