THE NICKELODEON.

                                                               THE NICKELODEON.

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

                                                        THE ANTIQUE SHOP.

Veronica VanDerVault (or Princess Delia the 3rd <Those who have read “Read the Label” know a little of what I mean.> of the Kingdom of the Badgerin.) premier skater, ex-high fashion model, and very rich 28yr old, looked at her self in the mirror. It was a very nice mirror! Full length (even for a Darkoien and they stand 3 meters tall) fully wide enough for even a Tantulan woman, with rare metal filigree work in the dark hansom wood. Of course Veronica was very nice looking her self.
It was a warm day therefor she was wearing a lime green halter top and shorts, and as a former model she knew how to move in them to the best advantage! Looking at her self in the mirror she though she’d be a little silly. (She had developed—oh yea, that to—a fun loving sense of humor.) First the hands on the hips and a little—Ok big—wiggle, then she stuck out her stomach, at 268kg it was quite spectacular. Then she stuck out her chest and that was really spectacular! If there had been a FA watching he’d of had to pick  his eyes up off the floor. <I said she was good looking! - OK, to explain a kilogram equals 2.2 pounds. 268 X 2.2=589.6 last time I do it for you.>
She heard a cough behind her, and turned around to see the store clerk looking at her in open enjoyment. A Vaduran! A FA race. “Oh-oh, busted!” Veronica thought. Out loud she asked “How much for this mirror?” The man named a sum, high. “Sold.” Said Veronica “When can you deliver it? I live on New Rodeo Drive.”
“S-s-sorry not until tomorrow. Truck’s-s-s  in the s-s-shop.” He told her in his hissing voice. Vanduran males are thin and snake like but the women are round and fat.
“No problem, someone will be home all day tomorrow.—“
“Hey Vonnie come look at this sucker!!” That would be Silvina. Veronica’s old friend from her modeling days. A sweet girl but definitely not the sharpest arrow in the quiver. They were together today, as both were on Earth at the same time and neither working at this time.
“I’d better go look.” Veronica thought, to the Vaduran she said “Go ahead and write it up. I’ll be with you as soon as I see what my friend wants.”
Walking around a couple of rows of old furniture she found Silvina looking at some kind of –of  contrivance. “What in the worlds is that?” Veronica said. It was a funny looking thing. Kinda like a piano with parts of other instruments behind it’s glass (or at any rate clear) front. It was all encased in wood with a reddish tint, a darker, well maybe, lighter maybe <OK I don’t know, it changed each time one looked at it.> At any rate it was different. “Neat ain’t it!” Silvina exclaimed.
“It’s something!” Veronica said walking around it. Scrutinizing it carefully. “OK I’ll bite. What is it? Any signs?”
“Nnnoooo, I looked and looked. No signs.” Silvina was pouting. It was beyond her (remember this is not the sharpest razor in the shaving kit here). “But I kinda like it!” A funny thing about her, even though she came over as not the sharpest tack in the box she loved mechanical things, especially music boxes. If she had the money she’d , no doubt, be a collector of them.
“It’ssss a nickelodeon.” Came the voice of the Vaduran from behind then. “All I know about it issss it playesss music if you put ssssomthing called a nickel in it.”  
<Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!>
“Ooh, I want it! How much?” Silvina asked. When the answer came (as Veronica expected) she could no way afford it. You see with out Veronica the watch over her, and as nice as she was, other models were always stepping all over her. They took her jobs and told lies about her so she lost work. Veronica, when she found this out, was thinking of hiring her as a personal assistant.
At the look on Silvina’s face, like she wanted to cry, Veronica said “I think I’d like to but you a gift. How about this thing?”
“It’s so much! No,” shaking her head “you can’t Vonnie.”
“Puh, I want to! It’s a done deal!” Then to the Vaduran “ I’ll buy this for my friend.”
“What about getting it to work?” her friend asked her.
“Oh I’m sure I know someone who can get it to work. If no one else XP can.” Veronica had a very high opinion of the Warlords ability. Of course since he had saved her life three times this might have been warranted. <OK! OK! You all know, at least if you read “Read the Label”of the first time, the other 2 had to do with Veronica’s going home to Badgerin. A story we may tell some day.>
After the transaction, and they set up delivery for the next day, as they were leaving Veronica said “Lunch time! Where do you want to go?”  Silvina wanted steak and Veronica wanted Mexican so they headed for “Chilies 99”
                                                     The Lunch.
Silvina had one thing about her other models would have sold their souls for -- she weighed 50kg and could not gain weight! She could eat like a Tantulan and stay thin. Before the beauty drink episode Veronica was one of them, but no more. Now she was happy fat.
At lunch, as they talked of many things, and why the sea was boiling hot and whether pigs have wings. <Opps, different story.>  Veronica noticed Silvina was eating even more then usual, even for her. In fact this was her 3rd steak dinner, and it was lunch. She wondered if she was really short of money and was taking advantage of her generosity to fill up (not that she minded).
