Gluttony for the Holidays
The holidays are upon us. I'm sharing this flash fiction piece to remind everyone to enjoy the season and remember how blessed you are.
Gluttony for the Holidays:
Cassie walked into her friend’s house scanning about as she prayed there were no cookies, candies and treats lurking where she least expected them. She didn’t even want to be a part of these festivities. The holidays were an abomination in her eyes; an ongoing problem with weight management has put her in a state of panic, fearful to gain back what she worked so hard to lose. But she wanted to support her friend who is having her first Christmas in her new house.
“Hello Cassie, I’m so glad you decided to join us and enjoy the day. We’re going to have so much fun.”
Cassie knew there was nothing fun about this, only people who gorged and overindulged while pinning their weight loss hopes and dreams on their New Year’s resolutions.
“Would you like something to drink? We have soda, tea, champagne or how about a spritzer?” Amelia asked.
“Water will be fine,” Cassie said.
By this time lots of people were milling about as they socialized while being downright merry. Cassie didn’t recognize too many people and wondered how Amelia had so many friends she didn’t know about. Just then she smelled it, a certain fare cooking in the kitchen as the scent came wafting out into the house and made her hungry. She kept affirming to herself, “I just have to keep it together for today.” Thanksgiving hadn’t been pleasant either. She took it upon herself to stay home and sleep, only to get up when she felt pangs of hunger. She stuck to her normal cuisine and zoned out watching movies as she waited for the day to be over. She didn’t even go out and enjoy the holiday sales. Those stores always have snacks or treats waiting for the cold, hungry shoppers.
“This temptation has haunted me my whole life and it has never got any easier, continuously focused on problems with my weight made cravings unbearable at times. My friends would always eat candy and sodas until their hearts content, but I, as a child was the one who drank diet soda and was forced to eat salads. While my friends ate burgers and fries, I ate healthier homemade versions that were not near as tasty and worse yet, highly regulated.” Cassie’s broken record in her head reminded her to stay alert, “This temptation cannot get the best of me.”
“Our holiday dinner is ready everyone,” Amelia shouted as she took Cassie’s arm and showed her the way to the dining area. When they rounded the corner, Cassie gasped. Her eyes grew big as her heart sank. She had never seen such a spread when suddenly she felt nauseated. An eight foot table stood before her filled with goodies that bulged right to the edge with not an inch to spare.
“It’s alright, darling. Now, just find a seat, sit yourself down and enjoy these blessings. You don’t have to eat a lot, but I do want to see you enjoy your food,” Amelia insisted.
“I can’t, you don’t understand…this is too much temptation. It’s going to ruin all my hard work and efforts.”
She looked at Cassie with sympathy in her eyes and said, “It’s going to be all right. Please, just try to have a good time.”
Cassie hesitated while staring at the table topped with all the usual holiday fare; glazed this and succulent that was filled with sugar laced treats and salty filled eats. Down farther along the way were opulent sauces and sumptuous spreads. Her eyes widened, her mouth began to salivate when something in her mind snapped as she quickly grabbed a plate. She rushed and layered it with edible eats and high heaping mounds as tall she could stack. The plate soon became too cumbersome as pains shot through her arm; it became a balancing act that just took a little twist of her wrist before she resumed on. After all, as she peered down the ever elongated table, there was still miles of smorgasbord to enjoy like in a children’s holiday fable. She plunged her spoon through some fruity, marshmallow goop before she smacked it down on her plate and then went back for another scoop. She dug into the goop again as she directed her second spoonful straight for her mouth. The constraints were lifted and freedom rang as she moaned when her taste buds awoke with a bang. She sucked on the serving spoon licking it clean before she returned it to the bowl from which it came. For once, she didn't have a care in the world. Not thinking of the others, she moved down the line double-dipping unapologetic for whomever came behind. Dinner rolls were next and her favorite of all, she saw them and giggled with delight. Gently she tucked her fingers into the rolls warm presence before she tore one open to spread on the butter and happily shoved it into her dark tunnel of terror. “No, no, no.” She had scolded and lapped up the butter with a swipe of her tongue. She made her way down the last leg of her trip as she aligned pieces of desserts, that spiraled all together to make a nice looking flower. Her second plate towered much like the first, she couldn’t wait to sit down and eat until she felt like she was going to burst.
