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A Second Opinion

Very humbly, you ask "Could you fix up some kind of diet for me, like you did for Fred?" You think about things a little more. Meat! Decent food again! But still near starvation to get as thin as you could. Maybe...

"Could you make the diet so I don't put weight on, but don't really lose it either? Only.." you hurry on as Fred erupts in protest, "Fred's been really great about helping me lose weight, but I'll never look wonderful and I'm starving most of the time. I'd just like to eat normally. Anyway, my body seems to like it at this size." You smile sheepishly.

Carl grins. "Sure thing. Probably the best way to live anyway." He glances meaningfully at Fred, who snorts and stands up.

"You can still get a lot thinner than you are. Don't settle for being a lazy tub of lard because things have got a little tough and there's an easy way out. Don't quit, d'you hear?" When you don't answer, he mutters about "going to the gym" and stamps out.

An uncomfortable silence falls. Finally, Carl coughs and asks, "Have you known Fred long?"

"A while. He's a good friend", you say defensively, even as you finger the bruise on your belly where he pinched you the night before. "It's just that sometimes he's a bit ..."

"Boisterous?" Carl finishes gently, laying his hand over yours. You can only nod. He continues, "Yes, Fred is a good friend, but his ego and muscles get in the way. He can also be an arrogant, overbearing, rude bully. You have to be careful that he doesn't force you into things."

You don't feel much better, and Carl tries to reassure you. "He's very insecure, deep down. That's why I'm here." You feel confused, which Carl seems to realize. "Last night, Fred burst into my home sobbing that he'd nearly killed his best friend and that he didn't have a clue what to do. Stupid musclehead", he chuckles fondly.

"He came back and apologised!", you leap to Fred's defense.

Carl nods. "Yes, after I persuaded him that, A, it was possible to say he was sorry and B, of course you wouldn't hate him for all time."

"It would definitely be an improvement," he continues, "if we took Fred's overinflated ego muscles down a little. Want to try it?"


Written by Lupine (edited by wanderer)

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