Finally she had to ask “Silly, are you hard up for credits?”
“No.” Silvina said between bites “I got enough to live on.”
“Have a gig?” Veronica asked.
“Nope, new job, your friend XP offered me one and gave me an advance.” She smiled at her friend “A big advance, will last me till I start for him.”
“Huh,” Veronica replied, wondering why the Warlord had not told her. Oh well, had his reasons she was sure. “Then why are you eating like a Tantulan at a buffet?”
Silvina looked at her then surprised her by changing the subject “Jus hungry—what ya doing later?” Veronica was shocked by the evasion coming from, of all people, her. She didn’t show it. She went along with it, as a good friend would.
“Meeting an old friend from collage. Reminder me telling you about Mums western faze?” Silvina nodded, “Well while I was at the Uof Arizona I meet a psychology major I got to be chums with. Well when Mum decided to head back to California I lost track of her. You’ll never guess I ran into her yesterday, she’s in town for a shrink convention. Almost didn’t recognize each other. I’ve gotten so fat and so had she. Seems she’d moved in with a couple of Polarin girls and tried to keep up with them, she must weigh 350kg now. Also gotten married and has 2 kids.” Veronica shook her head “How people change!”
The same thought crossed her mind that late after noon as she got ready for her dinner date, not a romantic date, just an old friend. As she looked at her self in the mirror she thought it. Moving her bangs to one side she looked at the crystal setting there on/in her forehead, XP had given it to her after the second attempt on her life saying (on of the few times she had heard him use vulgar language) “Now if any one even  tries to hurt you, their tail is grass and I’m the lawnmower!”
On the way out she kissed Nursey and her corgi Cookie buy and went out to the Imperial hummingbird that was floating in the back yard exactly as a stone wouldn’t, hopped in, and was gone.
                                                          The Restaurant
“Hmm, I do like plum wine with Chinese food.”  Veronica said, looking at her friend she added “I’m glad you told me about it.”
Her friend was  Imperial Warlord XP.
“There are a few things that go with Chinese food as well.” In his deep voice, “Now tell me more about your shopping trip.”
“How did you know I’d been shopping?”
“You and Sylvina are in town at the same time.” He said draining his glass.
“Ok, busted, for the second time today. I’m slipping.” She said smiling. Then “Oh, what’s this I hear about you hiring her.? What could she do for you? I love her dearly but she is not the sharpest knife in the pantry.”
“She was out of work, and to proud to accept charity, so the job offer and the retainer.—Don’t look at me like that young lady, I have a feeling her lot is going to change soon, very soon.”
<I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music! music! music!>
After some talk about  their shopping trip and Veronica described the nickelodeon to him. She did not expect the reaction.
“WHAT!?” he looked surprised “The Zargbirg Nickelodeon! On Earth! For sale! It can’t be!”
Veronica was taken back. She had NEVER seen XP look  surprised.
“OooK, what is the Zargbirg  Nickelodeon?” She asked.
“Whew, to tell you that I have to tell you it’s history.”
“’Spin me the yarn.’ As Captain Ahab said.”
The story he told went something  like this <actually it was exactly like this>:
“Along while ago –as earth measures time—the King of the Jartongs fell in love with the Queen of the Zargbirgs. This was strange for the Jartongs are a FA race, and the Zargbirgs are thin. As in unable to gain weight, however the King loved her all the same. He offered to marry her but she would not do it. She she could never be happy unless he were totally happy with her. Indeed, love her he did but enjoy her looks he could not. A problem, for them. Looking for an answer the Queen turned to a friend of hers – a Fruitoen <The youngest of the Elder Races, a type of plant based life but sentient and Elder all the same.> This friend was a great master of the science some used to call magic. She created the nickelodeon. It had one power – if a female put a nickel in it and danced to it’s music she would gain weight. 10kg each time, with a limit of 150kg. Only one catch, it had to be a gift from a loved one who did not know it’s power. Of course it was easy to trick the King into giving it to her. The power of it worked just fine and at 168kg the Queen walked down the aisle with the King.”  
“I thought you said—“
“I did. After the nickelodeon did it’s work the person would gain weight as easily as anyone else.”
“Well then it’s----“Veronica trailed off. Something about lunch was bothering her. She pushed it to the back of her mind. “Anyway I’m glad she’s not getting it until tomorrow. I can warn her.”
“Besides where would she get a nickel now a day’s?” XP said, then to her puzzled look. “A small coin used in the last 5 and early part of this century. Worth about 1/20th of a credit.”
<Put another nickel in
      In the nickelodeon
     All I want is lovin' you
         And music! music! music!>
     I'd do anything for you
  Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music! music! music!>

