The Lunchtime Argument
At Greenwood School, lunchtime was the best time of day. Children opened their lunchboxes, the cafeteria filled with chatter, and delicious smells drifted through the air.
Two best friends, Amina and Jack, always sat together. But every day, they had the same argument. “Peanut butter and jelly is the BEST sandwich in the world,” Jack declared, holding his up proudly. Amina shook her head. “No way! Cheese and cucumber sandwiches are the best. My mum makes them just right.” Jack wrinkled his nose. “Cheese and cucumber? Ew!” Amina frowned. “Peanut butter and jelly? Too sticky!”
And so it went, day after day, each insisting their sandwich was the champion.
The Big Swap
One afternoon, their argument grew louder than usual. “My sandwich is so good, I’d never trade it for anything!” Jack boasted. “Well, mine is so tasty, you wouldn’t even understand!” Amina shot back. The other children giggled, watching the friends bicker.
Finally, Amina crossed her arms. “Fine. If you think peanut butter is so amazing, why don’t we swap tomorrow? Then you’ll see how yucky it is.” Jack raised his eyebrows. “Deal! But when you taste my sandwich, you’ll never want cucumbers again.” They shook on it, each secretly certain they would win.
The next day at lunch, the two sat down with serious faces. “Ready?” Jack asked. “Ready,” Amina nodded. They exchanged sandwiches, staring at the strange food in their hands.
Jack sniffed the cheese and cucumber. “Smells… crunchy.” Amina eyed the peanut butter and jelly. “Looks… gooey.” They both took a bite.
Surprising Discoveries
Jack chewed slowly. The cool cucumber mixed with creamy cheese, soft bread, and just a hint of butter. His eyes widened. “This is… actually pretty good.” Meanwhile, Amina licked jelly from her lip. The sweet jam and salty peanut butter made a surprising pair. Her eyebrows lifted. “Huh. This is… delicious!” The two stared at each other, then burst out laughing.
“All this time we argued,” Jack said, “but both our sandwiches are awesome.” Amina grinned. “I guess we were both right.”
Word spread fast. Soon, other kids were curious. “Can I try a bite?” asked Maria. “I’ll swap my turkey sandwich!” offered Sam.
A New Lunchtime Tradition
Before long, the lunch table turned into a grand sandwich swap. Turkey, tuna, hummus, egg salad, even cream cheese and strawberry slices – everyone traded and tasted something new. The cafeteria buzzed with excitement, crumbs, and laughter.
That afternoon, Amina and Jack walked home together, their bellies full and their argument settled. “You know what?” Amina said. “What?” Jack asked. “Maybe the best sandwich isn’t about what’s inside. Maybe it’s about sharing it with your friends.” Jack nodded. “Agreed. But for the record… peanut butter and jelly is still the champion.” Amina giggled. “Only if it comes with a side of cheese and cucumber.”
They laughed until their sides hurt, and from then on, lunchtime became an adventure of flavours—not a fight.
The End.
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