Papaya Wednesday

The first Wednesday of sophomore year, my mom decided we were going 'exotic' with lunch. That's how I ended up sitting in the cafeteria with a container of cubed papaya, watching the popular table laugh at something Jake said.

'Bro, what even IS that?' Marcus pointed at my Tupperware like it contained radioactive waste.

'It's papaya,' I said, trying to sound casual while my face burned. 'My mom's on this health kick.' Worse, I'd forgotten to take my vitamin gummies that morning, which I'd packed in a ziploc baggy on top of the fruit. They spilled across the table—bright orange gummy bears shaped like cartoon fruits. The table erupted.

'OH MY GOD,' Maya practically screamed. 'Are those VITAMIN gummies? For real?' She sounded delighted, which somehow made it more humiliating.

I scrambled to scoop them back into the baggy while Marcus made chicken noises. 'My little sister takes those,' he said. 'You know, for babies.' The table lost it again.

That's when Buster happened.

Mrs. G's therapy dog, a Golden Retriever who visited the cafeteria during lunch periods, had apparently smelled my desperation. Or the papaya. He bounded over, tail wagging like he'd just won the lottery, and I swear this dog SMILED at me.

Then he ATE the papaya.

Like, the entire container in one gulp while the whole cafeteria watched. I just sat there holding my vitamin gummies like an idiot while Buster licked his chops and looked at me for more. The popular table went silent. Then Maya started laughing so hard milk came out her nose.

The next day, Jake sat with me at my table. 'My dog would've done the same thing,' he said. 'Also, those vitamin gummies? They're actually good.' And that's how I made my first real friend in high school—all because a dog named Buster really, really liked tropical fruit.

My mom still buys papaya. I still bring it to lunch. Some things don't change. But now, when the popular table looks over? I just wave.