It was when black and white checkered shoes made from canvas were in style that the Paige children attended a certain elementary school in San Fracaso. They were among the few students who carried a traditional metal lunchbox because most lunchboxes had been replaced by plastic counterparts on the grocery store shelves. Olivia, the eldest of the Paige kids, received it as a hand-me-down from her cousin, Francine.

Sometimes, children battling their own insecurities would bully the Paiges on the playground. The bullies could become physically aggressive, and it wasn’t until Olivia had suffered enough torment from Alicia (the tallest, meanest girl in the class) that she realized how fortunate she was to have been chosen to carry the metal lunchbox.

It hurts to be hit with a plastic lunchbox. A metal lunchbox, on the other hand, can break skin. An inaccurate, flailing uppercut from the smallest girl in the class would have had little effect if it hadn’t been for the unconcealed weapon. Alicia never picked on Olivia again after the corner of the metal case nailed her right on the chin. This was the first and last fight of Olivia’s life.

The metal lunchbox was soon passed down to Olivia’s younger brother, Avory. It was his idea to carry the lunchbox by a “shoulder strap” which, in a confrontational situation, transformed the lunchbox into a whirling implement of doom.

Soon, nobody messed with the Paige kids. In fact, they could have become the bullies—taking lunch money, kazoos, Garbage Patch Kids and such. Thankfully Olivia, Avory, and Rebecca (the youngest Paige) were taught not to abuse such power. In the rare occurrence of a conflict, they only fought to defend themselves.

Once Olivia and Avory graduated elementary school, they left the lunchbox with Rebecca; partly because they’d have felt a bit uncomfortable carrying it around junior high, but mostly so that Becky could use it in self defense. Presently, the lunchbox sits on a shelf in their garage, partially covered by cobwebs and rust.

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