The Haunted Jewelry by Matt L. and fan2000

--fan2000

PART ONE: ROAD TRIP

Gemini Pagan walked out of the shower located in the locker room of the Gorgeous Babes workout center. Clad in only a towel, she glanced over her reflection in the mirror. Gemini had short raven black hair that accented her lovely facial features and her body was slim and trim. Her hand glided down to her bony hip and she turned to her best friend, Isabel Vega. "Just wait and see, a year after marriage and I’ll probably have thick thighs and a big tummy."

Isabel chuckled; "Not all newly weds get fat!" Isabel was an attractive young lady as well, with long, curly chocolate brown hair, the face of a vixen and curvy hourglass figure.

Gemini’s face turned back to the mirror as she scrutinized her gentle face. "Gosh, I’ll never look this pretty again."

Isabel rolled her eye’s, "Hey, knock it off, like you’re only twenty-three." Walking up behind her friend, Isabel grasped Gemini’s shoulders, "You’ll look this pretty for years to come. After all, doesn’t true love reflect upon one’s own beauty?"

Gemini smiled, "You got that off a fortune cookie?"

Isabel giggled, "No, actually my mom. I guess it’s a Mexican proverb or something." Isabel took a seat on the bench and laced her shoes, "You know I love my mom, but she’s so ethnic. She keeps forgetting we’re American and hangs onto her roots."

Gemini began to comb her hair, "Well that’s very sweet, don’t cha think?"

Isabel giggled, "Yeah, I guess?" Isabel stood and checked out her figure in the mirror, "She kind of nag’s me though about being Americanized."

Slipping on her trendy garments, Gemini asked Isabel what she meant and Isabel enlighten her friend as she impersonated her mother’s voice, "Isabella, you look too American. Don’t forget your heritage." Isabel tapped her flat tummy with the palm of her hand and laughed, "I guess she expects me to dress more ethnic and have a big butt and boobs." The girls shared a quick laugh and then hurried through the work out center to Isabel’s silver Mustang. Driving off, the conversation turned to the upcoming road trip they we’re going to take before Gemini’s nuptials, just to have one last adventure and celebrate their friendship. "Who else is coming along?" Isabel asked as she put on her expensive sunglasses.

"Pepper O’Doul and Sondra Ikland," Gemini responded.

Pepper was a fetching young lady with a wavy red mane and exquisite figure, while Sondra was just as uniquely beautiful with ash blond hair and slender figure. Isabel nodded, "Great the fab four together again, just like we’re in high school."

Gemini concurred as Isabel then asked, "How’s Pepper doing? Last time I saw her, she looked like she put on a few pounds."

Gemini brought Isabel up to speed, "Yeah, after she broke up with Todd she became an excessive overeater. I think she put on, like 15-pounds."

Isabel grinned, "That seems about right. In her thighs and butt."

A puzzled look formed upon Gemini’s face, "Why are you so happy?"

Isabel mildly chuckled, "Oh my gosh, I was always so envious of her. You know she looks better in a bikini then I do. At least she did."

Gemini slapped her friend on her lean thigh, "Stop it, you look just as terrific in a bikini."

Isabel giggled, "Yeah, now I do."

Gemini smiled, "You’re so bad. Though I hate to disappoint you, but Pepper got her overeating under control, lost the weight, and is back in solid form."

Isabel laughed harder, "Damn, now she’ll have first crack at all the cute guys! She attracts them like…like? Well I don’t know, but she’s a babe all right!"

Gemini shook her head; "We’re all good looking."

Pulling up to a stop sign, Isabel turned to Gemini and smiled, "Yeah I know. I was just giving you a hard time."

Two days later, the four young ladies joined together on their road trip. Gemini borrowed her brother’s mini-van and as they were stashing away the luggage, Gemini approached Sondra. "Please don’t take this the wrong way, but we’re only going to be gone four days and you brought four suitcases."

Sondra placed her hand upon her narrow hip and replied with a ginger snap smile, "You know I like to dress perfect to fit the occasion. Who knows what occasion might arise?"

Pepper wandered up to the friends as she nibbled on a Slim Fast candy bar, "Yeah the queen might invite us to the ceremonial ball."

Sondra fired back with a grin upon her delicate face, "Always with the wisecracks."

Pepper adjusted her tube top, "Hey; it’s against my nature to be any different."

As the three friends laughed, Isabel yelled from the van, "Come on ladies, let’s get the show on the road."

With that, the girls were off on their adventure. The first night was spent at a college town where the ladies flirted and partied with future doctors and lawyers. Rounds were bought, phone numbers exchanged, and the four gals finally made it back to their hotel by five in the morning. Sometime around eight as Isabel and Sondra slept, Gemini made tracks to the bathroom. Opening the door she discovered Pepper on the toilet eating a snickers bar. Scattered over the floor were wrappers from a few other candy bars. Wide eyed, Pepper remarked with a giggle, "Those Slim Fast bars suck. I needed real chocolate."

Gemini shut the door behind her and scratched her belly. "I thought you stopped pigging out?"

Pepper slowly nodded and bit into the candy bar, "Yeah I did."

Gemini’s hand swept through Peppers fiery red hair, "Remember how hard you told me it was losing the weight? Next time you put on weight, it might be even more difficult to lose."

Pepper acknowledged the fact and added, "I just miss Todd so much. All these guys I met tonight only reinforced my feelings for him."

Gemini rested her backside against the sink, "So you’re going to start overeating again?"

Pepper shrugged her shoulders, "I hope not, but I just need an outlet for my emotions. So I snuck out to the lobby and bought these candy bars."

Gemini gently lifted Pepper’s chin, "You’ll get over Todd just like you got over your overeating. You met a lot of nice guys tonight and I know you’ll find someone who’ll make you forget all about Todd."

The serious look upon Gemini’s face was replaced by a smile, "You may even meet Mr. Right at my wedding."

Pepper stood up and hugged Gemini, who giggled, "And you’re already fitted for your bride’s maid gown, you need to fit into it!" Pepper slowly twisted her neck and checked out her behind in the mirror. "Oh I’ll still be able to fit into it."

Morning at breakfast, Pepper was true to her word and had only toast and orange juice. Isabel ate the most; 2 scrabble eggs, pancakes, sausage, toast and 2 glasses of whole milk. Sondra remarked on Isabel’s voracious appetite. "It’s a good thing you work out, or you’d be a big chick!"

Isabel agreed as she guzzled her milk and devoured the pancakes, "You’re not kidding. I come from a heavy family; my mom weighs like, 300-pounds."

Pepper interjected her thoughtful opinion, "Yeah but your mom is soooo pretty. She carries the weight well."

Isabel laughed, "I’m 135-pounds and my momma say’s, Isabella you too thin, eat something or the wind blow you away."

The four friends laughed and then Sondra brought up the short span of time she worked as a waitress. "I gained so much weight while I was a waitress. My gosh, I don’t know how your mom pull’s it off, because I looked dreadful!"

Isabel chuckled, "You’re so full of it, you barely gain any weight at all."

Sondra quipped, "You never saw me naked. I had quite a tummy hidden underneath control top panties. My personnel hell would be working as a waitress, because I know I’d get so fat. Yuck!"

Gemini smiled, "Oh how much did you actually gain Sondra? Five pounds?"

Sondra bit into her grapefruit, "Something like that. I’m not saying."

Pepper nudged Isabel’s waist, "Where are we off to next, Isabella?"

Isabel calmly rejected the name, "Nothing to get you panties in a knot, but it’s Isabel, okay? Only my mom call’s me Isabella and I hate it."

Pepper apologized, and Isabel accepted with an explanation. "I prefer the American version of my name because it’s who I am. Not that I’m not proud of my heritage but, Isabella sounds like a maid, not a financial aid supervisor."

Gemini broke the tension with a quick observation, "See that pudgy looking waitress over there?" The friends looked on as Gemini continued, "That could have been you Sondra if you never quit restaurant gig and became a teacher."

Sondra glanced over the well-fed female in her pink uniform and mumbled as she sipped her ice water; "I’d be much heavier."

Isabel grinned, "What was that?"

Sondra cleared her throat, "I thought we we’re talking about our next move, not my personnel hell."

Isabel nodded, "I say we visit Brustin Harbor, they have an art fair there, it might be cool to check out."

Gemini giggled, "I thought we we’re going to party."

Pepper wrapped her arm around Gemini’s shoulder; "You ever partied with artists? They’re so creative."

Sondra brought up her grandmother’s home in near by Hollow Creek. "If we visit my granny’s, we could stay for the night and save on hotel expenses."

Isabel looked over her map, "I can’t find the town, where is it?" Sondra laughed, "Its a quaint little village, you won’t find it on the map. All the homes are gothic style and it’s like something out of a dark novel."

Pepper giggled, "Spooky."

After spending some time shopping around town, the friends made their trek to Sondra’s grandmother’s home. Sondra’s grandmother was a chubby, silver haired woman with a happy heart. "Well, well, look whose dropped by to visit," Sondra’s grandmother promptly hugged her granddaughter and kissed her forehead.

Taking a step back, Sondra introduced her friends, "You remember Pepper, and this is Isabel and Gemini."

Her grandmother glanced over her eyeglasses, "Still a darling daughter of Ireland and with such beautiful red hair." Pepper couldn’t help to blush, "Aw granny; you haven’t changed one bit."

The grandmother invited the fab four into her modest New England dwelling and asked them to take a sit while she made them something to eat. "Now granny, I hate for you to go to any trouble," Sondra remarked as she primped her hair in the mirror. The grandmother steadily walked back into the living room and approached her granddaughter, "It’s no trouble at all and how often do I get company. Make yourself at home ladies; I’ll have a nice meal prepared shortly."

Isabel smiled, "Thanks Mrs. Ikland, I really appreciate it."

Sondra turned to Isabel; "You just ate four hours ago!"

Pepper chimed in, "Leave her alone, I’m hungry too."

Folding her arms over her ample breasts, Sondra giggled, "You two are just going to get soooo fat!"

As the friends reclined in the living room, Sondra joined her grandmother in the kitchen to give her a hand and ask if they could spend the night. Mrs. Ikland was all for it, "That would be beautiful my dear, simply beautiful."

Once the meal was served, the five of them spoke over various topics, including their ride to grandmother’s house. "I have never seen so many creepy looking mansions", Pepper remarked as she poured gravy over her mashed potatoes.

Isabel concurred, "Yeah, like that big rotted building just as we turned down that gravel road to your place."

Isabel sipped her milk and continued, "It’s practically hidden behind those huge trees. Spooky."

Gemini tilted her head as she asked, "Any of those place’s haunted?"

