by Matt L. » Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:15 pm
“A surprise for me? I don’t know what to say!” Gretchen chirped.
Mabel gently took Gretchen’s hand and helped her out of the chair.
“Just a minute”, Mabel said in an almost serious tone, “No need to wear your hair so stylish now…”
Mabel removed the bobbie-pins which manufactured Gretchen’s regal looking hairstyle, her locks dropping downward, trailing over the top of her shoulders.
Gretchen favored Albert with a cute smile, her voice sounding especially exciting, “This is so cool!”
Mabel held unto to Gretchen’s hand, escorting her to the surprise, Albert walking behind them.
Gretchen’s gait was a tinge wobbly, though she moved at quick pace, Mabel securing her one hand while she swung her other hand over Gretchen’s waist in which to steady her.
Gretchen turned around while in step, giddily looking at Albert, “Hey babe! Did you know about this?”
Albert nodded, his smile inflating his pudgy cheeks, “Yup! But it was all Mommas’ idea! She wants to me you feel comfortable!”
“Oh momma!” Gretchen called Mabel, her lighthearted emotion corresponding with her lightheadedness, “You’re too much!”
“I hope you like it, Gretel”, Mabel breezy replied, “I’m very fond of you, I consider you family!”
Gretchen made a silly face and giggled, “You call me Gretel!”
They turned the corner toward the corridor where the bedrooms were situated, Gretchen elatedly asking, “You’re really fond of me?”
Mabel loudly chuckled, “Well to be honest, there a couple things about you that annoy me!”
Firmly squeezing Gretchen’s hand, Mable continued, “But we’ll iron them out don’t ya worry!”
Finally reaching a closed door, the trio paused, Mabel delicately running her fingers through Gretchen’s mane, “You’re practically like an adoptive daughter to me, my fondness is genuine and full of affection.”
Gretchen’s mindset was heavily affected by the chemically treated chocolate, her cognitive thought discombobulated; consequently her emotional state was inappropriately revved up, much like her ecstatic mood.
Gretchen tightly embraced Mabel, engulfed in her fat, “Aww, you’re like a mom to me too!”
“Okay, Gretel, open the door”, Mabel whispered.
Gretchen opened the door and flicked on the light switch, the light illuminating what would be her own bedroom in the mansion.
However the room was decorated for a teenage girl or at least a young woman with a stilted maturity.
There was a queen size bed with large pillows, the bedspread decorated with cartoon roses, a colorful throw rug covering the floor. There were two large dressers, a wide and heavy looking nightstand with a lamp, and several bookcases full of books and magazine.
Gretchen hadn’t a clue but the books were teenage variety romance novels, and volumes upon volumes of housework and circa 1950’s female etiquette manuals, and a few cooking and rural reference books thrown in. Included in the magazines were various comic books which featured Disney characters, vintage Mad magazine, Scooby-Do comics, Modern Housewife- dating from the 1960‘s through the 70‘s - video game publications, and gossip newspapers.
The walls were painted a subdued pink hue but there was a few posters for decorations - Kim Possible, a unicorn surround by rainbows, hearts and stars, and one of Barbie wearing a straw cowboy hat, clad in overalls and holding a pitchfork. On another wall were shelves with a collection of stuff animals.
A big screen TV, two adequate size chairs and a full-size lazy boy rocker, snack trays, and off to the side a vanity table which was better suited for a high school freshman.
Gretchen covered her mouth, waving her free arm up and down as she excitedly spun around.
Mabel turned around, telling Albert, “You see boy, I told you she’d like it.”
Gretchen had no clue how bizarre her room looked, in her strange state of mind; she was thoroughly captivated with it. Gretchen quickly hugged Mabel, kissing her cheek, doing the same to Albert.
Albert blushed and dropped his head; Gretchen dug her fingertips into his belly fat and tickled him.
“You jerk!” Gretchen humorously squealed while tickling Albert, “You knew all about this all along and didn’t tell me!”
