The local State University where my sister Rosa attends college participates
in an international exchange program. It involves selected outstanding
students from both here and schools in other countries. Each (assuming fluency
in the counterpart language) is given the opportunity to attend the last two
years of classes at the counterpart school at no increase in tuition.
Transportation, lodging and meals are paid for.
Now, my sister is a good student. However, despite her Hispanic heritage, she
is not fluent enough in Spanish or any other foreign language to qualify for
the two years out of the country. She was, however, offered the job of being
a sort of country host during her last two years in school. That meant free
residency on campus while overseeing the dorm where a number of the exchange
students were staying. This is how she came to be familiar with Maria and
Catalina --- two exchange students whom she told me about towards the end of
the first semester.
Maria de Campo was from Spain, Catalina Lara from Paraguay. When the fall
term began they both had typical bikini bather type figures --- to the envy of
Rosa, who passed size 12 somewhere in early High School.
Around thanksgiving Maria lamented to Rosa that she had gained five pounds
since coming to America.
"But at least I am not like Catalina," she added. "She doesn't know how to
stay away from the cakes!"
"What do you mean?" Rosa asked.
"Take a look for yourself --- she is getting fatter and fatter every day.
But, talking to her about it means nothing. She just doesn't care. Every
morning she eats a cake, then again at night!"
"A cake?" Rosa replied, "Oh, you mean pastries! Well, they are provided free
you know. Does she really eat a lot of them?"
"Sometimes two! I tell her that she needs to watch it, but she just laughs
and tells me not to worry. She is here to learn, not to diet!"
Actually Rosa was busy enough studying herself that she had not paid much heed
to such matters. Due to the fall cold all the girls were wearing wear warm,
bulky, sweaters that concealed details of their figures. They were assigned
two to a room in the spacious rooms of the converted turn of the century
residence that functioned as the dorm, so they tended to be somewhat clothed
when in the common areas. But over the next week Rosa made a point of paying
closer attention.
Catalina, she noted, did indeed enjoy having a Danish or coffee cake for
breakfast; she also tended to have an eclair or some doughnuts in the evening.
Maria, on the other hand was very abstemious in her habits. But Rosa noticed
that "cakes" were not Catalina's only indulgence. She observed her enjoying
seconds from the all you can eat buffets on the commons as well as patronizing
the fast food outlets near the dorm.
At the end of the week Rosa happened to catch a glimpse of Catalina changing
clothes in her room. The effects of the previous three months were beginning
to show.
The previous August when Rosa had seen Catalina in a bikini type bathing suit
she had looked like a typical "wanna be" model, probably 5'8", 110 or 115 #
- very slim with a tight belly, slender arms and thighs, not an ounce of
excess flesh on her chin or jaw.
This evening, however, Catalina was wearing only her bra and panties while
attempting to don a pair of jeans. Her legs and arms looked about the same,
but her waist and stomach had noticeably softened and thickened. As she pulled
hard to button her jeans, a soft never-before-existing roll of flesh hung
noticeably over the waistband. Also her hips appeared much fuller, as though
threatening to tear out the back end of her pants. Her breasts also appeared a
mite larger as her bra cut into her soft upper body flesh.
"Maria is right about Catalina gaining weight," Rosa noted, "but that is her
affair." And so she said nothing. She did note, however, that a few weeks
later Catalina had stopped trying to wear her jeans altogether.
At the beginning of the winter break, seven weeks later, Rosa noticed Catalina
in a pair of slacks. Whereas before her stomach had been entirely flat there
was now a noticeable tummy bulge pressing the fabric outward. Her tanktop
concealed her torso so Rosa could not tell how much more thickening had
occurred, but it seemed that by now Catalina must be at least fifteen pounds
heavier than when she entered school. Strangely, though, she seemed happy and
content --- and appeared to be doing nothing to abate her appetite.
Rosa shared all this with me over the holidays because she knows I like girls
with fuller figures and good appetites. "She is a nice person - honest. You
should get to know her."
"Yeah," I thought, "and soon she will look in a mirror and decide to start
dieting." But my curiosity got the better of me. It was on this account that I
decided to visit my sister on the campus from which I graduated four years
before. It would be, I knew, a good excuse to at least meet the fabled
Catalina.
She had long dark hair and the erect bearing of a person who is confident of
their position. At perhaps 135# she did not strike me as being especially
plump, at least not by my standards, but she was an intelligent and outgoing
person. She helped the relationship by plying me with questions almost from
the start. I told her that anyone with so many questions deserved an
afternoon to answer them all --- and we made a date for the next Sunday.
I took her on a tour of the city, included a movie and capped everything off
with dinner at a small out of the way quality restaurant. At my suggestion
she ordered the prime beef tenderloin accompanied by a generous portion of
homestyle mashed potatoes topped with pale onion rings. I had sautéed lamb
chops with Swiss chard and a butternut squash puree. She ate heartily and
commented with gusto on how good it was. She even suggested dessert! This, I
noted, was indeed a senorita after my own fantasies. It was hard to believe,
given my sister's report, that someone with her appetite could be as slender
as she was.