                              Later That Night

Veronica was sitting on the edge of her bed, about to go to sleep, thinking of the story XP had told her. The only light in the room (in fact the light she had changed by) was the light of the Imperial Flame Flower XP had given her. It’s night time glow of silver-green she found very restful. The thought she had at dinner came and went again. In the morning she’d have to pursue it, but not now. Just then her sleepy eyes turned to a corner of the room she had not looked at before. In the silver-green lit room she saw the delicate filigree work of the mirror she had bought earlier that day.
Instantly she was wide awake! “Bright.” She thought at the flame flower. In the increased light there was no doubt, the mirror was there! “ What the –“(after exposure to  a Warlord she lost much of the desire to use profanity) –ah-- well!” Then “What are you doing here? Your not supposed to be delivered till tomorrow.” If she’d got the mirror Sylvina would have the nickelodeon! “Ah, “ she relaxed “no nickels.” And went on to sleep.
Of course the vphone woke her up.
She looked at the clock first. –12:36AM—“Who” she wondered. “Ms VanDerValt here.” She said  to it, “Who is it?”
“Vonnie it’s me, Silly, I need your help and you’re friend’s.” Veronica wondered why the video was not tuned on at Silvina’s end. All she said was “Ok, ok, Silly relax. Do you mean XP?”
“Yea, the Warlord, he knows please come!” and on that cryptic line she hung up.
“Of course I’ll come, I’ll pick you  up in the hummer again.” Was all XP said.
On the way to Silvina’s apartment Veronica tried to call her but to no avail. “Off hook.” Was all XP said. Then to Veronica’s look, “In the olden days you actually put the handset on a hook coming out the side of the base of a phone to break the connection.” They said nothing else.
However Veronica heard him singing, almost to low to make out-
Hay - hay Cloud Nine we’re doing fine,
Flying high above the line,
Hey –hey Cloud nine let us shine,
Flying high on green-red wine.
She’d heard him sing it before. She did not know what it meant and was to good a friend to ask.
When they arrived at Silvina’s apartment Veronica rang the bell and said at the two-way “Silly it’s me and XP, let us in!”
The door clicked open to a surprise that took Veronica back almost 2years.                               

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music! music! music!

Closer, my dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me

So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

[Dixieland Piano Break]

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music! music! music!

