High School Cool
the cafeteria
The cafeteria, center of all high school activity. Well, maybe not. Webster's dictionary
defines cafeteria as "a restaurant in which food is displayed on counters and patrons serve
themselves." Certainly it goes beyond that!
In my high school, the cafeteria is the chief meeting place for freshmen, sophomores, and
juniors - the seniors get their own cafeteria. Every morning when I come to school, I look
forward to seeing my best friends at "our" table, the one near the doors in the back where you
can see everybody who comes in. At my school, we have four lunch shifts based on our third
block classes. I have first lunch, which is cool because a bunch of my friends have it too. Each
afternoon Steph, Ash, Gwen, and I walk over to our table where we sit every day. Mehash
and Mike usually are already there, saving the table. Our lunch table is the prime location for
us. Ash's crushes are on one side and Steph's are on the other. The ugly, dorky kid who wears
the same stupid hat every day sits across from us, the mysterious "Blue-Green Hat Boy" who
is always staring at our table ever since Ash and Steph wore their cheerleading uniforms to
school. The cafeteria is the prime gossip source. Anyone can walk up and fill you in on a story
or ask you if you like so-and-so. About a third of the kids in there are doing their homework.
Gwen is often seen trying to get that last math problem, or Ash and I are cramming before that
big French exam, or Steph and Mehash are discussing that Bio homework. All in all, the
cafeteria is the place that can make you or break you, fill you in on gossip, and where you can
meet up with your buds. Now, don't you think ol' Webster needs an update?
Past High School Cool 's!