Chapter 1

Barbara Burns hosting a noon time talk show in a large US city. Barbara’s guest today is Melissa Fox, actress and daughter of famed writer, producer and fat advocate Ned Fox. Melissa has been deliberately gaining weight for a new role in a film about character actress Shelly Winters, the actress who gained weight to get character roles in movies on the advice of her agent.

Barbara has a reputation for fat shaming. She is very thin, smokes, works and barely eats anything to stay skinny. She, more than once has raised the ire of her viewers and critics for being hard on overweight guests on her show.

“Barbara, please remember to be nice to Melissa, she has become a very popular actress and I put in a lot of work to get her on your show.” Stated Barbara’s long suffering producer George. “I’ll try to be nice, George, don’t worry. I won’t mention how that lovely young woman ruined her figure by getting fat for that other film and now she gaining even more weight for this one. I won’t even bring up that her father advocates deliberate weight gain and obesity.” George sighed, “Please Barbara, don’t be a total bitch today.”

Five minutes later the cameras were on, Good Morning everyone, I’m Barbara Burns and welcome to my hour with you today. Our guest will be none other than Melissa Fox, who for lack of a better term is “training” for her next film project.

Back stage…
“Melissa are you done yet?” Asked, her worried assistant Jean. “Urp, almost, these burgers are to die for!” Jean sighed, “I know you’ve already eaten four of them.” Melissa patted her round belly and giggled, “Hey, Jean it’s my job now to eat too much.” “I know Melissa, but I don’t want you to burst out of your dress on camera, especially in front of that bitch Barbara Burns.” “Yeah she would love that. I can almost hear her cackling now.”

“Okay Melissa there’s the light, time for you to go on. Now don’t be rude first anyway, if its going to get nasty, let her start it, okay?” Melissa hefted herself up, at five foot four and now nearly one and ninety pounds, she was more than just a little chubby. Her dress, especially after stuffing herself with burgers was nearly obscenely tight. Her thighs rubbed together making a swishing sound when she walked.

Barbara rose to greet her guest, thinking to herself, “God she’s made a pig of herself, she’s so fat now.” Barbara smiled, “Great to see all of you Melissa.” Just as Melissa had thought, Barbara was going to be snide and maybe even combative. “Thank you Barbara, it’s nice to see you as well.” They shook hands and a mock hug. Barbara pointed to a sofa, “That should be strong enough for you Melissa, please do sit down. I’m sure standing is very tiring for you.” Melissa deliberately sat down heavily. “Thank you Barbara this is just fine.”

Barbara started right in, “Melissa how does it feel to gain so much weight and become obese, just to do a film part?” “Barbara it feels great, I love to eat and I really feel it is necessary for the part to be believable.” “Really, but don’t you get winded walking up a flight of stairs, so why can’t you just wear a “fat suit” and not ruin your figure for a few months of filming.” “You don’t move correctly wearing a fat suit, it just does not look natural, no matter how good a suit it is. If you are playing a fat person, you must be fat to pull it off.”

Barbara then asked, “Melissa how much are you eating to gain the weight to start filming again.” Melissa absently patted her belly, “I’m eating sixty five hundred calories as day, including lots of dairy and carbs. I have to admit I really enjoying it.” Barbara gave a snide laugh, “That’s all well and good Melissa but what about “paying the piper” when you have to diet off all of the pounds you packed on?” “I’m not planning on losing any weight after we finish filming. I don’t like to diet, and therefore, I’m not going too.” “So, let me understand, you are going to stay fat?” “Yes, Barbara, I’m going to stay, as you put it, fat.” “I just can’t understand why someone would want to be fat in the first place.” Snickered Barbara.

Melissa was starting to get annoyed with Barbara’s condescending attitude. “Barbara, have you ever been overweight or fat, as you say?” “Of course not, why would you even ask?” “I thought so. How can you condemn me for my weight, when you haven’t experienced being heavy or overweight yourself.” The studio audience had been silent up to this point, but now started to clap and even cheer Melissa. “Barbara, I challenge you to put on fifty pounds in four months. You tell me then that I am wrong for wanting to stay fat. Think of it, as a good excuse to quit smoking.” There was a gasp from the studio audience. Barbara had always been very careful not to let anyone know she smoked. “So, will you do it, will you gain fifty pounds in four months?”

Barbara blushed bright red. She was pissed that this young little fatty had backed her into a corner, but what could she do, to say no was to be a total bitch, besides several English show hosts had gained to prove the point and then lost the weight, that would really show up Melissa.

Barbara smoothed her dress, “Okay Melissa, your on! I will gain fifty pounds in four months, we can have a weigh in on the air to prove it in four months’ time.”

The rest of the show was just small talk and pretty boring after the big confrontation. Melissa and Jean left, Jean was ecstatic, “Melissa that was brilliant, she has to pork up now and it will be a great publicity stunt for the movie opening as well.”

George, Barbara’s producer was also overjoyed. He wanted to get even with Barbara for being such a bitch over the past few years, and this was perfect. He started lining up chefs and bakers to make appearances on the show and to feed Barbara!

Barbara went back to her dressing room still miffed that she had been out maneuvered by a silly, chubby little actress. She was about to light up and cigarette when George snatched it out of her hand and gave her a candy bar. “No more smoking your quitting as of right now eat this instead.” Barbara hissed, “I can’t eat this I’ll gain weight.” “Duh”, said George, “ You need to get started eating right now. You’re not used to eating very much, so we need to get you started to stretch out your stomach.”

Barbara ate the candy bar. It wasn’t as bad as she thought, she even ate a couple more before she and George left the studio. Since she couldn’t smoke anymore, she was starting to nibble. She and George went out to dinner. Barbara usually only ate a salad, but he insisted on a full entre, with plenty of wine to loosen up her appetite. She left the restaurant feeling bloated and very full.

While getting ready for bed, she notice how bloated she was, she thought, “God look at me, I already look fat!”

George came the next day early. He had her exercise equipment hauled away. He restocked her kitchen and pantry with rich, high calorie foods, making sure there were candy and nut dishes through out Barbara’s condo.

Barbara thought she would skip breakfasts, thinking she wouldn’t gain as much weight by missing a meal. But this strategy would soon backfire. George had already lined up several chefs to appear and cook on the show, of course Barbara would have to eat what was prepared. The very next show, George arranged for the dessert chef from the famed Plaza Hotel. He made several very heavy and rich desserts, just as George had asked him to do. Barbara, now starving from skipping breakfast gorge herself on the rich, fattening treats. This would become George method of operation for the next four months.