chapter 4

Clarissa was relieved she had no further appointments that afternoon, because Andy’s appointment had certainly overran. That boy was insatiable. The donuts and candies he had devoured were almost gone. And he was still begging for more. The pair had kissed deeply once Andy had finished his feast. But Clarissa never, ever, put out on a first date, just as a rule of thumb. ‘Was this even a date?’ she questioned her own mind.

‘What gave me away?’ Clarissa asked, roughing Andy’s hair as the pair’s lips parted, and she became slightly besotted by the playfulness of his kiss. Andy was always greedy for more than just food it seemed.

‘What medical professional would bring me,’ Andy observed with a wry smile. ‘An obese man - by your own admission- donuts and candies for lunch?’

‘One who knows what she’s doing.’ Clarissa winked back at Andy and poked his gut.

Andy became all coy all of a sudden, then plucked up the courage to ask. ‘Can I have your number then Clarissa?’

‘Is my tubby version of Mr Jones really asking me out on a date?’ Clarissa asked, tying her hair back up as she got off Andy’s lap. His hands had greedily been everywhere, so she pulled her skirt back down tightly.

‘I sure am.’ Andy cockily grinned back.

‘Oh Andy.’ Clarissa winked at him again. ‘I don’t think this is going to work.’ Clarissa swished her index finger in the air between the pair. ‘You know, … between you and me.’

‘Really?’ said Andy, looking a little confused.

‘No.’ Clarissa grinned devilishly at him, as she began to bite down on her bottom lip. ‘I think a date with me is definitely going to cost you another twenty pounds or so.’ Clarissa tapped her chin in thought then crossed her arms. ‘We’re very rare creatures you see Andy. And our prices have got to grow, just like our clients’ waistlines.’

’Besides,’ Clarissa continued, giggling a little to herself for being such a tease, as she leant down and patted Andy’s belly again. ‘You call yourself a gainer when you haven’t even gained a measly hundred pounds? … I mean, … please! Do you think I’m a cheap a date??’

Andy blushed hard, as he tried to button up his pants, given that Clarissa’s hands had gotten everywhere too.

‘Oh, I see,’ said Andy said, hurriedly, still fumbling away with his buttons. ‘It’s going to be like that?’

‘Uh-huh.’ Clarissa giggled, then winked at Andy again, as she tore a sheet of paper from her notepad and scribbled down a number and user name for him to keep in mind.

‘You can reach me on this number,’ Clarissa said. ‘And that profile name,’ she added, ‘If you know where to look of course. And you can keep me all filled in on how you’re getting on with securing our first date.’

‘But I’ll sure make it worth your while.’ Clarissa smiled at Andy as she adjusted her skirt again. ‘And we’ll see if I put out on our first date. Unless of course by that point you’re too fat to give it a try.’ She winked at Andy again.

‘We’ll see.’ Andy got up and left half of his shirt buttons undone, clearly not going to have any luck with them the way he had just ate. He grabbed the piece of paper from Clarissa’s hand and kissed her cheek. Then boldly slapped her ass. ‘This won’t end well for you Clarissa, especially given what I know.’ Andy’s tone was playful, not threatening.

‘It’s sure is going to be some fun.’ Clarissa said, giggling, as she tried to button Andy’s shirt buttons up for him. ‘If you’ll be sure to keep this belly full for me at least.’

Andy grinned back at her. ‘Well I guess I’ll be seeing you soon then.’

‘And I guess I’ll be seeing “more-of-you” soon.’ Clarissa said to Andy with yet another wink. ‘Take care little fatty.’ Clarissa blew Andy a playful kiss. ‘And go and eat and eat and eat!’

‘You’ll see,’ said Andy, opening the door. ‘How slippery this slope really is when you let yourself slide down it.’

‘Bye now Andy.’ Clarissa shooed him away with her hand. ‘I’m still confident I can ‘fix you’ in another session or two.’

Andy chuckled. ‘I’m pretty sure you can,’ he said, as he closed the door behind him and left.


*** ***

Clarissa spent some time alone in her office after that. She then made her way to the office bathroom to touch up her make up. Her colleague Claire came out of the stall beside her, as Clarissa stared at herself in the mirror and tidied her hair. Claire had also held Andy’s file at one point, Clarissa remembered seeing in her notes.

‘Was that Mr Jones I saw leaving earlier?’ Claire asked, a little incredulously.

‘I know, right?’ Clarissa said, raising her eyebrows suggestively, then giggling as she pushed up her bra and brigaded a stray lock of hair past her ear. ‘And I thought I had problems!’

Claire giggled. But asked no more due to the patient-practitioner confidentiality at play.

Clarissa’s phone then buzzed. A picture of a pair of golden arches flashed up on the screen with the caption that read, ‘I got hungry on my way home.’

‘Good.’ Clarissa typed back quickly in response. ‘How about you give me something to really look forward to for our first date? C x’

‘I’ll sure try,’ came Andy’s quick reply.

‘Well,’ Clarissa said, turning to face Claire as she left and slipping her phone back into her purse. ‘I guess our client’s problems keep us in business at the end of the day.’

‘Amen to that,’ replied Claire, reaching for the roller towel to dry her hands. ‘Big problems mean big business, so the saying goes.’

‘Big business indeed.’ Clarissa grinned back at Claire as she left. 'Big business indeed.'

*** ***


The end, for now at least … Let me know if you’d be interested in reading more.