Trixie, whose real name was Erica, had acquired her nickname in Intermediate School. She got it because she wore a blond ponytail and was somewhat of a social climber than a team player. Neither she or her aunt had any idea that the term began in Chicago with a meaning anything but a complimentary in intent, someone who would turn a trick with anyone if that’s what it took to get ahead..
Her sassy persona was a reflection of the insecurities from having lost her mom. But now, in high school, she’d successfully taken a step independence from her fat phobic aunt. She’d resolved to not obsess over her weight and, if possible, add a few pounds to her new boy friend Don – a goal she’d mentioned to her Aunt to explain her likely increased use of the kitchen.
Aunt Rachel had Trixie invite Don over and immediately understood her point. Don was 5’ 10,” maybe 115 pounds. If Trixie was 130 (Aunt Rachel suspected it might be a bit more) she actually outweighed her taller, super-skinny boyfriend. But he was polite, obviously intelligent, and treated Trixie with respect. That counted for more than his physique.
“An odd match physically – but she could do worse,“ Aunt Rachel thought to herself. But it actually made her feel better about something she needed to share with Trixie the next weekend,
“Sweetie, I have to leave town for work for at least two weeks – it could be a month. Would you mind staying over at Louise Woods place? She has a spare room since her kids are gone and would make you breakfast. Then you could try your hand on your little project with Don.”
Trixie was totally surprised. Her Aunt had never left her for more than a day or two in over 12 years. But she embraced the idea instantly. Louise’s house was three doors down the block and she knew her fairly well. She was one of the few people who still called Trixie by her name of Erica.
“Its settled then – and good luck. Just try not to gain too much yourself wile I’m gone. You know how Louise used to feed her kids. “
Trixie remembered the three Woods children. They certainly weren’t slender, but neither were they especially large. But she did recall that her Aunt used to be critical of the ready availability of treats that Mrs. Woods kept on hand. There were times she’d cared for Erica in the evening and she was a good cook.
The next Monday school would be resuming after the holidays and Aunt Rachel would leave the Saturday before with Trixie at Mrs. Woods. The mystery of the bogus emails remained unresolved but with the passing of the holidays Erica had let it slip from her memory. She had time alone by herself to fill her way - and that meant filling the bellies of herself and her boyfriend..
-------
That Monday Erica stood in her room in Louise Wood’s house, contemplating her slightly pudgy cheeks. The face looking back at her had slight dimples and a bit of fleshiness beneath her chin. She bit her lip, thinking that she looked cute and wondering what her school coaches and aunt would do if they knew what she was contemplating – a month of good food and rich desserts. .
After seeing her Aunt off at the airport with Mrs. Woods on Saturday night the slightly stout host had taken Erica home and shown her the room that would be hers. Then she asked when Erica would like to get up on Sunday morning, saying “I’d like to offer you a welcoming breakfast – but don’t know if you’ll mind. Is your appetite good?”
“Oh I’m a cheerleader and swimmer, Mrs. Woods, so I’m not dieting or anything. I get plenty of exercise. II don’t want to impose, but I’m sure I’ll be ready for any breakfast you make,” she’d replied.
On Sunday morning Mrs. Woods prepared an apple pancake breakfast with scrambled eggs and beef patties, It was easily 30% larger than what Aunt Rachel would have done, Erica thought as she poured syrup onto her stack of three pancakes, “So this is what Auntie was expecting. Well, I’m going to be a good guest!”
“Now this afternoon I have a friend, Leilani, coming in from out of town. You don’t have to come to supper with us if you don’t want to, but we’re going to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Do you want to come along?”
“Well, sure. That place is classic,” answered Erica. She knew about the place, housed in a renovated streetcar terminal, with some of the booths inside the shells of ld cars, but had never been there. This was definitely something her weight-conscious Aunt Rachel wouldn’t be doing.
That night she met Leilani, a large Hawaiian woman weighing well over 200 pounds. Both she and Louise turned out to have good appetites and as their guest Erica followed suit, dining on a stomach-stretching Caesar salad, bread with butter, and the spaghetti with rich meat sauce. Knowing she was at healthy weight Erica didn’t even consider calories, thinking only “yummy! This is great.”
That was still her attitude on Monday as she adjusted her outfit an prepared for breakfast – which for her typically meant some melons, a bowl of cereal and a piece of toast. But that was with her Aunt, not Mrs., Woods.
“Good morning Erika, I hear you. Breakfast will be ready shortly,” she called as soon as Erica opened her bedroom door enroute to the bath.
