When I was but a young lass, yes, a young girl in elementary school, my mother would make me lunch every morning. She brown-bagged it like everyone else, but unlike everyone else, my brown bag lunches were not made up of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like the rest of my peers. They were something a little bit healthier.

I was in the fourth grade, and everyday my peers and I would eat lunch in a large multi-purpose room that had a stage on one end. It doubled as an auditorium, and was where we had our school assemblies. For lunchtime though, brown circular table with wheels and were rolled out and unfolded. Around the tables were awful bright orange plastic chairs, that reminded me vaguely of the ’70’s.

It was a school day like any other, and lunch was approaching. The bell rang; I went and grabbed my brown-bagged lunch and headed over to my assigned seat (this was elementary school, remember). I sat down and took out my lunch. I pulled out my sandwich and took a bite, savoring every moment, when suddenly the kid sitting down next to me exclaims.
“Ewwwwwww!!!!! Mona is eating cockroaches!!! Gross!”

I was confused. I looked down and put two and two together: the kid did not know about olives! Black delicious tasty olives that my mom put into my sandwiches! I started to laugh to myself and proceeded to chew with my mouth slightly open making sure to have a teeny piece of the olive hanging out of my mouth. I looked over, mouth stuffed with olive sandwich and said, “Would you like some? They are quite delicious!”

I start laughing, at first my lunch table is confused, but they soon catch on. Leaving the lunchroom that day, I walk with a spring in my step, grateful that my mom fed me healthy!