#spiderxgourd

[booblebopz]

The Spider and the Gourd

Chapter 1

"Star, when are you gonna cook for me?” Shana whined.

Star rolled her eyes at her short friend, who pouted at her like a child as she leaned on her kitchen island. “Never with you begging like that. Why does everybody keep asking me that?”

“I don't know. You always watching those foodie youtube channels. Plus Elderess Sanders always said you made delicious crab cakes.”

“ Yeah but that was Grandma. Just cause she liked them doesn't mean they're good.”

“Don't you work at Carl's? You're not cooking there?"

“No.I just wait on people. I'm only there cause Grandma asked."

“You should try making something for someone other than yourself. Maybe you'll be good at it.”

Star ignored her and decided to start washing dishes. Everybody she knew got this strange notion that she knew how to cook well. That the food she made was delicious.

It wasn't like she looked like she ate good; she was tall and had some meat on her;mostly on her thighs and behind. She looked like she burned more calories than having consumed them.

It was a weird thing people assumed about her and Grandma didn't help it. She thought her being a chef was the perfect career path.

Star was too scared to try. She was scared not of failure–but of finding emptiness, an illusion of sucess, of placement in this world. She often felt like her name: far far away, stuck in the sky, afraid of falling and never landing anywhere.

Despite her existential numbness, she felt she was doing OK for herself, keeping Grandmas' house and now working at Carl's. It was to honor Grandma who was trying to get her over there for years.

Shana picked up Grandmas' jewelry box. She always kept it in the kitchen. Don't you worry bout it, she always said when Star asked why. She only told her to wear something from it whenever she left the house.

Shana was given free access to the jewlrey box as well. She opened it and gently fingered the bracelets and rings. “I can't believe it's already been a month.” Her voice was soft. "How you holding up?"

Star sighed. “I wake myself up talking to her. Responding to something she's said, only I don't remember what it was. It's like she's still here but just in the next room or the corner of my eye.”

Shana nodded, tears in her eyes. They both sat in silence, and Star felt safe to let the quiet tears run down her face without being consoled or hushed with "It's OK," and "She's in a better place."

Shana always knew how to hold space for Star. Her capacity to understand her was what made them friends for so long.

When the sadness passed over the both of them, Star asked, “What are you doing this weekend?”

“I'm going upstate remember?”

“That's this weekend? I need you to do my hair.”

“Uh-uh, I been on your ass about getting that blonde weave out, now you gotta do it yourself. Looking like a busted Beyonce. Speaking of busted, I seen the weirdest shit the other day. This skinny woman was on the edge of the creek biting a tree.”

“What?”

“She was just taking a bite out of it like a sandwich. I never seen anyone a skinny as she was. Looked like Beloved.”

“Who?”

“Please, Star, I know Elderess Sanders let you watch some movies. Anyways keep your eye out for any weirdos."

"Allright." Star looked at the jewelry box. "Take this with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I don't know. I feel you should take it. Maybe good luck or something."

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

With her hair up in a honey colored bun (edges hidden under a silk pink scarf,) Star worked the counter at Carl's Old-Timey Diner. It was crowded as usual, people bustling in from work and out to party.

What was unusual was this song stuck in her head. It trickled into the diner from the cool evening and wormed it's way into her head. Something from a movie? An old Rihanna song?

“Nice tune.”

She looked up from collecting dishes to see a woman at the edge of the counter, caressing a teacup full of something red. Thin, with rich brown skin, her eyes were hidden under black bangs, the rest of her hair cascading down a loose maroon dress. Only lips painted black and high cheekbones were visible.

Disheveled is the word in Stars' head. Needing fixing. She honestly looked like she came out of a Tyler Perry horror--but something about her made Star want to see her eyes.

“Is the food good here? I'm starving.” Her voice rasped like a smokers.

“Yes ma'am it is. Best pecan pies you'll find around.”

“Give me three of them,” She said softly.

A command. It stirred something warm deep within Star. The mysterious song echoed there, and before she knew it she layed out three huge pecan pies.

The woman began to eat.

Star was ripped away by a group of teens ordering chicken and waffles but whenever she could she would glance at this woman quietly shovel fork after fork of pecan pie into her mouth.

Star took her break. She returned and saw the woman still seated, with the pie tins neatly piled in front of her.

She smiled at Star, and waved her over.

“Water,” she said. Immediately a hiccup jerked through her body causing her breasts, which Star never noticed before, to slightly bounce. It was cute.

Star brought a pint full of water for her. The woman smiled again, hiccuped, then began to slowly gulp down the water.

Star felt compelled to watch the water go down her throat, the loud gulps…tantalizing.

Whats wrong with me? Why am I feeling…

"Your name?" The woman interrupted her. She had been finished for a while and was smiling at her. Her voice was no longer raspy, but clear, mellow. A song.

“Star.”

The woman brushed her bangs aside. Large brown eyes gaze upon Star. Reading. Examining. Her lips, fuller now, curled into a smile. “What are you doing this weekend?”

[booblebopz]

The Spider and the Gourd

Chapter 2

Her name was Nansi.

“Igbo Creek,” The name rolled around in her mouth like a hard sour candy. She stretched back into the passenger seat and gazed at Star with those eyes again. “Interesting name.”

Star didn't register the hidden question at first. She was captivated (and bewildered) at how tight the maroon dress had become. Nansi's belly and breasts curved against it deliciously, and the hem crawled up soft, supple thighs.

Nansi's hand gently touched Stars' chin.

