‹ Prequel: Ana
Sequel: Relearning Laura ›
The "You're Not Fat" Campaign
The Coming Storm
I stare down at the food on my plate.
Mashed potatoes, drowning in butter and salt (270).
Meatloaf (216).
Steamed broccoli (42).
528 calories total.
Oh God.
I can't do this. I can't I can't I can't.
Meg and her friend April are shoving potatoes into their mouths. April is just as skinny as Meg, if not skinnier.
Mom is spouting compliments at Dad about the meatloaf.
I pick up my knife and cut the broccoli into tiny pieces, then spear one with my fork and force it into my mouth.
Chew chew chew until it is complete mush.
Swallow.
Repeat.
By the time I finish my broccoli, everyone else is done with their entire meal. Meg and April have both gotten seconds of the potatoes howdoyoudoittellmeyoursecret and finished them, too. I prod at my meatloaf.
"Laurie, aren't you hungry?" Mom asks.
"No." YES.
Mom purses her lips. Meg and April exchange glances.
"MomcanAprilandIbeexcued" Meg says in a rush. They bounce up, clear their dishes, and run from the kitchen before Mom says anything. They can sense the coming storm.
So can I, but I'm not sure what it means.
Mashed potatoes, drowning in butter and salt (270).
Meatloaf (216).
Steamed broccoli (42).
528 calories total.
Oh God.
I can't do this. I can't I can't I can't.
Meg and her friend April are shoving potatoes into their mouths. April is just as skinny as Meg, if not skinnier.
Mom is spouting compliments at Dad about the meatloaf.
I pick up my knife and cut the broccoli into tiny pieces, then spear one with my fork and force it into my mouth.
Chew chew chew until it is complete mush.
Swallow.
Repeat.
By the time I finish my broccoli, everyone else is done with their entire meal. Meg and April have both gotten seconds of the potatoes howdoyoudoittellmeyoursecret and finished them, too. I prod at my meatloaf.
"Laurie, aren't you hungry?" Mom asks.
"No." YES.
Mom purses her lips. Meg and April exchange glances.
"MomcanAprilandIbeexcued" Meg says in a rush. They bounce up, clear their dishes, and run from the kitchen before Mom says anything. They can sense the coming storm.
So can I, but I'm not sure what it means.