Albert’s belly jiggled at the tickling, and he roared with laughter, “You like it then!”
“Damn! I think it’s marvelous!” Gretchen shouted, finishing off the tickling with a belly slap.
Albert laughed harder when Gretchen’s hand connected with his belly; Mabel however wasn’t pleased with Gretchen’s remark.
“Gretel! Language!”
For a brief second Gretchen surrendered her happy moment to embarrassment, and she apologized, “Sorry Momma, I was…I just got carried away.”
“I understand your glee but remember your gender; you’re not no lumberjack or long shore man!”
Gretchen shook her head, Mabel following through her urge to show kindness, hugged Gretchen, “Its okay, I’m delighted you’re pleased with your room.
“Gretchen recovered her mood, “That it do!” she announced with a lopsided grin.
“Then of course you’ll spend the night?” Mabel hopefully grinned.
Gretchen looked around her room, positively in wonderment, “I’d like to but all my things are at the motel”, she giggled.
“Oh frilly-frat!” Mabel said while roping her arm around Gretchen’s waist, “Albert can pick up your things tomorrow!”
“In that case, sure…” Gretchen buzzed, “This is the cutest bedroom, I appreciate it, it’s totally cool, so cool! Thank you, both of you!”
Albert, who had been basically a spectator for the previous few minutes finally chimed in, “Since you’re staying over, join me in the family room, I’m going to play Commando Mission Zero, you can watch!”
Gretchen tossed back her lovely blond locks, elevating her chin, teasingly conveying, “What if I wanna watch a movie?”
Albert tucked in his chin, holding his hands to his waist, “You for real?”
“Nah, I was kidding! I’d love to watch you play your game!”
Mabel half-smiled, “Not too late now, hear? I want the game off at Midnight; Gretel has chores tomorrow, and so does Albert.”
Albert complied with a nod and a toned-down, “Yes ma’am.”
Gretchen on the other hand responded with laughter, “You called me Gretel again!”
Mabel faked a serious tone, “I suppose you’d want me to fix you some snacks?”
Again there was an opposing direction to each of their replies, Albert was wholeheartedly in for snacks while Gretchen was indecisive, “I’m not sure, I ate so much tonight.”
Mabel sighed, “Girl, tomorrow you’re planning to tame the wolf minding your appetite, eat up while you can.”
The elder woman could tell by Gretchen’s wrought with anxiety expression that she was on the fence.
“It ain’t no old wives tale or cracker-barrel wisdom…” Mabel syrupy smiled, “…follow what your tummy tells you.”
Gretchen initially wagged her head with a frown but a split second later, happily grinned, “Oh shoot, it would be bad manners turning down a snack after you’ve been bending over backwards obliging me!”
“You’ve just showed me you’ve a fine upstanding mantle and full of respect, a courteous girl never turns down food!” Mabel beamed.
Mabel chuckled, addressing both of them, “How does pizza rolls, sandwiches and cookies sound?”
Albert sounded off, “Thanks, Momma!” while Gretchen responded with a silly smirk, frivolously muttering, “Good thing I’m committed to walking or else I’d be jumbo size for sure!”
Slanting toward Mabel, Gretchen sweetly added, “But thank you for your hospitality, I’ll worry about my weight tomorrow.”
Mabel boldly rifled back, “Shucks honey, you’ll needn’t worry about your figure, I’ll keep a keen eye on it!”
Gretchen blushed, unaware of the correct meaning behind Mabel’s remark, “You’re so thoughtful.”
Mabel marched out of the room to prepare the snacks, on route to the family room; Gretchen caught Albert by surprised by grabbing hold of his rotund belly.
Gretchen acknowledged Albert’s bewilderment while giving his blubber a squeeze, “When I tickled you, you felt so cuddly.”
Albert didn’t know what to say or how to react which benefited him.
