Drabik Danielle

Lunchtime - Extract of her book Diverse Manners

"Seest thou a man hasty in his words? There is more hope
for a fool than for him." Proverbs 28:20 KJV

Exactly what are you sure of? In today's world, where people and circumstances change as easily and as frequently as the weather, very few people would even dare to be sure of even the most sacred truths. They, of course, are not like Carl, a promising young lad with great confidence, in himself that is. There are very few things that Carl did not know, at least according to him. The children endured Carl's know-it-all attitude and put downs, probably comforting themselves with the thought that Carl lived in his own little world, of which they did not wish to be a part. At any rate, today there was another thing about which Carl could not possibly be mistaken. Or could he?

"There are two lunch bags that are alike. Can someone tell me whose bags these are?" That's how it started, very simple and innocent, with no malice or evil intent of any kind, but I'm sure that Carl saw it as a conspiracy to rob him of his most favourite lunch treat. "That's mine, Teacher. I know because it's heavy," quipped Carl. "Are you sure, Carl? Both bags are exactly alike with no names on them," I warned. "Yes, Teacher, and that one is Mike's," Carl assured me. "Ok, Carl. Would you give Mike his lunch bag, please?" I requested.

Having received a lunch, Mike, a pleasingly plump little guy with a very good appetite and no partiality to food of any kind, began partaking with usual gusto the contents of the lunch bag, as Carl made his way to his own seat and the lunch awaiting him there. Almost drooling in anticipation of the delicious lunch that he knew his mother had packed for him, Carl anxiously opened his lunch bag and eagerly took out and arranged its contents on his desk: an apple juice box, some crunchy cheese snacks, three cookies. He squealed with delight, however, as he pulled out the Tupperware container with his cherished entree. Popping the lid of the container, his only words almost exploded from his mouth, as he yelled with obvious disgust, "I hate this stuff ". As he screamed in horror, the only other sound to be heard was the smacking lips of an extremely satisfied Mike, as he licked from his chubby fingers the last bits of sauce from the delicious lasagna that fate had so graciously bestowed upon him.

How many times have you acted too quickly, because you were absolutely, positively sure that you had the right answer, the right briefcase, the right information, the right culprit, the right to do so, the right, only to find, to your misfortune and utter embarrassment that you were entirely in error? How many times have you not taken time to check out, to double check, to research, - to verify or ascertain the facts before going ahead with a serious or major decision or accusation? Have you learned from those mistakes? Someone once said, "A wise man falls not again in the same spot where he has once lain." Wise up! Remember: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV