After some visible hesitation, Sheila has made her mind.
- Phil, just, do me a favor, stop pursuing me. She said,
- You are good friend, cute boy, but,
- What but?
- You aren't my type, you see.
- And whats wrong?
- Some girls like skinny guys, I don't. Get some press and shoulders. Well, that doesn't matter, it would be better for us to remain friends.
At that point Phil had to say something, but he hadn't figured what exactly. Further discussion was about pets, bbq on weekend and other harmless things.
Later in the "Venice" bar:
- So, you failed miserably.
- Yep. Probably, next time...
- Forget it, man, you see, she likes strong men. Not only physique, but the will too. Just, keep running, fooling around her, and she'll see you're complete jerk. Get some self-respect, there are lots of gals, you see, man.
- But I need Sheila...
- And longer you abase yourself, smaller your chances are. By the way she is stupid, thinks she's queen. Blah, she is wasting her chance with you, five years later she'll regret. However, she has a point: go get pumped. It wouldn't hurt.
- And then Sheila...
- Forget about Sheila, dude. You are going to get muscles for your own sake, not to please her. Lets drink for it. For Selfsufficiency!
And they drank. Too much that evening. On the plus side, Robin succeeded in distracting Phil, at least a bit.
Thats what Phil managed to recall about Friday on Saturday morning. His heart-ache was deafened by head-ache, sunbeams, piercing eyelids, made him stand up and stagger towards nearest source of water. Phil complied to demands of his arid throat: water, what a bliss, the One, inventor of watter-supply-system, be praised! Last nights thoughts about going to gym were discarded completely:
Firstly Phil felt so bad, perspective of adding extra strain of lifting chunks of metal seemed horrible.
Secondly, he'd no doubt look very stupid, among bodybuilders.
Thirdly closest known gym was rather expensive.
He gulped yet another mouthful of water and solution came. Swimming is good for muscular growth too, its cheaper as long as decent beach is near, and its pleasant. He got short breakfast consisting of things tolerated by sick stomach, took towel, swims, sunglasses. Not that he planned to sunbath a lot, just hide from annoying daylight. Finally, door slammed shut, separating clutter in Phils apartment from its rightful owner. Not being in driving condition Phil took a bus heading to farthest possible beach: Cape Salzbank. In addition to relatively clear waters, lack of crowd and beautiful scenery, it offered two more hours of sleep.
... he was an athlete with bulging biceps, triceps, bulging triceps, bulging everything, performing some unimaginable somersaults, flips, bathing in amazed sights of hundreds of women around, throwing himself into air was so easy, as if ... at that point Phil awaken, bus has reached destination, everybody was asked to leave.
Gentle breeze brought scent of salt water, seaweed and understanding of life not-so-badness. Few passengers descended to narrow twisted trail leading to stripe of wet pebbles, with several blobs of intensively colored sunshades.
- I'm here to get some meat on my bones, lets ah reach that tiny rock in the distance, it will be my first objective. I'll do my best to get there ASAP, for best effect. - Phil promised to himself. - And Roby was right, there are others, worth attention. Linda and Sue, girls from neighborhood were also there, two hundred meters ahead. They had some guy with them, but he was not worth attention. Staring at them, made headache fade, as well as image of unreachable Sheila. Not surprising, Phil stumbled, losing balance and attracting looks. He immediately started to settle on the place, assuming 'everything goes as planned' face.
Not wasting any more time, Phil dived into soothing salt water, previously selected rock looked farther now, it took dozen minutes to reach it no less. So he got there panting heavily, with building pleasant fatigue in his hands. Top of tiny isle was flat and inviting to rest. Crystal water revealed distant ocean bottom and shoals of silvery fishes, sun reflections were hypnotizing, wind gentle, sun dried drops of water on Phils skin. Atop of all this place looked miraculous. Slowly rhythmic splashes of waves and blinks of sun made Phil see second dream in this morning. This time
dream haven't swept him away. Everything was normal except voice.
- Hey. Why are you here?
- Resting a bit, before going back to the shore, do you mind?
- Not really, just what point in coming here and then returning?
- Oh, its a long story. In a few words, I want to get pumped up a bit.
- Pumped up? Interesting, is there any reason for it.
- I need it for self respect and girls like it.
- Really? Never heard it. I've quited long ago, though your wish is such an uncommon one. So I herebe grant it.
- Wish, who are you?
- That is not important. Oh, almost forgot, sorry I have to go. Good luck and take care
Some random cloud covered sun, making sun blinks halt their fuss, Phil shivered and woke up. Strangely headache has passed completely, as well as muscular pain. He glanced at his hands: to his surprise hands were already visibly bigger thanks to biceps, and delta. How could it be after meager half an hour of training? Then Phil noticed other muscles on legs, hips, torso increasing at barely noticeable rate. Also, body hair started to vanish. - Is it weird allergic reaction, or am I still dreaming? - He thought, At that point Phil has recalled his recent dream in a sudden flash.
