Carolyn Winters was 26 and had quite successfully and intentionally shut
men out of her life. It was understandable, considering horrific abuse from
her step-father and two other disastrous relationships with men by her
mother. Margaret Winters had tried to make up the tragedies to her daughter
by generously filling her plate as a girl with whatever she was willing to
consume --- and Carolyn eagarly obliged.
Now still living with her mother, who exceeded Carolyn's 245 pounds by
perhaps seventy, she worked as a beautician where most of her clients were
other women. She was reasonably talented, a good conversationalist, and very
friendly to all her customers. As a result her appointment book was normally
full. This activity plus the extra pounds insulated her from most contacts
with men. She felt safe, and that was the way she liked it.
Tony Mueller was no more outwardly interested in women than Carolyn.
Orphaned at age four when his mother died of an overdose, never having had a
Father or known relatives, bounced about from foster home to foster home
until he reached 18, then joining the army for four years, his self-esteem in
matters of the heart was near zero. What standards Tony had, and those that
he posessed were luckily positive, were but a fortunate coincidence of
mentors and friends he had had over the years. But he considered himself a
"blue-collar Joe" who had to make his own way against the stacked deck of the
world. He had come to be content driving a truck and helping fix up houses
for resale on the side.
On Wednesday, May 7, Tony and his semi had left at 4:00 a.m. with the
expectation of being back by 1:00 in the afternoon. Plenty of time to still
get a much needed haircut he thought. But he hadn't counted on a
multiplicity of delays which delayed his arrival back until 5:30 --- all the
barber shops were closed.
Tony liked structure in his life and he had really been intending to get
his haircut --- so when he saw the beauty shop lights still on he went to a
payphone and called to see if they would take an appointment for a man. The
owner, Helen Whiting, asked Carolyn if she was willing to take a last minute
haircut for 7:30 and Carolyn accepted. Tony had supper in a local coffee
shop and then went to get his ears lowered.
No one else was in the shop as Tony related to a sympathetic Carolyn the
litany of what he had been through that day. Tanned and lean, eight years
her senior, concerned about his job rather than focusing on her, Carolyn for
some reason didn't feel she had to protect herself and simply listened with
courteous remarks. But something about her kindness touched Tony. When the
job was done he paid his bill, thanked her for listening and gave her a $2
tip for taking him on such short notice..
Carolyn was impressed with his generosity --- the bill had only been $9
--- but thought little of it at the time. But several weeks later Tony was
back for another
haircut, this time scheduled in advance. This process was repeated several
more times. He had become a regular, but always seemed focused on himself
and his activities. Carolyn no idea how her gentleness and kindness were
affecting the truck drivers calloused heart --- indeed, he was not at that
time yet admitting to himself what was occurring.
On October 10 it had been raining and Tony was running late again.
After completing his paperwork it was after 7:00 as he headed home in his
pick-up. He noticed a disabled car to the side with its lights flashing. At
first he was of a mind to just call REACT on the CB and let them know of the
situation, but then he noticed that the full figured driver was his hair
cutter Carolyn. He immediately pulled over to assist her.
Apprehension swept over Carolyn as the pickup stopped, then relief when
a familiar face emerged and walked towards her vehicle.
"Mother kept telling me to get Triple A and now I wish I had," she
lamented.
"What seems to be the problem?" asked Tony.
"I really don't know --- it started a little slowly, then I went
through some water at the intersection and everything just died," she
replied.
"Probably just water on the wires," said Tony. "Why not let me push
you to the next service station where the mechanics can look at it tomorrow?
Then I will take you home where you can get into some dry clothes before you
catch cold."
Somehow Carolyn felt she could trust her by now regular customer and
within an hour they were at the two bedroom rented house shared by Carolyn
and Margaret Winters. In gratitude for rescuing her daughter Margaret
Winters insisted that Tony stay for dinner . He accepted.
As the conversation developed during the evening the rain continued.
Tony noticed some small leaks developing in the ceiling, also the balkiness
of the plumbnig, and some much needed paintwork. It soon turned out that the
landlord was totally absentee and kept the rents low in exchange for an
absence of complaints. That was why the two ladies tolerated the conditions.
Tony, a landlord himself althought his hostesses did not know it, was
shocked. His tenants were under standing orders to let him know immediately
if anything was amiss. But he did not want to seem too forward and anyway
was appreciative of the the good food. He therefore proposed a trade to
Margaret --- for a meal as good as this once a week he would help fix some of
the problems, beginning with the roof.
This bargain held through the Spring, after which everything imaginable
had been fixed. Along the way Tony on two occasions had determined events to
which he could escort the Mother and Daughter, each respectively nine years
older and younger than himself. Everything was going smoothly and Tony's
avowed self-sufficency was slowly crumbling. Carolyn as well was enjoying
the relationship more than she wanted to admit.
