37 pages 1 hour read

Neil Gaiman

Fortunately, the Milk

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2013

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Pages 1-31

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Pages 1-31 Summary

A young boy (the narrator) and his younger sister are discussing what they can put on their cereal (ketchup? mayonnaise?) since they are out of milk. They are out of milk because their father forgot to buy it.

The previous evening, their mother left home to present a paper on lizards, leaving their father in charge. She told their father (who was reading his newspaper) about household matters and the daily schedule and mentioned that they were “almost out of milk” (3). He seemed to hear her.

The father took the kids out to dinner because reheating the frozen meal left by their mom did not go well, and he forgot to buy milk. In the morning, the children tell their father that there is no milk for cereal (or his tea), so he walks to the corner shop to get some. A long time passes, during which time the children drink orange juice and think about eating pickles. The little sister practices her violin until her brother asks her to stop. Finally, their father comes home with the milk. When the children ask why it took so long, he comes up with the following fantastical story.

Related Titles

By Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

American Gods

Neil Gaiman

American Gods

Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

Anansi Boys

Neil Gaiman

Anansi Boys

Neil Gaiman

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

Good Omens

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

Study Guide

logo

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Neil Gaiman

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

October in the Chair

Neil Gaiman

October in the Chair

Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

Odd and the Frost Giants

Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost Giants

Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Neil Gaiman

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1

Neil Gaiman

The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1

Neil Gaiman

Study Guide

logo

The Sleeper and the Spindle

Neil Gaiman

The Sleeper and the Spindle

Neil Gaiman