A Cock About to Cro-

Yes, Mike-in-Accounts, I'm fat. Well done you for noticing.

I heard him talking about me. He was in the middle of saying something crude and cruel, and didn't realise I'd descended from Logistics to ask a question. I was right behind him.

The gaggle of women hanging on his every word looked comical, their amused smirks freezing, eyes widening, expressions turning to horror. I could feel the beet-heat in my face, and my hands squish into fists.

Mike, in full swing and in love with sound of his own voice, kept going for several seconds, oblivious. He stopped, mid-sentence. Mid-word actually. He choked on it. Ha.

I asked my question, enjoying the seething crackle of discomfort all around me, then went back up to my desk.

He's right. I'm fat. Not like average-sized girls say it because they aren't built like an ironing board with two peas. Not curvy. Actually, really quite fat. I eat bigger portions than most people, and I eat more often, as well. You could say I am filling a gap in myself with food.

At 5pm sharp, my computer was off, desk neatened, in-tray empty. I wrestled into my coat (I'd need to go up another size), picked up my frumpy brown handbag, took the lift to save my thighs rubbing together and hurried out to catch Mike in the car park.

He had the grace to look embarrassed.

"We can sort this out now, a friendly chat, or I can go to HR and get you suspended."

He puffed up like a cock about to crow, ready to brazen and bluster his way out of it, but I cut him off.

"We both know you've done worse than bully the... what was it? Lardy Lady in Logistics?"

Anger flushed his face and flashed in his eyes, but he jerked his chin. "Alright."

Idiot. He should've made me go to HR.

"There's a diner I know. It's only a few minutes' walk."

He sneered. I saw the thought stamped around his mouth: of course you know a diner.

He never made it there.

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

CONTINUES... (link below)

Word count: 365

Submitted on 15th January at 00:10 AM

*Quick Author's Note*

Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment so I can reciprocate. If you enjoyed it, please share it or read another!

The story behind the story: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes a 15 day streak.

I'm not linking to the others below - Finally got bored of laboriously copying over and hyperlinking the list every time! They're all in the Index, pinned to the top of my profile. I'll link to that instead.

The Prompt/Inspiration: This character popped into my head complete two nights ago, right as I was about to drop off to sleep. (This was very inconvenient, because the idea boiled and roiled around my brain and I stayed awake for hours.) This won't be the last you hear from this one. Please stick with her, because she is not at all what she seems.

If you're joining me on this "story every day" adventure, please leave a link in the comments. I'd love to see what you come up with for today. I'll try to come back and edit this to link to your piece at the bottom.

Edited to add links 👇

Her story continues here:

Please consider reading Rachel's micro for today:

And here's that Index, as promised: