Who Loves Orange Soda?

Do you have a favorite kind of soda? Like cola or lemon-lime or Dr. What’s-his-name? I certainly do: I love orange soda.

If you’re around my age, you might be familiar with another person who loved orange soda: the character of Kel, from the 90s sitcom Kenan and Kel. In the show, Kel would recite the following words each time came into contact with the orange ambrosia: “Who loves orange soda? Kel loves orange soda! Is it true? Mm-hmm! I do, I do, I do, I do-oo!” The long-running gag left an impression on me, and to this day I often quote Kel’s orange soda monologue when I’m buying some, usually to the annoyance and perplexity of my friends. A few days ago, I was buying some Drive-In movie snacks at the grocery store, and when my girlfriend and I reached the soda aisle, I naturally picked up a bottle of orange soda and began the ritual.

“Who loves orange soda?” I sang. Before I could recite the next line, someone else called out.

“Kel loves orange soda!”

My girlfriend and I both looked to our left: another customer in the soda aisle had finished the line. No one had ever done that before! For a brief moment, I finally felt that my silly allusion was appreciated.

My girlfriend, however, still just thinks I’m silly.