Gripping the cart, knuckles white with fear br He gazed what seemed a mile of aisle br Cases stacked full with dreamy whipped br Flavor on flavor of cool refreshing br Ice Cream! br br Bowing his head br He bolted across the floor br Not daring to look on left or right br His feet breezing like Hermes across br The linoleum with oh! such a br Slide at the finish. br br But just as he made the turn br A home stretch to the register and br Freedom br He spied out the corner of his unwary br Eye, the tempting froth of frosty br Strawberry Ripple peeking out the top of an br Olympian bucket, some trickster had viciously marked br “On Sale.” br br His hand, out of body, acted on its own br Shoved aside the blithering brain br Grabbed the heavenly concoction br And flew effortlessly through the checkout br Without the slightest protest or whimper br Of remorse. br br At home on the sofa, spoon in hand br A smile of sophistic satisfaction br Erased the last semblance of reason br His stubby fingers loosening his belt br One more notch br Thinking with absolute conviction, by Zeus! br That the diet could easily be resumed br Promptly br On the morrow.