1. Acting Out on What He Keeps In
A struggling elementary student, willingly gives up his lunch break to be mentored by his
non-biological big sister.
Once a week, volunteers from Big Brothers, Big Sisters interact with elementary students
in the Mount Pleasant area, during their lunch period, as part of the Lunch Buddies program. For
an hour every Tuesday, a handful of students in fourth, fifth and six grade are paired with a
student from Central Michigan University.
Alexes Booth, a Grand Rapids Sophomore, routinely walks by a shoulder-high, wire
fence, which encloses The Mary McGuire Elementary School playground. As she has a million
times over again, Booth proceeds towards heavy double doors that lock only from the inside. The
sound of a buzzer indicates that someone in the office has granted her access. She then navigates
herself with ease to an overcrowded spare room, where she sits on an uncomfortably small chair
and waits for her blonde haired, blue eyed little brother to appear in the doorway.
“My little brother is a certainly isn’t the teacher’s pet; I can only hope that he has
managed to stay out of trouble since the last time we got together.”
Nathan Parker, 9, 4th grader at The Mary McGuire Elementary School, came hurdling
into the confining room, wearing the same oversized, hand-me-downs he wore just about every
other day. Almost instantaneously, Parker and Booth smile at each other with their eyes and
gravitate toward one another for an overly anticipated hug. Unable to finish a single game of eye
spy or hangman, Parker noticeably hyper personality tends to get the best of him.
“Nathan is a good kid, he just acts out for attention because he’s not getting any at home
with their current money situation and the baby. Both Alexes and Nathan have a little sister, but
Nathan’s still a kid, he needs someone to take care of him and someone to look after him and
that’s exactly what Alexes is doing,” said Suzanne McGraw, Director of Lunch Buddies.
The siblings quickly decide to move locations to the slightly chilled, rectangular
courtyard, so Parker can release some of his built up energy.
“Look Lex look, I got a new winter coat! I’ve never had one this nice before. These
people I didn’t know gave one to everyone in my family, even my mom and dad.”
Parker is the little brother Booth never had and vice versa. The two of them learn from
one another, as blood related siblings would. Together they got past the getting to know each
other phase and have now moved on to building an unbreakable bond.
“My teacher said I was much better this week and she told me to thank you,” said Parker.