“Cassie?” she heard someone gasp.
She froze, embarrassed as she had forgotten all these people were around. “My what they all must think, this pig in a trough like I have never ate.”
“Cassie, Cassie!” She blinked when she heard her friend call out.
“Yes?” Cassie followed her friend’s finger forcing her to look down at her plate. Then, reality crashed in when she saw nothing there, it was completely bare.
“I’m sorry Amelia, but I really have to go.”
“No Cassie, it’s okay, I’ll fix you a plate myself.”
“I tried for you, but I just really need to leave.”
“I’ll help find your coat and see you to the door then,” Amelia insisted, wishing she could do more for her friend.
Cassie went on a search in the bedroom, almost frantic to get out of this uncomfortable situation. She made her way across the room as she lurched forward to grab her coat. When she leaned back and moved off the bed, she caught her reflection and the mirror held her attention. It looked as if her pants were busting at the seams. She inspected herself at every angle, and contemplated how much weight she gained through her imaginary food gorge. “Look at you, fantasizing about chowing down like the cow that you are.”
Silently, Amelia hung back and watched from the doorway as her friend gaped at herself in the mirror. “She is so painfully thin, a walking skeleton.” Tears threatened to burst forth as she insistently held them back. “She is here wasting away and not even I could get her to eat on this gluttonous holiday.”
SK Thomas is a writer, author, book reviewer and the curious creative complex brain behind this blog.
Keep in touch with the blogger/author:
Website: http://www.skthomasauthor.com
Twitter: @skthomasauthor
Member of Goodreads, LinkedIn & Google+
Gluttony for the Holidays:
Cassie walked into her friend’s house scanning about as she prayed there were no cookies, candies and treats lurking where she least expected them. She didn’t even want to be a part of these festivities. The holidays were an abomination in her eyes; an ongoing problem with weight management has put her in a state of panic, fearful to gain back what she worked so hard to lose. But she wanted to support her friend who is having her first Christmas in her new house.
“Hello Cassie, I’m so glad you decided to join us and enjoy the day. We’re going to have so much fun.”
Cassie knew there was nothing fun about this, only people who gorged and overindulged while pinning their weight loss hopes and dreams on their New Year’s resolutions.
“Would you like something to drink? We have soda, tea, champagne or how about a spritzer?” Amelia asked.
“Water will be fine,” Cassie said.
By this time lots of people were milling about as they socialized while being downright merry. Cassie didn’t recognize too many people and wondered how Amelia had so many friends she didn’t know about. Just then she smelled it, a certain fare cooking in the kitchen as the scent came wafting out into the house and made her hungry. She kept affirming to herself, “I just have to keep it together for today.” Thanksgiving hadn’t been pleasant either. She took it upon herself to stay home and sleep, only to get up when she felt pangs of hunger. She stuck to her normal cuisine and zoned out watching movies as she waited for the day to be over. She didn’t even go out and enjoy the holiday sales. Those stores always have snacks or treats waiting for the cold, hungry shoppers.
“This temptation has haunted me my whole life and it has never got any easier, continuously focused on problems with my weight made cravings unbearable at times. My friends would always eat candy and sodas until their hearts content, but I, as a child was the one who drank diet soda and was forced to eat salads. While my friends ate burgers and fries, I ate healthier homemade versions that were not near as tasty and worse yet, highly regulated.” Cassie’s broken record in her head reminded her to stay alert, “This temptation cannot get the best of me.”
