Fluorescent lighting. The morning donuts are almost gone. Of those who hang behind: one maple, three chocolate, zero fritters.

No matter. In the bakery department today I am a simple passer-by. Would I have stopped had there been fritters?

The wide and waxed highways lead me instead to milk, or milks plural as there are so many, mayhaps too many.

A traditionalist, of course I choose to take you home, half-gallon carton whose expiration date reads my birthday.

It’s that time of year again. Sealed and untasted, but I adore you more than all the milks of the last eleven months.