“The Lesson Plan” (An ONA: The Tutor Prequel) (Patreon)

(Nota Bene: Happy Halloween!  Here's the second prequel vignette for our latest weight-gain adventure game, One Night Adventure: The Tutor.  This scene takes place in the months prior to the in-game action, expands on its occurrences, and alludes to other tales from the "Maverick-verse."  Enjoy!)

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Shelby Jackson stared at the pink rubber ball in her lap.  “Do you really think this will work?”

Across the room, Mary Ellen White, a pale blonde with an accurate surname, struck a match along the side of a matchbox.  "Yes," she said, lighting the first of three pillar candles lining the sill of the room's sole window like sentry guards.

Shelby's legs began to bounce up and down.  It was a nervous habit she’d developed and the closest thing to a workout she’d had in months.  “Where did you get this anyway?”  Shelby asked, her eyes following the bouncing ball as it trampolined against the taut denim of her miniskirt.  The thin elastic band stapled to it made it look like a mouse on a hot plate.

“From my little brother’s paddleboard.”

“That doesn’t seem very official.”

“Sorry."  Mary Ellen drew the curtains, darkening the room save for the three freshly lit candles.  "My pocket watch is in the shop.”

“But you’ve done this before?”

Mary Ellen carried two of the candles to a dresser by the bed where Shelby was sitting.  “I helped my dad quit smoking last year.”

“I guess I just assumed you’d have the necessary tools.  You wouldn’t perform an exorcism with tap water.”

Mary Ellen sat in a wooden chair facing her fidgety friend.  “This isn’t an exorcism,” she said, smiling politely.

“Maybe I need one.  I think I have some demons that need exorcising.”

“They’re not the only ones,” Mary Ellen thought, noticing how Shelby’s thick calves jiggled like Jell-O to the incessant twitch of her legs.  “You don’t need an exorcism,” she said, snatching the ball mid-bounce.  “And this will work fine.”

“I’m sorry."  Shelby put her hands on her knees and forced her feet to the floor.  "I guess I'm just nervous.”

“There's no reason to be nervous.”

"Then why are you wearing that creepy robe?"

"It's part of my Halloween costume." Mary Ellen stood up and did a quick spin.  "Like it?  I'm going as a witch this year."

Shelby nodded, suddenly jealous of the way the oversized black cloak draped off the frame of her string-bean buddy.

"I thought it would help set the mood," Mary Ellen said, returning to her seat.  "Are you dressing up?"

"I don't know.  Maybe I'll go as a blimp."

"Stop it!  You don’t look any bigger than you did at tennis camp.”

“Thanks to this.”  Shelby lifted her shirt to show the shapewear that held her nascent potbelly behind her belt.  She pinched the springy fabric between her thumb and forefinger, pulled it away from her skin, and released it with a snap.

Mary Ellen's eyes widened. "Where’d you get that?"

"My mother gave it to me when she noticed I’d gained weight."

"Your mother?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"That’s messed up."

"I know, right?"

"If it's any consolation, I'd kill for your figure."

"Great," Shelby said, rolling her eyes. "You can start with my mom."

Mary Ellen leaned forward in her chair.  “We don’t have to do this," she whispered.   "My mom baked a peach cobbler.  Why don't we go downstairs and eat away our troubles?”

“No!  I’ve done enough of that already."  Shelby sat up straight and nodded at Mary Ellen.  "Let’s do this!”

Mary Ellen gave a terse nod of her own and dangled the rubber ball eye-level with Shelby.  As it swung from the elastic band, Mary Ellen spoke slowly, “Relax and watch the pendulum.  Notice it move as you breathe.  With every exhale, your cares and worries are expelled.  Your eyelids are getting heavy—"

“Great.  Even my eyelids are gaining weight.”

“Forget it.”  Mary Ellen tossed the ball aside, sending it rolling beneath the bed.  “If you don't take this seriously, then it’s never going to work."

“I’m sorry!  It’s just hard to concentrate with balls swinging in my face.  I’ll try harder.  I promise.”

Mary Ellen sighed.  “Let’s try something different.  Close your eyes.”

Shelby did as she was told, sitting up straight and clasping her hands in her lap.

“Breath deeply.  In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

Shelby obliged.  Her healthy chest expanded.

