Liano snorted in disbelief at his luck. The day had started out well enough with a big delicious breakfast, a warm cup of coffee and the soft sounds of the rain outside. Now he was grumbling at that last one. The rain tapped and pattered away on his umbrella but the sound was almost lost under the heavy huffing and shuffling the lion was generating on his way to the bus stop.

“I’m definitely getting too big”, he panted out to himself as the front of his gut began to feel cold and damp. He could see his shirt darkening as the rain fell on the far front of his big belly. The umbrella was too small! He shifted it forward but felt his tail getting sprinkled so he gave in and continued on, belly’s front side growing more wet. The bus stop was within view though, soon he’d have cover.

The fat lion waddled under the metal roof of the bus stop and huffed happily, closing the umbrella and shaking it off a little. Then his mood sank. The digi-board showed the bus he needed as CANCELED in big blinking lettering. He would have to waddle to work! He growled to no one as he opened the umbrella again and set out toward the office.

He swore the rain got heavier as he waddled back out into it, his panting soon returning, shirt pulling and tugging against the swaying and jiggling mass of his belly as it clung wetly to his fur. He pushed and pulled at the fabric as it began to chaff him a bit, growing more frustrated by the huff. Just then a kind voice called from a shop door he was passing.

“Hey, come in! We’ve got free samples!” a rather embarrassingly obese husky called, his girth filling the doorway. For a second the lion scoffed internally at the dog who’s apron couldn’t cover the girth of the grand and wobbly beanbag of a belly that sagged out before him. Liano glanced up to see it was the new bakery that had opened.

“I just had a big breakfast and I need to get to work!” he muttered back to the wide woofer. How could a dog, whose breed is known for their fitness, grow so massive?

“Oh, but you’re wet! C’mon in and dry off. I’ll bet your place already closed, the rain’s supposed to turn to ice later today!”

Liano huffed, his waddle stopped in front of the shop. The scents of deliciously fresh baked goods began to overpower the fresh moisture of the rain and his belly gave a faint growl.

“Oh ok, fine” he grumbled and headed through the wide door, brushing against the big dog’s surprisingly pillowy paunch.

“I’m Toner, the owner! What would you like to try?”, the red dog yapped cheerfully, offering a paw to shake. Liano set his umbrella in the rack by the door and glanced at the fat dog’s paw, then shook it.

“I’ll have, um, whatever’s fresh today.” He replied cautiously, looking at the expansive menu. The paw he was shaking was quickly replaced with a mug of rich smelling cocoa.

“Great! Everything’s fresh so, I’ll get a few for you to try!” Toner smiled and turned, waddling bouncily back behind the counter and piling up a platter for the fat lion to sample.


Art and story by  toner