Mary McCue leaned into the shopping cart br for a romance novel br and the fat on her arms jiggled br with forty years of loneliness br squashing the three hundred pounds br against her heart. br Just then Huey called out “Mash ready” br and I heaved the triple portion of potatoes to Mary br who handed me a dollar for Huey br all she could manage at the end of the month br until the Welfare check showed up br yet she needed bulk for her belly br thus the heavenly starch. br Before she dug in br Mary poured a half cup of sugar onto her feast. br “I can’t afford cake, Bernstein, ” she said br as I stared, though not wanting to. br Just then Candy, Sugar, and Jasmine br strolled in, the night now formerly finished br with the presence of the local ladies. br Mary watched br their gorgeous and graceful forms br float to the table. br Pockets stuffed with cash br they ordered bacon, eggs, homefries, toast, br pancakes, apple pie, coffee, and orange juice br to show they could br but never consumed the entire fare br and when finished br placed the nearly full plates br before Mary br who smiled br eyes alive with adoration br the gift of dreams.