Chapter 2

The Greyhound journey ride home always took a lot longer than the pair first thought. And the rough country byroads weren’t doing Greg’s new waist any favors that night, as he leant his head against the window and stared out into the darkness of rolling empty fields.

Greg then helped himself to another chip from the big bag that was open on his sister’s lap, as she turned another page on her book, still determined to keep reading under the coach’s very dim reading light.

Greg could feel Joanna’s eyes on him through the darkness again as he ate. His newly developed body had only recently started to take on that shake with every step. But he was now jiggling wildly with each bump on that country road.

“Do you know how much this is?” Joanna cut through the silence and subtly placed a hand on her brother’s belly and gave it a quick pat.

“Why do you ask?” Greg turned towards his little sister and started to glare at her.

“Just curious.” Joanna said, now in all truthfulness, and not wanting to tease her older brother this time.

“Thirty pounds maybe.” Greg turned back toward the darkness of the open fields, and crunched on a second chip.

“You sure?” Joanna queried, sounding somewhat surprised, as well as a little unconvinced.

She then proceeded to hang her open book on the armrest of her seat, before helping herself to a few mouthfuls of the potato chips.

“Just grabbing a couple before they’re all gone.” She chuckled at her older brother.

“Jeez,” Greg exclaimed. “It’s been a few weeks since I last weighed myself, okay?”

He then shifted somewhat uncomfortably in his seat under his sister’s close gaze.

“Temper.” Joanna goaded her older brother just like would do as a child in the heat of a sibling argument.

“I’m just messing with you though Greg.” Joanna playfully punched her brother’s arm, before picking up her book and started to read once more.

“Just looks a whole more like forty is all.” Joanna said, grinning, as she helped herself to another chip and turning over to a new page.

“Charming,” said Greg, reaching for another chip, then turning back to rest his head against the window once more.

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