Bye bye recess

Dear Sally,

I am sorry to tell you but I am the one that stole your recess and ate your chocolate cake. By accident.

Just hear me out.

The day started like any other day with my mum handing me my lunchbox. I could hear some rattling and rolling inside as I placed it in my schoolbag. It was the end of the month, and mum probable packed whatever random edible thing she could find to keep me full during the day. I snuck a peek and saw raw, unsalted peanuts, skin on and scattered all over my vegemite sandwich. I knew I was having vegemite as a black smear on top marked the contents inside. Mum wasted nothing and had the habit of cleaning the knife on top of my sandwich before cutting it in half. It was also before the days of the trusted ziplock bag and fancy compartmentalised lunchboxes we see today. There was nothing that could prevent al the nuts from socialising with my sandwich.

I remember Miss Linda comforting me after the first bell rang as a disagreement with a friend became an ordeal that consumed my mind that entire day. We were only seven and outside help from a teacher was necessary to work through an apology or any confronting situation.

Remember how long a day in school felt? So much happened from the moment we were dropped off until our mums waited at the gate to take us home.

Between the fight with my friend and Miss Linda’s warm hug with her fluffy white jumper, I honestly forgot all about what I had packed for recess. Truely.

The bell rang and the best part of the day was announced. Recess! We raced to the jungle gym, not motivated by hunger but to get to the top of the tower as fast as possible. During this race for victory, we all threw our lunchboxes into the sand and started climbing for dear life. We had matching lunchboxes. Sally, your lunch box was pink with a green lid. So was mine.

It turned out that whatever my friend and I was arguing about wasn’t completely resolved and we both reopened the case and went for another round of fighting. I remember that I climbed down and grabbed my lunchbox - your lunch box - and went to sit in the tunnel in the other playground. When I opened my lunchbox, all my troubles melted away as I stared at the most beautifully packed lunchbox I had ever seen. Decadent chocolate cake that had a black rich crumb, moist with a fudgy icing on top. There was no fork inside so I grabbed it with my bare dusty hands and stuffed it into the gaping hole in my face.

I only had cake when it was someone’s birthday. Sally, was it you birthday? Anyway I finished the cake and I tried to think where mum got it when I suddenly remember the rattling in the morning. I realised to my horror that this was not my lunch, and that out there somewhere someone else is hungry and probably very, very angry. I closed the lid and ran to the jungle gym where everyone was still carelessly playing and having fun.

Like a true coward, I placed the lunchbox back amongst the scattered containers and disappeared into the sea of other kids. At this point I didn’t know it was your cake I ate.

I heard a squeal and a yell as you opened your lunchbox and witnessed the crime scene. Oh Sally, I am so sorry. I clearly remember your shocked face while yelling, “someone ate my cake!” I sat undetected in a shady spot and observed from a distance how you tried to digest the crime that was committed against you. You had beautiful straight, long, blond hair and I had short, unruly brown hair. By judging the contents of your lunchbox, your parents were probably rich and I mine were not. This was not act of jealousy, I promise, but of mistaken identity. Our matching lunchboxes were the only thing we had in common. I am sorry that I didn’t speak up and confessed. Like I said, I needed Miss Linda to help me resolve playground conflicts and she was nowhere around.

I am older now and can easily admit when I am in the wrong, however my courage is still under construction. I am writing to you and hopefully one day I can say it to your face. Please forgive me for stealing your cake. I feel awful and wish I could undo this crime of my youth.

Yours truely,

Cake Thief

P.S If you happen to have the recipe of that cake, or maybe could ask you mum for it, that would be very much appreciated.