Massey, the lunch lady. She’s always kind to me. Giving me extra Gatorade on Fridays.
My friend and I would always visit Massey when we finished our lunches early.
Me, my friend and Massey; behind the lunch counter.
You know how I never tried anything new, she would say to me。We listened to her childhood stories. How she went through tiresome, boring days. I ask her if she had any hobbies. She tells me she never did and never will. I plead her to tell me. I could tell she was lying; because of the way her mouth will get thinner and thinner. My friend and I plead and plead.
She gave up. Lowered her voice, and said:
I would always go into my mom’s room and turn on her karaoke machine, and I would sing so much my throat will hurt. She tells us and giggles like crazy. As if it’s some joke.
As if her dream was a joke.
We both beg her to sing. So she did. She stood up and started singing.
We gaped as if the radio was turned on to that program “The Best Singer”.
We start shouting when she’s done. We tell her to become a singer. We tell her and tell her. But all she does is smile sadly.
Then she laughs again, and says; my dreams right in here! She taps her head lightly and looks into the distance, she looks as if she’s in some fantasy land. Where she could sing all she wants; nothing stopping her.
I’m sure Massey might not know her talent. But I can tell she has noticed it. She’s just not believing in her dreams.
I wouldn’t ever want to be in her situation; my life would be full of regret.
I know working in the school kitchens isn’t the best job.
She could be living a life of a star.
I’ll work hard Massey. I say to her I’ll live my dream for you. As I finish, Massey smiles. Tears in her eyes.
She nods in agreement and hugs me tightly.
You do just that, she whispers.
My friend and I would always visit Massey when we finished our lunches early.
Me, my friend and Massey; behind the lunch counter.
You know how I never tried anything new, she would say to me。We listened to her childhood stories. How she went through tiresome, boring days. I ask her if she had any hobbies. She tells me she never did and never will. I plead her to tell me. I could tell she was lying; because of the way her mouth will get thinner and thinner. My friend and I plead and plead.
She gave up. Lowered her voice, and said:
I would always go into my mom’s room and turn on her karaoke machine, and I would sing so much my throat will hurt. She tells us and giggles like crazy. As if it’s some joke.
As if her dream was a joke.
We both beg her to sing. So she did. She stood up and started singing.
We gaped as if the radio was turned on to that program “The Best Singer”.
We start shouting when she’s done. We tell her to become a singer. We tell her and tell her. But all she does is smile sadly.
Then she laughs again, and says; my dreams right in here! She taps her head lightly and looks into the distance, she looks as if she’s in some fantasy land. Where she could sing all she wants; nothing stopping her.
I’m sure Massey might not know her talent. But I can tell she has noticed it. She’s just not believing in her dreams.
I wouldn’t ever want to be in her situation; my life would be full of regret.
I know working in the school kitchens isn’t the best job.
She could be living a life of a star.
I’ll work hard Massey. I say to her I’ll live my dream for you. As I finish, Massey smiles. Tears in her eyes.
She nods in agreement and hugs me tightly.
You do just that, she whispers.
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