Pepper laughed, "By the looks of those buildings they’re all haunted!"

Sondra turned to her grandmother, "That rotted building we drove by, doesn’t that have a macabre story?"

Mrs. Ikland put down her fork, "Just a matter of fact it does."

Pepper was full of enthusiasm, "Come on granny please share it with us!"

Mrs. Ikland nodded, "Well, now I can’t say the story is true, but I can’t say it isn’t." The four friends were all ears as Mrs. Ikland spun the yarn. "Huxley W. Bryant had the house built around 1910 as a wedding gift for his young bride, Verna. Huxley was a millionaire and dabbled in oil, real estate and stocks. Some people though him an odd eccentric and others just called him mad. Verna was a comely lass from a noble, Welsh family. She was quite talented too, being a fine actress in the manner of Lillian Russell. Huxley was gone most of the time, his business ventures kept him away, but to keep his darling happy, he lavished her with expensive garments and jewelry. Verna wasn’t aloud to leave their home while Huxley was away and so due to boredom, she turned to food to for comfort and gained an amazing amount of weight. Huxley expected Verna to be a glamorous doll to show off at the various affairs he was invited to. Though at the time, heavier females were the norm for feminine beauty, Huxley couldn’t stand having a heavy woman for a wife. Huxley then kept his distance from her and stayed away more often. Verna, being such a young woman needed the male companionship, so to speak and took up an amorous relationship with a poor farmer. Huxley couldn’t understand this, because he was wealthy and the farmer was poor? He brought her home treasure from all over Europe and yet she decided to stay with the poor farmer. Huxley felt that one day she would return and he continued to buy her all kinds of gems and jewelry. Though eventually he took up residents with another young woman, he left the house and everything he bought for Verna behind, vowing that the items were for her and her alone. Legend has it, he stills waits for Verna to return and anyone who lifts a thing from the house is cursed."

Pepper leaned forward, "Have you ever seen his ghost?" Grandmother Ikland sipped her tea then replied, "I haven’t, but it has been told that his ghost has been seen peering out the windows or standing on the porch waiting for Verna to return."

Sondra scratched her head, "I don’t know about you guys, but I think we should give granny a hand cleaning up, then check out the art fair."

Gemini giggled, "I’m for that!" Isabel removed herself from the table and smiled, "We’ll wave over to Mr. Bryant if we see him as we drive by his house."

Grandmother Ikland chuckled; "Oh there’s a thing or two true about old legends, so don’t be too surprise if you see him waving back."

The fab four laughed in unison!

PART TWO: THE OLD DARK HOUSE

"Wouldn’t you know it", Pepper remarked, "the art fair is like senior citizen USA," Isabel surmised as she planted a case of beer into the back of the mini-van, "Riding in I saw so many retirement homes, it just didn’t dawn at me at the time."

Pepper nodded, "Yeah, a couple of old guys checked me out and one even invited me to watch Matlock with him."

Sondra grinned, "Sounds peachy, you didn’t take him up on it?"

Isabel hopped in behind the wheel, "I got a lot of dirty looks, haven’t they ever seen a Mexican before?"

Gemini took her seat, "Actually, they thought you were Greek. I heard someone say, look at the knockers on that Greek broad."

Isabel laughed, "I do look Greek. But if they’re going to be PC about it, get it right."

Sondra tilted her slim body between the seats and commented to Isabel, "Was that Greek or geek?"

Pepper and Gemini laughed as Isabel sardonically bellowed, "Ha ha!"

Pepper fastened her safety belt, "So let’s head back to granny’s before the beer gets cold."

Sondra smiled, "Yeah, tomorrow we’ll head to another college town or something and party. Tonight it’s just us ladies!"

On the way back to granny’s home, the ladies drove by the old abandon house of Bryant. Isabel suggested they pull over and check it out, a suggestion that was quickly agreed upon. The building looked like it was long forgotten, almost completely barren of paint and a few windows were broken. The grass was high and the large trees surrounding the building like a barrier, keeping the house out of the community. The aura of certain loneliness accompanied the house and an eerie presence was felt. "Its like were being watched," Gemini remarked in soft and low voice.

Isabel shrugged it off, "It’s granny’s story working on your imagination, but it is weird."

Sondra nodded, "Yeah, like I can actually feel old man Bryant checking us out."

Isabel opened up her door and stepped out of the mini-van, "Come on let’s take a closer look."

Gemini followed but Sondra and Pepper stayed behind until coaxed by Isabel. "Hey, I’m bored and we don’t have much to do. Grab the beer and lets hike to the house."

Gemini’s voice was soft and direct, "You think its okay?"

Isabel began walking down a cobble stone path, her round small bubble butt bouncing as she moved, "Like they’re going to call out the national guard because we had a few beers here."

The three other friends quickly rushed up to Isabel, Sondra handing Isabel the beer, "Since it’s your idea, you carry the beer."

Once becoming close quarters to the house, the fab four remained silent for a solid five minutes. Inspecting every detail from the large windows and porch swing still intact, to the stone goblins that rested on the corners. It was Isabel who took to the stairs first with Gemini following. Once upon the porch, Gemini waved Pepper and Sondra along. Isabel tried the doorknob, "Hey, its open."

Sondra and Pepper slipped part way down the stairs, as Gemini opened a beer, "Want to go in?"

Isabel opened the door, which hissed from the rotted timber. "Yeah, I’d like to see what’s inside," Isabel remarked, a glowing smile darting across her exquisite face.

Isabel and Gemini entered as Sondra turned to Pepper, "I think we should stay together."

Pepper only nodded before they joined the rest of their crew. The front room was huge and the furniture looked dated, but luxurious. A large portrait of a woman hung over the gigantic fireplace. She was in a pink gown and her face was sweet and gentle. Gemini sipped her beer, "That must be Verna, obviously before she became heavy."

Pepper was in awe of the portrait; "She looks like royalty, so beautiful and refined."

Sondra took a closer look and giggled, "She does have childbearing hips and such a round face; too many added pounds would make her look dumpy."

Gemini glanced over Sondra’s shoulder, "Be nice."

Sondra turned to her friend and sharply remarked, "It wasn’t meant to be taken as an insult. I was just stating that she wouldn’t look as elegant fat."

Pepper harped in; "Huxley was still in love with her…"

Sondra interrupted, "But he no longer found her desirable heavy."

Sondra helped herself to a beer; "The guy was a cad."

Isabel walked over to a spiral staircase, sculptured with ivory angels. "Lets check upstairs."

The tall railings were solid oak and the wide steps marble. Isabel made it partway up and needed to encourage her friends to follow, "Hey! We’re already inside the house, we might as well see what’s up here!"

Gemini shrugged her shoulders then sipped her beer, "Why not?"

Pepper and Sondra lagged behind, but eventually joined their friends. Upstairs had four smaller bedrooms and one gigantic master bedroom. All of the furniture reveled in magnificent workmanship, including the king size bed with its ornate decorations on the bedpost. Pepper smiled, "If I ever met a guy with enough cash to buy all this, I’d be his for life."

Sondra sat down on a large mahogany chest; "You’d really want to be a kept woman?"

Pepper glided her hand over the headboard of the bed, "Yeah, why not?"

Gemini approached Sondra, "What are you sitting on?"

Sondra stood up and wiped the dust off her behind, "Some kind of trunk."

Isabel laughed as she walked over to the girls, "Cretin, that’s a colonial style cabinet."

Pepper joined in, "What do you suppose is in there?"

Isabel leaned over, "There’s only one way to find out," and opened it.

Pepper covered her mouth, "Oh my gosh!"

The cabinet was full of fancy gowns in perfect condition. Isabel picked one up and pressed it to her body for size, "She was like, a size smaller than me."

Pepper removed the crimson red dress from Isabel, "Then it should fit me."

Isabel chuckled, "It should!"

Sondra bent over and rummaged through the garments, discovering an ornate jewelry box on the bottom of the cabinet. Sondra found it difficult to pick up due to its weight, but with Gemini’s help, they removed it and place it on the cabinet. Pepper laid the gown on the bed and turned to her friends, "Verna’s jewels must be in there."

Sondra smiled as she opened the jewelry box, "Pepper! You’re right!"

Pepper ran up along side her friends, her arms hanging over Sondra and Isabel’s shoulders. "Have you ever seen such an arrangement?" Pepper questioned with a broad smile tact on her pretty face.

There was a vast amount of gems and stones in all sizes, beads, necklaces, earrings, chains, rings, and bracelets. Isabel reached out her hand and picked up a necklace with a heart shaped charm attached. Placing her hand over her breast, she turned to Gemini, "Have you ever seen anything as beautiful?"

Gemini nodded no as Isabel handed it to her. Pepper beamed with enthusiasm, "Go a head, try it on."

Gemini cautiously replied, "I don’t know? Maybe I shouldn’t?"

Isabel placed the necklace around Gemini’s neck as a cold breeze touched the room.

Pepper took a step back; "I just got a creepy chill."

Sondra nodded in agreement as she folded her arms over her breasts, "Yeah Isabel, maybe we shouldn’t mess with this?"

Isabel giggled, "Don’t let your imaginations run wild. This place is probably filled with drafts."

Gemini was about to remove the necklace, but Isabel lightly took her hand to prevent her. "You keep it. Aren’t you supposed to have something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new?"

Gemini shook her head as Isabel responded, "This is something old, so keep it." Turning to her friends, Isabel sternly continued, "Each of us will only take one item a piece. This way Gemini won’t be the only one with a souvenir and we won’t fight over who gets what jewelry or what amount. Okay?"

Sondra and Pepper shook their heads in agreement. As Gemini was looking over the necklace, Isabel told her there was a large size, three-way mirror in the corner, "Go on Gemini check out how the necklace looks on you."

While Gemini left the group, the other three ladies chose the jewelry they wanted. Sondra placed a diamond ring on her finger, "I’ll take this!"

Pepper smiled as she nodded her head, "Nice choice."

Isabel grabbed a pair of diamond earrings and placed them in her pocket, "I’ll try these on later after I wash them in alcohol. You like anything Pepper?"

Pepper’s eyes glanced over the jewelry box; "I can’t make up my mind. Everything is so gorgeous."

