It all started with a lunch tray and a dream.
Every Thursday, Jefferson Middle School served Tater tots. Golden. Crispy. Perfect. But they always ran out before I got to the front of the line. I was sick of watching other kids walk past me with piles of beautiful, steamy tots while I got stuck with soggy green beans and a weird fruit cup.
So I made a plan. A bold one. A legendary one.
I was going to steal the first tray of tater tots.
It wasn’t just about the food. It was about justice.
Step one: Watch.
I spent three days watching the lunch ladies. Ms. Patty brought out the tots at exactly 11:29 A.M. She placed a tray in the warmer under the heat lamps. That gave me a solid 42 seconds before the first kid walked in and the madness began.
Step two: Distraction.
I slid across the cafeteria floor like a ninja in crocs, grabbed the tray of tots, and bolted out the side door; no one even saw me.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Five minutes later, I was sitting behind the gym, shoving tots into my mouth like I hadn’t eaten in years, when I heard the voice.
“Hand ‘em over.”
It was Maya. Eighth grader. Head of the honor society. Scariest person alive.
“You’re the tot thief!” she said, arms crossed.
“No, I’m not,” I said, tater crumbs flying out of my mouth.
She squinted at me. “Give me ten tots, and I won’t tell Principal Darnell.”
What choice did I have? I gave her twelve, just to be safe.
Within minutes, word spread. By the time Leo showed up, I had a full-blown line behind the gym.
“Are you … selling them?” he asked.
“No,” I said, “I’m sharing them. Like Robin Hood, but with potatoes.”
It was beautiful. We were heroes.
Until the staff figured it out.
Principal Darnell tracked us down just as I was handing a handful of tots to a sixth grader with tears of joy in his eyes. She wasn’t even mad at first, just confused.
“You … stole an entire tray of tater tots?”
I nodded. “For the people.”
She sighed. “You’re on cafeteria cleanup for a week.”
“Worth it.”
The next Thursday, they served extra trays of tots. And guess who got the first scoop?
Me.
Because sometimes, when the system fails, all it takes is one kid, a brave plan, and a whole lot of fried potatoes to make things right.