“I had a boyfriend a bit on the chubby side, maybe big bellies…”
Gretchen pulled her hands away from Albert’s gut, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t done that. It’s inappro…inappro…“, for some reason Gretchen had a difficult time coming up with the word, inappropriate, thus relying on an easier approach to get her message across, “it’s wrong.”
Albert found some courage and put his arm around Gretchen’s shoulder as they continued their trek to the family room, “Nah, its fine. I never knew that about you.”
Gretchen was a little embarrassed and very confused, was she really attracted to Albert?
“Well, since I’ll be here five days a week, I think we’ll discover lots of stuff about each other, some good, some not so good”, Gretchen willingly admitted.
“I can’t believe there’s anything bad about you”, Albert replied.
“You know what, that’s all water under the bridge, this is a chance for a fresh start..” Gretchen said as they entered the family room, unaware of the statement’s providence, “..I’m a sweet naïve country girl with big dreams!”
Albert grabbed the specific game he was going to play and started up his gaming system.
Gretchen slid into Mabel’s huge lazy-boy recliner, “Did that sound corny?” she covered her lips, trying to conceal her giggle.
Albert grabbed his joystick and sat down on the floor right beside Gretchen.
“I don’t think so, I think you’d make a fine country girl.”
Gretchen was still reigning in the effects of the chemically treated chocolate, “Yeah it ain’t so fast pace here, you know? Like a leisurely world where people still r’member saying thank you and please, and nobody stares at you when you order an extra large banana split. You got a Dairy Queen around here?”
Albert concurred all the way, “I don’t know about Dairy Queen but on the way to Syler City there’s a Tasty Freeze. But you’re right I guess, I haven’t any idea what big city life is like, only heard about it. But I know you’re better off living in the country.”
Gretchen was compelled to remove her footwear and socks, muttering fervently, “The city is crowded, lots of ignorant folks, and pressure to con….con…”
Gretchen cognitive thought had gone haywire, she couldn’t come up with the word conform, and settled for. “…fit in. Look and act a certain way, it’s hard too coz all your friends are like rivals too, you got to dress better, look better, out here you come and go as you please, nobody thinks different.”
Albert was knee deep in his game, putting in much effort to stay attentive to Gretchen, “True, true, very true. We’re down to earth, easy going.”
Gretchen became engross in Albert’s game, oddly enough, like never before, cheering him on.
Gretchen’s head rocking back and forth, and sideways, her body swaying, automatically mimicking Albert’s movements. Profoundly thrilled at watching Albert and the game as well.
Mabel soon walked back into the family, smiling at the sight of Gretchen’s bare feet, chuckling within her thoughts, “She done mocked the idea of a female being bare foot and pregnant, and she’s partially there!”
Mabel set a large serving tray onto the snack tray, clapped her hands to get their attention, “Provisions have arrived!”
Albert mumbled thank you, Gretchen bolted off the chair, helping herself to pizza rolls, cookies and a cheese sandwich.
“Thanks Momma, um I mean Mabel; you don’t mind me borrowing your chair?” Gretchen awkwardly smiled.
“Whatever makes you comfortable, honey, same goes with calling me Momma”, Mabel serenely answered.
Gretchen popped a pizza roll into her mouth, tingling with goose-bumps as she was bushwhacked by s sentimental feeling.
Gretchen discreetly addressed Mabel while chewing on the pizza roll, “My mom wasn’t too cool about me snacking, she’d make insensitive comments about my appetite and figure, you’re so different it’s spooky…”
“I appreciate the compliment”, Mabel smiled.
Gretchen took a swig of cola, subsequently another pizza roll, “It was difficult getting down to a weight that satisfied my mom, my appetite was off the charts and I’m not very disciplined….”
Gretchen picked up a paper plate and began loading it up with two sandwiches‘, pizza rolls and cookies, “…The pounds dropped off and I got skinny, but I did it for me, not mom…”
Mabel placed her hand over Gretchen’s shoulders, “That must have been a stressful time for you, now you’re beyond all that.”
