Almost Fair

We learned young that there is no fairness to life, it takes money to make money, or

Something along those lines. I try to tell that to children who have nothing, 

Those whose families cannot provide medicine or proper health care. They listen

With big eyes, nodding. Their congressmen tell them they’re leeches.

Perhaps mum shouldn’t have had that one more mouth to feed. Sitting in their 

Judgement seats, deciding who deserves to be healthy, who gets birth control, 

Who thrives, who wilts. If one has the means the pearl has been pre-harvested 

From its calcified cocoon, sitting plump and pretty to be strung on a necklace of 

Achievement. While others dive deep, repeatedly, tirelessly in search of reward,

Often reduced to dashing their oysters against the rocks of their existence. 

On Facebook a friend and I were discussing food insecurity in the U.S. I related the following true story:

When I taught sixth grade one of my students, Charlie, was caught stealing from another teacher’s file cabinet. He only took candy bars, even though she had money in her purse. When we began questioning him we learned he was hungry. 

His stepdad had gotten a raise and they no longer qualified for free or reduced lunch. 

My principal was pretty astute. She brought Charlie’s little sister in and learned that the family decided she’d get to eat lunch. 

I kicked myself for not noticing that Charlie wasn’t eating. 

It turned out that Charlie was being neglected. He went to live with his grandmother in another state. Sent me a photo of himself smiling, with chubby cheeks. 

Until that experience I just didn’t have a clue.

Every time I hear that a politician wants to cut food stamps or do away with the free or reduced lunch programs in schools I think of Charlie. Our current Speaker of the House, Republican Paul Ryan, would have us believe that the free lunch programs in schools are a drain on our society. I say, let him try living the life of a hungry sixth grader for a year. 

“In 2014: 48.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 32.8 million adults and 15.3 million children. 14 percent of households (17.4 million households) were food insecure. 6 percent of households (6.9 million households) experienced very low food security.” From Child Hunger Facts and Statistics.