THE YEARLY HALLOWEEN PARTY V (XWG)

Halloween Day - 2024

“Are you sure about this outfit, honey?” Angelina asked, her voice muffled slightly as she adjusted the pig ears on her head. She squirmed uncomfortably in the passenger seat of Danny’s car, feeling the costume stretch tight across her skin, pinching and pulling in all the wrong places. They were heading to the mall to get the final piece of her costume for Clara’s Halloween party. The outfit—a full Miss Piggy costume complete with a curly pig tail and a pink satin bodysuit—hugged her body tightly in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She had the ears, the tail, and a cheap feather boa draped over her shoulders but still needed to acquire the pig nose. Angelina was accustomed to wearing a piggy outfit these days but never in public.

It had been years since she’d seen Clara, and now she was heading to her sister’s Halloween party at Clara’s new apartment. There was a mix of anticipation and anxiety bubbling up in her, but Danny was nothing if not enthusiastic about the costume. Dressed as Kermit the Frog, he seemed over the moon about showing her off, his arm resting on her belly as they pulled into the mall parking lot to pick up a replacement pig nose. But Danny had other plans.

"Don't worry, babe," Danny said with a wide grin. "You look absolutely perfect. Just like Miss Piggy."

Angelina’s cheeks flushed, a part of her mortified by the attention her body drew, yet another part of her was resigned. Danny had been encouraging her to wear this costume for weeks, and she knew he was relishing every second of it. Her costume showcased her body in ways that felt borderline obscene. The satin bodysuit was practically painted on, stretched so tight that her belly rolls pressed visibly against it, creating defined creases around her midsection. Her thighs, swollen from lipedema, were thick and heavy, wobbling with each step, and the bodysuit’s leg openings pinched her skin. Her upper arms, similarly afflicted, were swollen and lumpy, the disease adding unnatural bulk to her already large frame. The satin fabric barely contained them, the material taut and shiny over the heavy masses of fat. She tugged at the fabric again, but there was no helping it—it was as stretched to its limit as she was.

Her face, framed by the too-small pig ears, was round and plush, her cheeks filling out so much that her eyes had taken on a soft, half-lidded look. Danny had been making her wear the pig nose frequently, claiming it was "just for fun," but deep down, she knew he was thrilled by how it made her look. The elastic band on the old nose had eventually snapped from overuse and from the way it had started digging into her now-plump cheeks and triple chin. As she imagined putting on the new nose, Angelina shivered, both embarrassed and, if she was honest, oddly comforted by the thought of Danny’s approval.

As they parked, she glanced down at the empty pastry box in her lap, her fingers sticky with the remains of her last maple-frosted donut. Maybe that’ll be enough to hold me over, she thought, though a rumble from her stomach suggested otherwise. Her body had been conditioned to expect near-constant snacking, especially around Danny, who saw Halloween as an excuse to keep her filled with sweets from sunrise to sunset.

With a sigh, she swung one thick leg out of the car, struggling to lift herself from the seat as her thighs pressed against the dashboard. Danny circled around, offering his hand and bracing himself as he heaved her up. Her body poured out of the car, her belly brushing against the doorframe as she steadied herself on her feet, her breath already a little labored. She tugged at the bodysuit again, feeling the fabric pinch at her shoulders and dig into her hips, causing her to feel suffocated.

As they entered the mall, Danny guided her over to the mobility scooters. Angelina hesitated, eyeing the row of scooters lined up near the entrance. “Danny, I don’t really think I need one of these…” she murmured, though her thighs were already aching from the short walk from the parking lot.

Danny just smiled, placing a reassuring hand on her lower back. “Come on, babe. It’ll make things easier,” he said, guiding her toward the nearest scooter. She felt a pang of reluctance, but deep down, she knew he was right. Her lipedema had worsened over the past few years, making each step a chore. The mobility scooter was a relief, even if she hated to admit it.

With a resigned sigh, she lowered herself onto the scooter, feeling the seat creak slightly beneath her weight. Her thighs spilled over the sides, pressing against the handlebars, her hips so wide they hung over the edges. She took a moment to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed, before glancing up to see Danny grinning at her.

