Our home ec class is going to make lunch
for a teacher. First
we have to decide who to invite
and what to make.
“Let’s ask Mr. Pease,” Karen says.
“He’s not married and doesn’t have anyone
to cook for him.”
Everyone thinks that’s a good idea,
and Miss Whittaker’s face turns rosy.
Stacey volunteers to give him the invitation
because she has pretty penmanship
and fancy stationery.
Miss Whittaker says we should plan a balanced menu
and make simple dishes that we can prepare ahead,
so on the day of the lunch
we’ll just heat them up and arrange them nicely.
She writes three headings on the blackboard:
|
Appetizer or Salad |
Main Course |
Dessert |
We call out our ideas,
wearing our aprons that we sewed last spring
and our hairnets.
|
Potato Salad |
Meat loaf |
Chocolate cake |
|
Salad |
Spaghetti |
Banana splits |
|
Potato chips |
Macaroni and cheese |
Rice pudding |
|
|
Ham sandwiches |
|
|
|
Barbecue ribs |
|
|
|
Tuna casserole |
|
|
|
Roast lamb |
|
|
|
Pork chops |
|
|
|
Roast chicken |
|
|
|
Beefaroni |
|
Miss Whittaker steps back
and studies the blackboard,
twirling a strand of her hair.
“I have an idea—what about . . .”
|
Salad with iceberg |
Oyster stew |
Pudding parfaits |
|
lettuce and |
|
|
|
tomatoes |
|
|
|
Corn bread |
|
|
|
|
Everyone thinks Miss Whittaker’s menu is a good idea.
“We have four kitchens and sixteen girls,” she says.
“Each kitchen will make one item,
and one girl in each group will
plan the ingredients and the shopping
and supervise the cooking.”
I’ve never heard of oyster stew or pudding parfaits,
so I can’t make them
(but I will taste them),
and a salad with only three ingredients
is too easy.
“My kitchen can make the corn bread,” I say.
“I make it all the time at home.”
“Then you will supervise,” Miss Whittaker says,
touching the chalk to her chin. “Thank you, Mimi.”
The other girls in my kitchen—Karen, Joyce, and Debbie—
say okay, fine, sure. It’s hard to tell if they’re happy
because we’re making corn bread
or because they’re not in charge.