Sondra and Isabel made a few suggestions and Pepper finally decided on a colorful bracelet lined with small stones. Meanwhile, Gemini smiled at her reflection in the mirror and gently ran her hand across the necklace. Her stunning 125-pound figure was clad in a pink blouse and black shirts that took exception to her slender shape, highlighting her womanly curves. A chill ran up her spine as another cold breeze entered the room. Gazing into the mirror, Gemini saw a well-fed version of herself staring back at her. Her hair was longer, resting upon her shoulders, framing her completely circler face. Her body dressed only in her underwear and bra was wider and rounder. Gemini’s figure was larger all over, though especially the lower region of her body. She had an enormous belly that pushed over the elastic waistband of her tan color undies and her butt was extremely big and round, pointing upwards over her immense flabby thunder thighs that were layered with cottage cheese. The reflection smiled at her, rubbing her belly then flipping back her mane, exposing the fullness of her fat face. Gemini closed her eyes until she heard Isabel’s voice, "Hey Gemini, something wrong?"

Gemini opens her eyes, discovering that her reflection was back to normal. After explaining what she saw in the mirror, Isabel reasoned with her, "You just have an over worked imagination. You’re still concerned about gaining weight after you’re married. Trust me Gemini, the necklace has nothing to do with it."

Gemini thought that made sense and Isabel showed her the earrings she selected. "They’re beautiful," Gemini cheerfully remarked. Isabel nodded her head, and then the two friends joined Sondra and Pepper for another beer before leaving the mansion. Once back at grandmother Ikland’s home, Pepper and Sondra socialized with granny while Gemini kept Isabel company while she cleaned the earrings. "Know what, Gemini?" Isabel asked as she wiped the earrings in alcohol.

Gemini paused as she was putting on her sleepwear, "What?"

Isabel drew a breath, " I wonder, if I didn’t work out, would I be as heavy as my mom?"

Gemini slowly put on her over size T-shirt as she approached her friend, "To be honest, you’d probably be heavier than what you are now, but I doubt you’d weight as much as your mom."

Isabel looked over her firm thighs, "I think you’re right. Nothing against my mom, because I think she’s gorgeous, but I don’t want to weigh 300-pounds." Isabel then lowered her voice as she told Gemini, "Between us, okay?" Gemini nodded as Isabel spilled her guts, "My mom never watched her weight. She has always been heavy. Like my aunt, they accept their size and role’s in life. They both were maids at an upscale hotel and never had a problem with it. I do. My biggest fear is that I’m in a dream and I’ll wake up a 300-pound maid working for chump change and tips at the Palmer House."

Gemini laughed, "And I have the overworked imagination? You’re intelligent and beautiful. You have a fantastic job helping the under privilege. You have nothing to worry about."

Isabel put on the earrings and turned to her friend, "Well?"

Gemini shook her head; "They look awesome on you."

Isabel smiled and sipped her beer. "Let’s join the girls and granny in the living room."

Gemini opened the door, "After you Senorita."

In an eloquent manner Isabel held her head high and made her exit with Gemini close behind. All went well the remainder of the trip and before they noticed, it was Gemini's wedding day.

PART THREE: WEIGHING ON THINGS TO HAPPEN

Pepper held her breath as Sondra zipped up her bride’s maid gown, "Gosh, it’s like this dress fit when I tried it on."

Sondra acknowledged the fact that her dress was tight as well. "You know, I put on like five pounds since our road trip."

Pepper chimed in, "Me too. I guess it must be water weight."

Sondra rested her hand on her hip, "I hope so."

Isabel was in the next room, helping Gemini with her hair. "Do I look bigger on top?" Isabel asked with a grin.

"Actually you do," Gemini giggled.

Isabel faced the mirror and cupped her breasts, "Chi-chi grandee’s!"

A puzzled look blossomed upon Gemini’s face, "Like what’s with the Mexican slang?"

Isabel shrugged her shoulders, "I haven’t clue, but for some reason, I’ve been using a lot of it."

Gemini stood up and adjusted Isabel’s maid of honor gown, "Really?"

Isabel nodded, "Yeah and I’m doing it without even thinking. Matter of fact at the office, I’ve been doing it so often, my superior asked me to stop it."

Gemini scrutinized Isabel’s figure, "Nothing personnel, but have you put on weight? Your backside looks fuller."

Isabel pinched her soft upper arm, "Yeah, since we came back from our trip, I’ve put on about six or seven pounds." Isabel sipped some water then added, "Sondra put on weight too. I saw her twenty minutes ago before slipping on her gown and she has a little tummy bulge action going on."

Gemini raised her eyebrows, "Really?"

Isabel shook her head, "It’s not really too big, but her tummy is definitely not flat."

Gemini half smiled, "To be honest; I’ve put on a solid five pounds as well."

Isabel placed the necklace around Gemini’s neck, "Well we shouldn’t complain. We might have gained a little weight, that’s not a problem, but Sondra lost her job."

Gemini concurred, "Yeah, I know. Right after we arrived home, she was dismissed from her duties. I kind of wonder if it has something to do with the house and the jewelry we took?"

Isabel laughed, "Stop that will ya! I don’t believe in that stuff, taking the jewelry has nothing to do with it. Sondra is a resourceful young lady; she’ll land on her feet. Who knows? She might end up getting a better job."

Gemini smiled, "Maybe you’re right."

Isabel took a step back and glanced over at Gemini, "I know I’m right. Just like I know you make a beautiful bride."

Once at the reception, it was a grandiose affair. The hall was packed with people and besides an open bar a great variety of food was available. Sondra noticed Pepper making frequent visits to the bouffant table and piling her plate with food. Sondra wandered over to Pepper, as she was engaging in a hearty portion of roast beef and mashed potatoes. "What gives? This is like your fourth helping?" Sondra asked in a serious tone.

Pepper tilted her head as she devoured the potatoes; "I’m just very hungry for some odd reason."

Sondra removed Pepper’s plate from right out of her hand, "Stop it will ya? You’re making a pig out of yourself and anyways, there’s a guy checking you out."

Pepper looked over Sondra’s shoulders, "Where?"

Sondra turned sideways, "The cute guy in the navy blue jacket. Never mind he’s coming this way."

Pepper’s eyes locked with his and he smiled, "Hi, I’m David Manners, you’re one of Gemini’s friends, right?"

Sondra left on cue as Pepper introduced herself. "Yeah, I’m Pepper O’Doul. I’ve known Gemini since high school."

The orchestra began playing "I Only Have Eyes for You", and David politely asked Pepper to dance. Once on the dance floor, David explained, "I work with Gemini’s husband, I knew you must be one Gemini’s friends since you’re a bride’s maid."

Pepper nodded, "Yeah, Gemini and me were cheerleaders in high school, the other two bride maids as well. We were called the fab four."

David smiled, " I can see why, I think you look fab-tab-ulous."

Pepper acknowledges the compliment with a soft thank you and big smile. "I’m a RN at County General Hospital in the loop."

Busy with his footwork on the dance floor, David was impress with the young lady. "Sounds like interesting work. I just get to sit in a big office all day checking statistics and drinking coffee."

Pepper was all a buzz over David and her voice reveled her captivation, "Well I work with children, so it can be a challenge but fun at the same time." She continued to babble as her eyes warmly flickered, "I’m this close to becoming nursing supervisor, like it’s a given." On and on Pepper confided her dreams, goals, and life to the handsome young man with the navy blue jacket. They shared another dance then spoke over drinks. David’s attraction to Pepper was beyond just her beautiful appearance, but her enthusiasm on life and her intellect. David found Pepper to be funny, mildly flirtatious and charming.

Isabel finished her cigarette in the ladies room and reapplied her lipstick. Upon entering the room she caught the eye of a waitress picking up dishes. The waitress was a chubby gal, maybe early twenties, yet her uniform barely containing her girth. The waitress had large breasts, wide hips and a rather full derriere. Isabel blinked her eyes when the waitress resembled her and she heard a voice say, "Isabella, over here." The waitress strolled away, changing back to her normal appearance as she disappeared into the crowd. Isabel sideways shook her head and mumbled, "What was in those cigarettes?"

Standing behind her in a stunning black dress was her mother, Lilly Anna. "Isabella, didn’t you hear me?"

Isabel smiled at her mother, "I’m sorry momma I was lost in my thoughts."

Lilly Anna informed her daughter that she was leaving and that she already bid Gemini and her husband goodnight. "Have fun Isabella, I won’t wait up for you."

Isabel hugged her mom and kissed her check, "Thanks momma, you and papa be careful driving home, okay?"

Lilly Anna took a step back and glanced over her daughter’s figure. "You’re showing too much on top, Isabella."

Isabel concurred, "I know momma, but it’s not my fault. The dress fit when I tried it on; somehow I put on weight and went up almost a cup size."

Lilly Anna's mother nodded her head, "I thought you put on weight, your cholu looks bigger."

Isabel tapped her behind; "I didn’t really need to hear that."

Lilly Anna squeezed her daughter, "You just filling out. You don’t want to be too skinny."

A few minutes later Isabel’s mother left with her father and Isabel met up with Sondra at the bar. "How’s it going?" Sondra asked as she slammed down a beer.

Isabel ordered a beer and then replied, "Oh couldn’t be peachier, my mom just told me my butt looks fat."

Sondra giggled as she glanced over Isabel’s heart shaped back quarters; "You have filled out a little, yes."

The mood became serious as Isabel asked Sondra, "What happen at school? I mean you did a fantastic job, I can’t believe they fired you."

Sondra checked out her hair in the mirror behind the bar, "I was just dismissed for reasons that are kind of hooky."

Isabel sipped her beer, "You know if you need any help until you get back on your feet, you can count on me."

Sondra smiled, "Thanks and not to be rude, but I promised the next dance to that guy over there, so we’ll talk about it later."

Isabel’s smiled back at her friend, "I understand, don’t keep the young man waiting."

As Sondra strolled to the young man, she turned to Isabel and laughed, "If worse comes to worse, I can always go back to being a waitress."

Meanwhile Gemini encountered Pepper back at the bouffant table. "I see you’re hitting it off with David Manners."

Pepper smiled as she laid a good size helping of pasta on her plate, "Yeah, he’s just an outstanding guy."

Gemini bit into a carrot stick, "You back to bingeing?"

Pepper chuckled; "I’m just hungry! Anyways, once David returns from the can, I’ll burn off the calories on the dance floor."

Gemini hugged her friend, "See, I told you; you’d meet a guy at my wedding. I’m so happy for you, Pepper."

Pepper gently wrapped her arm around Gemini’s waist, "Thanks." Pepper then curiously added, "Have you put on weight?"

PART FOUR: THE EXPANSION BEGINS

The following morning Gemini and her husband were in Jamaica on their honeymoon. Gemini couldn’t wait to put on her bright yellow bikini she bought especially for the trip. She bit her lip as she wiggled her body to get the bikini bottom on and held her breath as she attached the top. Looking in the mirror her mind saw a slim 125-pound young lady, though in reality the mirror exposed her true 145-pounds. Her top barely contained her larger bosom and a soft potbelly protruded over the bikini bottom. Her butt was broad and excessively round, pointing upwards over her chunky, mildly flabby thighs. Gemini smiled at her reflection, unaware that her facial features were somewhat fuller with a slight double chin. "I’m going to be the hottest babe on the beach!"

