Leila didn’t even bother to unwrap her sandwiches at lunchtime. She knew they’d be peanut butter again. She was sick of telling Mum not to give her peanut butter.
“Peanut butter sandwiches again!” she said to Sam.
“Yum,” said Sam. “I love peanut butter. We never have it.”
“Swap you, then,” Leila said.
“Sure,” said Sam happily. “You can have my tuna sandwiches.” He took Leila’s sandwiches and skipped away.
“What is tuna?” asked Leila, unwrapping Sam’s sandwiches. She had a sniff. “Pooh! It’s fish! Hey, Amber, do you like tuna sandwiches?”
“Delicious!” said Amber. “Can I have one?”
“You can have them all,” Leila said, pulling a face.
“But then you’ll be hungry,” Amber said. “Here, you’d better have my cake.”
“Ooh! Thanks, Amber,” said Leila. But when she unwrapped it, she found it was carrot cake. “Boring old carrot cake,” she sighed. “Mum makes that all the time.”
Jeremy heard her. “Carrot cake!” he exclaimed. “That’s my favourite!”
“What will you swap me for it?” Leila asked.
“I’ll give you some sandwiches,” said Jeremy, pulling a face. “I got them from Sam. They’re so weird! You’ll never guess what’s in them.” He held the sandwiches out to Leila. “Ook puke! Marmite and banana!”
“Marmite and banana!” cried Leila. “My favourite! Thanks, Jeremy!”
The sandwiches were delicious. Leila ate every bit of them, even the crusts.
When she got home after school, Leila said, “Mum! Guess what I had for lunch today! Marmite and banana sandwiches!”
“I thought you’d be pleased,” said Mum. “I knew you were sick of peanut butter.”
Leila stared at Mum. “But … you gave me peanut butter sandwiches. I swapped my carrot cake for the marmite and banana ones.”
“No, dear,” said Mum. “I didn’t give you any carrot cake today.”
Leila shook her head. “No! I mean Amber swapped me the cake for Sam’s tuna sandwiches.”
“I see …” said Mum, as if she didn’t see at all. “And what did you give Sam?”
“My peanut butter sandwiches,” said Leila. “Oh! But they weren’t …?”
“No,” Mum said. “They weren’t peanut butter sandwiches — they were …”
“Marmite and banana!” laughed Leila and Mum together.
“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed them,” said Mum. “I’ve got plenty of bananas, so you can have marmite and banana sandwiches every day this week. OK?”
“Choice!” said Leila.
‘Leila’s Lunch’ was first published by Random House New Zealand in 30 New Zealand Stories for Children in October 2000.