"Perfect," he said with a wink, giving her a playful tap on her shoulder before leading the way.

Angelina gripped the handles, following Danny through the mall on the scooter, her eyes occasionally drifting to the food court as the warm, sugary smells of Auntie Anne's pretzels wafted toward her. She barely noticed where Danny was guiding her, her mind preoccupied with the thought of buttery, cinnamon-sugar pretzels. Her stomach grumbled again, and she could practically taste them on her tongue.

When they arrived at the Auntie Anne's counter, Danny gestured for her to wait in line as he headed off in the opposite direction. She assumed he ran off to the costume store for the new pig nose.

Left alone, she placed an order almost immediately: three boxes of cinnamon sugar pretzel bites, a large lemonade, and a soft pretzel with cheese dip. She convinced herself that this would be enough to “hold her over” until the party, where she knew there would be more food waiting.

Placing the food in the cart at the front of the scooter, she maneuvered it toward an empty table, careful not to spill anything. As she turned a corner, her wide hips brushed against someone standing nearby. She looked up, her face going red as she recognized Tori, Clara’s best friend, who was standing with Zoe and a few other girls Angelina recognized from past parties.

Tori’s eyes widened for a moment, taking in Angelina’s bulk, the pig ears perched on her head, and the massive tray of pretzels resting on her lap. She barely masked her smirk, her gaze flickering between Angelina and the food she was balancing.

“Wow,” Tori said, her tone sweet but dripping with condescension. Angelina froze, recognizing her, but halted her mumbled apology when she realized who it was. The girls watched her with disgust, offering no acknowledgment. That was when it hit Angelina like a load of bricks…they didn’t even recognize her.

Angelina forced a smile, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks as she awkwardly scooted past them, her hips brushing against Tori’s arm again as she maneuvered around them. She could hear the faint sound of laughter behind her as she settled into her seat, feeling a pang of self-consciousness about the space she was taking up. But the embarrassment quickly faded as she popped a warm, sugary pretzel bite into her mouth, savoring the sweetness.

A few minutes later, Danny returned, a wide grin on his face as he approached with a tray from Panda Express piled high with boxes. Angelina’s eyes widened in shock as he set it down in front of her. There were four boxes and three large drinks. She blinked, taken aback by the sheer amount of food.

"I got you all your favorites," Danny said, his voice full of pride as he opened each box for her. The first small box was filled to the brim with orange chicken, just the way she liked it—sticky, sweet, and fried to perfection. The next three were all large orders: one held Beijing Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, and Chow Mein; another was filled with Broccoli Beef, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, and Fried Rice. The last box was his, filled with String Bean Chicken Breast and white rice.

“All this… for me?” she asked, glancing at him with a mixture of surprise and hesitation. She had just loaded up on Auntie Anne’s, and the sight of all this food made her stomach twist with a mix of hunger and guilt.

Danny’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Of course, babe. We don’t want you going hungry before the party,” he teased, nudging the boxes closer. “And don’t worry, I got your favorite drinks—one Powerade and a Dr. Pepper."

Angelina hesitated for a moment, looking down at the heaping trays of food. She felt a flicker of self-doubt, her mind flashing back to the look on Tori’s face, the laughter from Clara’s friends. But the aroma of the Panda Express was too tempting to resist, and with a resigned sigh, she decided to save her Auntie Anne’s treats for later, reaching for the orange chicken.

“Thanks, Danny,” she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips as she picked up her fork. The first bite melted on her tongue, the sweet, sticky sauce coating her taste buds as she dug in, letting the familiar flavors comfort her. Danny watched her eat, his expression one of pride and satisfaction, as if he’d just given her the best gift in the world.

As she worked her way through the feast in front of her, Danny leaned back, his gaze sweeping over the mall crowd. “So… who do you think will be

 at the party tonight?” he asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

Angelina shrugged, too focused on her food to really care, too busy shoveling a forkful of chow mein into her mouth.

Danny chuckled, reaching over to give her thigh an affectionate squeeze. “That’s my girl,” he murmured, watching as she polished off another box.