Burger

© I-am-a-muffin

Sunlight streamed though the windows and focused at the burger on the kitchen table. To any other people this burger was, well, simply just another burger; a fast food to be consumed in perhaps 10 minutes. However to Gabrielle, this burger was THE burger - the epitome of perfection, god of food, key to her survival and a forbidden fruit for the time being. Her eyes glazed over as she stared mouth wide open at the layers and layers of beef patties and the not so delectable lettuce while the heat from the melting cheese fogged up her glasses. If staring alone was enough to make her drool, she couldn't bear to imagine what the burger would taste like in her mouth. Simply tantalizing indeed.

Her motto in life was to live by the burger. Nothing could separate Gabrielle from it. She remembered clearly, about a decade ago at the age of 5, she had her first taste of burger at the newly opened McDonald's branch down the street. Everything was still in her memory, from the way the cheese melted slowly in her mouth to the juice the beef patties squirted out each time she bit into it. She always left out the lettuce and pickles for vegetables were her numero uno enemy. But it was heaven to slowly savor every bite of her burger. Gabrielle craved more and more and ate until she became addicted. Every flavor was tried and every flavor she liked. But alas, as fate would have it, her weight issues were enough to stop her parents from doting too much on their only daughter any longer. They finally put her on a strict regime of exercise and diet. The memories of that day came flooding back.

"Gabrielle dear, you will have to stop eating burgers and start appreciating your vegetables. No more milkshakes from now on too honey." Gabrielle's mother said sweetly. Gabrielle pouted and folded her arms across her chest and whined.

"NO way José! Burgers are my friends and they wouldn't tease me for being fat. They were the only ones that stayed with me whenever I felt lonely or hungry. You can't just take them away like that!" She protested like a 3-year-old.

"But honey," her mother continued "you HAVE to stop. If you would at least exercise or cut down on these fatty foods, maybe you will find more friends. I'm worried about your health too. The doctor said your risk of getting stroke is really high and things will get worse as you grow older! Listen to me honey; mummy has your best interests at heart."

"NO!" shouted Gabrielle as she flung her hands in all directions raving like lunatic. "NO NO NO NO NO!"

"STOP IT!" Her father bellowed. He had enough of this nonsense and wanted to bring it to an end. "With friends like these who needs enemies? Nobody would want to talk to a girl so possessive and obsessed with burgers! Act your age and grow up Gabrielle! From now on no more red meats and more exercises! I will put you in a fat camp if you do not listen to me you understand!"

Sobbing silently, Gabrielle stomped upstairs to her bedroom and banged the door shut. Ever since that day, her parents had consulted a nutritionist and got hold of a plan for Gabrielle's daily intake of calories, proteins, sugars, calcium and carbohydrates. Gabrielle almost fainted from looking at the list. Every meal was vegetables and it seemed like every day had at least 2 hours of exercise incorporated. This was an utter nightmare for the 15-year-old who couldn't even tell a sit up from a crunch.

Now it was a month later and the diet was taking good effect. Gabrielle had successfully slimmed down from a whooping 165 pounds to the 140-150 range. She was making more friends as well, but it seemed she had not completely forgotten about the joys of a burger. Today she had woken up early, jogged to McDonald's and without realizing it bought a hamburger.

Her hands itched to reach it but she held herself back. She could only remember rushing to the kitchen after returning home and throwing the burger on the table. The inner demon wanted to annoy her parents for forcing her into this horrible diet and she wanted to relive the happiness of tasting burgers. Yet, the angel felt her diet was going well and she might even get to wear that nice sundress by the summer holidays if she persevered. To eat or not to eat, that is the question. Apparently, she was not getting an answer. If she ate the burger, she might not be able to stop eating and go back to her fat days. But if she doesn't, she feels unhappy and unsatisfied.

"When there's a will, there's a way." She said. 'I must be mad; I'm actually quoting from a play." She paused and stared at the burger again. "I MUST be mad. I'm talking to myself!" When she finished her sentence, a kaleidoscope of burgers swam across her eyes, sparkling and glistening. They swirled around her for a moment and called out her name, urging her to eat them with monotonous chants of "come eat me".

Gabrielle danced around with the burgers and clutched her stomach. She softly patted it and licked her lips. With every chant the burgers cried out, she moved closer towards the table. Finally she reached out and tried to grab it, her pudgy fingers just millimeters away from the burger. Slowly, she leaned forward, her eyes a murderous look. She touched the skin of the bun and felt the indents made by the sesame seeds that rolled off. The burger was in her hands now.

"Gabrielle you are up early today." A voice shocked her into reality and quick as a squirrel, hid the burger behind her back.

"Mother? Good morning." She croaked out. Gabrielle's mother smiled and said.

"To reward you for sticking to the diet, your father and I are bringing you to McDonald's today! Why don't you go and change first?"

Gabrielle looked guiltily at her mother and replied. "Sure thing. Let me get rid of some rubbish first." With that, she skipped to the rubbish chute and threw down the mini hamburger. Now she need not feel guilty about eating a burger and still get to enjoy it. Merrily, she hopped upstairs to her bedroom and grinned. Life is good, her best friend is back.