The Devil Served Desire by Shirley Jump

mouth."
    As she said the words in concert with the others, she had to admit it felt a little like when she'd gone to Girl Scout camp as a kid. Included. Warm and fuzzy. Except without the sticky mess on her fingers from the s'mores she'd stuffed in her pocket for late night devouring.
    "Now, let's talk about our food issues for this week," Stephanie said. "Arnold, why don't you start?"
    He heaved a sigh, then pressed a palm over his mouth and choked back a half-sob. "I wasn't strong enough, gang," he said. "The Twinkies beat me. I could hear them calling me: 'Arnold, you want us. We're so light and fluffy. Arnold, have one. Just get to the cream filling and we'll leave you alone.' " He slumped a bit in his chair, dropping his face into his palms. I caved. I-I-I ate one—"
    "Oh, now, Arnold. One isn't so bad," Stephanie said.
    "One economy-size box from the wholesale club."
    And then he was really sobbing, his shoulders shaking, his head going back and forth in his hands like a palm tree caught in a summer storm.
    "Oh." The leader pursed her lips, then forced them into an encouraging smile. "Well, today is a new day, right?"
    He sniffled. "Yeah. I guess so."
    "Arnold, be strong. You can do it." Stephanie turned to the group. "Does anyone have anything to say to help Arnold?"
    "Yeah, don't buy the fuckin' Twinkies," Bert muttered.
    "I know!" Audrey said, shooting up a hand and speaking at the same time. "You could eat an apple at the same time as the Twinkies. Take a bite of apple, then a bite of Twinkie, then a bite of apple. That way, it's not so bad."
    "A way to get your cake and eat it, too?" Stephanie asked.
    "Oh, that's so clever! Yes, exactly." Audrey nodded her head, then took out a small notebook and pencil from her purse. "I've got to write that down."
    "Audrey, it may not be the best way to diet. What we want to do is avoid those bad foods altogether."
    Audrey's face fell. "Well, can I still do the apples part of my idea?" She held up her notebook. "I already wrote that part down."
    "Certainly. Group, what do we say about fruit?"
    "Fruit's the secret to fitting in your skinny suit!" several people shouted.
    Maria put her hand up a few inches, not really committing to giving input, half hoping no one would notice.
    Stephanie had the eyes of a hawk, though. "Maria, did you have advice for Arnold?"
    "Probably knows some Twinkie holiday in the Czech Republic," Bert grumbled.
    Maria gave him a glare, then cleared her throat. "I just wanted to say I know how Arnold felt. I had a hard time throwing out my box of Twinkies today. But I did it. I stuffed them into the garbage and left the apartment."
    "Have you been back yet?" Bert draped his arm over the empty chair beside him. His belly protruded a little bit more, as if introducing itself into the conversation.
    "Well, no."
    He snorted. "That's the real test. Show me a full box of Twinkies on garbage day and then I'll believe you're on a freakin' diet."
    Stephanie gave him a sour look. "Bert, that's not very supportive."
    He shrugged. "I'm not in a supportive mood."
    "A bad mood leads to too much food." She wagged a finger to emphasize the point.
    "You gotta have the right attitude to get rid of your fat-i-tude," someone piped up.
    "Chubby Chums make you forget the Yum Yums!" another person shouted.
    The platitudes were flying like pudding cups in a food fight. But oddly, this time, instead of driving Maria crazy, they felt almost...
    Comforting.
    She could almost see the appeal of this group. As quirky as they were, they were sort of like a family. Granted, the dysfunctional kind you only let out of the closet on major holidays, but a family all the same.
    And, they seemed to understand what she was going through. If she could cut through the rhymes and get some real diet advice, then she might be able to stick to this thing and get the weight off before Antonio could say "skinny dipping" again.
    Or before Dante came over for Sunday dinner.
    Now where the hell had that