You go along with it... for now

"It's all right, Fred." you say soothingly, "I'll give you a hand." He slumps in relief, and presently falls into a doze. Figuring he must be tired from hauling his bulk up all those stairs, you let him nap.

After a couple of hours, you start to feel peckish yourself. Thinking wistfully of those steaks, you amble into the kitchen for some sustenance. You come across a bag of unpopped popcorn. Popcorn! That'd fill Fred up even if nothing else would. In your heart, you dismiss the curse as too unlikey, an excuse. You go back to the sofa and gently shake Fred's meaty shoulder. His eyes snap open. "Uh, like some popcorn, pal?"

"Popcorn." he repeats, looking like he's entered heaven. "Please!"

When it's done, you automatically reach for the salt before you remember; no extra salt! And definately no butter! You decide that, in Fred's condition, he doesn't need it either. You plonk a large dish in front of him and cheerfully comment "Chow down, hound. That'll fill you up for sure!"

Fred groans, "I told you, I'm never full." Suspicion clouds his face. "You believe me, right?" You sigh. "It's kind of hard to swallow."

"But you've got to!" whimpers Fred, "No-one else would!" He looks close to tears. You look into his eyes, trying to see a lie, but there's only panic. "And I need to find that alligator!"

That brings you up short. "Alligator?"

"As she was leaving, that woman said 'When you be sorry, look me up in Puerto Gordo. Your 'gator friend, he knows it.'" He morosely swallows a mouthful of popcorn, and grimaces. "Ugh! No salt or butter?" He continues. "I don't even know any alligators!"

Whilst apologising for the plain 'corn, you hear the door bang ... and in breezes Albert!

Written by Lupine (edited by wanderer)

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