On our third date I caught her loosening the clasp of her pants at the end of
a meal. She smiled embarrassedly and said, "I am sorry, all this good food
--- it makes them so tight. I am being such a pig I guess."
"Not in my eyes," I replied. "Good food often makes pretty girls lovelier."
"You do not mind that I gain weight? Or do you claim not to have noticed? Such
a gentleman!"
"I have not known you for long enough to notice anything, you must remember.
But you are right, no, I do not mind that a girl gains weight. I think them
to be very nice that way."
"That is Ricardo's attitude where I come from back home, but I did not think
American men thought in such a way."
"Who is Ricardo?" I replied, my heart sinking at the thought she might already
be committed to someone else.
"He the son of my Father's boss --- after I graduate from college our parents
expect us to marry. It is still the custom there for parents to be involved in
such things. And Ricardo likes me and I like him. He is very nice, but he
does not understand why I starve myself at home."
"I guess I don't understand either --- do you starve yourself at home?"
"Not really, but there are nine in our family and enough food we do not always
have. I am the oldest and so I have always made sure the others have something
to eat before I take for myself. There is seldom enough for everyone, so I
just take less."
"And this makes you skinnier than Ricardo likes?"
"Yes. Or me as well I guess. The way I have enjoyed eating here in America I
think I am making up for lost years. But I think it matters more to him.
Ricardo's father is the one paying for my education. When I earned the right
to come here, Ricardo said he hoped I would gain more than just knowledge. I
told him I would try. So, ever since I have giving myself permission to eat
whatever I desire."
"And so you have been gaining weight as a result?"
"Yes --- nearly twenty pounds so far. My jeans no longer fit and my bras are
too tight. Soon I will be stretching my dresses and slacks as well. I must
either stop or get some new clothes."
"And your choice will be?"
She looked closely at me, took a deep breath and said, "I have been setting
aside money for the clothes."
My smile of approval told her all she needed to know.
"How do the girls at your dorm feel about this?"
"Only Maria has said anything --- I think the others don't think I know what
is happening or don't care. Have you been able to tell?"
"As you said, I have tastes like Ricardo. So I take it you don't mind my
taking you various places to eat?"
"I love it!" she said. "I have been afraid only of two things --- that I would
gain too much and you would criticize me or that when you found out about
Ricardo you might not want to do it any more. But I had to be honest with you
because I could tell you were beginning to like me."
"Did it show that much?"
"Yes --- but let me tell you something that might cheer you."
"What is that?"
"I have a younger sister but Ricardo's oldest and only brother is far younger
than she. And my sister and I are very much alike."
"And she likes to eat as well?"
"She is already as large as me!"
"But she is in Paraguay. Too bad she isn't here --- you, she, Ricardo and I
could double date"
"Very possibly, in a year or so, she may make it here. But, now, what about us
for now?"
"Why don't I take you out to dinner again next week and I'll give you my
answer, " I replied. It was devastating to know that this nubile young lady
who so loved good food was spoken for. But I was not ready to dump her after
such honesty either.
OK, I decided later that evening. we can still be friends. I will enjoy
plumpening Catalina, even if it is for Ricardo, and possibly later do the same
with her sister. I'm young, making decent money, why not blow it on a good
cause?
The next week Catalina was wearing a new, loose fitting outfit, one waiting to
be filled out. For the next fifteen months we did many things, always with
plenty of calories included, and she filled out nicely for Ricardo.
By the beginning of the first summer Rosa would note that Catalina's once
visible ribs were impossible to see. However, her silken top, which once had
hung well below her waist, now barely extended below the waist band. A good
deal of this was due to the expansion of her bosom, for she had gone through
several bra sizes. At times, especially when she lifted her arms, the top
would even pull above the waist band, exposing a generous presentation of
plump new flesh.
When wearing shorts Rosa could tell that Catalina's thighs were noticeably
thicker and her hips becoming wider. Her arms, too, were becoming rounder, and
her face was definitely fuller. When she had on a tight pair of pants a
noticeable 2-3" bellyroll formed between her ribcage and her waistband. One
could see it even through her tanktop or cardigan, both of which were becoming
increasingly tighter trying to contain her growing torso. But what was most
noticeable was a joy and radiance about her that had not been present a year
before.
Towards the end of the summer we went to the beach. There Maria displayed the
full grandeur of her developing body. Her formerly flat belly now extended
nearly out four inches in front of her thighs, themselves seeming double what
they had been before. I figured this represented a gain of sixty pounds. The
cups of her bathing suit supported an ample pair of breasts graced on either
side by a pair of supple arms. I guessed that she by now must be over 180#.
If this bothered her at all there was no hint of it. On the way there we had
a breakfast of pancakes, turkey sausages, and eggs. At the beach she enjoyed
had several hot dogs. two ice creams, and a couple of sodas. She had
excellent posture, walked with confidence and authority, and I thought her to
be the most beautiful woman there. That night we each had three helpings at a
smorgasbord on the way home.