By this time Tony had admitted to the ladies that he owned his own
home outright, having benefitted from a four-member partnership which over
eight years had purchased, upgraded, and resold a number of rundown
residences before it ended. His profits from these transactions had given
him the money to make his place free and clear. That was why he had the
tools and expertise to fix things for the Winters family. But he did not
tell them the rest of his story --- until the day he came over and found Mrs.
Winters and her daughter in tears.
"The house is being sold," Margaret sobbed, "and anyplace as nice
would cost twice a much to rent. We have three months to find something, but
I don't know what we are going to do."
Tony knew exactly what the answer could be --- but wanted Carolyn's
co-operation before he said anything.
"Margaret, are you willing to trust Carolyn alone with me for about
two hours," he asked. "I think I may have an answer, but having her along
could help determine things more quickly."
Margaret consented, as did Carolyn, although totally confused by the
statement.
Tony was silent, thinking a mile a minute about how to phrase what he
intended to say, as they drove the ten short miles to Oak Meadows Drive.
They pulled up and stopped in front of a nicely landscaped large house with
a generously sized granny cottage in the back.
"See that cottage?" he said. "Its slightly larger than the place you
have now. In two months the present tenant will be moving to be with her
children in California. If you think you and your mother would like it I
believe it can be rented for what you are presently paying."
"Sounds very nice, but why am I here first without her?"
"Because I wanted your opinion first --- and because there is
something else I need to tell you privately.
"Both the big house and the little house are presently rentals. The
people in the big house have saved up money and are looking for a place to
buy. At some point soon they are going to do it."
"How do you know all this --- and what are you trying to say?"
"The answer to the first is that I own them. When the partnership
dissolved this property and one other were allocated to me.
"As to what I am trying to say, well --- you know that I have worked
for nearly twenty years day and night without thinking of women and marriage.
And I realize that you may prefer just being friends. But I think that
front house would suit you very well, especially if you were sharing it with
a man that cared for you as I do."
"Is this a proposal, Tony?" she exclaimed.
"I don't know if its premature or how you feel about it, but, yes, I
feel that, as much as I understand love, I love you and would like you to be
my wife. Whether you say yes or no, the back cottage is available to you and
your Mom. But now you know why I wanted to see you alone."
Carolyn's head was spinning --- she had come to appreciate Tony's
simplicity and caring, he was the only man she had ever really liked. But
they hadn't really dated and done that many things together. And she had
always seen herself as a contented fat spinster, not a bride! Now this
self-made blue collar landlord was offering to make her queen of the manse?
"Could we just tell Mom about the cottage and then have a courtship
period? Get to know one another better," she stammered. "You are a very nice
person and I value our friendship --- but you must realize girls like me
don't get many proposals. I just need some time."
"At least I'm not rejected," he grinned. "The timing was forced, I
know that, so I am very willing to wait and have a courtship period --- as
long as it doesn't last forever. But what do you mean, though, "Girls like
me?'"
"Tony, surely you can see I weigh almost 250 lbs --- and with a fat
Mother as well, having kids might make me even larger. Just cooking for you,
in fact, would probably do that. Is that what you really want?"
"I see nothing unattractive about either your pounds or those of
your mother," replied Tony. "You are both beautiful people --- and I will
take exception defending you to anyone who says otherwise. But you are also
very kind and a wise counselor as a person. Give yourself credit for being
attractive all around. If you do gain more pounds I hope that part of them
come from having kids and not just cooking for me ----because you would be an
excellent mother."
Carolyn began to glow inside and soon the feeling of acceptance and
contentment that she had desired all her life began to bubble beneath her
ample bosom.
Together they told Mrs. Winters about the cottage, then privately
Carolyn told her mother about Tony's "almost proposal." They began dating as
a couple, leaving Margaret at home, and six months later were engaged. After
another three months they were married and went on to have three children,
two of them as prone to plumpness as Carolyn had been. Having Margaret
around to supply goodies for the tykes no doubt contributed to this
condition. Carolyn did gain another seventy pounds or so, most of them
associated with her pregnancies, but Tony only smiled and continued to let
her know daily how much he loved her.
Raising larger kids eventually would lead them to form a friendship
with, and learn lessons from, a couple who neither Tony or Carolyn would have
dreamed of associating with. But that story will have to be reserved for
another time.
by the REAL Observer
[This story is weight related, but not so much with gaining, but as prologue
to a tale to come. It is the basically factual tale of how two reticent
people from dysfunctional backgrounds came to be a happily married couple
able to participate in the events which will form a sequel. Comments are
invited to be posted on the Weight Board]