Yesterday at play rehearsal, we broke for lunch. I didn’t have much—just half a container of sushi I was sharing with my brother. At the same time, the school was undergoing renovations, and the work crew had also broken for lunch. Someone had ordered about 12 boxes of pizza for them.

One of my friends (white) somehow got three slices. Another (also white) asked and was given a slice. Even my director (white) was with me when she asked for a slice, and they let her take one too.

Since I didn’t have much to eat, my director encouraged me to get a slice too. She even said I probably didn’t need to ask, but out of respect, I still did. I asked the guy who ordered the pizza if I could take one slice, and he told me no—said not everyone had eaten yet, and they didn’t have enough to give food out to every starving child they came across.

I went back inside and told my friends, and they were surprised. My director also seemed confused. A little while later, that same guy (who I later realized is my friend’s dad and the school’s pastor) brought in two slices specifically for his daughter… who was already eating a sandwich at the time.

For context: I’m African American. I don’t want to jump to conclusions or assume anything, but something about this whole thing felt… off. It’s not sitting right with me, and it’s been on my mind ever since.