Not every day was so gormandish, of course. Most in fact were more moderate,
for Catalina had studies to pursue and was not always able to eat even three
regular meals. But the days of relatively heavy eating and snacking were
enough to keep her on the course she had set --- and she enjoyed every moment
of the experience. On occasion she even prepared meals for me --- and there
was no sparing of the calories.
Rosa became Catalina's friend. Now knowing that Catalina was comfortable with
her gaining, Rosa accepted it. She even added a few pounds herself, growing
to about a size 18. She went with us on a number of double dates, finally
becoming a number with a classmate, Charles Williams, whom she now intends to
marry. Catalina became Rosa's assistant monitor her Senior year --- the two
are remaining friends, even despite the distance, today
All through Catalina's senior year of college I continued in my role of escort
and gentle encourager. I made a point of emphasizing full meals with a
balanced diet rather than fat-heavy fast foods and sweets, which I knew could
lead to various health problems. And I always made sure to combine the food
with other activities and plenty of conversation. Still, she never turned
down dessert. Catalina on occasion made a point of wear her tightest clothes
on our dates, seemingly ready to burst out of them, but always making sure
that her stomach was not overly restricted.
Catalina's body continued to respond abundantly. Her belly roll grew to around
four inches while fulsome love handles began developing on her torso. The
filling out of her face developed into the sweet beginnings of a full double
chin. It is a good thing that the campus required a great deal of walking up
and down hilly slopes, for this helped to insure that her weight gain included
muscle as well as fat tissue. Her sister would later tell me that she had
gained a total of 90 pounds over the two years she spent in the States. That
would make her around 205#.
Maria never did know what to make of all this, of course. Reared near the
Riviera in Spain she was definitely one of the string bikini set in her
thinking and culture. Rosa tried to explain to her that there were different
types for everyone, but Maria never did seem to understand. She dieted and
lost her initial five pounds, then gained ten, then lost five, then gained ten
more. Her complaining about the situation was constant. She seemed unable to
form a close relationship with any of the few men who dated her --- I thought
possibly because of her constant focusing on her weight rather than on them.
She finally, though, gave up criticizing Catalina and, when her schooling was
completed, simply returned to Spain.
As for Ricardo, at first he was understandably a little apprehensive about my
involvement with his intended fiancé. But, after being reassured by Catalina,
he calmed down and ultimately was thrilled with the results of her
metamorphosis. Catalina, after all, did make two short trips home each year
and Ricardo could tell what was happening. When it came time for Catalina to
graduate Ricardo's entire family came --- bringing along both her parents and
her sister, Juanita.
Juanita, who indeed did qualify for the exchange program as her sister had
predicted (I was later to find out that Ricardo's family financed that end of
the exchange program!), was very much like her sister, although a little more
demure. But she had not had to shepherd a flock of younger siblings as did
Catalina. She also was not as initially slender as Catalina had been. I was
introduced to her not by Catalina, but by Ricardo's Father, who simply told me
to "show her a nice time and take good care of her."
On our first date she did not have the advantage of Catalina's three month
break-in period of regular snacking. Her stomach quickly ran out of space on
our first meal, a generous presentation of fried chicken accompanied by
orecchiette, a form of macaroni made with an ear-shaped pasta from Southern
Italy and aged cheddar cheese. But she did have her sister's charm and
inquisitive mind and tried her best to eat well. Her sister had obviously
briefed her and she was trying to please. It was an instant friendship and I
told her to relax.
During the two weeks that Juanita was in town I found that she was just as
sharp as her sister. I took her to a different restaurant each evening ---
and her appetite seemed to grow daily with little overt encouragement. One
Sunday afternoon enroute to a concert we stopped at McDonalds --- I asked her
"would you like one big mac or two?"
"Whichever you have for yourself, but I am hungry," she replied. You know, of
course, what I did.
Along with the fries and shake that accompanied it Juanita had over 2000
calories in that single lunch. Some eight hours later we had a full dinner.
She seemed to be easily able and willing to consume an average of over 3,000
calories a day, definitely a routine which would, in time, make her plumper
There was too little time to see any immediate effects, but my mind was
entranced with the possibilities.
The best thing was that we genuinely enjoyed one another's company and
planning what we would do together when she came to school. I would write and
looked forward to seeing her again in the fall.
Actually it turned out to be sooner. We did exchange some letters, but when
Ricardo and Catalina were married early that August I was invited to the
ceremony in Paraguay and met the rest of the family. Juanita danced with me
in a noticeably tight dress and said shyly, "Catalina has been seeing to it
that we get desserts --- I've gained five pounds this summer."
I smiled and gave her a loving squeeze. She smiled back.
Which is why I am going to the airport this afternoon. School starts next
week and her plane is coming in. We'll drop her bags off at the dorm --- and
then we have reservations at Fellini's. It will probably be her very first
taste of formal style Italian food; if she likes it (and, based on our
orecchiette experience I feel she will) I can promise it will not be her last!
(An Observer Tale)