May Wang

What are "Fabulous Fridays?"

A story for a cupcake- that’s what Fabulous Fridays are all about.


I meander into the cafeteria kitchen towards Anna, the cafeteria server. “How’s it going, Anna?” I inquire. She wipes off her disposable vinyl gloves and exclaims, “It really is a Fabulous Friday! After months of saving, I’m flying to Sacramento tonight to see my baby granddaughter for the first time.” We squeal over baby pictures and I trade my chocolate cupcake for her embrace.


“Have a Fabulous Friday!” I call while leaving. It’s the parting line of every Fabulous Friday, where I bring homemade treats to school in exchange for a few moments of connection, but the treats don’t stay the same.


“A story for a piece of butterscotch,” I tell Lana, my classmate. Her eyes widen incredulously as she toys with the crackling cellophane. “My nana used to make me butterscotch every time I came by,” she muses. “But she passed away and I haven’t had it in forever. This tastes exactly like the ones I had as a little girl.” I silently press another handful into her palm.


A story for a cookie. I stroll through the hallways, savoring the weight of cookies in my backpack and stories in my heart. Chocolate chip for Mr. Merkel, who wishes he could quit teaching to spend more time with his grandkids. Snickerdoodle for Erika, who is finally getting her braces off today. Peanut butter for Rosa, who misses her mom in Mexico.


Moments like these remind me that stories are an intrinsic part of our identity. In a sea of 2,000 unfamiliar faces, it’s easy to forget that the people around us carry their stories with them, too.


For five minutes, I am a part of their long-forgotten memories. I offer a piece of nostalgia disguised as a brownie. For five minutes, we dust off long-forgotten stories, passions, and aspirations.


The blur of faces become people. The people become friends.


And the power of a simple dessert- the spark of conversation, the catalyst of recollection- inspires me enough to bake them every Friday the entire school year.