In our 12th Age year, I remember that we began to start "feeling our oats" a little, and one day we decided we were going to hold a lunch protest. I am fairly sure I always enjoyed the Calvert lunches, but when orange wedges or apple slices replaced tastier desserts, I think I agreed to join the rebel faction in the boycott the next day. I told my mom the night before that we were "asked to bring our own lunches" to school, and she dutifully packed a brown bag lunch for me (probably with orange wedges or apple slices for dessert!). The next day most of the class had made the good decision not to protest, but I, along with a few others, marched (in an orderly, straight line of course) down the stairs, past the world map with all the pins indicating locations of students using the home instruction program, to the lunch line. We then proudly refused lunch, sat down at the long table, and started to dig into our homemade goodies. Before I could even entertain taking a bite, I was sent back upstairs to the black chair outside of Mr. Kirk's office, a seat I tried to avoid at all costs. Sitting with my brown bag lunch untouched in my lap, I heard Mr. Kirk call my mom and his reaction when they unmasked the deception. I believe my co-conspirators and I missed a few recesses that week, and the conversation at home was not an enjoyable one. I also remember a few high fives at dismissal that day amongst the rebel faction! Forty years later, I have to chuckle when one of my children, both at Calvert, ask to have a lunch packed for school the next day for a field trip or some other special occasion. I'd have to say that I have a different appreciation of the "Calvert Bundle," including provided lunches (apple slices and all) now more than I did as a 12-year-old troublemaker.
