Lunch

I received a note from Abigail's teacher informing me that a boy in her class was going to celebrate his birthday at school. The boys' mothers was providing pizza for lunch.  With this knowledge I did a secret happy dance because I really hate packing lunch everyday.  Abigail had others ideas, "I don't want to eat the pizza.  I will have to eat it with my hands and I don't do that."  Thinking peer pressure would sent in, I sent her to school without a lunch hoping she would pick the pizza up and eat it like four million other Americans.

All day I thought about what happened at lunch, I couldn't wait for the bus to arrive so I could begin my endless questioning.  Finally the moment of truth, "How was the pizza?"  "It was good, but I was still hungry so I bought lunch."  "What do you mean you bought lunch?"  "I went in the buyer line and I bought lunch."  "I don't understand.  How could you buy lunch? You don't have a code." "I got a chicken patty and I just put numbers in."  "Why did you do that?"  "Because I didn't like the grilled cheese." "NO, why did you think you could just buy lunch?"  "Because I was still hungry. Please don't send me to school without a lunchbox again."  "I though Herbert's** mother was bringing lunch.  Was she even there or is a different day."  "She was there and the cupcakes were good."  "I'm done.  Do you want a snack?"  "No, I'm not hungry."

I am still confused.  Each child is assigned a numerical code for lunch and each code comes with an account the parents add money to when needed.  I never set up our account because I prefer to send the kids with lunch.  I apologize and thank the parents who paid for Abigail's chicken patty.


**Names have been changed to protect the pizza boy and mother.