Photo – Sandra Crook
‘Fat people disgust me!’ Jeanie hissed.
The words hit harder than any slap could but I still screamed as hands shoved my shoulder blades, hard. Tears mingled with the damp earth that filled my nostrils as I laid face down in the dirt. My school bag was kicked away and I covered my ears blocking out laughter.
I shake away images I haven’t thought about for years and smooth my skirt over my now size 10 hips. It’s my first night running Super Slimmers and I need to focus.
A new member waddles in, shoulders hunched, smock dress billowing. Jeanie?
Who’s laughing now?
Written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries here.
fabricating fiction 
Dear Louise,
Perfect poetic justice. I want to find the ‘love’ icon. Simply wonderful!
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. What goes around…
Loved the story. Bullies should always get their comeuppance. I do hope your protagonist isn’t planning on revenge. They say it’s a dish best served cold, but who knows how many calories are in there?
Haha – very true. Thanks!
Fat shaming is an epidemic in some schools these days. I wonder what’s in our food. Probably the same thing that makes chickens grow to maturity in six weeks.
It’s frightening isn’t it? I think kids have always been cruel though. Thanks for reading.
I hope she savours the moments to follow. Dining on “come-uppance” can be so tremendously satisfying. 🙂 (Two different spellings of Jeanie, Jeannie). Good job.
It can indeed! Thanks for spotting the spelling Sandra.
Ah, karma is a bitch! Wonderfully written, as usual. We are so obsessed with physical appearance, such an unhealthy society we live in.
It is – the media has a lot to answer for though I think. Thanks for reading.
Oh, so cruel the years can be… hahaha, loved this write! Love the irony. Now, if all the bullies got what they deserved…. ah, but that’s me talking without mercy. Bad me.
Thanks. I felt a bit bad writing it!
Don’t. The world needs to face the reality of bullying. It’s the only way that it can be conquered and destroyed. Besides, I’ve had the joy of seeing those who bullied me get their comeupins. I felt bad for them, too. But as they say, you reap what you sow….
You do indeed. Thanks.
I am quite relieved to see your last response here, because I didn’t share the view of the exalted ladies above.
Well written, and very realistic, but I felt it was a bit vindictive.
Me too! We feel what we feel though.
My seven stone wife accidently stumbled into a Weight-Watchers meeting one night. If looks could kill……….
I can imagine! Thanks for reading.
I think the MC is entitled to her moment of laugh at Jeannie’s Karma. It’s only natural and human to feel that. I’m sure she will help Jeannie though. Nice story.
She will. Thanks for reading.
I think a bit of a chuckle is allowed as long as it doesn’t get too mean-spirited. Maybe the bully learns, and teaches her kids to do better. And I agree on the twisted view on weight and attractiveness, but can it be changed? Doubtful. Great story.
I like to think she’s learned her lesson. Thanks.
I agree with some of the above comments regarding the story feeling a bit vindictive. I’d like to think the person bullied as a child won’t become a bully themselves. Harsh to hold a silly, immature child’s faults against them forever. Difficult subject.
Thanks for reading Paul. I think anyone who has ever been bullied can’t easily write it off as silly, childish behaviour. The emotions bullying instils are complex and often Long-lasting. The impact doesn’t always disappear when the bullied reach adulthood.
Love the revenge. It’s hard to feel sorry for Jeanie. We should forgive. But, naaah.
Thanks Patrick 🙂
What a moment to enjoy…. I wonder if Jeannie will make it through the course. I love turned tables.
Thanks Bjorn. I think they’ll both be fine.
I’d love to know your thought process for how this picture prompted you to write this. I think I can guess but would rather read it coming from you.
Hi Dawn. I saw the beach and thought of a beached whale, that led to an overweight person.
LOL..okay, thought it might be something like that.
Couldn’t have worked out better. You really feel for her and enjoy her triumph.
Thanks for reading Perry.
I have mixed emotions about this piece as well but I love that it stimulated a conversation about fat shaming and bullying which are hard to combat if we don’t recognize them. And seriously who amongst us has not plotted revenge against a bully. Keep writing with an honest voice. I love that about you.
Tracey
Thanks Tracey. I appreciate that.
I admit I was totally expecting Jeanie to be the one waddling in – and I was very happy it was! I think our protagonist has to feel a certain level of pleasure!
Thanks Dale. I think it’s natural she does.
How the tables have turned. If only children realised how quickly things and fortunes can change around out in the “real world”. Great story!
Thanks Ali. It’s a shame stuff stays with us into adulthood.
“Who’s laughing now?” it must be the breeze. 🙂 anyway, as they always say, success is the sweetest revenge.
It is 🙂 thanks
Haha who’s laughing now is right. Children can be so horrible, oh who am I kidding, people can be so horrible to each other. Like someone being over weight really matters in the grand scheme of things. Lovely piece.
Thanks Sarah. You’re right – some adults don’t behave any better!
I can only imagine that Jeannie gets it now and no one need laugh. It’s so true that kids can be cruel, but frankly, I find adults much worse sometimes. They should know better… Nice job!
Thanks Dawn. People in general can be so unkind. Thankfully they’re in the minority.
Karma perhaps? 🙂 Good take on this weeks prompt.
It’s sad that in today’s society being overweight is criticized so much and children can be cruel.
They can Laura. Thanks for reading.
Lovely, Louise. I hope she changes her tune now. What comes around goes around. I’ll tell you one thing, your body sure does go through a lot of changes. 🙂
It sure does. Thanks Amy.
Well told, Louise. I could see the belated pleasure on the narrator’s face as Jeannie arrived.
Such a torrid of emotions in such a small piece. Well done!
Thank you very much.
Turnabout is fair play.
Thanks Joseph.
Good story, Lore. Bullying is terrible. Kids are also afraid to tell. My son was bullied until he filled out in middle school and got muscles. Then the bullying stopped. This can and does happen. It must be really embarrassing on the previous bully as it should be. Good description. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
Sorry, I meant Louise, not Lore. I’m getting confused. It’s early here. Sorry about that. 😦 — Suzanne
Thanks Suzanne. I hope all is well with your son now. We never stop worrying as mums do we?