Summary

As this story begins, we meet Louise. We immediately learn that a boy kissed her at the age of sixteen, and that her father kisses her often as well.

We then learn that at the age of nine, Louise's mother began admonishing her to watch what she ate. Her mother is described as a slim, pretty woman who eats very little. Despite her mother's warnings that boys are not interested in fat girls, Louise sneaks extra food to supplement the sparse meals she was served. Louise's father, on the other hand, feels as though Louise should be able to eat whatever she pleases.

Louise often goes to the movies with her two friends, Joan and Marjorie, and wonders why the fat actresses are fat. She wonders if they failed at dieting or if they simply chose to be fat. In the...