Mabel wiped away Gretchen’s bangs, “You’ll get no criticism from me, only my support.”
Gretchen heaved a melodious sigh, Mabel grinned, looking over Gretchen’s shoulder at Albert, “I’m interrupting game night! Have fun with Albert, I’ll check up on you two in an hour.”
Gretchen returned to Mabel’s chair as the elder woman waddled out of the room.
Gretchen felt liberated from her diet, for at least that night, gobbling sandwiches, cookies and pizza rolls, and relishing four cans of cola - a big no-no in adequately watching her waistline.
Albert ate as well but nothing in comparison to Gretchen.
Gretchen became so intensely involved in Albert’s game that she slowly maneuvered herself out of the chair and eventually positioned herself next to Albert on the carpet.
Albert appeared to be messing up; Gretchen bumped against him, and grabbed the controller, “I can handle this, chubs!”
Albert giggled, retrieving the controller, which caused Gretchen to momentarily pout, he pointed to the huge black box where rested near the play station.
“Get the other controller! I’ll create a character for you and we can play together!”
Gretchen didn’t waste a minute, scrambling toward the box on her hands and knees.
Upwards about 45-minutes later, Mabel returned to the family room to sound of laughing and screaming.
“Keep it down you too, its after Ten O’clock, decent people are already asleep!”
Albert readily apologized, although a goofy smirk took to Gretchen’s pretty face and she let loose a screeching giggle. Mabel wasn’t amused by it but the manner in which Gretchen was sitting on the carpet provoked her ire.
“Watch the way you’re sitting, Missy! It’s unbecoming for a girl and you’re wrinkling your dress!”
“But I’m not wearing it tomorrow”, a hint of a whine in Gretchen’s voice.
“Don’t sass me back!”
Gretchen reeled her head in fear but quickly realized she needed to apologize, “Yes ma’am, I’m sorry”, she said glumly.
In a heartbeat, Mabel’s iron disposition flipped over, “Well, I was about to say lights out in 15-minutes but you’re having such fun, you kids can have another hour”, she blissfully chuckled.
Albert and Gretchen thanked Mabel, resuming the game; of course Gretchen adjusted her position on the carpet not to further wrinkle her dress.
Mabel reviewed the empty serving tray, giddily presuming Gretchen ate well.
Yet Mabel wanted to make sure the substance within the chocolate was during its trick and she cleverly chirped, “This should hold y’all! I had ice cream planned for a backup!”
“In a little bit, Momma!” Albert giggled, “I gotta learn Gret the game!”
On the other hand, Gretchen’s face lit up, “Ice cream!”
Gretchen in rapid fire session, put her character on hold, playfully and gently smacking Albert in the arm, “Learn Gret how to play da game!”, then using the chair as leverage, climbed to her feet.
“Where ya go’in?” Albert asked, rubbing his arm, “We’re just about to invade Italy!”
Gretchen comically marched toward Mabel, “Conquer Italy by yer-self, I want Ice cream!”
Albert teasingly referred to Gretchen as a dork, and she paused on route out of the room with Mabel, “You’re the dork!”
Reaching the kitchen, Mabel pointed to a chair, “Sit down, I’ll get your ice cream! Two scoops or one?”
A gawky smiled appeared over Gretchen face, and she sat with her shoulders hunched over, “Two, two please! I’m starting my diet tomorrow!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Mabel giggled while preparing the bowl of ice cream, 5 scoops in all, “Yeah girlie, you’ll start minding the calories, so eat your full!”
“What flavor?” Gretchen uttered.
Mabel turned around, “Straighten that posture!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Gretchen did as she was told.
Mable sweetly smiled, “Chocolate chip, you want chocolate syrup too?”
“Please, thank you.”
Mabel was overly generous with the chocolate syrup.
