Chapter #10Amber Gains in a New Way by: Unknown With a school wardrobe carefully selected to leave room for growth Amber really wasn’t concerned about gaining weight given Kevin’s attitude and her mom’s concerns. She and Kevin were instead focused on maintaining their grades and enjoying activities that most kids their age never thought about. Earlier in the summer Kevin had taken her 80 miles to see a mini-rodeo, on another occasion 6 miles to see Navy fliers in an air exhibition, and one weekend they’d traveled to see a country and western show.
Kevin really liked Amber and he knew her active mind was stimulated by the unusual, and with school back in session he knew weekdays would be occupied by cheerleading no matter who headed the team. He also knew hat meant that weekends were the best time to share activities with Amber – “cultural enrichment” activities that more often than not involved food with plenty of calories..
The visit by country singer Merle Haggard, for example, made for an associated visit to the Mesquite Inn, featuring such delicacies as bison burgers whole wheat penne pasta and goat cheese salads. A flower festival led them to discovering a family café with specialties such as pumpkin pancakes, peach and brie cheese canapés, grilled lemon trout, and asiago pilaf. Each week Kevin tried to find some new and different treat for his Amber and she enjoyed every bite.
When as predicted Kimberly took her tumble and Ashley, now much plumper herself, reassumed the mantle of squad captain Amber felt no pressure to diet., even as her weight shot past 150. She was learning from Kevin novel men=u items to serve her family like Spinach and Arugula Salad with Tomatoes and Oranges, Rosemary Orange Green Beans and Orange Roughy with Red Pepper Sauce. Of course she couldn’t help share this knowledge with classmates and as a result they began calling her the campus “Julia Child,” which she treated as a compliment.
This led Monica Raynes, editor of the school paper, to have an idea for the school’s food court. She’d read an article about a Washington DC school whose cafeteria service was so bad students were shunning it, so thy brought in outside chefs to retrain the food service workers and revamp the menu. She wrote an editorial
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“What would happen if the ASB ran the cafeteria…”
Its not likely that the unions and faculty would go along, but like Martin Luther King I have a dream.
In this dream the food in our cafeteria would be part of the curriculum.
Yes, I’m talking student-designed menus cooked under supervision by student chefs and served by student workers who are our classmates. It would provide work experience in an industry that employs 1 out of 7 Americans (look it up!), partially relieve funding problems for the District and perhaps even provide some extra funds for the ASB.
Sound crazy?
Well, its not so loony when you hear what Kevin Marshall and cheerleader Amber Hollings discuss with their fellows – and even prepare for themselves on the weekends. We have the recipes and skills, and costs could be managed if we have the commitment. Why not start with a once a week “student food day: with various clubs taking over selected duties of our food service staff?
Not so insane after all, is it?
It certainly beats the alternative being pushed by outside corporate interests who want to push KFC and the Mexican telephone company (Taco Bell) down our throats. Those who want such fare can get it off campus within three blocks. I think we can do better in-house!
A dream or a nightmare? You decide!
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Kevin and Amber weren’t briefed ahead of time, but the article definitely caught he community’s attention. A local talk show host asked them along with Monica for an interview. Kevin asked Monica and Amber what they thought.
Monica of course was all for it. Amber was more analytical. .
“Well, let’s focus on variety and practicality – this is actually doable you know, especially if they’re paying people so they don’t lose interest.”
Kevin agreed. “Obviously students can’t do all the cooking because we have classes, but the menus would be a snap - and if you’re paying the servers you’ll have people standing in line for the jobs,.”
The trio agreed to the program and showed up with folios of notes so hat they wouldn’t freeze up. The host put them at ease and the audience response was one of interest. One caller, however, challenged hem.
“Who is behind this? I can’t believe three kids just made this up one afternoon.”
Kevin jumped on the question. “Actually we didn’t dream it up at all. Monica wrote thee editorial based on our jabbering about what we do anyway on the weekends. I’ve been cooking for several years and Amber is quite creative as well, but it’s just an interest. I play three musical instruments as well, but that doesn’t mean I’m aspiring to be a recording star. If youth can do music and be respected at age 16 or 18, why not food?”
Monica chimed in “What problem do you have with teens looking to take charge of their lives instead of just mooching off others. It seems everybody wants to say to kids “we have a program for you” instead of asking “what do you think you can do for yourselves.” We want to be part of the answer, not treated as the problem that needs to be fixed when it comes to education!”
Amber was proactive. “You may not know it, but a lot of latch key kids make peanut butter sandwiches or microwave popcorn as it is after school. Kevin and I happen to have tastes that go beyond that – and Monica saw that we could share them with others on a larger scale because we were already doing it. She’s the school paper editor – its her job to have some independent vision!”
The young people came across not as rebel activists trying to tear down the establishment, but as would be entrepreneurs –and the audience was impressed.
Next help came from an unexpected source. As a result of the program the local restaurant association chapter contacted the school superintendent, suggesting funding of a program in food service as an elective class. Suddenly Monica’s dream had legs, although that aspect couldn’t be implemented until the next school year. . But there was still the problem of the food service employees union.
In the end even the union was placated when affairs were ranged to make sure no jobs were lost. Instead the food variety was expanded one day a week. The regular food service workers focused on preparation while the students did the serving. Amber and Kevin wound up heading an advisory team that worked on the menu. For the balance of the year every Friday was student menu day.
All of this of course enhanced both their reputations and Amber’s waistline (along with Kebvin's). But since they were now semi-celebrities not even Kimberly dared complain.
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