Charlie and I had to swing by Tommy's school yesterday to straighten out his lunch money account. It wasn't a big deal, but I'd much rather talk to people in person than make a phone call.
Riding the bus is the highlight of Tommy's day, so we stood on the corner, watched him get on the bus, waved goodbye and then got in my car and followed the bus to school. It probably took Charlie and me 20 minutes to drop some excess candy off with Tommy's teacher and track down the head lunch lady. Some days doing stuff like this with Charlie just takes extra patience. I wasn't in a hurry though, so I'd decided to let Charlie have a bit more freedom to meander than usual.
When we left the head lunch lady's office, I caught sight of Tommy sitting at a cafeteria table eating toast with a group of older girls. As far as I know that the bus drops them off in front of the school and then they play in the playground until the line-up bell rings. I also know that the school provides a breakfast for the YMCA daycare kids and for anyone who wants to bring their kids early and pay for breakfast. It's probably one of those low-income subsidized meals things, but I don't think anyone that goes to this school actually qualifies for that. I could be wrong though. I waved goodbye to Tommy as we walked out, but didn't go over to talk to him because I didn't want to cramp his style.
I asked him about it when he got home yesterday, in my best, casual, not-prying, motherly way.
Me: So why were you in the cafeteria this morning?
Tommy: Oh, I was hanging out with the group that used to be called The Tigers.
Me: That group of older girls?
Tommy: They're not that old. I think they're in 1st grade, or maybe 2nd grade. I was in the Tigers with them, but that group broke up.
Me: Were there any other boys or kindergarteners in The Tigers?
Tommy: Nope. Just me. We went around helping people at recess.
Me: Oh. So why were you in the cafeteria?
Tommy: I wanted some toast.
Me: How did you get toast?
Tommy: Did you know that the lunch ladies sometimes have leftover breakfast food? They almost always give me some if I go in there.
Me: Do you have to pay for it?
Tommy: Nope. They just give it to me!
Me: Huh. So how often do you eat a 2nd breakfast at school?
Tommy: Just sometimes. When I think of it. Or when my friends are in there.
Me: But I gave you two breakfasts yesterday! You had cereal and then you ate a sandwich right before giong out to the bus.
Tommy: Well, I wasn't really all that hungry, but it makes the lunch ladies so happy to feed me. I was just trying to be nice.
Me: I see.
What a charmer. Making the lunch ladies AND the Tigers happy. I like their mission--both groups. Go Tommy.
Posted by: Grammy Nancy | November 03, 2009 at 03:51 PM
WOW! These windows into the mind of a five-year-old are absolutely fascinating.
Posted by: Sylvia | November 04, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Sally, you absolutely MUST ask aunt Erin to tell you and Tommy about the "bread table" they had at her grade school, in Holyrood, KS.
Posted by: Ben | November 05, 2009 at 02:38 PM