“Fat” is a short story by Raymond Carver from his 1976 collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?, where it can be read in the Amazon preview. In it, a waitress recollects her experience serving an extremely overweight man at the diner and the reactions of her coworkers. Here’s a summary of “Fat”.
“Fat” Summary
A woman has coffee and cigarettes with her friend Rita, and tells her a story about a customer she waited on at the diner late on Wednesday.
It’s slow and Herb seats a fat man in her section. He’s neat and dressed well, but he’s the fattest person she’s ever seen. His fingers stand out in particular; they’re three times the size of a normal person’s. She also has three other tables to wait on.
Leander, the bus boy, pours his water and she gives him time with the menu. She takes his order. He refers to himself as “we” and occasionally makes a little puffing sound. He orders salad, soup, extra bread & butter, pork chops and baked potato with sour cream. He’ll see about dessert later.
She gives the order to the cook, Rudy, who makes a face. Another waitress, Margot, asks about her fat customer.
She makes the big salad at his table while he watches and butters his bread. She knocks over the water glass and apologizes; he doesn’t mind. She returns after Leander wipes up the spill with the salad and the man’s bread is all gone. She brings him more bread and the big salad is gone. He compliments the food.
Not remembering him from before (Rita says you couldn’t forget), she finds out he’s from Denver. She tends to another table and then returns with his soup just as he’s finishing the bread. The fat man says he doesn’t always eat like this. The waitress brushes it off; she likes seeing a man enjoy himself. He guesses it’s enjoyment.
Leander comments on the man’s fatness. The waitress says he can’t help it.
“Fat” Summary, Cont’d
She brings more bread and butter and takes away the empty soup bowl. They comment on the heat. He says he’ll take his coat off, but doesn’t. When she brings the pork chops, baked potato and more bread & butter, he’s the only customer left. She tops the potato generously and lingers a moment before leaving. Harriet refers to him as “tub-of-guts” and jokes about how much he’s eating.
For dessert, the fat man orders the pudding cake special and a dish of ice cream. Rudy, having heard from Harriet, asks about the fat man from the circus. She tries to defend him again. Joanne and Rudy joke about Rudy getting jealous.
She brings the desserts. He says he hasn’t always eaten like this. The waitress says she eats a lot but can’t gain weight. He comments on having no choice.
The story’s getting interesting and Rita asks what happened next. That was it. He ate his desserts and left.
The waitress and Rudy go home. Rudy comments on the man’s fatness and watches TV. She gets a shower and thinks about having a child who ends up that fat. She brings a tray of tea to Rudy. He remembers two fat kids he used to know, whom everyone called Fat and Wobbly. He wishes he had their pictures. She can’t think of anything to say.
They drink the tea and she goes to bed, with Rudy right behind. She moves over to the edge. Rudy starts right away, getting on top of her. She’s not into it, and she suddenly feels fat. Rudy seems tiny.
Rita says the story is funny. The narrator is depressed but doesn’t want to explain; she’s already said too much. Rita pokes her hair, as if she’s waiting. The narrator wonders what she’s waiting for. It’s August and she feels her life is going to change.
(End of “Fat” summary)
I hope this “Fat” short story summary by Raymond Carver was helpful.