A moment later Gretchen was enjoying the ice cream, Mabel pointed a finger at her, “Stay there”, she said in an almost harsh tone before slipping out of the room.
Gretchen had finished majority of the ice cream when Mabel returned, once again rehashing her diet and how much she appreciated Mabel’s kindness and surplus of food.
“I know in California where I plan to move, all the girls are so glamorous, I have to fit in, being similar to them its important to be slim and trim…”
Mabel was busy at the small kitchen counter, cheerily interrupting Gretchen, “You’ve outgrown our small town? Too bad, we like you here; you’re the regular grain, a modest minded female, right?”
Gretchen giggled, “What do regular grain mean?”
Gretchen finished her activity at the counter and sat down at the table along side Gretchen, placing a glass of buttermilk before her.
“Regular grain is language used by us country folks. It means you’re a member of our clan, share the same roots. Coming from up north, maybe you wouldn’t understand, lots of city people especially call us silly country bumpkins but the truth is in the mix. We all are hardworking people, have simple values, don’t cotton to what society says is normal, we take stock in ourselves. Maybe in California you’ll fit in, match up to their standards, but its all artificial if it’s not the real you.”
Gretchen lowered her eyes, slurping away a sample of ice cream off the spoon, “I do like it here and I’m not going anytime soon, Y’know College ain’t cheap.”
Mabel leaned in toward Gretchen, her smile puffing up her chubby cheeks to twice their size, “Maybe your modesty might overcome such things?”
Gretchen finished up the ice cream and sighed, “Like I said, I like living in Hanson, and I cherish knowing Albert and you, but I’m guessing my potential is wasted here.”
Mabel laughed so hard her bulbous belly bounced, “The importance to your potential isn’t quelled by where you live! No, girlie, your potential develops from the resources that are available and experiences.”
Gretchen rubbed her nose, “That’s all too heavy for me to digest. You’re like an information genius or something.”
“Well enough talk, go finish the game with Albert”, Mabel pleasantly told Gretchen.
“Yeah, totally!” Gretchen giggled.
As Gretchen was about to stand, Mabel gestured to the glass of buttermilk, “I poured that for you my dear. I’m worried you’re so keyed up with the game, you’ll have a hard time getting to sleep.”
“Buttermilk helps?”
“It couldn’t hurt!” Mabel exclaimed.
Gretchen danced her fingernails upon the table, “Yeah, yeah maybe that would help. I feel sort of overtired.”
Gretchen polished off the buttermilk in a couple gulps, favoring Mabel with a smile after wiping her lips, “I hope you aren’t upset with me going back to school and like. California. For what it’s worth, this community, the folks and youse especially, it ain’t easy for me to move on coz I’ve gotten so use to living here.”
Gretchen picked up the empty bowl and glass, giggling on her way to the sink, “Wouldn’t it be crazy if I did decide to stay here!”
“You’d be crazy if you didn’t!” Mabel giggled back, “But I’ve found my potential! Now go join Albert, I’ll finish up those dishes.”
Gretchen literally skipped out of the kitchen, Mabel shouting, albeit cheerfully, “Remember you got vacuuming and windows to wash tomorrow!”
Mabel pondered to the extreme once Gretchen was out of the kitchen.
“You’re too sweet and without airs for California, you’re right at home here. Certainly Gretel will realize this when she grows into a real country girl.”
“About time you got back, I had to conquer Italy by myself!” Albert squawked.
Gretchen answered back as she took her position besides Albert and turned her character back on, “Italy couldn’t have been much of a challenge if you conquered it by yourself!”
Albert giggled, “I liked you better when you were in the kitchen!”
Gretchen swerved her body into Albert, “Afraid of playing against a girl?”
“You’re on, we’re play against each other in North Africa!” Albert uttered firmly.
“Get ready to have your butt kicked!”
It was then that the drug which Mabel added into the buttermilk took affect; Gretchen was met with dizziness, everything going black.
_________