Spending My Research Grant on Jelly Beans

Okay, so here’s this thing that I’ve been meaning to confess. I know it sounds crazy and completely out of character for a grad student like me who spends all day working in the lab, but my research grant? Yeah, a good chunk of it was spent buying jelly beans. Like, hundreds of them. The kind with different flavors, cherry, lemon, even pickle. When I first got the money, I thought about how many supplies and equipment I could buy for my project on taste perception in rats. But something just took over me when I saw all those colorful bags at the candy store. I kept thinking it was one of those things that would be okay since they’re technically food items... but really, no way. My adviser would flip if they knew. Every time I look at my petri dishes full of jelly bean bits instead of important research chemicals, I feel a little sick to my stomach. Still, sometimes when I’m super stressed out in the lab or just feeling down, I sneak one from the stash and it makes me feel better for like two minutes. But then the guilt hits hard. I mean, here’s hoping no one ever finds out.