Tim pushed the table slightly forward to free himself from the booth, his massive belly straining against the limits of his shirt. The 450-pound man had been at the buffet for hours, and the sight of so much food had sent him into a frenzy. He was a regular here but tonight the food just seemed to hit right.
As he waddled up to the three rows of endless amounts of food, his eyes scanned the myriad of dishes as if he had just walked in. Each time he managed to make it to the bar was like coming home over and over again.
A small family who sat only a few feet away looked at him in disgust. He had gotten six plates of food just in the hour they had been there. The man of the family shook his head as he placed a tip on the table and guided his family towards the front door.
Tim stood at the buffet table, his hefty frame looming over the endless trays of food, his plate already stacked high yet far from full in his mind. At 5'9", his pale skin seemed to glisten slightly under the overhead lights, his thick arms working with mechanical precision as he shoveled portion after portion onto his plate before grabbing another. His black curly hair was a tangled mop, and a dusting of dark stubble framed his round, flushed face. He was in his element.
Sitting a full plate at the edge of the buffet he grabbed a second dish. As he scooped an obscene mound of mashed potatoes onto one side of his plate, letting the thick, buttery dollop ooze over the edges. Next, he heaped on slices of roast beef, barely bothering to stack them neatly, their juices seeping into the potato mountain. A nearby serving spoon digs deep into a tray of macaroni and cheese, and he doesn't hesitate to pile on a portion so large it nearly topples. Cornbread follows, then fried chicken--two, no, three pieces, golden brown and glistening with oil.
As he made his way back through the tables he moaned against the pressure against his body and joints. He could hear the murmurs around him grow louder, whispers weaving through the hum of the buffet. A woman in a floral blouse nudged her friend, her nose wrinkling as she watched gravy spill over the edge of Tim's plates.
"That's just... obscene," she muttered, shaking her head.
A man in a business suit, holding a modest plate with a single chicken breast and a small scoop of greens, sneered in Tim's direction. "No wonder they have to refill the trays so often."
Tim was used to the attention. As he squeezed himself into the small booth where he had been sat his fat adjusted and mounded over the edge of the table almost colliding with his two new plates of food. Only a few inches away sat the two plates he had finished only moments prior.
As Tim settled into his booth, his overloaded plate barely fitting on the table, he took a deep breath before digging in. The first bite of buttery mashed potatoes melts on his tongue, the rich gravy soaking into the soft, fluffy texture. He sighed in satisfaction, ignoring the lingering glances from the other patrons.
A moment later, Philip, the owner of the buffet, strolled over with an easy smile. A thin man in his fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and a well-worn apron, he balances a fresh soda in one hand while expertly clearing Tim's empty plates with the other.
"Looks like you're enjoying yourself, Tim," Philip chuckled, placing the new drink down with a friendly nod. "Good to see someone appreciating the food. But of course, you always do."
Tim wiped his mouth with a napkin and grinned, reaching for his soda. "Best damn buffet in town," he said with a cheeky grin.
Philip patted the table with a satisfied nod. "That's what I like to hear."
Philip lingered for a moment, eyes subtly roaming over Tim's massive frame. The soft swell of Tim's belly pressed over the table, his thick arms moving with practiced ease as he ate. His black curls were slightly damp from the heat of the buffet. Philip watched the way Tim's broad shoulders shifted, the way his heavy chest rose and fell with each deep breath. Something about the sheer size, and his unapologetic presence, was captivating. Philip swallowed, forcing a casual smile. "Need anything else?"
"Not just yet..." He replied.
~~~
As the evening drew on, the buffet began to empty, patrons trickled out one by one as the night settled in. Tim, still contentedly eating, didn't seem to notice the dwindling crowd. He focused on his plate, working through the remnants of mashed potatoes and fried chicken, when Philip returned a few moments later, clearing the last of the dishes.
Philip glanced at the nearly empty plate and smiled, an excited gleam in his eyes. "I've restocked some of your favorites," he said, his voice light, almost teasing. "The roast beef, the mac and cheese--had to make sure they were fresh for you."
Tim's eyes brighten, his fork pausing mid-air. "Still hungry," he admits eagerly, leaning forward in his seat as best he could but the fat made him almost immobile. "You really do know how to keep a guy fed!"
Philip chuckled softly, glancing toward the buffet. "I know it's a hassle for you to keep getting up and walking back there. How about I pull a chair right up to the side of the buffet? You can sit back, and relax. No more walking."
Tim's eyes widened, "What about the other guests." The larger man looked over the buffet. A few stragglers were finishing off their evening meals.
"It's almost closing time." Philip shook his hand through the air, "But don't worry, you don't need to be in any hurry."
The owner gently guided Tim toward the buffet, his steps slow and deliberate, the sounds of his heavy footsteps reverberated in the quiet hall. Tim waddled slightly behind, his massive frame shifting with each movement. Philip watched him, a knowing smile crept onto his lips as Tim reached the buffet, slightly out of breath. Even in his exhaustion, Tim's eyes already scanned the fresh trays of food.
Philip stepped aside and pulled a sturdy chair right up to the edge of the buffet, its legs scraping loudly against the floor as Tim sunk into it with a relieved grunt. The weight of his body caused the chair to creak ominously, but it held steady. Tim leaned back, making himself comfortable as he glanced around, still hungry. He had never been given such service before.
"All set?" Philip asked, grinning as he watched Tim adjust himself.
Tim looked around briefly, then suddenly froze. "Oh--uh, I forgot my silverware back at the table."
