Why the lunch lady isn't "just a lunch lady"

When I attended Kindergarten (and the first few years of grade school) Helga was the name of my lunch lady who served some of the best German cuisine you’d ever have tasted this side of the Rhine River. She did so dutifully every single day. On days when I missed lunch due to a doctor’s appointment or some other reason, Helga would keep a plate of food warm just for me. I’d sit at a table in the kitchen and scarf down potatoes and wurst while she cleaned up from a day of cooking. She’d ask: “What did you learn today?” And without realizing it, I’d recount almost an entire day’s worth of learning. Our chats would make me ready to do homework – even for the more challenging subjects. Little did I know – she’d do that for all the kids who’d missed a meal and would encourage each student to do his or her best in whatever subject they were weakest. You can’t tell me that Helga was “just a lunch lady” – she was more like a superhero, able to inspire a student one plate at a time.