The Kennedy Tales: In the Cafeteria
When the bell rang and signaled lunch A,1
I grabbed my books and quickly made my way
I looked around to find a quiet place to sit,
But every table was so full I could barely fit
5 Until my eyes landed on a spot in the corner
So I sat alone because I was a foreigner.2
As I watched the lines fill with impatient students
I wondered if any of them exercised prudence
Because a lot of them were pushing and shoving
10 Two minutes into lunch and they were rushing.
There I wanted to watch how they acted closely
Because I wanted to know who to avoid mostly.
And with that I began my careful observance,
But I did it silently so I wasn’t a disturbance.
A Poindexter decides to sit alone in the far-left corner of the same table, however, no one seems to notice her because of her quiet nature and bashfulness. The narrator decides to take this time to observe her.
15 The POINDEXTER wore plain and simple clothes
With wide lensed glasses perched on her nose.
Her cheap blue jeans were old and worn
And looked so used it was almost torn.
The short sleeves of her shirt were too wide
20 So it looked as if she had no arms from the side.3
Her physique was small, frail, and petite
But that was overlooked because she was sweet
Especially when she spoke to the other school girls
With their make-up covered faces and hair in curls.
25 She was quite the opposite in physical appearance
Because her clothes were all from clearance.4
Next to her was a tall pile of books
That seemed time-consuming to read by the looks,
But she continued to read them with delight
30 And in the best parts, her smile was bright.
The books were arranged and organized so neat
Before she got comfortable and settled in her seat.
There she began reading them cover to cover
Finishing one and eagerly grabbing another.
35 A Valedictorian she was surely going to be
She was intelligent; that was easy to see
With straight A’s she always worked towards5
And her many trophies and academic awards.
That is why a lot of people paid her no heed;
40 It was her appearance or the books she reads.
A loud and obnoxious group enters the cafeteria. At the center of the group of boys and girls was an Athlete who played for the school’s football team and other sports outside of school. The number of girls at his heels makes the narrator’s nose scrunch with disgust.
In walked an ATHLETE with his cavalry behind
Consisting of girls and boys all properly aligned.
They strut up to a table and everyone fell silent
Watching closely as the ones sitting were compliant
45 So he and his friends filled the newly empty seats
No one dared to question because they were elites6
A girl’s hand was wrapped tightly around his arm
Everyone was shocked; she easily fell for his charm
With his short, blond hair, and striking white smile
50 Girls fell at his feet but never noticed his vile.7
His aggressiveness made it hard to communicate
Even on the field when he was needed by a teammate.
That was why everyone stayed away at all cost
Because everyone knew he wasn’t to be crossed.
55 In school and academics he never endeavored
Because he had more tardies than varsity letters.8
He was strategic on the field but never in class
And struggled with history, physics, and math.
A letterman jacket and khakis he wore,
60 But the brands were expensive and not at any store
Because they were custom-made and high-priced
His parents paid for everything and made a sacrifice.
He took for granted the things he loved most
He had a serious proclivity to brag and boast
65 But it appeared as if everything wasn’t enough
Because the facade he put on was to look tough.
However, he was human with feelings and emotion
His eyes held sadness, fragility, the truth unspoken.9
Then, a Lotus-Eater walks in completely dazed and unaware of his surroundings as he tries to focus in the direction he wants to go. He carries a strong and distasteful smell wherever he goes, and his physical appearance makes him even more unpleasant to be around.
In walked a LOTUS-EATER, his walk unsteady
70 As he stood in line you knew he wasn’t ready.
His speech was slurred and full of rubbish
Students were surprised he wasn’t punished.
The things he did were against the law
But he did them discreetly so nobody saw.
75 He arrived at school late and never on time
And always wandered the halls asking for dime;
He needed the money, not to buy food,
A feeling to be stoned was always his mood.10
His hair was shaggy and a hat on his head
80 So it looked as if he’d got out of bed.
His grey pants were long and sagged below;
He never pulled them up, his underclothes show.
The black shirt he had was torn and tattered,
He seemed to ignore it because it didn’t matter.
85 He was small and frail, struggled with weight
But that was because he almost never ate11
Oh, how careless he was about his school
And never did homework; he thought it was cool
But that's probably why he stayed for five years12
90 The effort he put brought his family to tears.
The only thing he thought of was being wasted
It was something he did when he was frustrated.
Finally, the bell rings with five minutes to spare
I quickly left my seat and was glad I could share.
95 Now I knew who to avoid and who to befriend13
But before that I had class I needed to attend.
The bell ringing concludes the narrator’s descriptions of students who attending the high school.