A Snapshot of My Middle School Lunch Menu
by T.E.N.
Bright Before Us Like a Flame Contest Honorable Mention
Artist’s Note
During my middle school years, my grandpa would leave my grandparents’ house before I woke up and arrive to pack my lunch just as I was waking up. When I would stand at the bathroom sink brushing my teeth, I’d hear the soft jingle of his keys from our porch and the creak of the door as he let himself in. We would wish each other a good morning in Cantonese while he shed his coat and comfy sneakers, and whilst I made myself breakfast, he packed me a hot lunch from dishes my grandmother cooked. This is an idealized version of a “month in the life” of middle school lunches he and my grandmother assembled for me. This art is inspired by the monthly school lunch calendars I received in elementary school, which previewed what the school cafeteria’s upcoming menu would be. I rarely bought lunch at school because I was lucky enough to have a lunch packed for me. My lunches are characterized by a variety and abundance of dishes, showcasing the care my family took to feed me a rich and balanced diet. Though it is an all-too-familiar experience for ethnic children, particularly those of Asian descent, to experience social rejection for their traditional foods, when I look back at my school lunch days, I can’t help but feel nostalgic, grateful, and proud. Because my parents worked full time and were going through a difficult time, having my grandfather help get me ready for school was greatly helpful. I included half an orange in every day’s lunch menu because in reality, this was a staple in my lunchbox (the other half went in my younger sibling’s lunch), but also to represent the sense of stability and care that my grandparents’ presence had during my school years.
T.E.N. (he/they) is a Filipino and Chinese-American writer who hails from the DMV and now resides in the Midwest. His work has been previously published by Shout Mouse Press in The Light Looks Like Me. Outside of writing, they enjoy reading, cooking, bike-riding, and playing trumpet. He hopes people recognize the power of community when they read his work.