“Not hard to tell when someone on the bigger side is moving in to your neighborhood. Most houses aren’t up to the job of, er... housing folks like them. Either you live next to a house that’s can handle ‘em, or one next door gets torn down so such a house can be built. Well, 981 Fennerad Rd. just got leveled for no reason I could see. Guess we’re gonna have new neighbors.”

Ryan wasn’t sure how anyone would get his number. All they sent were details about a quick job, a one-time thing in from a small town museum. True, he’s done B&E twice, and he’s never been caught, but he’s also never done it for hire. A few minutes after the first batch of texts with the item’s description, the guards’ routines, a layout of the museum, and a few pictures of the item (some egyptian dog mask), his anonymous client abruptly stopped messaging. Ryan let it sit. Could be a setup or something, not worth getting locked up for. Another app on his phone buzzed. “Deposit received: $162,000.00 to account ending 9917. Reply STOP to disable messages.” Moments later, a new text arrived, “Are you paying attention now?”

“Flex.” The name should have given it away. Maybe Dale thought it was just a trendy name. Maybe part of him expected what it was, and wanted it. Dale wasn’t usually a night-owl, but tonight was an exception. The construction work had finished and the site had been closed, so he was off for a week before the next contract started. No matter how it came to be, he recognized the signs as soon as he walked up to it. Ingress™ brand XX-Wide doors. Markus Upheaval® heavy duty shatter-resistant floor tiling. Second-level support pillars at about 3’ diameter, regularly spaced, the building code’s requirement for hyper activity-bearing floors. This club wasn’t just for normal-sized folks like him. Sure, Dale was of the burly sort. That happens when you work in construction for two and a half decades. Burly doesn’t come anywhere close to the people this club had in mind. These folks were on the order of tons, not just hefty. It would take four Dales just to get close in weight to a lighter hyper.

“Turn your head and flex. Start with your calves; I’ll let you know when to continue.” The wolf did as he was told. His calves reached 56” around. The doctor took note on his clipboard. “On to your upper legs, please.” 68”. “Relax your waist for a moment, please.” The doctor wrapped the reinforced, quick-extend tape measure around the wolf’s bulky midsection and round glutes. The wolf flexed. 140” around. The doctor counted the abs and obliques by pairs. Full 8 pack. The doctor pinched a bit next to the wolf’s bulging brick-like abdominals. “Your fur looks to be in good shape, Andrew. Alright, on to your back.” The wolf flexed his defined, map-like back. The doctor measured depth and width. Both were on the larger side of the doctor’s memory, but not enough to make him the largest. “Good, good. Arms by your side please.” The doctor stretched the measuring tape around the wolf’s broad, striated shoulders. Measurements of his chest (depth and circumference), arms (upper arm and forearm circumferences), his neck circumference, and his trapezius height came after. The doctor had to stand on a ladder to complete the measurements.

The Citizens With Special Sizes Act had done a number on brick and mortar business. Karla was just thankful that Samsa Square Mall had survived the refit with enough cash saved to open back up afterwards. Her first steps in the newly rebuilt superstructure were shocking, to say the least. The new automatic doors were three stories tall! No wonder the mall shut down for almost a full year. The set of new laws specified that certain classes of public buildings had to be retrofitted suit the “growing” population of… larger inhabitants. The building hadn’t changed much other than that. The traditional four story mall-style building had enough accessibility between the levels that the inspectors deemed it passable. Stores will have to keep a clerk out near the ledge of their floor to help the larger customers buy from the merchants within. The next thing Karla noticed was the ground floor – it was so solid now! Where mild tile had once been laid, steel-reinforced concrete now stood. The pillars supporting the different levels had also been bolstered to survive accidental collisions without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the building. Soon she saw the reasons for the renovation, lumbering down the central passageway. The Earth trembled as the approaching crowd of hypers stomped through the food court.