Sally sat on the couch, her cheeks flushed with excitement and a hint of self-consciousness as she adjusted her shirt over her very chubby belly. Across from her stood Maya, her best friend, whose own belly was even rounder, stretching her party dress in cheerful defiance. The air was thick with anticipation as Maya handed over a box wrapped in shimmering silver paper.
"Happy birthday, Sally! I promise you’ve never gotten a present like this."
Sally[/@ch_1] peels it away. The room hushes, the sounds of the party fading as attention focuses on the mysterious present. A small, ornate device with swirling engravings sits nestled in velvet.]
Sally turned the device over in her hands, confusion flickering across her face.
"It’s called the Equalizer," Maya explained with a grin. "It can transfer body fat from one person to another. I thought… maybe we could try it?"
"Are you serious? That sounds wild!"
Maya[/@ch_2] fiddles with the Equalizer. A gentle glow envelops both girls, and the air hums with magic. As the light fades, the changes become apparent—Sally's belly grows rounder and softer, her shirt riding higher, while Maya slims down dramatically, her dress now hanging loosely.]
Sally stared at her reflection in the window, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"Whoa! I feel so light! This is amazing!" Maya twirled, laughing, her hands gliding over her flat stomach.
"And I… I can’t believe how much chubbier I am now," Sally murmured, both embarrassed and strangely amused.
Maya[/@ch_2], sporting her new slim figure in a bright swimsuit, lounges confidently by the water. Sally sits nearby, her towel wrapped tightly around her.]
"This is the best I’ve ever felt! No one’s ever looked at me like this before."
"I guess I just need to get used to my new look," Sally replied, forcing a smile.
Maya[/@ch_2]'s bedroom. She sits on her bed, fiddling with the Equalizer, her face troubled. The room is quiet except for the sound of her sigh.]
"Sally, I miss how I used to be. I thought being skinny would make me happy, but I just don’t feel like myself," Maya confessed the next day at school.
"But I finally got used to this," Sally protested, crossing her arms. "I don’t want to switch back."
"What if we share it? Not all yours, not all mine—just enough for both of us to feel comfortable," Maya suggested, holding out the Equalizer.
"Deal. Friends share everything, even their chubby bellies," Sally replied with a grin.
With a gentle glow, the Equalizer balanced the scales, leaving both girls happy and more accepting of themselves—and each other—than ever before.
