30 Chapter 30: Soul Mates, Part 4

Melvin did not move. The Sunday Hills Reader had printed an insert about the modern obesity epidemic. It featured a close-up of Denise Jacobs straining the seams of her purple spandex as she jiggled on a stationary bike. The article praised all the people of Pleasant Hills who struggled with their weight, saying how wonderful it was that they never gave up. By Sunday evening, Denise had plopped her not-quite-aerobicized ass down in front of the television with a bucket of cookie dough. For all Melvin knew, she was still there. Yes, he thought, feeling that wonderful tug at his insides, she was.

"Figure out what, sir?" he asked.