Volunteering at the Tuck Shop

Last week, I volunteered at the school's cafeteria, the "Tuck Shop" (tuck for tucker, I assume). A nice group of women work there, preparing food fresh, reheating some frozen stuff and stocking the fridges with fresh sushi delivered daily and fruit juices. All in all, a fairly healthy selection (though most of the kids do choose the unhealthy stuff). I made chicken burgers in the morning, and then manned the noodle stand for morning tea (there are a lot of Asian children).

After morning tea, we went down to the junior school where the little ones, as young as five, have the opportunity to buy popsicles for 50 and 80 cents each. As soon as we opened, a crowd amassed. "Hello, Miss," the first one said, spreading her coins on the counter. "What can I get for this many?" Absolutely not a care in the world for the line behind her. I had already been briefed that if they didn't quite have 50 cents I could give them one of the cheaper popsicles, and one of the ladies said that she would even give them the yellow ones for 20 cents because no one ever buys those anyway.

And my most demanding customer of the day: "I would like a pink Zooper Duper." "Hang on," I say, "I don't know what a Zooper Duper is." I picked up a pink popsicle. Yes, Zooper Duper was written on the corner of the packet. "Not that pink, I want Fairy Floss." Well, I do know by now that fairy floss is cotton candy, and I hadn't seen any. " We don't have Fairy Floss," I said. "Yes, you do. It's the light pink Zooper Duper." Of course it is. And so it went on.

Well, in their little green uniforms and wide-brimmed hats, they were gathering up quite a few popsicles, many of them asking for them to be cut in half to share with a friend. I would have loved to have taken a photo of them sitting Indian-style in groups all over the playground. It was hot, and I think they should have gotten the popsicles for free to be honest.

Before I came to Australia, I did say I was not picky and would get a job doing anything, but after just one day on my feet I now realize I have become soft. I don't think I could stand at Woolies or KFC all day dealing with customers. I was knackered when I got home that day!