La Cuesta

Just for reference, “school post” means that I posted this sometime while at school (completely following the rules, I must add!). 

My lunch table (which is comprised of me and Bob, the seniors, and Corinne, Kevin, Ryan, Hunter, and Will–who I just call “GIDDENS!”–the juniors) is not the usual lunch table. Everyone around us talks about what is going on in their lives. We talk about Ron Paul, why Walt Whitman was delusional (”BECAUSE HE HEARD AMERICA SINGING!” Ryan says), and today, what we would give up for Lent.

We talk about Lent because we all go to a Catholic school, and this Wednesday, which is Ash Wednesday and thus the beginning of Lent, our school will start encouraging fasting. Our teachers also encourage us to give up something that we can deal without for forty days. Of course, my lunch table (and I instigated this) talked about the “funny” things that we would give up for Lent: our sanity, personal hygiene, homework, and so on.

Hunter said, “I can give up Mass for Lent but still go on Sunday!” (The rule is that you give up your “thing” but then you can indulge in it on Sunday)

So after lunch, Bob and I cut through the courtyard to walk back to my locker, which is on the way to his next class.

“I mean this in all honesty and seriousness,” I say. “I think I’m going to give up dating unattractive men for Lent.” He laughs and responds with:

“I’m going to give up talking to unattractive men for Lent.”

“Would that be every guy at our lunch table?” I joke.

“That would be everyone in this school,” he responds.

“You know what would be funny?” I suggest. “If you really followed that, and when you wanted to talk to a guy, you’d pull out a mirror and start talking to yourself. Then, next Lent, you can say, ‘I’m going to give up narcissism.’”