“Oh? What are we having?”
“Muffins and quiche – I hope you enjoy it,” came he reply.
“Uh, OK, great. I’ll be there in about ten” Erica said.
“What is quiche?” she wondered. She had never had the dish, but soon found out that it was an egg-based custard like filling in a shell similar to pie crust – ingredients flexible. It was luscious, and Erica had two large pieces. She also saw the potential.
“These are excellent!,” she declared as Mrs. Woods smiled. “Could you teach me to make them? I have a little project …”
She explained to Mrs. Woods her intention to make dishes for herself and Don with the hope of helping him add a few pounds to his lanky frame. Mrs. Woods gladly offered to help in any way she could,
Erica already had her Monday meal for Don planned. She had him snack on Doritos with melted cheese while she prepared entrees of pasta and chicken for upper, then serve ice cram for dessert. Don enjoyed the attention and even allowed himself to be plied with seconds with his portion being larger. Of course before times Erica normally had never had seconds at all, so what she was getting was also extra.
Louise had told Erica that a neighbor had invited her to do a dessert for a bar-b-q on Wednesday and that she and Don would be welcome. Don readily accepted the invitation on that night they both enjoyed a grilled Portobello Mushroom on the BBQ with some Balsamic Vinegar and melted cheddar cheese. along with a burger, potato salad, fries and a couple of cokes. Then they brought out dessert – a pineapple upside down cake.
“Boy, you are doing your best to get me eating more,” Don remarked.
“I promised. Aren’t you enjoying it?”
“Well, honestly, yeah,” he agreed, noting to himself that Erika was sating pretty well herself. Don actually hated being skinny, but had never gained weight readily, so he appreciated the extra effort.
“This b-b-q is great – but have you ever eaten at Oscar’s Roadhouse?”
“No – what’s that?”
“A fifty’s like place where they serve you exotic burgers in an old car hub-cap – although really the one hey use for a plate wasn’t ever used for that. Want to go Saturday night?”
“Why not?” Erica agreed
And so it was that on Saturday she and Don were each devouring anaheim pepper chicken burgers with cheese and hebero mayo, served along with the obligatory baked beans, cold slaw and sweet potato fries, quaffed down with a bottomless raspberry teas.
Mrs. Adams meanwhile had been introducing Erica to new things to try on Don, which of course meant that Erica had them too. She trued to make sure that he always had more and generally succeeded. However, her own penchant for candy bar snacks at school and the ample breakfasts from Mrs. Adams made up for any shortfall.
.
The third weekend Mrs. Adams invited both Erica and Don to a wedding reception at her church. Who could resist? Well, certainly not Erica, who by now had an appetite eager to explore new vistas. After all, how many receptions does one attend in a year? Nor don, who had never dreamed a pretty girl like Erica would do so much with him.
She quickly found out it was more like a brunch, some deep fried eggrolls filled with meat, chicken with ricotta cheese and gravy over rice pilaf... But her favorite part was the chocolate mousse. Erica had never had mousse before and she told Don “it was one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten. I thought it was ice cream at first. Then, duh, I should have noticed they were serving it to nearly 80 people and it wasn't melting.”
“You do realize we just crashed a reception where neither of us knew either the bride or groom?” Don asked as they went home.
“I know – but Mrs. Adams said 80% of the people were there from the bride’s side. By sorting with the groom’s side of the aisle it balanced things out. They don’t know we’re not related to someone who attends there every week. Wasn’t the food great?”
“Yeah, that it was,” marveled Don. It seemed as though Erika was utterly shameless in her efforts to get him to eat. Thing was, he was enjoying it and his pants were tighter. He’d had to let out his belt a notch.
It was now the fourth and final week before her Aunt’s return. Knowing that all good things might soon becoming to an end she went on a splurge fit, taking Don with her. There was another B-B-Q invitation, Three pieces of grilled chicken along with rice and salad plus two kinds of pie and a cake for dessert found their way to her gullet. Then the next evening she and Don hit up a Chinese restaurant (Don’s treat) and on the next two days had fast food fests at Taco Bell and Desert Queen (courtesy of Erica).
As they waited with Louise at the airport Don confided to his girlfriend that her efforts had been successful – he now weighed 122 pounds, meaning he’d put o seven in one month. Erika smiled and said she didn’t know hers and wasn’t going to look, but they both knew she had probably gained some as well. Louise planned on taking everyone out to supper and they were both ready for dessert.
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