Writing the Self 3: Breakfast


“Girls come eat, breakfast is ready!” my mom shouts from the kitchen. I hurry to put on my new jeans and t-shirt. A special back-to-school outfit that my mom bought for me. I finish getting dressed, brush my hair, and then proceed to the kitchen. The rich smell of waffles and syrup fill my nose. My little sister is already seated at the kitchen table eating her breakfast. She is wearing her new school outfit too. I look down at the two toaster-waffles on my plate next to some bananas and strawberries. I drench the waffles in maple syrup before scarfing them down.


My stomach is growling from being too full after I am done eating. Waffles are one of my favourite breakfast foods. I wish my mom would have remembered to buy wipe cream to go with them. Oh well, next time. My sister and I put our shoes on just as the bus arrives to take us to school. On the bus ride, my stomach won’t stop moaning. I shouldn’t have eaten that extra waffle, but it tasted so good. I ignore the growling of my stomach and hope that the kids around me won’t notice either.

When we get to school, I step off the bus and head for the doors. Once inside, I notice some kids going to the open-area instead of the classroom. I wonder why? Maybe they’re in trouble? Or maybe there is a presentation going on in there that only some kids get to see? Fifteen minutes pass before my classmates return. I turn around in my desk and ask the girl behind me where they were. She tells me eating breakfast.


I am puzzled by her answer. I thought everyone just ate breakfast before school like me. Confused, I dig for more information, “why didn’t you just eat at home?” The girls face blushes red for a moment and she looks away from me. “Because they have better food here than what I have at home. Plus its free, which my mom tells me is a good thing,” she candidly responds. Oh no I didn’t mean to embarrass her or make her feel bad. I decide to change the subject, “Was the food yummy?” I ask. The girls eyes light up, “Oh yeah, I had chocolate chip pancakes and an apple,” she says with a smile on her face. I smile back and wait for class to start.


I never knew that we had a breakfast program, or that my classmates still needed breakfast when they got to school. All I know for sure is that chocolate chip pancakes beat waffles any day in my books.

Comments

  1. DaynaMay 22, 2019 at 9:04 PM

    I snickered at your title because you chose to write about relating class with food; I did the exact same comparison in my story. Interesting how food is a need, but the type of food and the amount of food a person eats is different for everyone. You included a normative narrative in your story that suggests you eat breakfast at home, before you go somewhere. I would agree with this idea as a child growing up, my school never had a breakfast program, but as I got older I started to see the need for nutrition programs in some schools. I enjoyed your comment "I wish mom would of remembered to buy whipping cream." This assumes all sorts of normative narratives: mom does the grocery shopping and you can add 'fluff' to your meals for enjoyment, instead of just the necessities to stay alive. And it's safe to say you assume this because you've tasted whip cream on waffles before! And I agree, it's delicious. This was a very insightful read, great work Kelsey!

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    1. DaynaMay 22, 2019 at 9:06 PM

      My reply shows as Unknown, sorry about that! Sincerely, Dayna

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