More of You to Love

This tale takes place in the Kingdom known as Menaginary with a busy man named Terrence. Terrence was a wealthy baker who believed in making people happy no matter what they looked like. He also believed in hard work being ideal with assistance in bringing forth happiness. Terrence had a son named Jason who reminded him so much of his late wife, especially with the body size. As a kid, Jason asked his father about the other kids around who were much slimmer than him.

“Daddy?” Jason would ask his father.

“Yes, Jason?” Terrence answered.

“I’ve tried playing with other kids, but they keep saying I’m inflated or might roll down a hill if I trip. Is there something wrong with me?” the young Jason asked with concern.

Terrence looked over his son. From his hair to his eyes and even to his hands, he could see the woman he fell in love with within his kin. After delicately taking the boy’s small hands into his flour-covered hands, Terrence looked at his son and spoke the words he felt his love was never told enough growing up:

“My child, not a lot of people have the same frame. For some people, it’s easy to control, and for others, it’s tougher. There might be those who aren’t lucky enough to see this, but your frame means that there is more of you to love.”

Jason gave a big enough smile to make his cheeks remind Terrence of apples and the two shared a big hug. No matter how much Terrence made everyone happy with the treats he made and the company he provided, what mattered to him the most every day was that he could make his son happy.

At some point, Jason was able to make a friend named Philip, but Terrence felt worried that they alone couldn’t provide Jason with happiness. As a result, Terrence hoped to find a new love. One day, a young lady in a fancy dress came in with two little girls that were wearing dresses in a similar style. As Terrence spoke to ask the lady and her daughters what they would like to order, he found himself tongue-tied and his cheeks warmed up as his reaction made the lady giggle. As soon as he was done providing the order, Terrence found out the lady’s name was Daeva and her daughters were named Missy and Debby. He also found out that they lived by the kingdom’s creek.

Terrence made sure to keep Jason informed about Daeva, Missy, and Debby and Terrence did the same for the girls. When Terrence arranged for the kids to spend time with each other at his house, Jason felt nervous since he hadn’t had much luck with making friends with anyone that wasn’t Philip, but he made sure his happiness for his father replaced his uncertainties about the girls. When the time came that the kids would spend time together while the adults bonded, Missy and Debby didn’t hesitate to let the young boy know how disgusted they felt upon seeing them. The remarks made the young boy run to his room and cry. He wanted to tell a grownup about what was said, but the only grownup who would listen to seemed to be happy at the thought of spending time with the mother of the bullies, so he just didn’t say anything. The more the grownups spent time together, the more the insults came. The only person Jason told about what was going on was Philip and he offered as much support as a kid could. Although Jason expressed his fears about telling his father about what was going on, that didn’t stop Philip from reminding Jason that he was loved no matter what.

Before long, the two families merged into one and Jason felt a combination of dread and happiness for his father. The happiness didn’t stay for too long, however. One evening, Terrence experienced symptoms of a severe illness that made him feel like he was falling apart from the inside out. During the last time the rest of the family was by Terrence’s bedside, he weakly expressed his last words to Jason.

“Jason...I love you...so much...your frame...means there’s more of you...to love...”

As soon as Terrence took his last breath, Jason cried from the events felt a strike to the back of his head followed by the strong feminine voice of Daeva say “Quit crying, you, plum!” He looked towards Daeva and fear grew in his eyes as he ran with the knowledge that he truly was alone in the house without his father present. Pretty soon, the family had to sell the bakery since Daeva didn’t wish to get her hands dirty from any of the ingredients.

For many years afterwards, Daeva spent the money earned by Terrence and selling the bakery on treats and gifts for herself and her daughters. However when the money was running out, she offered Jason’s services as a servant for others. Not only was Jason constantly reminded of how much he was hated due to his size, but he couldn’t even feel proud of his hard work due to Daeva snatching the money he earned out of his hip whenever he came home. It even reached the point where he didn’t feel anything no matter what accomplishment he had made. During his time at home, he would even willingly do housework just so he wouldn’t be around the insults that were constantly thrown at him, something the females of the house were more than eager to take for granted. He still had his friend, Philip, as well, who made sure Jason had a place to eat and sleep or even pretend he had a proper family whenever things felt unsafe for him at home. When there were times where Philip had to come for Jason instead, they would meet up by a tree behind the house that made Jason forget the rest of the world and think. Most of the time, he would think about the idea that, even though not a lot of people liked him, he was just glad there were at least a few people in his life that he trusted.