Lessons in humility

Chapter 34 - post gradutation bliss

Back in the Bulge

Dale decided that it was about time he left the Italian restaurant to find work relating to his IT course. His boss was saddened to see him go and he even tried to get Dale to stay but he just politely refused. His weight went up and down like a yo-yo for a few weeks since his talk with Raya and he hoped it would stabilize soon. Five weeks after their talk and an increase of one thousand calories later his weight had reached where it was before the diet from hell, at five eighty two. The second last month in the semester brought about more change; Dale started submitting assignments and projects online and only going to class for tests and exams. He always had a stash of junk food in his desk at home so he could eat while he worked, Raya insisted that he keep food close by at all times. He gained another twenty-eight pounds before the final exam. Now at six hundred and ten he finally felt like he was beginning his new fat life. He made it to the exam with some difficulty and a lot of stares and not-so-subtle comments on his size.

None of it bothered Dale; he was happy again. Raya found a placement at a five star restaurant right before their graduation...in Paris, France. Someone important pulled some strings for her to get that placement and Dale knew exactly who it was. The news was both exciting and terrifying for them as a couple because it meant that they needed to have a serious discussion soon.

"Hold still, this is a touchy thing." Raya said.

"I can't help it, you're tickling me." Dale said.

"You barely fit into this graduation robe tubby, I had to alter it a lot just get it over that huge gut you've put on recently." Raya said.

"Well that's your fault for making me eat all that fattening French food this week. You're making me fat." Dale said.

"There. Finally got it right, I still can't believe I got into that restaurant." Raya said.

"I still can't believe I'm graduating Summa Cum Laude. I never thought I'd have enough brains left to make it." Dale said.

"You had help; David and Grant also managed perfect GPA's and they've both grown really fat along with you too. It's like I have three pigs to feed constantly."

She looked up at him and tipped his hat to the side to move the tassel out of his face.

"What?" Dale asked.

"Do you think your parents will even show up?" She asked quietly.

"I doubt it; they wouldn't want to see me weighing in at over six hundred pounds anyway. I'm a disgrace to the family name this way...but I don't care. As long as you're there with me that's all I need." Dale replied.

"My parents are still trying to get me to stay here; they don't want me to be so far away. It's another country, another continent..." Raya said.

"I'd think they'd be happy you got your dream job so early." Dale said.

"Yeah, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth but I still don't understand how I got in. They told me they had no openings." She said.

"Actually, that's one thing I wanted to talk to you about...it was my doing." Dale confessed.

"What? How?" Raya asked.

"I told you before about my uncle right? He is a culinary tycoon in Europe and as soon as I told him how amazing you were he pulled some strings and got you in. There's only one condition though..." Dale replied.

"What's that?" Raya asked.

Dale smiled and turned around to open the nightstand drawer, Raya raised an eyebrow. He got down on one knee with some difficulty and opened a small velvet box.

"He would only do something like that for family; so...Raya will you marry me?" Dale replied.

"Ah..." Raya squeaked.

"Please say yes, I'm way too fat to stay like this for long." Dale said.

"Yes!! Oh god yes!!" Raya cried.

Dale got up with a grunt and put the ring on her finger. She threw her arms around him and kissed him.

"You had me going there for a second...don't scare a fatty like that." Dale said.

"What will you do over there?" Raya asked.

"I'm going to be the head of IT for my uncle's business. Unlike my parents he still considers me family and wants to give me a chance to make my own fortune without his brother's help. My cousin Colette will of course inherit my uncle's business once he passes but she loves me enough to make me an equal part in it. She's an only child like me and knows nothing about technology or computers so that's going to be my department." Dale replied.

"And they don't care that you've gotten so big?" Raya asked.

"You haven't met my uncle; he's as big as me, maybe bigger. He's thrilled that you've fattened me up so nicely." Dale said.

"A spring wedding in the City of Lights...I never thought I'd ever say that." Raya said.

"Well you deserve the best; and my aunt and uncle can't wait to meet you. They want to meet their newest niece."

"Of course I'll need to learn French...that's going to be fun. I am such a *** when it comes to learning languages." Dale added.

"Well I'm sure your cousin will love to teach you. I might even learn from her too." Raya said.

"We should get going; they will be starting the graduation ceremonies soon." Dale said.

"I'll even get you three dozen donuts for the ride; just keep that robe clean, okay?" Raya said.

"You never stop feeding me do you?" Dale said with a smile.

"I don't hear you complaining. Besides I love the idea of having a fatter husband now, it sounds much better than a fatter boyfriend." Raya replied.

"I guess I can bid farewell to my feet, I've never see them again." Dale said.

"Let's hope not...you have nowhere to go but up in size now." Raya said.

******

La Belle France

Four months later...

Dale groaned as he sat down on the couch that had become his dining chair, piles of food were laid out before him that Raya had made him a four-month anniversary feast. Their wedding had been spectacular there was so much food that they had meals for a week after the reception. His wife hadn't let up on her feeding and he had packed on eighty pounds in the last month from her. He worked from their upscale condo since he was simply too fat to make it down to the lobby to leave. His weight threatened to break the main elevator so if he had to leave he would have to take the freight elevator down. And French elevators are not as big as you would think. Raya was over the moon with his weight gain and so was he; he was her Full Moon Man as she had started calling him.

He also had picked up his French rather quickly seeing as he now lived in Paris. They say if you're fully immersed in a foreign language environment you pick it up a lot faster and even for one as dumb as Dale he managed to learn. Both their jobs were fulfilling and satisfying, Raya was making great strides in the restaurant as their new Sous Chef she was finally happy.

"I can't believe this entire food baby, how did you find the time to make it?" Dale asked.

"Well if something is important, you make the time. And feeding my fat husband is important." Raya replied.

"We already met the goal weight...about two months ago." Dale said.

"Still though, having a fat husband pushing seven-fifty is rather huge...maybe I should start reducing your meals." Raya said.

"NO!! I'll be good, don't take away my food!" Dale said.

"I know; I was just messing with you. Eat. We have a new goal to reach." She said.

"And what is that?"

"I'll let you know when you get there." Raya replied.

"You are a cruel wife..." Dale said as took a big helping of the soufflé she made.

She just smiled and sat down to enjoy the view.