Gemini chimed as her husband rolled over on the bed. "Uh? What was that?"

Jim asked as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Gemini brought herself next to the bed and stood with her hands over her wider hips, her plump belly pouring over the bikini bottom. "I said, ‘I’m going to be the hottest babe on the beach.’ Everyone will be so envious of you."

Jim acknowledged his bride; "You’re the hottest babe anyway." Pulling himself up against the headboard, Jim reached over to the nightstand for his eyeglasses and blinked when he saw Gemini’s swollen body. Jim rubbed his face as he tried to collect his thoughts, "How did? She wasn’t?" Glancing back to Gemini, Jim tilted his head, "Aren’t you a little uncomfortable showing off so much…skin?"

Gemini giggled, "Hey I’m not dieting and working out to hide my body. I’ve got the package, so I’m going to flaunt it."

Jim slowly removed himself out of bed and kissed his beloved. He wasn’t bothered by her plump figure, just confused. "Hurry up and take a take a shower hon. I’ll order us some breakfast and then we can grab some sun."

Jim smiled as he took in Gemini’s figure. "You’re sure you’re okay with leaving the hotel like that?"

Gemini pushed Jim towards the direction of the bathroom, "Of course I am! Now take your shower, I’m anxious to show off my body!" Almost two hours later the happy couple paraded down the beach looking for a spot to relax. Gemini couldn’t believe the attention she was getting from the on lookers. She smiled at the attraction she was creating and thinking all the while, "Gosh, they all think I’m beautiful."

Isabel was in the middle of her aerobics class at the Gorgeous Babes Workout Center. Dressed in an oversized blue T-shirt and purple spandex slacks, Isabel was unaware of the added twenty-pounds to her body. However, she was aware of the fact that she was having a hard time keeping up with the class. Her pace was completely off and she was clumsy as well, almost toppling over at one point. The other females moved with ease, while Isabel seemed sluggish. Oddly enough, Isabel who always had enough energy to walk the treadmill for an hour after class felt tired and made her way through her classmates. Upon leaving the room Isabel stopped at the vending machine for a bottle of water. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Isabel was approached by Carmela Floss, an instructor at the center. A pretty young lady delicately built with brownish-blond hair and bronze skin. "Isabel, are you okay? I’ve never seen you leave class early."

Isabel sipped the water, "I’m fine, I just didn’t want to over do it, you know?"

Carmela observed the size of Isabel’s rear end. Her butt had gotten so big, that her T-shirt draped over it, exposing its fuller circular shape. Carmela advised Isabel to go back to class, which Isabel shrugged off, "Naw, I had enough of a work out for today."

Carmela raised her eyebrows; "You should really go back to class Isabel. You’re getting an office butt."

Isabel vehemently denied having an office butt then began cursing obscenities towards Carmela. Carmela shouted back "Hey watch your language! You want to be banded from the center?"

Isabel marched towards the locker room, "Fine! I’ll enroll elsewhere!" Isabel removed her garments and headed to the showers. As the warm water fell upon her body, Isabel noticed a cleaning woman enter the locker room. She had silver hair in a matronly hairstyle and weighed in the vicinity of 250 plus pounds. Isabel watched the woman pick up towels and throw them into a hamper then wipe down the benches. The cleaning woman’s facial features took on a blended appearance, forming into an older, heavier version of Isabel. Wide eyed, Isabel’s head softly rested on the shower wall, long enough for the woman’s face to change back to her own. "Aye crumba, what’s going on with me?"

Once out of the shower Isabel dried off and got dressed in an ivory colored blouse and khaki slacks. The fabric of the blouse stretched over her soft tummy and was difficult to button; a slender roll of flab circled her waist. The slacks didn’t flatter her heavier body at all, enhancing the size of her bouncy bubble butt and exaggerating the width of her thick thighs. Tossing her chocolate brown mane over her shoulders, she grabbed her gym bag and glanced over her reflection in the mirror. Though Isabel was a tad over 145-pounds, in her minds eye she saw the slender 130-pound version of herself. "Office butt? Yeah right," Isabel remarked before walking out of the work out center.

Sondra wandered into the trendy boutique with the idea of buying something to cheer herself up. She could tell the job interview she attended went nowhere and she hoped shopping would improve upon her sour mood. The pink blouse and gray skirt she wore was beyond snug, looking a size too small for her newly voluptuous shape, which escaped her vision. Thinking it was just water weight, Sondra had no idea that she was no longer 129-pounds, but rather a solid 142 -pounds. A young lady who introduced herself as Karen quickly waited on Sondra. Karen was slim and vivacious with beautiful golden blond hair and up-tempo personality. This was her first week on the job and was overly anxious to do well. Karen escorted Sondra through the boutique and they made small talk while checking out the various items available. Sondra spotted a cute outfit and smiled, "This is perfect, just what I need for my next job interview."

Karen nodded, "Oh yeah, it’s very cute. Should I see if we have it in your size?"

A bewilder look formed upon Sondra’s exquisite face, "Uh? Isn’t this a size four?"

"Sure is," Karen cheerfully replied.

Sondra insisted, "Well I’m a size four."

Karen glanced over Sondra’s figure, her eyes settling on Sondra’s puffy tummy, "Are you sure you’re a size four?"

Sondra giggled, "I should know my size."

Karen made the suggestion; "Maybe you should try it on?"

Sondra did just that. A few minutes later Sondra walked out of the changing room and approached Karen. The outfit pressed tightly against her body, showing off the excess poundage that claimed her body. Sondra looked flabby especially around her waist and backside, which were riddled with rolls. The material gave her tummy an oval effect, causing it to protrude outwards and spread across her hips in a frumpy fashion. Sondra peered into the mirror, "I look fantastic!"

Karen was confused by Sondra’s reaction, yet leisurely smiled, "Oh, yeah. Then you’ll take it?"

Sondra was thrilled with the outfit; "Of course I’ll take it!"

Pepper was out on her first date David Manners. She wanted to look especially nice and for the occasion had her red hair cut in a pageboy hairstyle that brought out her beauteous feminine features. Her hair dangled just below her jaw and drew attention to her high cheekbones and the minor double chin she wasn’t aware she had. Just like her friends, Pepper had no idea that she put on twenty pounds and her figure was pleasingly plump. Pepper wore a powder blue top that securely hugged her waist and white slacks that elevated her rear. She was full of giggles that evening, illuminating her womanly charms with ease. David brought Pepper to a carnival and after walking through the crowd, stopped for something to eat. Pepper devoured her second chili dog and begun nibbling on her fries as David remarked, "You really have an appetite, I’ve never been out with a girl who could eat as much as you."

Tilting her head, Pepper blushed as she smiled, "You should’ve seen me when I was an overeater. This would have been like a light snack."

David’s smile reflected his sincerity, "Most female’s feel uncomfortable eating in front of a guy they like. They might have something small, but you don’t have a problem eating as much as you want."

Pepper slowly nodded her head, "That’s just plain silly and anyways, what do I have to hide from you?" David was flattered that Pepper felt comfortable with him and Pepper sensed this. Finishing off her milkshake, Pepper slid her arm through David’s, "Want to take a walk down the runway? See what trouble we can find ourselves in?"

David led Pepper into the direction of the runway, which featured various amusement park rides and games. There was the knocking over the bottles with a ball booth, the hitting balloons with darts attraction, the midget horse on display and various other carnie types of games and nonsense to amuse the patrons. There was a barker that called out, "Let me guess your weight for $5.00’s and if I can’t, you win a prize!"

Pepper was munching on some cotton candy as she tugged on David’s shirtsleeve, "Come on, he’ll never guess my weight."

David wanted to go all out and treat Pepper to everything and anything. "Sure, why not?"

Pepper and David approached the man and Pepper girlishly giggled, "Okay sir, we’re up to the challenge, guess my weight!"

David dug deep into his pockets and took out a roll of bills, promptly handing over the barker a five. "Okay, the way this works is I have to come within five pounds of her weight, agreed?"

Pepper and David looked at each other then nodded back at the man. The man glanced over Pepper’s plump form and wrote down his guess. He saw how her top strained over her mid-section, showing off a well nourished belly and the way her slacks pushed her round butt up into the air. "Okay young lady, just hop onto the scale and we’ll see if I can correctly guess your weight or you win a teddy bear!"

Pepper smiled as she scanned over the teddy bears and stepped upon the scale. The barker loudly remarked as he read the scale, "146-pounds!"

Pepper leaned in to read the numbers on the upright scale, "This isn’t right? Your scale isn’t even close to being accurate."

The barker showed the number he had written "one hundred-fifty pounds", "Sorry miss, but my scale is completely correct."

Pepper rested her hands on her full hips; "Do I look like I weigh 150-pounds?"

The barker scratched the back of his neck as he lowered his eyes, scanning over Pepper’s body, "Actually, yeah, you do."

Pepper fumed, "Hey, hey, hey, I just dropped like twenty, fifteen pounds. I remember how chubby I was and I’m not chubby now."

David tilted his head, getting a good look at Pepper’s figure. She looked up around one hundred and fifty pounds to him. Though he couldn’t understand why she looked heavier now then when they met at the wedding or even why she was making such a fuss over what the scale read. David shrugged it off and led Pepper away from the barker and his game. Discovering a cozy little isolated spot alongside the river, David gently ran his fingers through Pepper’s hair. "It’s not a big deal Pepper; I don’t care about how much you weight."

Pepper wrapped her arms around David’s waist, "But really Dave, I don’t weigh that much."

David lightly touched her cheek, "You don’t have to convince me. I don’t at all doubt you."

Pepper giggled, as she looked straight into his eyes, "I’m just a little sensitive about my size."

"I understand," David remarked. After a moment of silence, they shared their first kiss.

A week later Gemini and Jim were back from their honeymoon and she had put on another twenty-five pounds, which somehow escaped her attention, but not Jim’s. He couldn’t understand how Gemini was rapidly gaining weight or why she didn’t notice. Gemini would lounge around the house in sweats, but whenever she would leave the house, still dressed in her usually preppy attire, even though few of her garments actually fit. This didn’t make sense to Jim, especially since his bride still acted as if she was slender. Gemini would still go to the work out center a couple of times a week and watched what she ate and yet her figure continued to blossom.

Jim listened over dinner as Gemini brought up what happen that afternoon at the Victoria Secrets store at the mall. "So like I show the saleswoman what I want and she tells me she’s going to have to make a special order because they don’t have it in my size. Can you believe that?"

