"Yes! No more store bought sitting in here. So gross."
"Yeah, gross!" Katie agreed as Jon stretched up to lift the pitcher of milk off the top shelf. She looked over to Danny, eyes wide. "I don't know how you or Mom like it. Or Gavin. Or any of the other kids in my class. Ick!"
"Mom grew up in town too." Matt pointed out. "Give that here."
"I'm still pouring! There."
Danny ignored the slight bickering and passing of the pitcher going on behind him to stare inside the fridge.
It was true. The half gallon that'd been in there was gone. Edi was probably already over at Rosburg's for work. There'd be more milk when he got back after practice, but for now...
He eyeballed the pitcher of milk on the table, debating within himself. It couldn't be that different. Right? For all the Kauffman kids and Dale gave it praise and stuff from the store their scorn.
It was still milk. And fresher, right? It came right out of the bulk tank. But hadn't gone through the whole process and checked over before being sold. To be safe.
And Danny had a higher than normal concern about the issue of food safety.
"Try it!"
"It's not that scary! Just pour it in with cereal and try it. Much better than store stuff."
"I'll get a bowl!"
Together, Katie and Jon went off, insistent and getting a bowl ready for Danny.
"School has some options for breakfast." Elizabeth tossed out. "Or I think there's some oatmeal from last winter if you're okay with plain."
"Aw! But I wanted to see Danny try it!"
He stared at the bowl already sitting and ready, drawing in on himself on the expectant faces of Jon and Katie. It was going to be a whole thing, wasn't it? Well. It was just milk. Might as well try and get it over with so they stopped making a big deal about it.
"Fine."
He reluctantly slid into the seat to the sound of cheers.
Bit his lip.
Then dunked his spoon in.
Kept his gaze down rather than see any watchful gazes on him.
Swallowing, eyes wide, he sputttered, trying to scrape the feeling off on his teeth. Jon burst into giggles at his frantic mouth and tongue movement. Katie did the same, but tried to look sympathetic as she patted at his back.
"It's so thick! No wonder you all go for the chocolate milk at school!"
"Did you not take us seriously at saying store stuff tastes like water?"
Jon nodded fiercely with Matt's words.
"It's just water flavored like milk! This!" He waved his hands at the pitcher. "Is real milk!"
Danny pushed his bowl away.
Breakfast at school it was.
Way too thick and rich for him.
"I think I'll stick with store stuff, thanks. Someone needs to be on your mom's side on what constitutes as the right choice."
Matt, Jon, and Katie all shook their heads and rolled eyes at him.
"You mean the wrong choice."
"No one tell Mom."
"She's going to be all crowing in our faces when she finds out Danny went with her milk."
"Just pretend you still haven't tried it."
"God. Why even buy any of it at all? It's so watery and not as good and not worth the money when we have fresh milk right here."
They could keep going on their points and arguments and complaints all they wanted. Danny was with Edi on this. His stomach got upset enough if he drank too much of chocolate milk and this was thicker.