The milk machine

It sat in the corner of my college dining hall in all its industrial-size glory, willingly spurting forth its healthful liquid contents at any time of the day or night.

I'd never seen a milk machine before I came to college, and I was kind of impressed with it at first. Just like a soda dispenser at the food court, except that it was milk--one of my favorite beverages (I hadn't discovered coffee yet)--that squirted right out at the push of a button. But it quickly became a standard part of the scenery.

Day after day after day, it faithfully served the needs of the thirsty youth around it. It was often covered with spatters and droplets that didn't quite get wiped up. No one paid much attention to it. Unless it happened to be out of milk when someone wanted to use it, and then we all complained loudly until someone quickly came and filled it up again so we could get our dairy fix. It had to be ready to give forth milk at a moment's notice around the clock: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight snack time. It never got a break.

Funny, but lately I feel such an affinity with that thing.