chapter 1

The three girls were on their high school’s gymnastic team. Sally, Jill and Melissa were very close friends in the same class and they’re Moms were friends too. The girls spent school days, practices and most weekends together. They girls would be seniors starting the fall semester and all three were eighteen years old, though Melissa was older with her nineteenth birthday that summer. They were all petite and slim. Their Moms were too. However things were about to change for all concerned.

The team did very well in the last big meet of the year, finishing in March. The girls were planning on a sleep over at Jill’s house to celebrate the successful end of the season. Jill called, Sally, “Hello.” Sally answered her cell , “Sally, my mom just got off the phone with Melissa’s Mom, she can’t come over, she’s sick.” “Oh no, that’s terrible. I think we should have the sleep over when Melissa’s better,” replied Sally. “My Mom asked Melissa’s Mom, she said for us to go ahead, Melissa’s going to be sick for a while she said. It’s sound pretty serious.” They chatted for a while making plans for the sleep over.

On Monday, Melissa wasn’t in high school, in fact she didn’t return to school for the rest of the term. The girls tried calling her cell and checking out social media accounts, but they couldn’t glean even a little information about their friend’s situation.

Finally in July during summer break, Sally texted Melissa’s phone and got a response from her missing friend. Melissa texted, “Sorry I have been away for so long. I was really sick and had to have some serious surgery. I won’t be back at high school though, and I can’t do gymnastics any more either. Sorry Melissa.” Sally was stunned. She told her Mom, “Mom, I finally got a text from Melissa. She’s home again but won’t be back in school or gymnastics.” “Carol, Sally’s Mom, frowned, “That seems really strange, I did talk to Melissa’s Mom, she said that she was really sick, but that the surgery was successful and she was cured. I’ll talk to Carol and see what’s going on.”

Sally wasn’t satisfied that her Mom was going to check things out. She texted Melissa again the next day, “Hey, why aren’t you coming back to school and gymnastics?” Melissa sent a reply an hour later, “Sally, the surgery and medications have affected me and I have put on a lot of weight.”

That evening Sally told Carol, what Melissa had texted. “Sally that doesn’t sound like Melissa, she was so petite I can’t imagine her gaining weight, especially enough to affect her gymnastics. Her mom, Anne is slim and petite too. I will call her and see what’s going on.”

Carol dialed Anne’s cell. “Burp, excuse me, this is Anne.” “Hi Anne, it’s me Carol, we have been worried about you and Melissa, is everything okay is she better?” “Thank you for asking, Carol. Melissa is better, the surgery was successful, though there are some side effects unfortunately.” “Oh I’m sorry to dear that. Sally has been texting Melissa, she told Sally that she has put on weight.” “Yes, she has gained weight. Carol, this is pretty awkward to discuss over the phone, can we get together this evening? I have a lot to explain.” “Anne certainly, what time and where can we meet?” “Carol, how about the Starbucks on Main, say in a half hour?” “That’s fine with me Anne. I look forward to seeing you.” “You too,” replied Anne, Hanging up her cell.

“Mom, who called?” Melissa called from the kitchen. “It was Carol, Sally’s mom. She was worried about you. Did you talk to or text Sally?” “Yes Mom, I did, she was worried, so I told her I have gained some weight.” “Melissa, I’m going to go meet Carol at Starbucks. Will you be okay for an hour or so, dear?” “Yes Mom, I will be fine, there are still six slices of the second pizza left, I’ll finish them.”

Anne waddled up to her bedroom to get dressed. She and Melissa seldom got dressed when they were home. Anne to had gained weight, she pulled on a pair of stretch pants and a tight t-shirt. She looked in the mirror and patted her protruding bottom cheeks, thinking, “Well I might as well get this over with and face the music about our weight gain.” She waddled to her car to drive to Starbucks.

Carol was sitting at a table, she had ordered a latte and was waiting for Anne to arrive. She glanced up seeing a very short overweight woman kind of waddle through the door. She thought, “Wow, some people really let themselves go.” The woman was coming toward her she looked closer and almost shrieked, it was her friend Anne!

Anne sheepishly said, “Hi Carol, it’s good to see you again. Before you say anything, let me go order a latte and some pastries, I will be right back.” Carol replied, “Oh sure Anne please do.” She watched Anne’s round bottom cheeks jiggle in the tight stretch pants, the t-shirt was riding up showing a roll of muffin top around the tight waist band. Her bra strap was cutting into the fat below her arms, creating yet another roll of fat. Anne’s arms were thick and soft. She got her order and waddled back to the table and sat down heavily. She smiled at the shocked Carol. “Carol, I have some explaining to do.”

“I know you must be stunned at my appearance. I obviously have gained a lot of weight and so has Melissa.” Carol could only blush, trying not to stare, “What happened to you two?” “Carol, as you know Melissa got very sick last spring, right after gymnastics season ended. We had to take her out of state to get a diagnosis for her. Finally they realized what was making her sick and scheduled surgery, which was successful, but had some serious side effects. Melissa became hypo-thalamic, the gland that regulates how hungry you are, when you feel full and how food metabolizes was destroyed during the surgery. Melissa starting gaining weight almost immediately, she couldn’t control herself around food and eating. We talked to counselors and other professionals they told us we could handle Melissa’s appetite and eating in two ways. One, was constant control of all food and eating. The trouble is this method is miserable for the patient and everyone connected with them and usually the patient still gains weight. The second was just to let the patient eat whatever they want and how much they want within reason, so they don’t hurt themselves. This is what we chose.”