Sally stretched sleepily, her round belly peeking out from beneath her favorite sky-blue tank top. She glanced at the empty water bottles on her desk, remembering how thirsty she’d been the night before. As she sat up, she couldn’t help but notice her belly looked even bigger than yesterday, soft and plump against her knees.
Sally waddled into the kitchen, feeling the weight of her belly sway gently with each step. She grabbed another bottle of water, her lips parched, and took several long gulps. Her mother glanced over, eyebrows raised, as Sally finished the bottle in record time.
"Do you think it's normal to feel this thirsty all the time?"
Her mother smiled, brushing crumbs from the table.
"Maybe you're just growing, sweetheart. Drink as much as you need."
Sally maneuvered through the throngs of students, her belly leading the way. She could feel curious glances, and a few whispers, but she kept her chin up. Her best friend, Tara, jogged up, eyes wide in amazement at Sally's expanded belly.
"Girl, did you eat a whole watermelon for breakfast?"
Sally laughed, shaking her head.
"Nope, just drank like a gallon of water. I think I'm turning into a water balloon!"
The teacher announced a unit on human biology, prompting Sally to raise her hand, her curiosity piqued.
"Can drinking too much water make your stomach actually expand?"
The teacher nodded thoughtfully, explaining how the body processes water, and the effects of hydration. The class listened intently as Sally poked her belly, imagining the water swirling inside.
Sally and Tara sprawled out on a picnic blanket, passing a giant jug of water between them. Sally's belly gleamed in the sunlight, looking even rounder than before. She giggled as she tapped it, feeling the coolness inside.
"I wonder if I'll float away if I drink any more," she joked, causing Tara to burst into laughter.
"You're practically a water queen now!"
Sally lay back on her bed, hands resting atop her huge, water-filled belly. She felt peaceful, her thirst satisfied and her worries drifting away. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered what new adventures tomorrow might bring, her belly a gentle reminder of her curious, growing self.
