Lunchbox

I was preparing my lunchbox a while ago. While preparing, I reminisced the past.

I was thinking of packing some chips to school. However, I would never put that idea into action. Back in the kindy, we had a strict regulations on junk food. Initially, almost everyone would pack junk foods to school. Not my mother though. They are convenient and... delicious?

Back then, there were no specific regulation from the ministry on junk foods at school. The new regulation was introduced to our teacher to encourage students to have proper nutrition. However, students speculated that, our teacher impose the rule because of our tendency to litter. After eating those junk foods we would simply throw the packaging on the school ground. The refuse bin is always full anyway. That is just a speculation.

Our teacher, Madam Suzanna and Madam Annie would inspect our lunchbox. Students line up and show the teachers what they are packing for recess. A friend of mine, Jacqueline brought a lunchbox full of fish crackers to school. She usually shares her lunch with her twin cousins, Rachael and Cynthia. Madam Suzanna warned her not to bring junk food to school.

She did the same the following day. A few seconds later, she received a stroke of rattan cane. She cried. Even worse, her lunch was confiscated. So Jacqueline, Rachael and Cynthia have no food for recess. Luckily, Robson was kind enough to offer them some of his lunch. Valena too. I didn't offer them mine because I would usually pack boiled egg with soy sauce and vegetables. I have the most boring food.

We think that she's innocent because she only bring the contents of the packaging. Yes, we didn't know the idea behind the new rule. We thought that we are good enough not to litter the school compound. This was more than 20 years ago.

Children never care whether our food are nutritious or not. We cared more about the taste.

Yes, our teacher would cane us. However, I had no resentment towards my teachers. They were brought up the same way. And I don't promote canning. We've taste our medicine. Detention is better.

Packing junk food for recess? I would definitely think twice.