I Feel You, Ben Affleck

A Reflection on the Power of Dunkin’

1

There was a motorcycle. Was it my dad’s? My dad is driving it. I am riding behind him, my arms clutched around his waist. Or am I riding on his lap? We are riding to Dunkin’ Donuts. Is that my first memory, of retrieving donuts? It’s certainly among the earliest. That countertop at the store, curved at one end, men sitting on stools, drinking coffee from porcelain Dunkin’ Donuts mugs. An open window, a ledge, maybe it’s actually a dutch door, leading to the back where they’re making the donuts. The smell of freshly baked donuts. The light through the shop’s front windows. We pick up a dozen assorted and hop back on the motorcycle to go home.

2

I’m trying not to eat sugar. It’s impossible, of course. Especially when the boss brings in two full boxes of Krispy Kremes. And I don’t even like Krispy Kreme. Sure, there’s something about a Hot Fresh Now glazed Krispy Kreme, but they’re unsatisfying and too sweet and leave a rancid taste in my mouth. But the box he leaves downstairs with us is a variety pack and one is jelly and one is crème with chocolate frosting and both of those sound gross just thinking about them but I take both of them and I eat both of them. What can a poor boy do but eat the gross pastries set in front of him?