By Kargel Martinez
November 20 began like any other Wednesday morning. The students at Rialto High School had settled into class to prepare to start their usual routines. The people who regularly got breakfast left the class to bring it, while those who usually ate at school continued conversing with their friends as they waited briefly.
The atmosphere was calm and casual as everyone got ready for the start of their school day. The students soon returned with the breakfast carts and unpacked what was inside. It looked like a regular morning meal with milk, juice, fruit, and an entree, so students began to get up and help themselves with what they wanted.
It was something that the school had brought before, so nothing was out of the ordinary. Most students grabbed what they liked, laughing and chatting about their business. Nothing was out of the ordinary, and everyone assumed they would continue this little time with themselves before the lecture began.
It wasn’t until around 8:50 am that sophomore Kayla Elias noticed something strange. The breakfast was brought to Mr. Ansermet’s classroom F-110. Academic Decathlon was held during this first period in this classroom.
When it arrived this particular morning, Elias selected a banana but didn’t continue to enjoy her fruit after the first bite. The banana was smooth and bright yellow on the outside, looking perfectly ripe, so she got it. She peeled it and took a bite, ready to enjoy her morning snack.
However, something immediately felt off. Kayla stopped mid-bite and looked at the fruit in disbelief. She stood up in shock and showed people around what was wrong.
When asked what she had just experienced, she said, “I took a bite, and it tasted rotten and gross. It was hard in the middle and caught me completely off guard.”
The banana is not what it appeared to be. The banana that seemed so perfect on the outside was the complete opposite on the inside. There seemed to be a tunnel down the middle of the banana that was brown, dry, and clearly spoiled.
The banana was rotten on the inside. It was strange because everything looked completely normal on the outside. The rest of the students in the room, minding their own business, suddenly turned their attention to her.
Everyone wanted to take a look. Students crowded around to inspect it, curious about what caused the strange discoloration inside. When people saw it, they were curious about what may have happened.
Some students speculated that perhaps insects had gotten inside, while others wondered if the banana had simply just been too old to be served. Soon after, the banana was thrown away as there was no point in keeping it around. Those in the class who had gotten a banana too had changed their facial expressions as this wasn’t a pleasant sight.
It altered their initial thoughts and perspectives of having a yummy snack before their lesson. They picked up their fruits and examined them carefully. Some decided not to eat after all. Others continued but were cautious with every bite.
After looking around the classroom, all the students came to realize it was only Elias's fruit that was defective. Despite the grim discovery, the rest of the bananas seemed fine. There was a sense of relief for those who had not experienced the same issue.
The harmless breakfast issue was limited to that one banana—an unfortunate event for Elias. The memory of the rotten banana lingered in the classroom for some time as it was a silly and unfortunate coincidence.
In the end, the breakfast was a sudden reminder of how unpredictable even the most ordinary moments can be.
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