Beth and I had a lot in common. We were both struggling actors living nextdoor in a simple, yet clean older apartment building where a lot of starvingartists were living. We were nor romantically involved, yet in a way wewere closer than any two love birds could be. We shared each other's joysand defeats in out struggle to make it to the big time. Both being on ourown for the first time, I helped her with "manly" things, andshe helped me with "womanly" things. We also kept out ears openfor upcoming tryouts for the other person. However, she had her boyfriends,and I had my girlfriends. We discussed them openly to each other, almostlike brother and sister.
One day, she came over very excited. She had just gotten a part in a majorplay. However, the part called for someone who was a physically strong.Beth told me that she would have to shake her image of being so thin. Iasked how the wardrobe person was going to accomplish that. However, shesaid that the producer wanted her to gain a little weight. She was a thinperson who had always been thin. I had been a fat admirer for years. Bethwas so thin, that gaining even 30 or 40 pounds would still be well belowthe average weight of the women I've dated.
Every time she got a part, she was always unsure of herself. She wasn'tsure if she could remember the lines, or live up to the directors standards.This time she wasn't sure if she could gain the weight. I had always helpedher with her lines, and had given her advice. This time I gave her adviceon how to gain weight. She knew that the women I dated were large, but Inever mentioned that I preferred them that way. We went shopping, and filledthe basket with ice cream, brownies, cakes, whipped cream and everythingelse. I didn't know if she could gain weight or not. I was under the beliefthat just like fat women could never be thin, thin women could never getfat. But she really didn't need to get fat--just a little husky looking.
We frequently had dinner together, since I wasn't much of a cook. As shewas cooking the dinner, I was getting the desserts ready. I had always admiredher very thin body, not because I found it attractive, but because it wasin style. I had grown very fond of her in a caring way, and I knew her thinbody helped her get the attention of casting directors and helped her getplenty of dates. After we had the main meal, I helped her put the whippedcream on the desserts. I felt more like I was helping someone with theirmedicine, rather than sharing dessert.
I hadn't seen Beth in a week or so. I met her in the hall, and asking howthe new play was going. It was still a while until opening night. She invitedme in, and read a few lines that she had just learned. She then took offher coat, and twirled around like a model in a fashion show. Her dress buttonswere all straining. She was really happy, as she read more of her lines.I'm doing well. I know most of my lines, and I've gained a little weight."This dress is a little uncomfortable. Let me get into something aless formal." She came back in a minute wearing her jeans. I was surprisedthat while I was talking, she was gathering goodies from around the kitchen,and was eating a brownie. The last time I was there, I had to remind hernot to forget to have her snacks. She placed the goodies on the table, andsat down. As she sat down, her button popped and her zipper opened on herjeans. She was embarrassed, because while we were good friends, I had neverseen her less than fully clothed.
I had been busy with my job, plus trying out for parts, so I didn't seeher as much. On the night before opening night, I came over to wish hergood luck. She was again preparing her meal. There was all types of foodout, from main dishes to desserts. She was noticeably bigger. I was quitesurprised, since she didn't have to get large for the part, only not beas thin. This was the first time that her breasts were noticeable. Whileshe still wasn't near the size of my dates, she had developed quite an hourglassfigure, probably a size 12 or so, a lot larger than her normal shapelessfigure. Again, she gave me model twirl and recited some lines. She saidthat she felt really prepared for opening night.
The play was really quite a hit. It got good reviews and it played to nearcapacity crowds every night. The next several times we saw each other, shewas still eating all kinds of snacks. She told me that when the show wasover she would diet. I really didn't say much. I felt that I should neitherdiscourage nor encourage her to change her weight. She, of course, continuedto gain. She was probably about a size 20 or so. She was quite a hit, andthere was no way that she would be let go. However, the wardrobe mistresswas a little upset with her. It seemed that she outgrew her wardrobe twice.The third set, was made differently. The wardrobe mistress didn't say anything,but it was almost like maternity clothes. There was a lot of stretch fabric,and lose material, to allow room for her constant expansion.
Things were not going as easy for her. Her play was still a great hit,but now the reviews always called her a large actress. She was comparedto Roseanne Barr. On top of that, her boyfriend that she had seen for overa year had dropped her. She turned to her two most comforting things--meand food. She was constantly eating and her figure showed it. Her wardrobeon stage kept up with her growing, but it was another story for her wardrobeat home. Her buttons and zippers strained from her new poundage. Her clothesthat were meant to be lose acted as a girdle.
One night, she came over, and we started to talk about various things.The play came up, as well as her weight. She asked about my girlfriends,and how come they were all heavy, and how could anybody date a fat woman?I comforted her, and started to touch her in an understanding way. I toldher about men who prefer large women. We had talked for quite a while indeep discussion. By the time we had realized it, we were both holding eachother romantically.
Then we really started getting into deep discussions. She had told me thatshe much preferred our caring but non-romantic relationship to the shallownon-caring but romantic relationships she had had with the "hunks."But she was afraid that getting romantic would ruin it. I told her thatI also had feelings for her, but didn't think I could compete with the hunks.
She then had a lot of questions for me, since I was the first fat admirershe had known. She told me that she had been thin all of her life untilthe play. She told me that she became addicted to food, but she was confused."I had planned to lose weight, but I don't know if I can. What if Iget really big, will you still love me? What if I get smaller?" I toldher that it didn't matter what size she became, bigger or smaller.
She then told me that she didn't know how to be a fat person. I told herthat I would gladly help her out. We spent hours talking about fat issues,how to deal with rude people, etc. I also helped her with her clothes. Notonly were her clothes tight, but they were the wrong style for her. Shehad developed quite a midriff, which was soft. The tops she was wearinglooked like a water balloon. Her breasts had also grown large and soft,and rested on her midriff. There was flesh poking out on the tops of hercups, that jiggled each time she walked.
We went to Lane Bryant, and as she tried on clothes, I told her what lookedgood on her. We went home, and she put on her new clothes. She had gonefrom sloppy to stunning in a few minutes. This was the prettiest I had everseen her. The months passed. Our love grew stronger. She had continued togain, but her confidence and newly learned ability to choose clothes madeher as beautiful as ever.
One night after finishing a large dinner, we were about to leave to geta Sundae at Friendly's. There was a knock at the door. Her agent apologizedfor coming without calling, but he had really good news. "They aregoing to do a feature movie on the Mama Cass Story. They want you do it.The pay is good. However, she was just a little bigger than you. We'll havethe wardrobe person take care of that." Beth said, "That won'tbe necessary. I'll see you tomorrow to work out the details." She grabbeda couple of candy bars, looked at me and said, "Let's go."