“Swell,” Mary Ellen said, noticing that of her friend.  “Clear your mind.  Now picture a staircase leading down.  It’s beautiful.  Oak steps and an ornate banister.  You can’t see what's at the bottom, but you want to.  Place your hand on the banister.  Feel its polish.  Its smoothness.  Let’s walk down together.  One step at a time.  Deeply relaxed.  Deeply comfortable.  Down to a deeper level of the mind, letting go of any worries or concerns.  Deeper.  Deeper."

Shelby's shoulders slumped and her tense face went slack.  Her bottom lip pulled away from the top, revealing perfect teeth that radiated white despite the candlelight.

"3...2...1.  You reach the bottom.  The stairs fade away.  You're in a room with a thick carpet that feels nice on your feet.  There's a solid oak door in front of you.  Behind it is your special place.  A place where you're safe and comfortable.  In your hand is the key.  Feel its coolness in your palm.  Insert the key.  Open the door.  Now close it gently behind you.  This is your safe room.  Nothing bad can happen to you here."

Mary Ellen leaned forward and blew a stray hair from Shelby's alabaster cheek.  There was no reaction.  Her friend was a lump of clay ready for molding.

"At the room's center is a beautiful full-length mirror with a gold Deco frame.  Standing before it, your reflection is slender and healthy.  Slim waist.  Narrow hips.  Firm toned stomach.  Pert breasts.  Defined shoulders.  This is the version of yourself you want."

Shelby's fingers twitched in her lap and a tiny smile formed at the corners of her mouth.

"But not here.  Not in your safe space.  You notice the reflection is changing.  Your stomach swells out of your clothes.  Bigger.  Bigger.  Until it's free from the constriction of your shapewear.  Free from the constrictions of your life.  It feels good.  Your breasts begin to sag, swinging back and forth like the pendulum with the extra weight.  A second chin grows.  Now a third.  This is the new you.  This is the pot-bellied pig you always wanted to be."

Shelby's luscious lips smacked together and her tongue darted across her lips.

"Your appetite is increasing.  You will begin to eat larger and larger portions.  More and more between-meal snacks.  Everything you eat swells your body a little bit more.  Each bite brings you closer to becoming the fat person you always wanted to be.  You enjoy being lazy.  No studying.  No sports.  No exercise.  All your energy will go into eating your way to morbid obesity."

Drool dripped from Shelby's mouth and dribbled down her chin, slowly making its way to the double that had formed beneath her slack jaw.

"It's time to say goodbye to your future self for the time being, but don't be sad.  It won't be for long.  As you ascend the steps from your safe room, remember how good you feel, and the changes that need to happen for this feeling to become permanent.  You're eager to begin your journey.  Just a few more steps now.  When you reach the top you'll feel refreshed as if you splashed your face with cold spring water.  3...2...1.

Mary Ellen snapped her fingers and Shelby's face returned to life.  Her mouth closed and her green eyes flit open.

"How do you feel?"

"Wonderful."

"Good," Mary Ellen said, patting her friend's knee.  "You did great."

Shelby rubbed her face and was surprised to find her chin wet.  "You didn't make me cluck like a chicken, did you?" she asked, wiping the wetness with the back of her hand.

"I'll send you the TikTok."

"Ha, ha," Shelby chuckled.

Mary Ellen stood and began the process of returning her room to normal, blowing out the candles and opening the curtains.

Shelby winced at the sudden flood of light.  "What now?"

"That's it.  We're done.  Ready for pie?"

Shelby's stomach answered for her, emitting a loud growl of approval.  "Wait," she said, covering her belly with her hand.  "Why are you pushing pie on me?"

"This isn't magic Shelby.  You still have to eat.  It's all about perspective.  That's where the hypnosis helps.”

"So, nothing’s changed but my perspective?”

Mary Ellen smiled slyly. “For now.”

“Let’s eat then,” Shelby said, slapping her knees and rising to her feet. “At least the cobbler has fruit in it, right?”

“The last peaches of the season. Plump and juicy.”

“Good. They’ll be overripe in a few weeks.”

Mary Ellen studied her friend. “Yes, they will be.” Then she placed a hand on her back and guided her toward the door. “We have ice cream, too.”

“Yum! We should hang out more.”

“Yes, we should.”

Later that afternoon, as Shelby polished off her pie, thoughts of hanging out with the ravenous redhead preoccupied Mary Ellen. Specifically, it was the thought of Shelby hanging out with her. Hanging out of dresses. Hanging out of jeans. Hanging out of swimsuits.

“Ready for seconds, Shelby?”