Order the Book. Lewisham, England: At home it was the same ritual as before, back in America. Food was put before me. I resisted. Negotiations ensued. At school, it was much more violent. The Brits have contributed many great things to society: pub culture, Shakespeare, the Beatles, soccer hooligans.
They are also known for their cuisine, but not in a good way. I still remember what they served for dinner on my first day of school. Rice was a vehicle for soy sauce. School dinner consisted of lining up, class by class, with a plate and a tray, and moving through the line as the cafeteria ladies slopped food on your plate.
I tried to find a way out. Once you navigated the food line, you had to choose a table. You could sit anywhere you liked. Teachers ate with the students. I learned quickly that where I sat could have a profound impact โ positive or negative โ on the outcome of my starvation quest. But if you were stealthy, you could make the switch.
The person to avoid sitting with was Mr. Bennett, but sometimes, the seat next to him was the only one left. Bennett taught a class of fourth year juniors. He was the only human being who ate faster than Mark. He expected the students to keep up with him. Bennett had a particular love for salt. The salt shakers were made of glass, with white plastic tops that funneled into a single exit point.
Instead, the protocol was to pour a little salt into your palm, then take a pinch and sprinkle it on your food. But Mr. Bennett did things differently. He would turn the shaker upside down, letting the salt flow freely as he did two or three laps around his meat and vegetables. Then he would attack.
