My grandma decided she'd had more than enough, so she made me carry a young piglet around.  To school, to church, to the store: wherever I went, Porky had to go with me.  Of course, I got into more trouble for the noise or "happy accidents" that Porky caused, but then when grandma explained why I was carrying a pig, then they left me alone or sniggered behind their backs.  I could see them and hear them laughing, if not out loud, they were also laughing with their faces and eyes.

It was beyond humiliating.

Now I am working on an essay for Sociology Class.  I have to write a paper about the experiences I went through while carrying Porky around and how it's changed me.  Maybe it has changed me because I haven't had the urge to make fat jokes or laugh at someone who was bigger than me, like I used to do before Porky entered the picture.

I have to turn the essay in when we get back from Thanksgiving break next Monday.  I'm off this week, and grandma is not letting me forget about Porky.  She's plastered pictures of the annoying pink pig all over my bedroom walls, and she also leaves Post-it notes with quotes such as "Never judge a book by its cover" or "Remember why you had Porky in the first place!"  No matter what I do or say, somehow Porky has to be brought up, and it's getting to the point if I ever see him again, I just might turn him into a pile of bacon!

I also get embarrassed when I look at fat people because all they do is remind me of the punishment I had to endure.  I suddenly realize it is not nice to make digs at them or paint assumptions upon their lives.  A lot of people are fat because of poor habits, or lack of exercise, but a lot of fat people are fat because of genetic makeup, disease/illness, or any other factors.  They work, they live their lives, and they try to contribute to society as best as they know how.

Yet society is stuck on this skinny kick, and they think that everyone has to lose weight or wear a size 0.  I'm sorry, but God didn't make us all to look like Cindy Crawford, Twiggy, or Fabio!  There are plenty of fat people who are successful in life and are living very well for themselves.

I am not a fattie by any means, but I have since learned my lesson.  I think I learned it pretty well because I have my priorities straightened out.  And all it took was one pink pig named "Porky" to make me see the errors of my ways.

Goddamn pig!  If I don't see Porky again, it will be too soon!!