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everyone,” Helen said, reaching for a piece of chalk. She walked over to the board and wrote each person’s name.
    During the next thirty minutes, Anne Marie learned that this was a four-month commitment. She must agree to meet faithfully with her lunch buddy once a week for that period of time.
    “Every week?” one of the other women asked.
    “Yes, the same day if possible but it’s understandableif you occasionally need to change days. It’s best for the children to have a sense of routine and trust that you’ll be here for them.”
    The others all nodded. A little belatedly, Anne Marie did, too.
    “Next, we ask that you eat the food from the cafeteria. Lunch Buddy kids get their lunch free, thanks to a government subsidy, but you can buy yours at a minimal charge. If you must bring in food from outside, please check to be sure the child you’re paired with doesn’t have any food allergies.”
    That was reasonable, Anne Marie thought.
    “After lunch you can let the child take you to his or her classroom. Or you can go outside for recess if you prefer. The idea is to spend the entire lunch period with your assigned child.”
    “Do they still jump rope?” Lois asked.
    Ms. Mayer nodded. “With the same rhymes we used when I was a girl.”
    The women exchanged smiles.
    “The important thing is to interact with the child,” the school counselor continued. “Get to know him or her and forge a friendship.”
    “What about seeing the child outside school?” This question came from Maggie, who appeared to be in her early fifties.
    “That’ll have to be approved by the child’s parent or guardian.”
    Anne Marie couldn’t imagine seeing the child other than inside the protected walls of the school. She didn’t want to get emotionally attached. Besides, that wasn’t part of the deal. All that was required was to come in and have lunch with her young charge. If he or she wanted to show off school assignments, fine. But that was the limitof what Anne Marie could handle. She had enough to cope with; she didn’t need to add anything else to the mix. Any relationship with an at-risk child would have to remain casual. Nothing beyond the most basic obligations.
    The orientation meeting took the full half hour. Several additional questions were asked, but Anne Marie only half listened. While the others chatted, she struggled, asking herself over and over if this was the right volunteer program. She couldn’t imagine why Elise seemed to think she’d be a perfect Lunch Buddy. Anne Marie didn’t feel perfect. What she felt was…nothing. Nothing at all. Zoned out. Emotionally dead. Disinterested.
    Ms. Mayer handed out the assignments, leaving Anne Marie for last. She must have sensed her doubts because she asked, “Do you have any further questions?”
    Anne Marie shook her head. “Not really. I’m just wondering if I’m really a good candidate for this.”
    “Why not give it a try? I suspect you’ll enjoy it. Almost everyone does.”
    The other woman’s reassurance warmed her. “Okay, I will.”
    “The child I have in mind for you is named Ellen Falk,” she went on to say. “Ellen is eight years old and in second grade. Because of the Right to Privacy Laws, I’m not allowed to reveal any details about her home background. However, I can tell you that Ellen is currently living with her maternal grandmother.”
    “Has she been in this school long?”
    “Ellen’s been a student here for the past two years.”
    “Okay.”
    Before Anne Marie could ask why the school counselor had decided to pair her with this particular child, Helen Mayer continued. “Ellen is an intense child. Very quiet.Shy. She doesn’t have a lot to say, but don’t let that discourage you.”
    “Okay,” Anne Marie said again.
    “Talk to her and be patient. She’ll speak to you when she’s ready.”
    Oh, great. She’d have to carry the entire conversation for heaven only knew how many weeks. “Is there a reason you decided