A minor clarification: while orange sodas were indeed called "hodies," the chocolate soda was called "mavis," not "marvis."

He works at the restaurant at the end of New York City from about 7 a.m. until midafternoon, whenever the truckers and construction workers stop buying cheesesteaks, hot dogs and chocolate sodas.

The survivors began to fantasize aloud: chocolate sodas, whipped cream, hamburgers; one crew member had been the second headwaiter at the Waldorf, so his monologues were fancier and in French.

How about a chocolate soda?

Morris Macy prefers a chocolate ice-cream soda, while his wife, Ruth - another longtime patron - favors coffee soda with vanilla ice cream.

You looked cool this afternoon, Miss Lavinia, when you was in for a chocolate soda.

His chocolate ice-cream soda stood on the corner of Mr Keene's desk, the cherry on top sinking slowly into a goo of whipped cream.

He was drinking a chocolate soda; hers was strawberry.

So, confused and nervous that once more I've dilly-dallied too long, I retreat to the Sweet Shop for a chocolate soda and time to think.

Charlie down at the candy store tells me the Pear-shaped Man comes in every afternoon at four-thirty and has himself a chocolate ice-cream soda, but far as we can tell, that's all he eats.