Mary and Sally.
Mary stepped from the bath ... reached for the towel
and then caught the image of herself in the mirror.
That body she loathed...that flesh !
She grabbed ...she shook the flab in rage
Gross , Obese ... a fat warped body ....
Held up on thunder thighs.. ...
Vile shape ...What can I wear ? ...
Get me a tent ...huge and wide to hide the rise and fall of lard
...where can I hide
..what have I become.
...Grotesque..a gargoyle on a church
I eat too much
this mound with melony breasts
That is the woman they call Mary ...
EATS too much.
I cannot take the truth of how I’ve failed.
I dare not hit the scales
Mary tormented ...everyday was Mary’s life a wr
And this was Mary’s everyday...tormented Mary’s passing life
.. wrapped in obsessive thoughts of food
And eating it...scoffing a burger...another one...
... fudge cake...with chocolate sprinkles
And how she suffered then for every morsel passing thru’ her lips
And Mary lived alone ...she hid from everyone
She would not have it that they..
Saw the ugly form that she had now become...
Flicking thru the magazines she saw thin girls...thin girls and more thin girls
And that is what I will become she said...I will become like them
And then she turned the page to ‘Lonely Hearts’ and lingered on a line that shone
As bright as any beacon in the dark
’Attractive Man seeks Woman. Plump woman’..’For love ..‘that is what it said...
She stared and stared..but no ...He surely cannot mean it.
For days she sat...reflecting on these words..
Attractive Man .. Fat Woman...Love...For love...
She craved Love..she longed for love
But did not dare to make the call...
He’d never love her Fatness
And then she rang him
She rang him and her whole world changed .
I’m fat she said ...I Love it ! he replied...I’ll meet you in the Park
Be there at noon beside the pond.
I’m Mary Podge she said...I hope you mean your words.
To go...or not to go ...that was the thing...
To meet or not to meet him...Bill...at noon
He’ll see me as I am and surely will not like it.
Which tent shall I don on she laughed hysterical...to hide her nerves
She laughed out loud and shrieked and danced about the room
Be there at noon said Bill...be plumply there at noon...
She did her hair...she did her eyes...painted her lips and nails...
I’ll wear Maroon ...that’s good for noon she said quite madly to herself.
And there he was upon the bench...blue jeans and wavy curls
He’s gorgeous she said to herself...the dream of any girl
But ...he does not recognise me...knew he wouldn’t like me.
I
I’m Mary Podge.... and...Hello Bill
Mary Podge. ?....don’t kid me girl
Your Sally Skeleton...
I said I like my girlfriends plump......and look at you ...so thin
So very thin and anorexic
You’re not the kind of girl for me
I’m fat she screamed...I’m fat...why can’t you see it ?
Your Sally Skeleton ...Bill sighed
And left her standing...
Crying in the Park.
I’m fat. I’m fat you fool..
Kristine Byrne 30th March 2012