Malt Balls

It is almost easter

and my boss brought in some

Brach’s Pastel Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs

and set them out on our desk

but behind the counter

so only employees would see them

and could secretly snack on them all day long

I am delighted by this turn of events

because I was raised right

and love all malted milk balls

that are crisp and flakey

and melt in your mouth

by which I mean that are not Whoppers

which are really hard and unfortunate

When I was little my Mom

would have me suck on the shell

of Brach’s Pastel Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs

and use the candy to paint my lips white

like chalky mod lipstick and I would climb

up on the sink in the bathroom

to admire the effect in the mirror

back then I thought malt balls

were a waste of candy

but i didn’t mind getting to lick

the hyper-sweet sugar off afterwards

as it lingered in the corners of my mouth

and on the furthest edges of my lips

And my mom would insist on buying them

on putting them in my easter basket anyway

with the Cadbury Cream Eggs and Mini Chocolate Eggs

because candy lipstick is fun for a few days

and then she would get to eat all the leftovers

Now I eat Brach’s Pastel Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs

whenever someone else buys them

and i do not try and use them for lipstick

but i do suck on them a little before I bite into them

to get the taste of the candy shell

for old times sake