Jim glanced over Gemini, a pretty smile planted on her chubby face. "Er…no, that’s...odd?"

Gemini was now a hefty 168-pounds and dressed in a rather ill fitting tube top and jeans. Her upper arms increased in size, jiggling as she poured herself a cup of coffee and her breasts looked as if they were about to pop out of the top. A pudgy roll of fat circled her thick waist, pouring over her jeans and her big potbelly shook like jell-o. The lower haft of her body barely fit into the jeans, enhancing the size of her luxurious behind and drawing attention to the saddlebags on her beefy thighs. Gemini sipped her coffee, "Like they don’t have a size 4 available in lingerie? What’s that all about?"

Oddly, Gemini helped herself to an extra large portion of coffeecake, a smile appearing on her mildly chubby face as she took a bite. Jim raised his eyebrows, "Isn’t that slice kind of big?"

Gemini shrugged her shoulders, "I don’t know? I guess I’m still hungry?"

Jim scrutinized Gemini’s figure, "Are you sure you’re a size 4?"

Gemini washed down the first bite with coffee and then remarked as she continued to eat, "Of course I’m a size 4. What size do I look like?"

Jim removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "I don’t really know?"

Gemini patted her bulging belly, unaware of her added girth, "Would my tummy be as flat if I was larger than a size 4?"

Jim reached over to the coffeepot as he politely inquired, "How much do you weigh?"

Gemini chimed before taking another bite, "125-pounds! Why do you ask?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Jim poured his coffee, "Never mind Gemini. Anything good on TV tonight?" Jim didn’t bother to badger his love with any more questions. He couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening in a logical manner, but since Gemini wasn’t aware of her tremendous weight gain, felt better to let it go for the time being. Gemini spoke about what programs she wanted to watch and Jim just listened to her, all the while taking in her beauty. Maybe she was bigger, but the added pounds only amplified her gorgeous appearance. Tomorrow was another day and Jim would come up with something, anything to explain this bizarre occurrence. The rest of the evening they spent together snuggling up on the couch watching TV.

Meanwhile Sondra and Isabel were getting prepared for a night on the town. Sondra and Isabel’s figures also expanded and were likewise hidden to their senses. Sondra wore her hair up in a preppy style that took advantage of her round face. Her body was tightly clad in a silver dress with a slit running down, exposing her chunky thighs. Isabel’s wavy chocolate brown mane dangled down her back. Her pretty face was now rather chubby looking with fuller cheeks, broader nose and double chin. The red and black short sleeve top and black slacks only drew attention to every pound of her 174-pound body. A sliver of flab protruded out between her top and slacks, as the fabric strained over her butt and thighs. Her upper arms were a tad husky and her breasts barely fit in her top. Both females didn’t realize how bloated and uncomfortable their bodies looked, after all in their minds they were both magnificently slender.

Sondra was now 171-pounds and her big belly and pudgy butt shook as she moved towards the door. "Ready to go?" Sondra asked, her voice full of enthusiasm.

Isabel checked over her appearance in the hall mirror, not noticing how much fuller her bust had become or her thick waist and wide hips. "Yeah, I’m ready," she giggled. Isabel’s healthy bubble butt bounced as she walked towards her friend, "Does this outfit make look fat?"

Sondra’s eyes glanced over her friend. Failing to notice how ridicules she looked tightly wrapped in a garment designed for a slimmer woman, Sondra’s conscious mind instead saw a lighter version of Isabel. "O contraire my friend. You look fabulous!"

The ladies made tracks to Isabel’s car and Sondra blinked, "What happen to your mustang?"

Isabel opened the door to her bright red pick up truck as she explained, "I was feeling soooo pretentious riding around in the mustang I traded it in. You know I work with the poor and just started feeling guilty."

"You pretentious? Never!" Sondra giggled as she hopped into the passenger side of the pickup.

Isabel pulled away and drove off. "I thought we’d check out the Alumni club, what’z ya think?"

Sondra smiled, "That’s like the must exclusive dance club in the city, peachy!"

Isabel nodded, "Yeah and we won’t have to wait in line either. I know the doorman and he’ll let us in right away."

The friends continued on their way talking through various topics including their jobs. Sondra remarked how she was actually enjoying her new job as a waitress and wasn’t in a hurry to resume her career as a high school guidance counselor. Isabel confided in her friend that she was having a tough go at it at work in social services. She kept oversleeping, arriving at work late and the workload was over barring. Her supervisor was continually up her butt about one thing or another and she was becoming irritable with her clients. Arriving at the Alumni Club the friends strutted their stuff to the head of the line, receiving strange looks and giggles from quite a few of the people waiting to enter. However Isabel’s friend at first pretended that he didn’t know her and even after he admitted that he did, claimed he couldn’t let anyone jump line. As the friends walked towards the back of the line, Sondra noticed Isabel’s friend flirt with a couple slim gals, then promptly let them cut through the line and into the club. "How come your buddy let those chicks in and not us?"

Isabel couldn’t come up with an answer, but when they eventually reached the door, she asked her friend, "Why did you let those two girls jump line and not us?"

Her friend took the five dollars cover charge and replied, "When you look like those hot babes, I’ll let you jump line too."

Needless to say, Isabel and Sondra were puzzled. "Gosh, we’re better looking then those two," Sondra remarked.

Isabel glanced over her reflection in a mirror at the clubs entrance, seeing a slim vixen, not a plump gal dressed in an outfit too small for her figure, "Yeah, I know."

As they scanned the club for cute guys to lure onto the dance floor, they received numerous unflattering comments and looks from the patrons. A slim Gucci chick in a short black dress and big frizzy blond hair asked Sondra, "You two coming from a costume party?"

Another gal giggled as she glanced over Isabel’s full size derriere, "Watch out, wide load coming through!"

A while later the two friends were sitting at the bar contemplating the situation. "I can’t believe we’ve been here over two hours and not one guy asked us to dance yet?" Isabel questioned as her eyes looked towards the dance floor.

Sondra sipped her beer, "Yeah, usually by this time; we’ll have a string of guys waiting to dance with us."

Isabel made eye contact with a young gentleman, but when he give her an uncomfortable glance back, she told Sondra, "The fish ain’t bite n’ here, lets go elsewhere."

Sondra was in complete agreement. However, the same events happen at the next club they went to. The girls just summed it up as an off night and decided to pay Pepper a visit. David had left an hour earlier and Pepper was in her pink sweats and reading a novel while enjoying a late night snack of ice cream, chocolate candies and cupcakes. Pepper greeted her friends with a smile and invited them in. The sweats took exception to all the weight Pepper piled on and made her swollen figure look all the more ample. "How was your night?" Pepper asked her friends as she plopped down hard on her soft sofa and began gorging herself on the ice cream.

Sondra took a seat next to Pepper as Isabel sat across from them, starring at the chocolates. Isabel adjusted her top that raised up over her pudgy tummy as she sat, "Kind of lame, not one guy asked us to dance..."

"Or even hit on us", Sondra interrupted.

Pepper closed her eyes while fighting off an ice cream headache then began eating again; "Well maybe romance wasn’t in the cards for you two this evening."

Isabel’s hand moved in towards the chocolates, "Do you mind?"

Pepper shook her head, "Go a head, help yourself."

Isabel took a handful of the candies and the three friends conversed about their evening. After Pepper brought up the nice evening she spent with David, she left the sofa for a minute to grab another bowl of ice cream. Isabel was still nibbling on the chocolates and Sondra joined Pepper for a bowl of ice cream as well. "You back to overeating again?" Sondra asked her friend as she bit into a cupcake then put four scoops of ice cream into a large bowl.

Pepper laughed, "Of course not!" Then she asked Sondra, "Do I look any heavier to you?"

Sondra glanced over Pepper’s figure, seeing a svelte 125-pound young lady and not her actually round, husky 175-pound body. "No you look normal, why do you ask?"

Pepper and Sondra rejoined Isabel in the living room. Pepper remarked as she took her seat, "I’ve been constantly eating and not gaining any weight?"

Sondra giggled, "Me too! At the restaurant I’ve been regularly pigging out and haven’t gained a pound."

Isabel chimed in, "That’s odd; because a few people have remarked that I’ve gained weight and, well don’t I look the same?"

Pepper smiled, "They’re all jealous of you."

Isabel tilted her head, "That’s good, because I’ve been eating more than usual too and I’m still slim and trim."

Pepper stopped eating for a moment and confided with her friends, "I’ve really hit bottom at work and thought maybe I was overeating to compensate for my problems, but seeing the both of you with hearty appetite’s puts my mind at ease."

Isabel munched on another handful of chocolates, "What happen at the hospital?"

Pepper went into the details, "For whatever reason, instead of getting the promotion, I was demoted. Now all I’m doing is emptying bedpans and taking temperatures."

Sondra gobbled up a large spoonful of ice cream and wiped off a little streak that flowed down her chin, "You gotta be kidding! You’re great at what you do."

Pepper continued with the details, which caused Sondra to reply, "That’s some coincidence because Isabel’s been having a hard time at work too."

Isabel acknowledged the fact as she nodded, "Yeah, like I can’t do anything right to please my boss."

Sondra finished the bowl of ice cream and as she helped herself to a few chocolates, she nudged the corner of the box with the diamond ring she took from the abandon house, "I guess you guys are just in a rut, but I can’t complain about my job. Being a waitress is like a dream come true!"

PART FIVE: SECRET OF THE HEX

A month went by and the figures of the four friends continued to blossom. Ignorant of their expanding bodies they’re lives slowly evolved into their worst fears. Gemini became the stereotypical housewife who lounged in front of the TV snacking, the highlight of her day being the cooking and cleaning she did between her favorite TV shows. Isabel lost her job at social services and with no luck seeking employment elsewhere, often slept beyond noon and spent most of her day in a bathrobe. Though her mom offered to get her in at the Palmer House hotel, Isabel wasn’t too keen on the idea of making beds and cleaning rooms. After all, she didn’t do it at home, why do it for a living? Pepper and David were still an item, though Dave couldn’t understand how she wasn’t aware of her size or the vast amount of food she could put away. At the hospital she was put on the night shift and was in charge of minuscule little duties she felt were beneath her education. Bad enough the staff would give her funny looks and giggle behind her back, but why did she have to dump dirty linens and run petty errands? Sondra on the other hand loved being a waitress, even though she had a master’s degree in psychology. Sondra would come early and stay late, always giving a helping hand and eating until her hearts content. However Sondra was perplexed, why was she made to wear an uniform that looked like a tent, when the other waitress’s wore cute tops and short skirts? After all, she had a beautiful figure, why did she have to hide it? The strange twist in events also affected their love one’s as well.

