Response to "Pet Milk"

I find it incredibly interesting how Stuart Dybek constructs the narration of "Pet Milk." In this short story, Dybek begins with a reminiscent recollection of his grandmother, her kitchen, and her fake milk drinking habits. He then moves on to construct a vivid memory in which the first person narrator is back with an old girlfriend of his, directly after college. He takes us into this special nostalgic world in which the narrator is happily dating this girl, and their time as regulars in this Czechoslovakian restaurant, with a favorite waiter and usual post-meal drink favorite.

By the time this brief short story reaches even the middle, I feel quite cozily nestled in the corner of this restaurant, as though watching the happy nights unfold with Rudi serving up King Alphonses to this young couple. I understand the message the narrator is getting at- the fleetingness of this moment, the painful awareness of the fleetingness of it all. Life is brief; life is quick; and often, we can feel so clearly the moments slipping past us, even as we are still enjoying dinner at a restaurant together.

The grand finale to this reminiscent tale seems like a very climatic ending (no pun intended) to the passage, and a symbolic metaphor for the implied ending of the relationship. The hot and steamy train ride does not come off as sleazy and as exhibitionist as sex in a public train might, but instead almost touching and, dare I say it, romantic?

Overall, a heartfelt tale of a remembered moment in time, nestled with a nice anecdote of remembrance through the opening grandmother scene.