Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Joel Got Fat (a 300-word flash fiction story) by Oren Shafir

Fat Joel Horror StoryJoel knew that if he went to lie down, he wouldn't be waking up this time. Mom had put something in the enchiladas.

She had begun preparing them - with six green peppers, a kilo of diced chicken, chipotle chiles seeded and minced and finely chopped red onions, all wrapped in corn tortillas with strips of sour cream, 12 halved green olives and melted cheddar cheese on top – two day's ago.
Now Mom had nothing to serve her friends' Alice and Agnes and their families, twelve guests in all, coming in a few hours. It wasn't like it was the first time this had happened though. Finally, the last time, she'd told Joel if he ever ate her guests' food again, she would kill him.

 He had gotten quiet, looked her straight in the eyes, nodded and said, "Okay, Mom."

Now, she closed the refrigerator and in the little magnet frame on the door, she saw his graduation party picture: black tux and scarlet cummerbund,flashing a shiny white movie star smile, he looked fit. In those days, she had to beg him to eat her cooking.

Now he was sitting in the dining room, and you couldn't even see the chair.

"Did you really do it?" Joel asked.

"Yes," she said. "You better go lie down. Pretty soon, you won't be able to get up by yourself."

"In a second," he said. "I just wanted to tell you something first."

He took her hand. Even his fingers were obese.

"I don't blame you," Joel said. "I know you tried your best with what you had to work with - the way you grew up. You are the way you are, and I'm the one who made myself fat. But you know what, I'm just really tired. I've had enough."

He tried to kiss her on the cheek, and as usual, she turned her neck at the last second so his lips barely grazed her. Then he heaved himself up and waddled off.

Mom got up to take the second batch of enchiladas out - the one she had hidden from Joel - out of the freezer, so they'd defrost before the company arrived.

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