Jim lost his job because of bizarre reasons and Dave’s job was on the line. Isabel’s mom would constantly make her daughter huge meals, though Isabel didn’t mind. She liked having her two o’clock in the afternoon breakfast in bed. Sondra who was always keen on fashion sometimes wore the same clothes for a day at a time and all of them started to shop at K mart for their wardrobes. This all seemed natural to them; everything but their size, which to them, went unnoticed. Gemini and Isabel would still work out at the health club and though they received funny looks from many of the patrons, they thought they looked no different from when they lifted the jewelry from the abandon house in Hollow Creek. Isabel gave up on going to the dance clubs, though Sondra continued going every Friday or Saturday night with the gals from works. "Gosh, what’s going on?" she’d ponder as her friends were invited to dance and she was left at the table. "I’m just as attractive they are, more so then Colleen or Jo. They’re kind of plump while I’m a slim dish."

Jim washed his face and combed his hair as he made himself ready for the day and search for employment. The breakfast dishes were in the sink as Gemini was already in front of the TV eating cookies and watching Oprah. Now at 220-pounds, her T-shirt stretched across her large breasts and ample belly. The T-shirt stopped just above her belly, exposing her navel and a roll of fat that poured over her pajamas. Her husky upper arms had dimples; her luxurious thighs were soft and flabby, littered with cookie crumbs. Gemini didn’t even bother to stand as Jim kissed her goodbye. Though a smile did flash upon her pretty face as she wished her husband good luck.

Gemini was still exquisitely pretty, her black hair longer, resting upon her shoulders, perfectly framing her circular face. Jim thought her double chin was cute and he hadn’t any problem with her girth, but why was Gemini clueless about the weight? A few weeks earlier he brought it up to her in a gentle fashion. Gemini denied she was heavier and even though she stepped on the scale to prove it, saw a different number then what the needle rested on. Jim couldn’t convince his wife, so why bother trying. He also found it strange that her friends were also gaining weight that they were unaware of as well? She was happy and he didn’t want to rock the boat. So be it said, Jim just gave up. As Jim grabbed his briefcase he paused for a minute before walking out the door. "I’m going to meet up with Dave for coffee at the diner where Sondra works, I’ll tell her you said hi."

Gemini’s eyes never left the TV screen; "You do that and tell her to give me a call. And on your way home, stop off and get more cookie mix, I need to bake some more!" Jim slowly nodded and was out the door.

At about noon Jim met up with David outside the family diner where Sondra worked. Upon greeting each other, Jim offered David a cigar and then they entered and took a booth in the back. Within seconds Sondra appeared with a coffeepot and proceeded to pour the gentlemen coffee. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, exposing her exceedingly round face and wide double chin. A happy smile lingered upon her pretty face as she made small talk with the guys. They noticed how the other waitress’s wore cute tops and skirts while Sondra’s uniform was overly big. It flowed over her big breasts and wide hips, only enhancing her large behind. Sondra politely took their orders and strolled into the kitchen. Jim promptly lit his cigar as David paused before doing so, glancing over Sondra’s girth into she was out of view. David borrowed Jim’s Zippo lighter as he curiously asked, "What’s with the girls? They’ve all gotten heavier in such a short span of time."

Jim nodded as his fingers slowly roamed over his coffee cup. "Beats me? It is kind of weird, don’t you think?"

David spoke as he lit his stogie, "I could see maybe one of them gaining weight, but all four of them at together at one time?"

"And all of them at about the same amount," Jim replied. Jim drew a breath and after sipping his coffee remarked, "Tell ya what else is strange, Gemini has no idea she’s heavier."

David concurred, "Yeah, I spoke with Pepper and she insists she’s still the same size."

Once Sondra returned with their meals, Jim asked, "Have you noticed anything different about Gemini since our wedding?"

Sondra refilled their coffees, "Not that I can think of?" Pausing for a moment, Sondra then added, "Unless you mean how enthusiastic she is about being little Suzy homemaker."

David eyes scanned Sondra’s fuller face and chubbier figure, "What about Pepper? Does she look any different to you?"

Sondra shrugged her shoulders; "Well her new hairstyle is cute." David looked to Jim then back to Sondra, "Do you think you put on weight?"

Sondra giggled, "You think she would the way she eats? But to tell you the truth, Pepper has some kind of goofy metabolism because she’s still like a size four."

Jim leaned back, "Between us Sondra, what size is Gemini?"

Sondra shot back without a moments thought, "Gemini’s a size four too, but I suppose she could wear a size two."

The guys looked at each before Jim asked Sondra about her size, which was a size 4 as well. Sondra was curious about the topic of discussion, "What’s up with the questions?"

The guys made an excuse that Sondra bought with no problem and then left to wait on another table. Dave and Jim tried to figure out a common ground in understanding this insane phenomenon, but one wasn’t available. All four of the friends were unaware of their weigh gain. When Sondra returned with the cheek, David noticed the diamond ring on her finger. "That’s quite a ring Sondra, someone really must think you’re special."

Sondra giggled as she looked over the ring, "I haven’t met anyone special enough to give me a diamond ring, it’s a souvenir."

Jim needed to ask, "A souvenir? From where?"

Sondra slid into the booth next to Jim, her pudgy belly skimming the tabletop. "This is supposed to be a secret, okay?"

The gentlemen nodded in sync and Sondra told them about the abandoned house they visited on the road trip before Gemini’s wedding. She relinquished every detail including the legend about the house and taking the jewelry. David made a joke about the jewelry being cursed and Sondra at first laughed, but then became serious. "You know, since our road trip I haven’t had a date or have even been hit on." She laughed again as she stood, "Maybe you’re right! The jewelry is cursed!"

Once outside of the diner, Jim told David, "I don’t really believe in this supernatural non-sense, but it is kind of strange don’t you think?"

David relit his cigar, "Well, yeah. The girls help themselves to jewelry from a house where some chick lost the guy due to gaining weight and they’re getting heavier."

Jim nodded, "That, but she then settled for a poor guy. I mean, I got fired; you’re on the hot seat at work, I heard about Pepper’s demotion and look at Sondra? Being a waitress was like her job from hell and now she’s enjoying it.

David blew a smoke ring then added "Pepper told me Isabel was let go from her duties at social services. All this is more then a coincidence, don’t you think?"

Jim and David spoke a little more before parting company, but agreed to look into this in greater detail. Once Jim arrived at her with the cookie mix, he discovered Gemini in the kitchen making dinner. They gently kissed and Jim took a seat at the kitchen table and watched on as Gemini cooked. Jim noticed the necklace around Gemini’s neck and though didn’t want to break his word to Sondra, pretended as if he had knowledge of the story she told. "Hey Gemini, that’s an usual necklace your wearing, was that a gift?"

Gemini turned and faced her husband, "You like it?"

Jim nodded as she looked over Gemini’s chubby body, barely fitting in her T-shirt and sweats. A thick roll of flab settled over her spacious waist and her big belly jiggled as she turned. "Was it a gift?"

Gemini tilted her head, a smile appearing on her gorgeous round face, "Actually no." Gemini giggled as she reached over to a sandwich she had on the counter; "I more or less found it."

Jim raised his eyebrows, "Found it? Found it where?"

Gemini explained in detail the same story Sondra told as she nibbled. Jim just soaked in the information and let it go. After all, if Gemini didn’t think she was gaining weight, would she actually believe the jewelry was cursed? After dinner Jim got on the net and went to all the sites he could find that could add some logic to the strange happenings. However after searching the entire night, he came up empty handed. Jim logged off and met up with Gemini as she left the bathroom. Gemini’s was tugging on her nightgown, trying to pull it over her wide hips. She looked towards Jim and smiled, "I think the detergent I’m using is shrinking our clothes." Then she giggled as she walked towards the kitchen, "I’ve a taste for some grilled cheese you interested?"

Jim shook his head as he replied, "I don’t think so."

He did follow his love into the kitchen where she poured herself a large glass of milk and then removed the bread and cheese. "I have never been so hungry, my gosh I should be so huge the way I’ve been eating." Jim smiled as Gemini continued, "Good thing I’m going to the work out center, huh?"

Jim took a seat, "Oh, yeah sure baby."

Gemini nibbled on a slice of cheese as she prepared the grill cheese sandwich, "Tell me James? If I did get fat, would you still love me?"

Jim glanced over Gemini’s figure in a nightgown much too small for her pudgy body. The nightgown settling over her spacious hips, her big belly spilling over her underwear, her thick thighs rubbing together. "Of course I’d still love you. Please Gemini, always remember that."

A gorgeous smiled flowed over her chubby face, "Okay, I will. But like I would ever get fat."

The next day Gemini spent with her hair in curlers and in her pajama’s until almost five o’clock in the evening. She made cookies most of the day, but by bedtime she had eaten all of them. Jim still found Gemini attractive at her size, but her behavior was lacking the charm and style she once had. She was content and getting lazy, Jim realized he had to return the necklace before Gemini’s weight and lifestyle would get out of hand.

PART SIX: WEIGHING IN ON THE FACTS

Bright and early Saturday morning Jim got out of bed and begun his mission. If taking the jewelry caused their significant others to gain weight, then returning it was the only option to correct this strange occurrence. Gemini was already up and in the laundry room when Jim approached her. It wasn’t his imagination either that Gemini was now even heavier. Dressed in only her open bathrobe and sweats, Jim could easily see that twenty-five more pounds had claimed her body.

The elastic waistband dug deep into her flab, sending a roll of fat two inches thick pouring over the sweatshirt and slacks. The size of her corpulent belly was enormous and perfectly circler. Her expansive behind pushed outwards, bouncing over her huge thighs. "Where are you off to so early Jim?" Gemini asked in a cheerful tone of voice. Her face was now completely round and her black hair lingered over her chubby cheeks.

"Well actually I’m off to play golf with Dave, but I was also thinking about taking your necklace in and having it appraised."

Gemini bit into a donut then pouted in such a way that it puffed up her double chin, "But I didn’t even have a chance to start your breakfast yet hon?"

Jim caressed her husky upper arm, "Don’t worry my love, I’ll get something while I’m out with Dave."

Gemini smiled, "Okay, then I’ll just make something light for myself."

Jim hugged his young wife and kissed her, "Remember I’ll always love you no matter how much you weigh."

Gemini giggled, "I’m not going to eat that much. Just a few eggs, some bacon and hash browns, a few donuts and....."

Jim interrupted Gemini, "Yeah that’s fine. But please let me have your necklace, so I can see how much it’s worth?"