Closer, my dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me

So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

      Of course there were differences—1)Veronica was a Badgerin, and Silvina was an Ifron. <Oops, I forgot to mention that. Sorry a race of almost earth-human looking people, cept the slightly pointed ears.> 2)Also Veronica was a honey blond where Silvina was a platinum blond. <No blond jokes.> 3)Also the couch was not black it was light blue.
Still the white bikini was the same and the extra rolls of fat were kinda the same. Where-as Veronica was a hyper-hourglass or “X” body type Silvina was a pear or “A” type. Though she now had a respectable bust her main gain was in the hips, butt and thighs. “100 kg.” XP said behind her.
Veronica ran to her friend and said “Silly, don’t worry It’s not that bad, you have a nice pear shape and lots of people like that! I’m sure we can find you some jobs if you want. Though—“ She trailed off. For far from being upset looking Silvina was smiling at her.
“Isn’t it GREAT!!” she said to a surprised (and somewhat delighted) Veronica.
“You mean you’re alright with this?” Veronica said “Your not upset? Then why did you want XP over here!?”  
Silvina looked at the nickelodeon ruthfully and said “I ran out of nickels I want to go all the way to 150kg! And only had enough for this.” She pointed at her hips and butt. “100kg I want to be bigger. I want some real hips!”
Veronica was looking at her steadily. Veronica was one of the sharpest needles in the haystack! “Hold on,” she said looking back an forth between Silvina and XP. “how did you know this thing had a 150kg limit?”
Silvina looked guilty and XP, leaning against the door frame, looked at her nonchalantly, his cape casually thrown back, arms crossed. “She knows all about it.” He said quietly. “I told her. Now, if it’s alright with her “ here he looked at Silvina, who nodded, “I’ll tell you. But first—“ He straightened up, walked over to the nickelodeon, touched a panel under the coin slot and out popped a small bin. In the bin were 5 coins, he gave one to Veronica to examine. It had a native American on one side and a large animal on the other. “A bison or American buffalo.” He told her. “These, of course, are copes just as the nickelodeon is a copy.”
“I think you both have some explaining to do.” Veronica said crossing her arms over her very ample bosom.
                                                              XP’s story
“I think one more person needs to be here –“ there was a tone from the door “and here he is now.”
Both women looked at the door to see a very fat Lop standing there dressed in clothes that Veronica instantly recognized as expensive. (The Lop are a race that look like human lop eared rabbets.)
“Hi Jamy!” said Silvina in a tone that made Veronica look at her then back at him, she knew him from somewhere---AH! OF COURSE—
“Hello,” he said in a pleasant voice “Bunn here. James Bunn.”
“Greatest bakery chef in this sector!” Veronica said “Master of 1007 different recipes for cinnamon buns alone! How do you—OF COURSE YOU TWO ARE IN LOVE!!”
“Of course! Silvina and Mr. Bunn said as one.
“But why the – did you all deceive me?” She turned on XP “I thought Warlords never lied!!” She said on the verge of tears that he would do such a thing.
“First, Veronica, I never would lie to you. I only told some of the truth to help Silvina. I am truly sorry if we hurt you, but as you hear the story you’ll know why.” He said gently. At her nod—
“Silvina came to me two weeks ago with her problem, she was in love. Not that, that was the problem, nor that he wanted to marry her, it was who he was. She felt the wife of the greatest bakery chef in this sector should have a fat wife. Not that he cared, he loved her for who she was fat or thin. But she always secretly wanted to be fat and this was her chance. How was the question. Her metabolism kept her from gaining by eating, she was allergic to one of the ingredients of Tantulan Beauty Drink so—she came to me. I knew she loved dancing, so I immediately thought of the Zargbirg nickelodeon. As the scientist who made the Zargbirg nickelodeon is a friend or mine I asked her to make a copy. Which you see before you. A copy of some nickels and we were ready. One problem – the nickelodeon had to be a gift from someone who did not know it’s power, and loved Silvina.”
“I begin to see,” Veronica said “I was the someone.” Then  after a moments thought “Why not James?”
“Silvina  already told him about it.” XP said simply. “So the only one who would fit was you. I am really very sorry for the deception but we had to do it, for Silvina’s sake.”
Veronica was to good a friend and to big (no pun intended) a person to stay mad given the reasons. “Ok” she said “I understand and I realize you didn’t lie. I’m sorry I said you did.”
“Apology accepted.” XP realized the younger races were apt to make mistakes.
“NOW LET’S PLAY THIS SUCKER!!” Silvina said running over to the nickelodeon, nickel in hand. “I WANT SOME HIPS!!”
“Whoa, kid.” Veronica said “I’m big enough, any weight I gain from here on out I want to gain the old fashioned way.”
“Not a problem.” XP told her “It only works on the one who received it as a gift.”
“Ok then, Let ‘er rip!” Veronica yelled out.
As the Silvina Nickelodeon started playing XP sang in his strange deep voice---

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music! music! music!

Closer, my dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me

So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

[Dixieland Piano Break]

       At the break, Veronica joined in with him.

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music! music! music!

I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music! music! music!

Closer, my dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me

So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
                  And music! music! music!

      As they sang Silvina danced to the Dixieland music coming from the machine and as she danced she grew fatter. It was most obvious in her hips and rear but the rest of her benefited from the nickelodeon also.  As the music ran down to a stop she sat down next to James, making the couch tighter, and said “I’m ready for another round.”<And do we mean round -- well ok, pear.>
“Before you start again, I don’t know about Veronica but I have work to do back at my office. So I shall take my leave. Veronica do you want a ride?” XP asked her.
Veronica yawned and stretched her own well rounded body and said “Yea, It’s been a long day and I want to get back to sleep.”
But they didn’t.
Silvina begged them to stay so they did. XP had a bar with their favorite drinks flickered over and they all enjoyed themselves. XP’s Imperial Beer, Veronica’s Sam & Pete's Ale and wine for the love birds, who by now were setting dates, one sweet white and a dry red.
To watch Silvina dance was interesting especially to a FA. When she found all you had to do was tell the nickelodeon what to play, she tried several kinds of dances. The slow dance ( to Iargots “Alterpd”) was rather an eye catcher as her stomach grew closer to James when they danced to it.
By morning all, save for XP, were exhausted and Silvina was much fatter. A round (or pear) 150kg.  
As they left  he told her now all she had to do was push the panel he had to get the nickels out  to play it anytime she wanted and leaving her to get some sleep the 3 left James to his bakery and XP and Veronica towards her house.
As the hummer landed XP asked if she wanted breakfast, as Mrs. Harmony would not be up yet. “I know a place that makes the best blueberry pancakes on Earth.” He said.
Of course she said yes.

It was a beautiful wedding. The bride, all 156kg of her and the groom his ears carefully swung back, the maid of honor dressed as a Badgerin princess, which she was, and the bride given away by the Warlord.