“Our holiday dinner is ready everyone,” Amelia shouted as she took Cassie’s arm and showed her the way to the dining area. When they rounded the corner, Cassie gasped. Her eyes grew big as her heart sank. She had never seen such a spread when suddenly she felt nauseated. An eight foot table stood before her filled with goodies that bulged right to the edge with not an inch to spare.
“It’s alright, darling. Now, just find a seat, sit yourself down and enjoy these blessings. You don’t have to eat a lot, but I do want to see you enjoy your food,” Amelia insisted.
“I can’t, you don’t understand…this is too much temptation. It’s going to ruin all my hard work and efforts.”
She looked at Cassie with sympathy in her eyes and said, “It’s going to be all right. Please, just try to have a good time.”
Cassie hesitated while staring at the table topped with all the usual holiday fare; glazed this and succulent that was filled with sugar laced treats and salty filled eats. Down farther along the way were opulent sauces and sumptuous spreads. Her eyes widened, her mouth began to salivate when something in her mind snapped as she quickly grabbed a plate. She rushed and layered it with edible eats and high heaping mounds as tall she could stack. The plate soon became too cumbersome as pains shot through her arm; it became a balancing act that just took a little twist of her wrist before she resumed on. After all, as she peered down the ever elongated table, there was still miles of smorgasbord to enjoy like in a children’s holiday fable. She plunged her spoon through some fruity, marshmallow goop before she smacked it down on her plate and then went back for another scoop. She dug into the goop again as she directed her second spoonful straight for her mouth. The constraints were lifted and freedom rang as she moaned when her taste buds awoke with a bang. She sucked on the serving spoon licking it clean before she returned it to the bowl from which it came. For once, she didn't have a care in the world. Not thinking of the others, she moved down the line double-dipping unapologetic for whomever came behind. Dinner rolls were next and her favorite of all, she saw them and giggled with delight. Gently she tucked her fingers into the rolls warm presence before she tore one open to spread on the butter and happily shoved it into her dark tunnel of terror. “No, no, no.” She had scolded and lapped up the butter with a swipe of her tongue. She made her way down the last leg of her trip as she aligned pieces of desserts, that spiraled all together to make a nice looking flower. Her second plate towered much like the first, she couldn’t wait to sit down and eat until she felt like she was going to burst.
“Cassie?” she heard someone gasp.
She froze, embarrassed as she had forgotten all these people were around. “My what they all must think, this pig in a trough like I have never ate.”
“Cassie, Cassie!” She blinked when she heard her friend call out.
“Yes?” Cassie followed her friend’s finger forcing her to look down at her plate. Then, reality crashed in when she saw nothing there, it was completely bare.
“I’m sorry Amelia, but I really have to go.”
“No Cassie, it’s okay, I’ll fix you a plate myself.”
“I tried for you, but I just really need to leave.”
“I’ll help find your coat and see you to the door then,” Amelia insisted, wishing she could do more for her friend.
Cassie went on a search in the bedroom, almost frantic to get out of this uncomfortable situation. She made her way across the room as she lurched forward to grab her coat. When she leaned back and moved off the bed, she caught her reflection and the mirror held her attention. It looked as if her pants were busting at the seams. She inspected herself at every angle, and contemplated how much weight she gained through her imaginary food gorge. “Look at you, fantasizing about chowing down like the cow that you are.”
Silently, Amelia hung back and watched from the doorway as her friend gaped at herself in the mirror. “She is so painfully thin, a walking skeleton.” Tears threatened to burst forth as she insistently held them back. “She is here wasting away and not even I could get her to eat on this gluttonous holiday.”
SK Thomas is a writer, author, book reviewer and the curious creative complex brain behind this blog.
Keep in touch with the blogger/author:
Website: http://www.skthomasauthor.com
Twitter: @skthomasauthor
Member of Goodreads, LinkedIn & Google+
No comments have been added yet.
S.K. Thomas's Blog
- S.K. Thomas's profile
- 57 followers
S.K. Thomas isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