Gemini’s soft butterball figure walked into the bedroom and she met up with Jim at the front door. "Here ya go baby. I’m a little curious myself."

Jim took the necklace from Gemini’s hand and after a long kiss made tracks to his car. He didn’t like lying to Gemini, but he had little choice in the matter. He picked up David and drove to out to see Sondra’s grandmother. After all they didn’t have a clue to where the house was and trusted Sondra’s grandmother in pointing the way once they reached Hollow Creek. However David was without the bracelet. "Yeah Jim, it’s one thing when a husband asks to appraise an article of jewelry, but that’s hard to do when you just started dating."

Jim nodded, "Yeah, but once we return the necklace, hopefully Gemini’s mind will grasp what’s happen and she can convince Pepper and company."

David looked over the map, "I hope so Pepper ate four cheeseburgers last night while we had a barbecue." David then turned to Jim, "Damn! I can’t find Hollow Creek anywhere on the map!"

Jim shrugged his shoulders, "So it’ll take us a little longer to get there."

David chuckled, "Yeah but how much longer?"

On the long drive the guys spoke about Gemini’s and Pepper’s inflating figures and agreed that they looked beautiful with the added weight. However David brought it to Jim’s attention, "Remember their use to looking a certain way. What if they’re not happy with their bodies and can’t lose the weight?"

Jim concurred, "I know, I was just thinking about that." It took the men the better part of the day to find Hollow Creek, however they reached Sondra’s grandmother’s house rather easily. From there they received directions and made tracks to the dark abandon house. They looked upstairs and happened upon the old colonial cabinet that Gemini described and Jim placed the necklace inside as a cold gush of wind rattled through their bodies. "I just got the creepiest feeling", David remarked as he quickly walked towards the stairs. Jim was right behind him, "Tell me about it. Lets hurry out of here and get back home." Meanwhile…

Gemini was lying on the sofa at home, flipping channels with the remote and finishing up some pie. Her deluded image of herself was corrected and upon her face was drawn a look of horror! "Oh my gosh what happen to me!?" the pretty young lady whimpered as she glanced over her large breasts and big belly. Gemini rolled off the sofa and unto the floor, weighted down by her size, she felt flabby and clumsy.

Once Jim arrived home he discovered Gemini to be in the bedroom with the door locked. "Gemini? You okay?"

Gemini’s shaken voice softly replied, "Jim please go away, I don’t want you to see me like this."

Jim rested his head against the door, "Please open the door baby, I want to talk with you."

Gemini whined, "You can’t see me, I’m fat." Jim acknowledged that he knew and Gemini realizing this opened the door. She fell into his arms, "Oh Jim, now I understand why you kept asking me questions about my size. But why wasn’t I aware?"

Jim patted Gemini on her back, "It had to do with the jewelry. I guess it was cursed. Not only did you gain weight, but it hid it from your mind."

Gemini withdrew from their embrace and brushed back her silky black mane, "Do…do you think I’m unattractive?"

Jim’s hand traced the side of her sweet face, "Of course not Gemini. You’re beautiful."

Gemini tilted her head, "Are you sure? Maybe I can lose the weight."

Jim took Gemini by the shoulders and kissed her. "Yeah baby, maybe you’ll lose the weight, but even if you don’t, you’re still the most attractive woman I know."

Blushing, Gemini remarked, "You do know I weigh about 245-pounds?"

Jim shrugged his shoulders; "It wouldn’t matter to me if you weighted three hundred. Didn’t the wedding vows say something about thin or thick?"

Gemini giggled and playfully shoved Jim, "No, it didn’t!"

Jim grabbed Gemini’s spacious waist, " I think you look more gorgeous than ever."

Gemini began to smile, but it quickly dissolved, "Uh-oh, Isabel and the others?"

Jim nodded, "Yeah, they’re heavier too. The catch is returning the jewelry. Dave couldn’t get Pepper’s, but I brought yours back to the house. Now that you’re aware of everything, you can convince your friends to return the jewelry."

Gemini tossed off her bathrobe and then removed her sweats; "I’m going to do it right now!" Gemini began searching though her wardrobe for something to wear, but then paused and turned to Jim, "Oh my, I’ve been dressing in clothes that don’t exactly fit my size. I have nothing to wear?" Gemini cradled her big belly in her arms; "Even my underwear doesn’t fit right. You have to run out to K mart…K-mart? Whatever store and pick me up something to wear out of the house until I find the time to shop on my own."

Jim brought up sweats, but Gemini gave him a funny look, "Sweats? You gotta be kidding me? No, something nice."

Upon giving Jim a few suggestions on what to pick up for her, Jim left for the mall. Gemini then waited on the sofa, nibbling on a few cookies and trying to fight the hunger she was still victim too. She rubbed her soft, pudgy thigh and then left the sofa in search of something else to eat. Going through the fridge, she removed some left over pizza, "I can start my diet tomorrow, so for the time being, I’ll just enjoy myself."

Within an hour Jim returned with some garments that were more appealing to Gemini’s swollen figure. Her new wardrobe didn’t exactly trill Gemini, but upon putting on a light blue blouse and very tight blue jeans, she was out the door and on her way to visit Pepper. Jim had suggested that he join Gemini, but she felt it better if she went alone. Upon reaching Pepper’s house and ringing the bell, both were shocked at each other’s appearances. Pepper was dressed in a tube top and sweat pants that barely fit her enlarged body. Her chunky upper arms jiggled and her thick waist seemed to roam over her spacious hips. "Gosh Gemini, how did you get so heavy so fast?" Pepper asked as the two friends entered the living room.

They girls sat down next to each on the sofa as Gemini replied, "This is going to sound so strange, but you’re just as heavy as I am."

Pepper tilted her head, "What? You’re kidding me?" Pepper tossed a handful of chocolates into her mouth then smiled, "I have never looked better. Don’t you think I would have noticed it if I put on as much weight as you?"

Gemini went into the details and after pausing for a moment asked, "Having you noticed your clothes don’t fit or the change in your behavior? How about at the hospital? A woman of your esteem and credentials shouldn’t be emptying bedpans and doing petty tasks."

Pepper frowned as she continued eating, "Yeah, you’re right. But I can’t comprehend how the jewelry caused this?"

Gemini stood up and griped her soft big belly in her hands, "Would I actually let myself get this fat?"

Pepper glanced over Gemini’s hefty body, "Nooo…I suppose you wouldn’t. But I can’t believe this happened because we took that jewelry?"

Gemini drew a breath, "You’re only conscious of my weight gain because Jim took the jewelry back. You have to return the bracelet Pepper, before you become even heavier."

Pepper looked over her beefy thighs, unaware of their size, then looked back to Gemini, "How about Sondra and Isabel? Did they get heavy too?"

Gemini replied that they did and added, "You know there’s no way in earth Sondra would actually want to be a waitress, or even enjoy it?"

Pepper removed the bracelet, "I’m not saying I totally believe this, but yeah currently things have been a mite strange."

Gemini nodded, "Then come with me, we can try and convince Isabel and Sondra."

Pepper stood, "Yeah okay. Sondra’s at the diner now, we can see her there."

Gemini’s eyes rested upon the chocolates, fighting the urge to eat a few, "How about Isabel?" Gemini lost her will power and tossed a few chocolates into her mouth as Pepper told her, "Isabel never leaves her house anymore, so we’ll find her at home."

Sondra was wiping off the tables as her friends entered the diner. Though to Sondra, Pepper looked as slim and trim as ever, but without the necklace, she was now conscious of Gemini’s weight gain. Sondra slowly lowered herself unto a chair, "What happen to you Gemini? You’ve gotten so fat?"

Pepper took a seat next to Sondra, "We need to return the jewelry we took, it’s causing us to become, well fat."

Sondra scrutinized Pepper’s figure, "But you’re not fat and I’m not fat either." Sondra tilted her head, "Sorry Gemini I didn’t mean to insult you."

Gemini took Sondra by the hand and explained everything to her as she did with Pepper. After Gemini finished, Sondra turned to Pepper; "You don’t actually believe this, do you?"

Pepper’s hand glided against Sondra’s cheek, "You graduated with honors Sondra. Aren’t you the least curious why you enjoy working as a waitress? A job you once loathed?"

Sondra scratched her head with a pencil, "Well, yeah of course. But I enjoy it now."

Gemini chimed in, "Aren’t you a little confused why your clothes don’t fit you right or how much your appetite has increased?"

Sondra shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah I guess."

"Isn’t it odd that you wear a different uniform then the other waitress’s and when you go to the dance clubs no one flirts with you?" Pepper added.

Sondra looked over the diamond ring then glanced back to Gemini, "You have gotten heavy way too fast to make sense. Oh my gosh! I’m heavy too?"

Gemini lowered her head, "Yeah Sondra, you are. This is why you need to return the ring before you get heavier."

Sondra removed the ring and tossed it to Gemini, "Will our lives be corrected then?"

Gemini patted her big belly and smiled, "We can only hope."

Gemini and Pepper left Sondra at the diner to finish her shift and made tracks to see Isabel. Their plan was to call Sondra as soon as they convinced Isabel about the jewelry and arrange a time to return it. However this was easier said then done. Gemini and Pepper stood on Isabel’s porch, ringing the bell and knocking on the door for several minutes until she finally answered it. Like with Sondra, Pepper noticed no difference in Isabel’s appearance, but Gemini did. Gemini covered her mouth, gasping at the heavier, barely recognizable Isabel.

Isabel’s face was extremely pudgy with fat cheeks, broad nose and thick double chin. Her chocolate brown hair was now short and set in pigtails, enhancing the roundness of her face. Isabel’s 255-pound body was big and flabby, revealing the effects of constant gormandizing and lying in bed until late in the afternoon. The nightgown she wore had short ruffle sleeves that exposed her husky upper arms and the fabric strained across her gigantic belly and large bubble butt. Her buxom breasts laid upon her belly, slightly jiggling as she moved out of the way to let her friends in. Isabel yawned and scratched the saddlebag of her thick thigh as she walked with her friends into the living room. Glancing over the well-fed Gemini, she remarked, "What happen to you?"

Gemini took a seat, "It’s a long story, but you need to hear it."

Isabel nodded as Pepper asked, "What took you so long to answer the door?"

Isabel explained as she began consuming cookies, "I was in bed watching TV and didn’t want to be bothered. Momma usually answers the door, but she’s out shopping for my uniform."

A surprise look took to Gemini’s face, "Uniform? What kind of uniform?"

Isabel offered Pepper some cookies, "A housekeeper’s uniform. Momma got me a job at the Palmer House hotel."