Whom was I speaking to? Given eerie things already happening, idea of supernatural entity didn't seem that weird. Genie? Faerie? Extraterrestrial intelligence? Or simple schizophrenia?
In the meantime change progressed, Phil already had a figure of amateur bodybuilder. Hair on the head only, scar left by ablation of appendix had vanished too, Swims looking at least one size less than ok for his new body, cleaving into his flesh. Last, but not least he felt a lot lighter.
- That Creature, how could he, or she, take words "pumped up" literally? Typical genie humor - That thought was interrupted by strong sensation in Phils back on the waistline level. He carefully touched something protruding from his back, it was hard to identify, but an uncomforting idea already settled into his mind.
There was one simple way to check insanely irrational theory, that Phil had. He descended to water and stepped into waves. Ocean repulsed his limb, as if it was Dead sea instead of Pacific ocean. Or as if insanely irrational theory was right, he become inflatable, keeping consciousness and mobility of normal man.
Suddenly backward trip become problem. His new condition must be concealed at all costs, and guy floating on the water surface would, no doubt, attract attention. After some pondering, Phil decided to stay at the isle until night, and pray for wind to be calm. What he'll do next? How to compensate absence of weight? Is there some food that will be ok for him? How to cheat against medical tests? Avoid sharp objects? Can this magic 'benefactor' be found again, to take that damn wish back?
Geenie refused to contact again, gods of weather were deaf to prayers and wind started to strenthen, threatening to throw Phill into the sea. Things were becoming really sour, when Linda and airmatress with Sue aboard appeared, closing to Phils isle. Was this particular twist of fortune good or bad remained to be seen. It was probably too late for escaping, so Phil spent remaining time looking at girls:
Linda is slender, even skinny, curly blonde, with cute nose and full lips, swimming easily and occasionally diving. Sue is redhead, somewhat plump, with attractive curves, magnetic green eyes (not seen from the distance, Phil just new her eyes are green). Girls were discussing something, looking at Phil from time to time. In the close vicinity of isle, Linda has turned back to the shore, while Sue approached.
- Hi, Sue. Nice look, as always.
- Hey, handsome, I've seen you before, didn't I? Are you ...
- Phil, college, parties of Jack and Julie Faulers.
- Oh, and we are neighbors, right?
- Absolutely.
- Whatsup?
- I'm fine, just ...
- Really ok? You are sitting here for a second hour in the raw.
- Yeah, sunbathing. I don't mind a little company.
Once she landed
- In the matter of fact, I have some problem here. Eh I don't know how to explain...
- And you look rather odd, I mean you look great, but still something.
- Just look.
Phil finally decided. He stepped on the water.
- Ohmy! You are walking on the water! But how?
Next wave has swept Phil and he flapped on the water flatly.
- Wow, are you that light? And that thing on your back. it looks exactly like airplug on my airbed. Amazing. How did you do that?
- Well, I don't know. And thats no trick, Sue. Something has really happened to me. Sorry for drawing you into my problems.
- No. I'm already curious. Tell me.
- There is nothing special to tell, I was ok three hours ago. And now I'm, I'm Inflatable!
Sue poked him with her index finger, first lightly, then with more dedication. Though Phils skin was taut, it has given to pressure, allowing her finger to sink for at least centimeter.
- Carefull!
- What?
- You have nails.
- Aha. Do you think, I can puncture you that way?
- I just don't know
Sue fantasized for a second or two about it.
- We can figure that later.
- First I have to reach shore somehow. Without attracting attention, and Sue, promise me. This my ... condition is secret. I fear, I can end as lab rat, or in some secret prison. If information about it leaks to media.
- Oh, I understand. I'll be silent, of course. And thats why you can not just swim to the coast. Yes. Everybody will notice.
- Yes, thats problem. I intended to wait till night, and then.
- But I can help you!
- Your airmatress?
- No, I'm afraid to swim without it for a long distance. But..
- What?
- Your airplug, it seems to be of same size as one on the airbed, so my pump is likely to match your
- What are you talking about?!
- Everything will be ok, relax.
- No!
Then Sue has quickly reached the plug, and moment later pulled it. POP and audible hissing sound followed.
Either shock, or moral restrictions against fighting women, or both made Phill just listen to hissing of air rushing out of his pneumatic body for five seconds, his formerly bulging athletic body, chest, press, legs, everything had lost pressure and taut, he weekly protested
- Please, stop it.
- I'll reinflate you, I promise.
Now he shriveled a bit more, being smaller then his former skinny self. After that long delay he finally tried to wrestle, reach plug. But Sue was holding it firmly, hissing just become louder. Phil was losing his strength rapidly, his hands were almost flat, deflation slowing again. Sue embraced his limp crumpling body, pressing and folding Phils legs. Air rushed again, inflating his upper part for a short time.
- Sorry, I've just wanted to see that, and this is amazing, I'll inflate you back soon.
Then Phil felt asleep, as his chest and head become crumpled and finally flat in Sues hands. She rolled him tightly, took his swims and returned to airbed and headed to shore.