Charlton Hunger

Charlton Hunger was waiting for me when I got home yesterday..

He looked me up and down, whistled and said in his deep voice, “We’ve had this date a long time coming.”

I turned away but he knew I was raw cookie dough in his hands. He smoothed back his perfectly coiffed hair, straightened the lapels of his tuxedo and laughed.  Looking at me tenderly, he said, “It’s not like I’m holding a rifle to your head and forcing you to eat.”

I thrust a chair between us. He straddled the chair and pulled me closer. Slowly, he rose and whispered in my ear. As his tender lips grazed mine, I inhaled the delicious smells of my favourite forbidden foods.

I shoved him away. “Please stop. These foods are not for me.”

When his strong arms clutched me, I trembled against the force of his embrace and was lost in the delicate kiss of those foods. I gasped and said, “You’re not playing fair.”

He cocked his eyebrow and ran one finger across my chin. “I never play fair. My first name says it all but remember by middle name.”

I stammered, “Cheet.”

He leaned forward, caressed my lower lip and I opened my mouth, shamelessly, like a wonton dumpling. My breath quickened and my tongue grazed something in my mouth, warm, sweet and tempting.

“More,” I said, “please, don’t stop. That little taste was a tease.”

Charlton Hunger walked behind me and I leaned against his body. His sweet nuzzling made my lips pout for more. “Yes,” he said, “let me support you. I can help you.”

I tore away from him. “No,” I screamed, “you’ll hurt me. I feel disgusted with myself afterwards.”

His strong hands massaged my tired shoulders. “Shh, it’s me. We’ve been together a long time. We first met when your father forbade you candy.”

“And you said it was okay. I liked being with you.”

He nodded with a satisfied grin.

“But I’m not a child any more. Look what being with you has done to me.”

“Now Vicki, don’t be so hard on yourself. You know you enjoy it.”

I blushed. He pressed his advantage. “Your brilliance created me. I’m your rebel lover.”

“No,” I said, “I’m not a rebel.”

“Vicki, your eating is your rebellion.”

I hung my head. Gently, he pulled my chin up and said, “I care about you. I want to help you.”

My voice said, “I can’t. I’ve worked so hard.” but my mouth sought his, wanting more. My Lips, my tongue, and my throat urged for more. I inhaled, surprised by the tantalizing aroma. I asked, “Charlton, are you wearing chocolate aftershave?”

“The better to tempt you my dear.”

His words were like a splash of cold water. “Charlton, what we had was wonderful but I moved on. I need healthy food.”

He smirked. “Forgive me, I have been foolish. Would you like an apple?”

“You’re tempting me with an apple?”

“Vicki, don’t be paranoid. Think, easy as apple pie, Johnny Appleseed, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

“I feel like the pig being stuffed with the apple before roasting.”

“Vicki, keep your metaphors straight. The cyber bully needs you as a sacrificial lamb. You’re the apple of my eye.”

Charlton Hunger was so strong. I needed his strength. I asked, “Do you love me?”

His laugh was gritty. “No one says I love you in a fairy tale. They feed each other. Take my gift.”

I opened my mouth and bit, into a candy apple. Once again, Charlton Hunger ambushed me. I glared at him. “You tricked me.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “What did you expect?”

“But you knew I was tired, lonely and hungry.”

He wriggled his hips. “Vicki, you know I only come when you call me.”

“So it’s my fault.”

He sighed. “Don’t be hard on yourself.”

I spun around, looked at him directly and said, “I don’t want you around.”

He looked insulted but asked, “What do you want?”

“I don’t want to be hungry. I want to get beyond the fat door.”

He jerked his thumb in my direction. “Is that what you really want?”

I nodded.

In a puff of smoke his last words were, “Then I can’t help you.”