This choice: True to Mel's word, by the end of dinner, Mother is a different woman! • Go Back... Alice’s mother had intended on everyone having a healthy dinner to celebrate Alice’s return.
In Mel’s absence, Mrs. Carlyle had taken back the reigns of her kitchen and had been working all day on her creation: chicken-substitute pasta with low-cal dressing and non-dairy cheese, imitation mashed potatoes, and nothing but the driest of vegetables. It seemed that, despite her ample frame, Alice’s mother had not forgotten how to cook a healthy (though bland) meal for the whole family. She was dead set on making sure Alice got only the healthiest of meals—even if it meant sacrificing taste… just a little.
However, in a minor “oversight” on Mel’s part, most of Mrs. Carlyle’s intentions would go for naught. The imitation chicken melted when everyone got so excited that Alice was back that Mel “forgot” to take it out of the oven, the imitation potatoes and the vegetables went to pot when the former dried out and the latter was overseasoned beyond edibility.
Mrs. Carlyle was naturally upset, but was easily swayed into ordering a few pizzas… since, y’know, it was Alice’s coming-home party.
“Alright, but just for tonight!” she warned as she dialed on her landline and held it up to her ear, “We’ve still got a week until Christmas, and—hullo? Oh yes, I’d like two… three large pies, hand-tossed… Mel, Alice, would either of you like anchovies?”
***
And so Alice’s first night home was spent around the dinner table.
Mrs. Carlyle’s order had changed several times throughout the course of her phone-call with the local pizzeria. At first, it was three pies, with Alice’s cheese, Mel’s meat-lover’s with stuffed crust, and a third one that was half pineapple and half anchovy for her and her husband. However, in a dual effort from both Mel and the woman on the phone, that order had somehow changed into five pizzas (one anchovy, two pepperoni, one cheese, and one pineapple/anchovy), two orders of breadsticks, and two 2-liters of Pepsi. It was strange and amazing for Alice to see her mother be swayed so easily—this suddenly plump woman who claimed to be her mother had almost none of the willpower that the stern, slender Mother from some months ago!
Mel, their mother and their father all sat down to a nice family meal—one that consisted of no less than five greasy, cheese-drowned pizza pies—and happily spent the next two hours catching up. And while she wasn’t in any mood in particular to try and fit any more food beneath her sweater, Alice would admit to having a wonderful time picking at her plate while she reminisced with her family. Alice did her best to edit her stories about life at Buttercombe Academy to be as Mother-Friendly as possible, but found it hard not to mention her lazy indulgent lifestyle back at school when her mother was being lazy and indulgent right in front of her.
She did her best not to stare at her Mother unless she was being directly spoken to. It was so strange to see her mother at such a weight, and to see her dig so viciously into her meal, which was loaded in cheese and empty calories. And she talked with her mouth full now—weird, right?!
Every now and then Mel would exchange knowing glances with Alice; a sly little wink from the side whenever her Mother made any mention about dieting, or a nudge to her doughy side whenever their mother mentioned her New Year’s resolution was to drop her added poundage. At first Alice found her sister morally lacking, but as time went on and the meal continued unimpeded by any big fights or snide remarks from her mother, Alice had to admit that this was… kind of nice!
“Sweetheart, I missed you so much while you were gone!”
“Alice, I think you’ll be pretty surprised with what Santa brought you this year...”
“So, your sister and I found this new recipe for low-fat ice cream sundaes—Mel, you should really make your sister one after dinner, they’re to die for!”
“Mmm… are you sure you don’t want a breadstick, dear? They’re... munch munch… really good!”
Alice had never seen her mother in such a pleasant mood before—and she couldn’t remember the last time that her family sat down to a meal without Mel or Mother saying something to the other and ruining the whole affair. Even when her father left for his shift at the Hospital, Mother barely minded. They shared a simple peck on the cheek and he was off, not a nagging comment about him working late to be heard!
“Oof… I am stuffed.” her mother said thickly with a pat to her big belly, which had drawn the snowflake sweater even tighter around her round body, “I ate… urp… way too much...”
Meanwhile, Mel was still going strong. Being a girl of her considerable appetite and overall girth, it was hardly surprising that two pizzas wouldn’t leave her contented. She was busy munching on a breadstick—her chubby fingers wrapped around the seasoned bread like it was jerky—and leaning back in her seat. Her hoodie had been unzipped during the course of the meal, allowing Alice to get a glimpse of at her sister’s true dimensions. She was unbelievably top-heavy, almost her entire bottom roll had escaped the confines of her t-shirt as it rolled up against her massive middle.
Meanwhile there was poor little Alice—who had eaten the least out of everyone at the table thanks in part to Mel stuffing her full of fast food on the ride home from Buttercombe.
“Me too…” Alice groaned as she leaned onto the table
“Alice, sweetie, elbows off.” Her mother corrected gently, Alice snapping immediately to attention, “It’s rude to… yawn… mmm… Excuse me. I think that’s nature’s way of saying it’s my bed time.”
Alice’s mom rose from her seat, bracing her strength by grabbing the back of her chair and pulling upwards. Her belly was round and taut beneath her ugly Christmas sweater, and at some point she had undone the button on her jeans. Mrs. Carlyle arched her back and let out several pathetic, un-Mother-like noises as she fought for comfort.
“Girls, can I trust you to clean up?” her mother asked expectantly as she looked between her daughters, her hands resting tersely on her wide hips “It would be an awful shame if I came down here later and saw that two lazy girls forgot… again.”
“Y-Yes ma’am.” Alice nodded quickly, averting her mother’s gaze
“Sure thing, Mom.” Mel said in a much more relaxed manner
“Good.” Her mother smiled, bunching up her chubby cheeks, “Good night, Alice. It’s so wonderful to have you home again!”
Her mother wrapped Alice in a tight hug, and plodded slowly up the staircase. Alice could have sworn she saw her scratch her tummy, and looked to Mel for reassurance. She was met only with a wry, sauce-dotted smile as her older sister bit confidently into her breadstick.
“Toldja.” She said smugly, mouth full of bread, “Completely different woman, right?”   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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