His aunt had told him once that coffee didn't mold. "So long as it's BLACK coffee", she'd say with an emphasis on black. He never looked this up but it seemed believable. Not that he believed it, but he could imagine someone else listening to his aunt and being convinced.

He drank coffee black for the most part. In his mind it was coffee's equivalent to smoking

Marlboro

Reds. Not everybody preferred it, but it was agreed that for some people it was the only damn way.

There were a lot of people who drank black coffee as a regualr thing, but who were these people who smoked Marlboro Reds? Actually smoked them. Long term. Not just because they were trying to be someone who smoked Reds. Everybody he knew who smoked Marlboro Reds were only doing so because they were trying to be like people who smoked them. But he had never actually met anyone in real life who... actually.. smoked them.

Weird he thought. Sipped his black coffee. Then took another swig. He had to get his caffeine in now since he couldn't use his thermos to take some togo. He would need the caffeine stay awake for the upcoming class. It was his longest class this semester. 3pm to 4:50.