Took my kid and a friend to Culver’s today
I’ve probably purchased over a hundred kids meals
In the course of living in this part of town 
And today is the first time
I perused the menu on my phone
Clicking through options 
And realized they could have gotten
A complimentary scoop of custard 
With their meal
The deja vu hit me
And I suddenly remembered
This happened once before
Chick-fil-A also gives a choice 
To replace a cheap toy
With a cup or cone of soft serve
And it was not until many meals later
That I discovered this incentive 
Today, this knowledge made me irrationally angry
Why had no one offered the custard before?
Why had no one offered the cup or cone?
How many times have kids gone without
When it has always been there
Simply waiting for someone to ask?
But perhaps I should stop expecting better
There is no shame in big business
They expect you to manage
Your own bonuses
Hidden in plain view
They’ll give you the crappy toy
Or the coupon for later
Anything but the actual treat
After all
It’s the American way
To look out only for
Yourself