chapter 36

Michaela stood in the change room at the mall, with her short stubby fingers tugging down at the dark black turtleneck. It was a large, and she was hoping high that the elastic would be weaker in the waistband than it really was.

She breathed out and put one hand on her big ball of a gut, and shook it softly. The black turtleneck she was hoping would complete her Thanksgiving outfit barely went past her belly button. Her big fat belly stuck out far and weighed down heavily, almost hiding her panties in the reflection of the mirror.

Sarah’s voice came from outside the change room door. “And?”

“Is anyone there?”

“No, Mikey, just me.”

Michaela opened the door and stepped back, allowing her fat to wobble to and fro.

Sarah glanced at her obese sister, crammed into a turtleneck that had pushed her double chin tightly against her jawline, and whose knit was spread so thin that she could see the colour of her bra. Michaela smacked her belly and said. “I think it’s great, will just wear a really high skirt?”

Michaela laughed gutturally and shook her head. Sarah laughed too, at ease with the situation. Michaela’s comfort with her body was inspiring. “I think Antony would like it, at least.”

Michaela gave a sultry look and closed the door again. “I’m not sure we’re gonna find what I’m looking for here, Sar. Honestly might need to just to go buy a tarp from the hardware store and wear that instead.”

Sarah looked at herself in the mirror for a moment - she’d notice an awkward, stubborn layer around her midsection had returned as well. She told herself just to get through Thanksgiving, then she’d double down on the hard work and take a break again at Christmas. Now that Michaela was so rotund, Sarah had reason to want to be the thin, attractive one. But her recent indulging had her awkwardly bloated around her midriff once more.

Sarah regained her thoughts and called back. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“Oh, I just was saying how fat I am.”

Sarah paused, and tried her luck. “Antony’s hard work is certainly paying off.”

Michaela opened the door and waddled out, her huge hoodie and legging combo making no attempt to be stylish. “Oh man, sometimes I feel like all we do together is eat. Or, he makes sure I am eating. He really loves a big girl, sometimes I am truly shocked. I mean, look at him? He’s an athlete? What does he have to gain from fattening me up?”

Sarah shrugged. “As long as you two are happy!”

“Truly, I feel so good all the time. He makes me feel beautiful. But then I realize nothing fits me except maternity clothes and I feel a little gross.”

Sarah held her breath. “We’ll have to see how next weekend goes too. With - “

“Jackson, yeah. I know.” Michaela sighed as they exited the department store and began thundering her way towards the exit on the other side of the mall. She already felt winded.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I’ll have the conversation about it, don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll have a lot to say about you, skinny minny.”

Sarah knew her brother Jackson would approve of her new physique more than Michaela’s. A small part of her was very invested in the fireworks that were bound to go off when her brother and not-so-little sister saw each other again.

Michaela wedgied her leggings back up into her massive ass crack. A group of boys stopped to examine the action. Sarah noticed, Michaela didn’t. Michaela was following her nose.

The mall food court was wafting tempestuously down the hallway. Michaela turned to Sarah with wide eyes. “Poutine???”

Twenty minutes later, and one-and-a-half poutines each, the girls sat. Michaela was hanging over either side of the very small, circular bench seat. Sarah wondered whether her sister should just try and put either cheek on a seat.

“I really want lemon chicken from the Chinese Express.” Michaela said. “But I know I shouldn’t.”

Sarah thought about it. “I’ll split it with you.”

‘SOLD!” Michaela hopped up and ran over, carelessly flopping all over the place.

Another twenty minutes later, Michaela sat in the passenger seat of the car, cradling her belly and moaning. Her stomach was sore - mainly because she had eaten the lemon chicken herself. And an order of pork fried rice.

But Sarah had also had the same. They had each tucked back a lot of food. Sarah felt her gut against her waistband, for the first time in a long time.

“Can we hit a joint when we get home?” Michaela said. “I feel pregnant, it might be soothing.”

Sarah nodded. “What are you going to do about your Thanksgiving outfit?”

“I’m going to order some stuff online. There’s a stylish pregnancy line on Artisante that I like. We’ll see how that looks.”

There was a pause.

“Maybe I should lose some weight.”

Sarah indicated and looked at Michaela, who practically filled the cabin of the car.

“I know Antony wants me like this, and I don’t mind. But…I’m going to be 23 in January and I’m absolutely massive. And with Christmas and Thanksgiving hitting back to back…I’m afraid of what I’m going to do to myself.”

Sarah nodded supportively, rubbing her sister’s round shoulder with compassion. “Well, I’ll support you in anything. And so will Antony. That will be the true test of his love. If he doesn’t…well. Maybe that’s something you need to discuss and work through anyway.”

“He won’t like it. But…Sarah, I’m almost 300lbs. I’m getting so close so quickly.”

The number stuck in Sarah’s throat. “Mhm.”

“He’s going away for training in February. Maybe I’ll just ride this out, dump some plump while he’s gone.”

“Whatever you think is best, Michaela. I think you really should talk to him though.”

Michaela nodded, and slid her leggings down to stop constricting the big ball of fat that was her belly. “I just worry I won’t be able to stop. I like being able to walk, yknow? I don’t want to be one of those fuckers in a scooter.”

There was a pause, and the two of them made eye contact.

As they pulled into the driveway, they were both wiping tears from their eyes. They hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time.

They got high, and slept the rest of afternoon off. Sarah devoured a box of Oreos. Michaela rubbed her tummy softly while she ordered her Thanksgiving outfit.


She really hoped it fit.