chapter 2

Petal zipped through the forest, searching for her friend Ossy. He'd been missing for some time, and she was afraid he might have snapped up by an owl or a cat. He would make a plump, juicy morsel. Her cheeks turned pink as she remember his soft, round, jiggly belly. She never teased or twitted him about it like some of the others did.

She paused at the edge of a wide meadow.

"Help," she heard, faintly, "Help!"

She flew toward the sound, only to stop at the sight of pudgy Ossy wedged tightly into the mouth of a flower. His arms stretched dejectedly before him, and tears were rolling down his plump cheeks. In fact, as she surveyed the scene, she couldn't help but notice that Ossy seemed to be plumper all over. His upper arms were wider, a second chin peeped out from under his first, and his waist... well, there's where the trouble was. Petal blushed furiously as she saw how her friend had grown.

"Ossy?" she said, floating down to hover beside him.

"Petal!" he cried joyfully. "Please help me! I've become somewhat, er, stuck..."

Now he was blushing too, a colour like sunset staining his puffy cheeks. Petal rested her hands on her hips and took a good look.

"Here, I'll help pull," she said, and grabbed his hands.

But hard as she strained, Ossy wouldn't budge. He leaned his head on his arms, looking forlorn.

"I'm going to be stuck here forever, aren't I?" he said. "I'll get so hungry. But maybe once this reduces -" He poked at the top of his belly.

"Oh no!" said Petal involuntarily.

Ossy looked at her curiously.

"You like this?" he said, poking his belly again.

Petal nodded.

"We have to get you out before that can happen," she said. "I know! We need a buttercup!"

She zipped off to find one of the yellow flowers, returning with her hands full of greasy buttery yellow pollen.

"We'll just rub this all around your, er, circumference," she said, slipping one hand down to massage his waist at the edge of the flower. She spread the slippery stuff around his back, sides and belly, trying not to think too hard about the way her fingers pressed into his soft fat body.

This time when she tugged, Ossy distinctly slipped a bit.

"Yes, yes!" He crowed. "It's working! Try again!"