Things that might seem small to some families but could feel enormous to a teenager whose parents were struggling.
Maya had first gotten involved after another student couldn’t afford lunch.
She had used some of her babysitting money to help.
Then someone else needed a calculator.
Another student needed part of a uniform.
Someone couldn’t afford a field-trip fee.
Word spread.
And slowly, an informal network formed.
Maya became one of the people collecting and organizing the money.
She hadn’t told me because she didn’t want anyone to know.
Especially the students receiving help.
She didn’t want them embarrassed.
She didn’t want anyone to feel like they were being treated differently because their families couldn’t afford something.
“So why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
She looked down at the table.
“Because then it wouldn’t be private anymore.”
That was when her voice cracked.
