First Focus on Children

Anonymous I’m a school nurse. We have a rule. Kids without lunch money get a cold cheese sandwich. Nothing else. It’s policy. This boy came in one Wednesday. Sixth grader. Stomach pain he said. I’ve been doing this twenty years. I know real stomach pain and I know hunger. “When did you last eat?” He looked at the floor. “Yesterday lunch.” Sent him to the cafeteria with a note. Told them to give him a full hot meal. Pasta. Salad. Milk. The works. Cafeteria lady looked at my note. Looked at me. Gave him the tray without a word. He ate like he hadn’t seen food in days. Probably hadn’t. Came back to my office after. “Am I in trouble?” “For what?” “For eating.” “That’s what food is for.” Started keeping granola bars, peanut butter crackers, juice boxes in my bottom drawer. For kids who come in with headaches that are really hunger. Stomachaches that are really empty. I’m not supposed to. Technically against policy. Don’t care. Told my principal once. She looked at me for a long moment..... Opened her desk drawer. Showed me her stash. Crackers. Fruit snacks. Applesauce. “What drawer?” she said. We never spoke of it again. That sixth grader is in high school now. Came to find me last spring. “I just wanted you to know I’m okay. And that I remembered. I always will.” He volunteers at a food bank on weekends. Has since he was thirteen. Best granola bars I ever bought.