It humanizes a moment which most people don’t give much thought to. I always hear so much chatter about fat people like they’re another, lesser species, abstract persons “punished” for abstract crimes. The sort of thing that happens in that story is a constant concern for bigger bodies; imagine living like that. Imagine being talked to by your wife like that. Imagine having to put on a show just to be treated with a little kindness.
Jones’ ending is beautiful, though I had trouble believing it because my center just ain’t as sweet and gooey as Mr. Foster’s. Then again, as Miss Conduct said at the start of this year,
If you think fat people have no self-discipline, consider the fact that they haven’t killed you yet.
Forgiveness, self-discipline. Whichever. I’d have shanked her years ago.
