THE BODYSHAMING

On a sunny bright afternoon, Susan had just finished her conference meeting with the company’s board of directors. “oh goodness I’m so tired” she said while yawning. 

She glanced at her wrist watch and noticed it’s her lunch time, she jolted up at once. “ I need to get some food, I can’t miss my lunch for anything in this world” she said loudly to herself.

Quickly, she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs as she made her way into her car but made a quick stop at the reception table.

“Ella I’m going out for lunch, I left a file on my table, make sure you pick it up, go through it and make necessary corrections on it before I come back.”

“Also don’t forget to call me when I have a visitor. Is that clear?” She asked.

“Yes I’ll do that ma” Ella replied back. And with that, susan strode into her car, tucked in her seat belt and turned on the car engine then drove away.

Susan continued driving while humming happily to the music she was playing in her car. 

She stopped by at her favorite restaurant, got down and entered the restaurant swaying her body along without a care in the world.

“Welcome ma’am here’s our menu” A waitress said as she handed over the menu book to Susan with a sweet smile on her face. 

Susan took the book and flipped the pages as she searched for her favorite dessert and other meals.

“Okay for my main course meal; can I get a double bacon cheeseburger alongside French fries, for my drink; I’ll go for a chocolate milkshake.” She replied.

“Finally for my dessert; I want a fried apple pie with a scoop of ice cream, that's all.” She added with a smile curved at the corner of her lips. 

Soon, her meal was brought to her and she gladly dug into the meal, savoring the taste and sweetness of each bite. 

She doesn’t care about the aftermath of the sugary meals she takes to her body as her body weight has increased and now she has a big rounded stomach which her husband detest so much. 

She couldn’t care less though. Suddenly, she got a call which jolted her back to her senses. 

“Hello…oh my goodness!!what happened to him..ok!... .yeah! yeah! I’m on my way now!” She shouted. 

Unfortunately, she stopped her meal and loudly called the waitress. Quickly, she paid for her meal and dashed out like someone chased by a demon.

She entered her car and drove out in a speed as she headed to the destination.

Susan got home feeling worn out from her activities today. Surprisingly she met her husband in the bedroom. “Babe you are home this early?” She asked curtly.

“Where’s that boy, how could he do such a thing, where did he learnt that from?” Steve shouted angrily. 

“Relax babe, please calm down, I had to rush down to his school after I got a call from his teacher.” Susan answered calmly.

“They told me they tried calling you severally but you didn’t pick up so I had to go do that as soon as I got the call.”  She continued.

“But I was so busy with work.” Steve replied. “ Steve, you can’t be too busy to have time for your family, he’s our son.” 

“I do most of the errands at home despite my busy schedule and I don’t come up with excuses for not taking responsibility for my family.” Susan said angrily.

“ So are you saying I’ve not been a responsible man for this family enough? 

So you want to start counting each task you have done for the family right? …. is that what it is now?” Steve asked using an irritating tone.

“Whatever,” Susan muttered raising her hand in the air, clearly stating that she wasn’t ready to exchange words with him.

Angrily, Steve called out Micheal furiously with a loud voice. “ Micheal come here right now?” 

“Dad I’m here sir” Micheal answered slowly with his body trembling with fear.

“Why would you behave like that in school today huh?, why would you call another student a fat doll, answer me!!”  Steve shouted.

“Dad she..she…insulted me first and I…I had to say mine back too” Micheal answered fearfully.

“That is not an excuse why would you say such things, where did you hear that from?”  Steve asked again.

“But Dad, I only said the truth because that’s how she looks like…and….” Micheal answered. 

“Will you shut up your mouth! Listen, the next time you try this again, I’ll take away your video games! and put you on a time out is that clear?” Steve shouted.

“Yes sir, I’m sorry Dad.” Micheal apologized again.

“Don’t do that again okay…. be a good boy for mummy alright?” Susan said while she removed her waist belt, suddenly revealing her big stomach.

“Babe what is this?” Steve asked as he became more frustrated.

“What are you talking about…I don’t understand.” Susan replied, turning to her son with a confused look.

“Why the hell is your stomach getting bigger, why aren’t you watching your weight! Just why!! Steve asked angrily again.

“Babe…don’t do this..our son is here” Susan said slowly as she quickly dismissed her son out of the bedroom.

“Steve..why are you body shaming me?” Susan lamented.

“Look at you Susan, you are adding weight and your stomach is getting bigger”  Steve shouted back.

“But it’s not my fault Steve….after all, you met me like this and decided to marry me, why the change now?” Susan replied sadly.

“Get a liposuction done!!……go get your body together girl!!!!!” 

Steve shouted again as he angrily walked out of the bedroom leaving Susan to deal with those harsh words.

Susan heaved in deeply as she slumped on the bed. Later, she got up and got into the shower to have her bath.

She continued with her activities without being bothered by what Steve had said to her because she had been dealing with this for years now so to her, it’s nothing new. 

She made up her mind not to do anything to her natural body, feeling satisfied with the way she is.