"I'm pretty tired from everything we did today," Trish said. "Why don't we just veg out and watch a movie?"
Sam looked disappointed by her suggestion. "You really do?"
"It might help me think of something else to do with the remote. I figured since you've been doing most of the transforming, you'd want a break."
"I do," Sam said. "Pick out a movie and I'll check what you have in the kitchen."
Trish saw that Sam's rack of DVDs had been moved into the apartment, but mixed in with Sam's movies were many of Tricia's. She took a romantic comedy that was one of Sam's favorites and put it in the DVD player.
She could hear popcorn popping in the kitchen. "Hey," Sam shouted. "Most of my food is here too, including the kettle corn!"
Trish idly thumbed through more menus on the remote while waiting for Sam. She found a menu that would create and alter equipment, and decided to go for a true 5.1 surround experience with a 52" HD screen. In seconds her old television had transformed into a beautiful home theater system.
"Wow!" Sam said with a full mouth as she entered the living room. Trish did a double-take when she saw her friend, because Sam had somehow already gained at least ten more pounds. She had a big bowl of kettle corn in one hand and a two-liter soda bottle in the other. Two plastic cups were in the bowl with the kettle corn. She swallowed whatever she had been chewing on. "That's a nice tv."
"I told you this remote was going to change everything," Trish said, moving over so that Sam could sit on the couch.
"Can it order a pizza?"
"Isn't the popcorn enough?"
"We haven't had a proper dinner."
A minute later, Trish had found the food menu on the remote and zapped into existence a large pepperoni pizza. Sam dug in eagerly.
"Don't you want any?" she asked between bites.
"I'm good with the kettle corn," Trish said.
By the time the credits started to roll, both girls had fallen asleep. Sam was leaning back against her large bushy tail for comfort. Trish was cuddled against Sam, tail draped over her upper body to keep warm. Ten pizzas' worth of pudge had bulged Sam's tummy further. Trish pressed against Sam like a life-sized stuffed animal that was warm, fuzzy and soft. Two empty pizza boxes sat on the coffee table along with a bowl of corn kernels and three bottles of soda.
Sam awoke first. She looked at her friend, now her "sister," happily snoozing against her. Her gentle embrace was more than comforting. Quietly, she petted Trish, stroking her hair. Trish squirmed, but didn't wake. She pressed herself harder and squeezed Sam's distended waistline, snuggling her cheek against her tummy.
Sam tried to think of any other time they had bonded like this. Several times came close, but they'd never snuggled during a movie. Never enjoyed a perfect, quiet moment. It was refreshing.
The clock read 8:30. The night was still young, and despite enjoying Tricia's attention, Sam was eager to continue using the remote.
She was about to wake Trish, but then noticed the remote was sitting there on the couch cushion right in front of Tricia, teetering on the edge. If she was careful, she could get it without disturbing her. She reached her arm out, making sure not to move any other part of her body. The slightest shift in weight could send the remote tipping over the edge.