Barry started driving home, but took his now usual detour to McDonald's and ordered a Chicken Legend with Mayo, large fries and banana milkshake.
As Barry departed the McDonald's car park and turned onto the road he flicked on the radio and started listening to 'Drive Time', a selection of easy-listening and popular hits. He started to eat the fries and very quickly they had disappeared into his stomach.
As he approached some traffic lights they began to change, he decelerated, depressed the clutch, put the car into neutral and applied the handbrake - Barry always seemed to get held up at these traffic lights. He reached for the milkshake and had drunk just over half of the thick liquid, when the lights began to change. He returned the cup to his cup holder and started off again.
After a few hundred yards Barry approached the main road, he joined the traffic easily and reached for the sandwich. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other holding the sandwich and quickly devoured it in eight bites. He loved the crispy chicken, the warm bread, the sweet lettuce and the cool mayonnaise. He licked his fingers and reached for the milkshake again.
Having gulped down the rest of his drink, Barry saw the turning for home ahead, he indicated and turned off the main road. After a few moments he pulled into the local shopping precinct parked the car near a waste bin. He'd been doing this for a few months, he'd get out of his car with the evidence of his gluttony and stuff it into the waste bin, hoping no one he knew would see what he was doing. Barry wasn't sure why he didn't admit that he ate like this to his wife (or anyone else), it was just easier to dispose of the wrappers than have the conversation.
As Barry got back into his car, he remembered that his wife was at a hen party and so it wouldn't have mattered if he'd gone home directly, it was just he'd got into a routine. He started the car and a few minutes later he pulled into his driveway, he noticed that his wife's car was also on the driveway, but perhaps Sarah had been picked up by a friend. Barry entered his house and he heard Sarah say,
"Honey is that you?"
"Yes, darling, it's me. I thought you'd already have left for your party?" said Barry, putting down his briefcase, taking off his jacket and placing his keys in the bowl on the hall stand.
"I'm upstairs, can you give me a hand?" came his wife's faint reply.
Barry started climbing the stairs wondering what the problem was, as he reached the top of the stairs he noticed to himself how heavily the McDonald's was sitting in his belly - he wasn't full, but he could feel it down there. Also his heart-rate was up and he was breathing a little faster, not surprising really, he'd packed on over 40lbs since Christmas and wasn't taking regular exercise. Barry entered the bedroom and saw Sarah standing in front of the mirror, struggling to zip up her dress. He moved over to her and helped her get it done up. Turning around she kissed him lightly and said
"Thanks for that, it must have shrunk a little in the wash."
"Know doubt", said Barry, "You know the tumble-dryer has that effect." He stood back from her while she brushed her hair and applied her make up, looking at his wife he thought that she'd put on a little weight (only a couple of pounds), but it seemed to have gone to her top and bottom, rather than her middle. He thought she looked better with the added weight.
"I've made you dinner, it's in the oven keeping warm" said Sarah.
"Oh, right. Great, thanks." said Barry, he must of forgotten to mention that the guys were coming round.
Sarah finished up and turned to her husband.
"Very nice." said Barry. They then when downstairs, in the hallway as Sarah put on her coat and grabbed her bag, she said,
"I'm running late so I have to go, enjoy your time without me."
"I will", said Barry.
Sarah gave him another kiss, picked up her car keys and left.
Barry went into the kitchen, already slightly missing his wife, but looking forward to his evening's plans.
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