chapter 18

Food was everywhere, all the time. She was allowed to help herself, whenever she liked, but she didn't like to. How could she look after her husband if she was too busy stuffing her face? The others did though. That explained their chubby figures and tight uniforms.
Even though she tried not to consciously indulge, she was indulging unconsciously.
The portions she was served at mealtimes was much bigger than she was used to. It felt rude not to finish, or complain about it being too much though as she struggled through and could feel her stomach grow, harden and stretch. It was also difficult not to sample the cakes, biscuits and chocolates left in the rest area.
After a month of working there, she had put on a stone. Her bra was tighter, her knickers were tighter, her uniforms were not as baggy.
After two months there and another ten pounds heavier, she was becoming as chubby as her colleagues. Mealtimes were no longer a struggle. She could eat everything served to her easily, but she was still putting on weight.
Stretch marks had appeared along the sides of her belly and across her bum. Testament to the fact that she was indeed getting bigger.
Six months after starting work there and she was now bursting out of her underwear and her uniforms were a tight fit. She had been eating three very large meals every day, plus the extras from the staff room. It was difficult not to eat when everyone around her was eating so much. Her portion size had not altered since her first day, but her stomach had grown to accommodate the volume of food she put in it. She was five stones heavier than the day she started working there.
An extra five stones on her slim frame had slowed her down somewhat. She was worried about what the home manager was going to say to her when she was called into her office.
She needn't have worried. She had simply finished her probationary period. Now she would be able to help in the other schoolroom as well.
As she sat there, having her meeting, her mind started to wander. She chastised herself. This was important, she had to listen to what was being said. Nevertheless she couldn't help but notice one of the buttons on her manager's shirt was shinier than the others. Maybe it was just that the shirt was so tight as it gaped in the spaces between the buttons. The flesh beneath was trying to escape it's confinement. She struggled to look away from the button, she felt a little giddy. She could hear her talking in the distance. Then all of a sudden she could hear her talking properly again and she could look away from that mysterious button.
After that day, Madeleine had no more reservations about eating. She was as greedy as every other employee. She ate the meals provided and asked for seconds. She didn't know what had caused the change in attitude, but she was more enthusiastic about food and eating than she had every been. It felt good to be full. It felt even better to be stuffed full.
Her body responded by adding to the ever thickening layer of fat on her body.

Some members of staff could not fit in with the regime and quickly left, while others, Madeleine included remained. The longer they stayed, the more they ate, the bigger they became and the bigger they became, the less work they did and they ate even more.
The bigger they became, the more work they delegated to the newer staff. They could not be bothered to put the necessary effort in, when they could be sitting down with their feet up enjoying a plate full of cream cakes.

Madeleine found herself enjoying not just three large meals a day, every day, but four. Her weight gain had slowed down considerably, but now it picked up again. Her uniforms split. That was a cause for a celebration!
They celebrated with a glass or two of bubbly and a large cake each. Madeleine was congratulated formally and given a bigger size, by the manager. Everyone had milestones to celebrate. Celebrations were good as they all ingested more calories.