Chronicles of a Fat Teenager (Complete - Sequel coming soon)

Chronicles of a Fat Teenager - Chapter Six

"So, what happened when I left you?" Jess quizzed after Beth squeezed into the back seat of Jessica's dad's car.  

Beth placed her college bag on the seat next to her and looked in horror at the seat belt. Backseats of cars presented her with numerous problems. She could never share a backseat with more than one other human being. A third party would invariably find themselves pressed up against her with their lungs slowly being compressed. The next was leg room but as Beth looked down, she was thankful that Jessica's dad drove a large Insignia and with Jessica being so short, her seat was pulled forward, allowing plenty of room for Beth's oversized legs and knees. The final issue was the one currently presenting itself to Beth. The seat belt. Always too short and always difficult to heave around her frame and without the ability to see where she was trying to plug it in because her stomach or hips would obliterate seeing the seat beside her, she opted for her usual tactic in these incidences and held the belt across her body. 

"So ..... what HAPPENED? I looked back and he was walking towards you with eyes like saucers! Oh, this is my dad, Frank. Dad, this is Beth my friend I was telling you about. Totally saved my life on Saturday and has a killer set of vocals." 

Beth smiled at her father who had turned to check on her progress with the seat belt so he could pull off from the curb. A bus was approaching behind them and as they'd picked her up yards from the bus stop, he made a quick polite greeting and slowly pulled out to join the rest of the traffic on the busy Bridge Street. 

Jess looked back expectantly and smiled encouragingly at Beth. 

Beth however was more interested in how Jessica's conversation with her parents had gone. The only text she'd had from her Saturday evening read "Here goes. Wish me luck. If they kick me out, can I live with you? LOL! x"  Beth had replied with a "Good luck!" but had heard nothing back. She was surprised when they turned up as promised at the bus stop that Monday morning just as Jessica had said they would. 

Beth tilted her head towards Jessica's father and mouthed "How did it go?" 

Jess smiled, "Daddy, Beth has just inquired how our conversation went Saturday evening. As you know, Beth is the only person I've confided in, apart from Michael the Moron obviously so she's anxious to learn of how my parental units responded to the news that their daughter unit malfunctioned and went and reproduced with a lesser species."

Jessica's candid exchange with her father surprised Beth and she glanced nervously at the back of Frank's head to gauge his response. Rather than fury at Jessica's apparent frivolous attitude he laughed weakly. 

"Well Beth, I am very grateful that my daughter here spoke to you. It sounds like you gave her quite the tonic she was looking for because my wife and I have our daughter back, it seems. She has been sullen and withdrawn and far more moody of late and Tina and I have been worried about her. Then she bounds back in the house Saturday afternoon, a little later than usual with "BIG NEWS" and proceeded to tell us the entire sordid story."

Beth glared in amazement at her dad's almost upbeat tone and looked back at Jessica who appeared to be picking at lint on her skirt with a dreamy look in her eye. Beth took this as confirmation that this was to be regarded as a normal exchange between Jess and her dad.

Suddenly Jess interjected, "Ah, now dad. You've not told Beth the best part."

"Yes, well Beth. About two weeks ago I was doing the recycling. No one else bothers in our house so it falls to me to go through the bins to ensure we've been recycling all that we can. An onerous task, I grant you but after a week of dealing with snotty teenagers and the shit their parent's produce, having to sift through my own family's shit is a step up and rather therapeutic. Anyway .... imagine my surprise when I discover a Clearblue box? Used! Now ... I was faced with a dilemma as you can understand Beth. I had the snip about four years ago, you know what that is, Beth?"