From the newsstands a dozen models smiled up at her from a dozen magazine covers, smiled in thin-faced, high-cheekboned agreement to Kessa’s new discovery. They knew the secret too. They knew thin was good, thin...

Well, Kessa, I am glad to see that you’re taking your body seriously. I shudder when I see the girls leaving class and heading for the nearest hamburger, coke, and French fry station.The thought of...

Kessa ran her fingers over her stomach. Flat. But was it flat enough? Not quite. She still had some way to go. Just to be safe, she told herself. Still, it was nice the way...

Kessa began to cut her meat into tiny pieces. As a whole it was unmanageable, frightening; but divided and arranged, the meat could be controlled. She cut four pieces. She’d count to four between each...

‘Fat bitch,’ Kessa murmured as the door scraped closed behind Mrs. Stone. ‘She meant well, Francesca. And you see, everyone thinks you’re too thin.’ ‘Since when is Mrs. Stone an authority on appearance. I’ve heard...