“ I don't remember the meaning–why the town is called–” She stammered.

Nansi laughed; bubbly champagne. “That's fine. I think I can guess.” She stared out the window. “The igbos who chose the sea over slavery all those years ago, came up, at the right time, to the right place. Here. Am I right?”

Star couldn't answer. She really didn't know and couldn't remember if she ever knew. Some things about Igbo Creek were fuzzy.

“It's not important. I just like stories.” She paused, taking her hand into Stars. “Whats yours?”

Hearing her name echo from Nansi's lips gave her chills. “Umm… well… I've alway lived here… and I like to cook.”

And I want to cook for you, she felt.

“Oh? Can I taste your cooking?”

Yes. Star felt a deep need to make food for Nansi, to watch her eat, to see her belly swollen with food, to feel her belly and growing body against hers…

Where was this coming from?

“I'm starving.” Nansi caressed her belly. “ is there anything you can feed me?”

They were home.

Nanzi found a spot on the blue couch and sat with her legs crossed. Waiting.

Star buzzed around the kitchen, guided by a beat that began pulsing through her body.

Ground beef. Butter. Garlic.

She boiled and drained pounds of noodles, blowing through food that was meant to last for weeks.

For her.

The thought of Nansis' smile, her open mouth, this food in Star's hands going to her thighs and arms and ass….

Star poured every inch of herself into this great offering, because the very action caused sweet rivers of pleasure to flow through her.

Star presented two huge pots of spaghetti smothered with ground beef cooked in butter and vodka sauce, topped with roasted garlic. Four loaves of Ciabatta were laid out on the table, along with a liter of pepsi and a huge pitcher of pink lemonade.

Nansi looked like a cat ready to pounce. “Thank you,” She breathed out.

She began to gorge.

These weren't the rapid but delicate bites Star witnessed at the diner. Nansi packed her mouth with spaghetti before swallowing, again and again, eyes rolled back in pleasure.

“Fuck,” She moaned out once, before gripping the now empty first pot and locking it clean. “This is delicious.”

Star watched Nansi's belly swell with food, extending out into her lap. She wanted so desperately to rub it; yet she didnt want to miss the whole picture; Nansi chewing and gulping and moaning, pausing to let out an *Urp* or *huck*. Pausing and caressing her swollen belly, that was testing the limits of her dress.

Why is this turning me on?

The waves of pleasure going through Star's veins drowned out any alarm. What was most important, was that her food had satisfied Nansi.

When the devouring was done, Nansi leaned back, her arms stretched around her huge belly. She smiled at Star. “ Come here.”

Star lept from her chair to Nansi's side.

“Thank you for such a de–*hic*–delicious meal. *Urp* excuse me. *Hmp*– ugh.” She seemed almost as delirious as Star felt. Euphoric.

Star watched each hiccup and burp bounce her huge belly up into her breasts. “I'm glad you liked my food. I can't believe you ate it all.”

“I couldn't resist.”

Star felt bold. She reached out and caressed the throbbing belly.

It was hot and tight. A soft moan purred out of Nansi.

That was all Star needed to hear. The caress deepened into a massage, her arm extending as far as she could, pressing in as much as she could into the hot, tight flesh. She pat it, and it resounded like a drum full of liquid.

Nansi laid onto the couch, and Star pulled herself on top of her, Nansis belly pressing against her body deliciously. Both lost within a strange ecstacy, they drifted off to sleep.

…..

Star awoke from a dreameless sleep, still on top of Nansi.

The giant belly was gone, but in its place was a soft, wider permanent one that Stars" hand rested on. Her head was between two large breasts that were barely contained by the dress.

She felt lips against her forehead.

“Good morning,” Nansi murmured.

Star nesteld under her neck. “Good morning.”

They sat there silently, Bodies entangled in the blue of morning. Star had begun to caress a very thick thigh next to her when Nansi spoke. “I need to go.”

Something cracked. “Oh.” Star sat up.

Nansi stood. The dress was shrunken under her new body. Breasts spilling over the v neckline, and cheeks popping out under the hemline, she looked like a popped biscuit can. She brushed a piece of hair against her ear and turned around to Star. “ Thank you again, really.”

“Um–”

Nansi caressed Stars' cheek. She tilted her head up, then gently pressed her lips against hers.

Before Star could respond, she walked out of the door.

[booblebopz]

Orry that I haven't updated the Spider and the Gourd! Life has been lifing right now. Hopefully I'll have some more chapters up soon!

[booblebopz]

The Spider and the Gourd

Prologue

The sky streaked a poisonous purple when Elderess Sanders passed away, and the people of Igbo Creek did not remember.

They cried and passed babies over her casket, read her favorite Bible passages to each other, and even named her favorite pew in Igbo Creek Church Of God In Christ after her.

Some brought dinner to her granddaughter Star, who now lived alone in the little brick house near the forest.

But the people did not remember.

Elderess Sanders would have reminded the oldest of them, if her mind wasn't so close to eternity, and any other space it had was occupied over whether her granddaughter could take care of herself after she was gone. The elderess was a conjuror, though she'd never call herself that, but she knew how to make a way out of no way, to call down Spirit, to hear the dead and to listen to the plants. She had poured this energy into the church and raising her granddaughter, but a long time ago, she and six others had used this for a ritual.

Those six, also loved by the people, had already passed. Like the Elderess, they had lived and raised and slept into eternity, without leaving behind a warning.

The people of Ibgo Creek had forgotten, ad so deep in the thick woods, a withered hand broke through dead earth.