In the year 3000, nearly everyone is obese. Fashion shoots flaunt models with titanic bellies. Meals are massive. Hovering chairs and cars mean that very few people move. In this world, fat is considered sexy. Only a small subset of the population is thin, and Alex is among them. She does not like it.
Alex woke up and grabbed her clothes she set out the night before. As always, she hated the small size. Whereas most of her friends in high school wore 10XXXL’s, her clothes were so small they could fit inside her friend’s legs. Her pants were so small in the waist that a flea could fit in them. They were so small that they had to be tailored to her frame. As did her shirts. And bras. And pretty much everything else. No normal sizes fit her. And it was all because of her parents, restricting the amount of food she could eat. It was because of her parents she was the size she was. If only I was allowed to eat more food, then I would be the size of my friends, and less abused, Alex thought. Because of her weight, she was the target of constant bullying at school. Everyone called her stick. My problems are to be solved. Alex comforted herself.
Getting into a temporary hoverchair, Alex went to the solution to her problems. The Bureau of Employment. There she was to receive an official ID, an upgraded hoverchair, and a job. In short, she would become an adult. At last I can break free of my parent’s grip, she thought. Turning into the building, she floated to the receptionist’s desk and spoke. “My name is Alex Mathers. I have appointments for hoverchair sizing, ID, and at the job office,” she said. The receptionist looked at her “Oh yes. Second, third, and ninth floors respectively” she said, turning her hoverchair in the direction of the elevator. “thanks,” Alex muttered, floating in that direction. She got into the elevator and pushed the button for the second floor. As she traveled, she could only think about how small she was.
The hoverchair designer shouted “You so thin!” when he saw Alex. Alex responded “I know,” in a shameful tone. “Please. I beg you. Give me my hoverchair so I can grow,” she continued. The designer then pulled out a tablet full of specs, selected some, and a moment later a hoverchair popped out from a rapid 3-D printer. Alex marveled at its size, as it was designed to fit up to a half ton human. The automated feeding hands were just as she imagined them. The seat seemed extremely comfortable, and as she sat in it a moment later, her suspicions were confirmed. “Let me know if you outgrow it,” the designer said. “I plan too,” Alex responded as she floated away rubbing her stomach, contemplating her new lack of limitations and what they would do to her figure.
Alex then went to the ID center on the third floor to receive her official, adult, ID. After the initial shock of the clerk at her size, the ID assignment was normal. She was asked to hover in front of a screen and the clerk had the camera adjust so as to focus on the head and shoulders. It then took a picture and the ID was printed and handed to her. Once again, Alex floated away, only this time to get a job.
At the job assignment office, she had the by now expected exchange with the secretary and laid back in her hoverchair. She was sweating profusely, as this was the defining moment of her life. If there was an employer willing to take a girl as thin as her, then she would be given a company house and could gain weight. If there was not, then she would return to her parents and not gain a pound. I have been waiting for many hours now. Maybe I should leave. Alex thought. Just as she turned to leave, having given up all hope, she heard a shout. “Alex Mathers. The job director will see you now.” Alex sighed internally. I may not be hopeless after all, she thought, turning towards the job office again and going into the job director’s office. Despite her newfound confidence, she could not help but perceive the sound of the door shutting behind her as ominous.
The job director’s office was voluminous. 20 meters back, a giant hoverdesk was lit by natural light from behind. Curtained windows along the length immersed the rest of the room in darkness. The job director was looking at the outside through the window. “Alex. Come in,” he said. As Alex floated slowly towards the director, he had already begun speaking. “As both you and I know, your performance thus far has been admirable. You have achieved perfect scores on all your standardized tests. You have a 4.5 GPA in tough classes. In fact, you are an impeccable student and employee. There is just one problem…” “my weight.” Alex interrupted. “Why yes,” the director responded, “Why are you so thin,” he continued. The tears began coursing down Alex’s cheeks. “It is my parents. They restricted my food intake. They restricted it so much that while every other girl waddled by the end of preschool, I could not, no matter how hard I tried.” She sobbed. “You poor child,” the director said. “Let me guess already. I did not get a job,” Alex sobbed. “You did, though.” The director said. Alex interrupted yet again. “I bet it is a horrible job, though,” she sobbed. “You have gotten the best job for your skills. You are now a machine programmer at Gainers Central HQ,” the director stated. Alex sank back into her hoverchair in awe. Immediately, her thoughts became chaotic. Gainers Central. The reverse anorexia company. And I will be working on their feeding machines. Yes! Alex thought. “When should I report for work?” Alex inquired. The director shouted, “They’re so excited to have you they want you right now!” “Tell the man I’ll see him soon!” Alex shouted. She then turned and rocketed down the halls in her hoverchair, exhilarated at her newfound speed. She burst out the door of the jobs office and rocketed down the street. She turned left. Then right. Then right again. Then left, her hands moving the controls of the hoverchair so fast it seemed as though they were guided by muscle memory alone. It should be around this corner. Alex thought. It was not there. Okay. Maybe the next. not there either. Now Alex was getting concerned. I’ll give it one more corner before I begin to freak out, she thought. She turned the last corner, and there was Gainers Central.
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