Gemini glanced over to Pepper, who snatched a handful of cookies, "What did I tell you?"

Isabel gobbled up a cookie, "What did you want to tell me?"

Gemini and Pepper went into the details about the jewelry, but Isabel wasn’t convinced.

"Pepper looks fine and so do I", Isabel remarked as she gulped down a whole glass of milk. "Just because you got fat, don’t blame it on the jewelry. I love my earrings, no way will I return them."

Gemini then explained about Sondra losing her job, Pepper being demoted, Jim out of work, but Isabel didn’t believe one word of it. She stood up and glanced over her reflection in the mirror. She saw a vibrant young lady with an outstanding slim figure not the heavyset couch potato she had become. "I look fantastic Gemini!" Isabel exclaimed as she strolled over to Pepper. Isabel rested her hand upon Pepper’s shoulder, "Pepper, what’s going on? You don’t believe this story, do you?"

Pepper turned and looked to her friend. Though she saw Isabel as the vivacious vixen, she new something didn’t add up, "Actually Isabel, I have to agree with Gemini. Something isn’t right."

Isabel laughed, "You look gorgeous Pepper! You’re not fat or even plump! Trust me, I’d love to see you fat!"

Pepper raised her eyebrows, "Well, thanks, but I think we should return the jewelry."

Isabel giggled as she sat back down, "Oh like once we return the jewelry; we’ll see all the weight we put on?"

Pepper tried to reason with Isabel, "I’ve been eating like nobody’s business and my clothes are tight, at least the clothes that fit. Isn’t that kind of weird?"

Isabel laughed, "There has to be another explanation."

Pepper then told Isabel, "What about you and Sondra shopping for clothes at K mart?"

Isabel just shrugged that comment off, "So? K mart has some wonderful outfits."

Gemini added her thoughts, "What about you becoming a maid? Wasn’t that like your job from hell?"

Isabel stood up; "I’m not ashamed about becoming a housekeeper! My momma and my aunt are housekeepers! It’s an honest living!"

Pepper stood up, "But you have a master’s degree in sociology!"

Isabel rested her hands over her spacious hips, her big belly drooping downwards, "So I know how to talk to people, I’ll get better tips!"

After almost an hour the girls gave up and left. Isabel wasn’t going to give up the earrings and in her mind, was still slender. Pepper and Sondra on the other hand foregone their jewelry and Jim and David returned it to the abandon house the next morning. Though Pepper and Sondra were more than a little shocked at their size, things began to pick up where they left off before the jewelry was taken. Jim found a better job and David’s job was no longer on the line. Pepper received her promotion and was put on the day shift at the hospital. Sondra got lucky when a friend from college got her a job at another high school. What didn’t change was their weight!

Gemini, Sondra and Pepper tried to diet, but the weight wouldn’t come off. Matter of fact, Pepper continued to get heavier. Sondra was the first to accept her new found size and looked completely spectacular in garments that showed off her big beautiful womanly body. Gemini and Pepper were uncomfortable with their appearance a little while longer, but Jim and David armed with love and understanding helped them in acquiring back their confidence. Though Gemini and Sondra hovered around 250-pounds, Pepper somehow managed to reach the 300-pound mark. At first she felt unattractive about her weight, but David convinced her otherwise and Pepper eventually saw herself as no less than simply gorgeous.

Isabel continued to brush off her friends. Not returning their phone calls, ignoring their invitations for lunch and keeping her distance. It was by chance that Gemini ran into Mrs. Diaz at the grocery store and Gemini thought maybe she could reason with Isabel’s mother. "Isabella’s fine Gemini, thank you for asking," Mrs. Diaz remarked.

Gemini lowered her head, "No Mrs. Diaz, I have to respectfully disagree with you, Isabel isn’t fine."

"What do you mean child?" Mrs. Diaz asked with a voice laced with arrogance, "Isabel has a nice part time job, sleeps until noon and eats as much as she wants. She’s living like a queen."

Gemini drew a breath and patted her bulging belly, "Look how heavy I’ve become. It was on account of that jewelry we took. I didn’t notice; none of us did until we returned it, that it was cursed. Tell me, does Isabel have any idea of what she looks like? I mean we returned the jewelry two weeks ago, so she has to be heavier now."

Mrs. Diaz slowly started to walk away as Gemini raised her voice, "You know she isn’t aware of all the weight she put on! The jewelry has caused her to eat like a pig and lose her ambition!" Mrs. Diaz stopped and Gemini approached her, "You think she ever wanted to be a housekeeper at a hotel? Your daughter has a master’s degree. What is she going to do when she’s too heavy to move?"

Mrs. Diaz softly remarked, "Won’t she stop gaining weight?"

Gemini calmly responded, "I don’t think so. I haven’t seen her in almost a month, has she gotten heavier?"

Mrs. Diaz slowly nodded. "Yes Gemini. Matter of fact, she is about ready for a new uniform."

Gemini hugged Ms. Diaz, "Then let me help her. I need to return the earrings."

Mrs. Diaz invited Gemini for dinner in hope of snatching the earrings and returning them to the abandon house.

PART SEVEN: MAGNITUDE OF THE EARRINGS

The dinner was going to be between the three of them. Isabel’s father was out bowling with friends and Isabel wasn’t home from work yet when Gemini arrived. Gemini looked classy with her hair in a pageboy hairstyle that took exception to her cute round face and in a black top and slacks. Mrs. Diaz was the perfect hostess and offered Gemini a beverage as soon as she entered the cozy dwelling. "Diet cola for me please," Gemini remarked in a cheerful voice. "I don’t know why I don’t just indulge in the regular cola? It’s not like I’m going to get any smaller," Gemini giggled.

Mrs. Diaz handed Gemini a glass of diet cola, "Oh child, you were much too skinny before, now you have the body of a real woman."

Gemini chuckled, "Yeah I’m not skinny anymore."

Mrs. Diaz then informed Gemini that Isabel wore the earrings to work and that they would have to figure out a way to have Isabel remove them. They were in the kitchen conversing when Isabel finally arrived home, the diamond earrings in place. Gemini stood to greet her friend, "Hello Isabel, how was your day?"

Isabel acknowledged Gemini with a half smile and slight nod then proceeded to greet her mother with a hug and kiss. Isabel’s size and appearance astonished Gemini. Since Gemini had last seen Isabel, Isabel had indeed continued to pile on the pounds and was nearly 400-pounds! Isabel’s hair was set in braids that pulled the hair away from her circular face. Her moonfaced facial features were extremely chubby with big swollen cheeks, profound broad nose and paunchy double chin. Bags lay under her eyes, betraying her exhaustion. "Momma, after dinner I think I’m goin' straight to bed." Isabel’s maid uniform, barely a month old fitted her poorly, exposing every pound of her girth. The short sleeves amplified her chunky upper arms and the fabric around her huge waist exaggerated her thick rolls. Isabel yawned then stretched, causing her big breasts to propel forward and almost removing themselves from her bra.

"Take a quick shower before dinner sweetie. You’ll be refreshed and be in a better mood to entertain your guest.”

Isabel’s belly was enormous and jiggled as she walked around the kitchen table. Making eye contact with Gemini, Isabel’s hands rested upon her spacious hips, "I thought American men liked their women to be twigs? You’ve blossomed into a big woman."

Gemini knew the earrings were behind Isabel’s behavior and didn’t let the comment dig beneath her skin. Gemini smiled, "I guess I just let myself go. Marriage can do that to a woman’s figure."

Isabel’s body shook like jell-o as she made tracks out of the kitchen and to the bathroom. Her colossal bubble butt was totally round, bouncing over her gigantic beefy thighs. The earrings had changed Isabel from an elegant, educated young lady, brimming with enthusiasm to a dumpy, ill mannered, lazy woman who was content in her existence. Once out of the shower, Isabel returned to the kitchen dressed in a nightgown that looked like a tent. Her earrings were off and Mrs. Diaz made an excuse to leave the room and fetch them.

As the dinner progressed, Isabel was distant and cold to her friend. Making small talk when she had too, Isabel mainly stuffed her face between short remarks to her mother. Isabel whined about all the rooms she had to clean, about the rude customers, and about the meager tips she received. This wasn’t the Isabel that Gemini knew and she was anxious in returning the earrings. After dinner Gemini bid Isabel goodnight and as Mrs. Diaz walked her to the door, slipped Gemini the earrings. Hopefully it wasn’t too late.

Early the next morning David, Pepper, and Gemini returned the earrings to the mansion by. Sondra kept close tabs on Isabel and upon receiving a phone call from Mrs. Diaz; Sondra practically flew over to Isabel’s home. Isabel was in complete shock, though Sondra was there to iron out the details. Isabel’s behavior returned to normal, but not her weight. It wasn’t easy for Isabel to accept being 390-pounds, but over the course of a few months she found a new high profile government job and a new out look on life. Isabel’s style and sassy attitude was back in form, though now she was a much larger vixen. Like her friends, Isabel tried to diet and work the weight off, but she’d only lose twenty pounds before her weight would creep back up again.

SIX MONTHS LATER: The fab four were dining at an exclusive restaurant celebrating Pepper’s engagement to David. A few people gave the friends funny looks due to the huge meals they ate that matched their size, but too them it didn’t matter. They were four big beautiful women taking advantage of the foods they once steered away from. Pepper poured gravy over her mashed potatoes, "I was thinking, why don’t the four of us take a road trip before my wedding?"

Isabel dabbed butter on a biscuit, "You mean like we did before Gemini’s wedding?"

Gemini smiled as she reached for her glass of whole milk, "Sounds peachy, I like it."

Sondra nodded as she nibbled on ravioli, "Sure, sounds like a plan."

Gemini gently returned the glass to the table and patting her big belly smiled, "As long as we don’t visit any haunted houses!" The fab four laughed in agreement.

EPILOGUE: WEIGHT TO COME

"See Jenni, what did I tell you?" Jenni smiled, "Wow! Look at all the jewelry!" Jenni and Melissa were two college age gals who heard of the house and of the treasure, ignoring the legend, and rummaging through the cabinet. Melissa stood upright, her slim figure dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, "These earrings are sooo beautiful!"

Jenni smiled, "You should wear them when you have your interview with that fashion magazine." Jenni was a vivacious young lady as well, her slender body looked delicious in a tank top and jeans.

"I think you’re right Jen, I will!" Melissa giggled.

Jenni fasten the necklace around her neck, "I like this, isn’t it precious?"

The cold chill that wrapped through their bodies didn’t register, they were that spellbound by the jewelry. Melissa arrogantly placed her hands over her narrow hips; "I’m going to become the biggest fashion model of all!"

FINIS