It?s 7,30 am. Breakfast table is set but John is still getting ready for school. As usual, he?s been wasting his time before the TV. Hurtling down the stairs at the last minute, to gulp his hot chocolate and bowl of cereal before grabbing his buttered toasts and banana, which he will swallow on his way to the bus station, is just a common feature for this student.

This morning, though, his careless routine is to take a different turn. In his rush, John is suddenly subject to flashes of most destitute places plagued with poverty. Distressing images of skeletal children lamenting under the pangs of starvation unfurl before him. John cannot hold back regretful tears.

Earth genius has been observing his casual attitude and has decided to teach him an unforgettable lesson on World Food Day. ?John?, he thunders from amidst the disturbing scenery, ?All that you see is real. While you were watching TV instead of getting ready to share the nicely prepared breakfast with your parents, around 600 children less fortunate kids had been dying of hunger.?

John, who is Maths-crazy, rapidly works out the astronomical figure. ?Do you mean that every day 27,000 children die from having been born poor?? ?Yes? replies the genius. ?More than 3 billion people live with less than $2 a day, a third suffers from chronic, life-threatening hunger.?

Feeling his pocket, John remorsefully realises that $2 is equivalent to his daily pocket money, as well as his well-garnished lunch basket.

?You see how lucky but ungrateful you are, John?, adds the genius who notices John?s reaction. ?Have you ever thanked your parents for the balanced meals they choose and cook for you everyday??

John confesses he has always taken them for granted just as he has never thought about the network of services behind his full plates. Yet, his attitude is understandable as he has never been led to think in that way. His parents have never thought of telling him how hard they work to provide for him; they fear he might misinterpret it as a reproach.

He has learnt about the scientific importance of food as a basic need at school but he has not been trained to see outside the box where labourers and farmers toil, where food is harvested, processed, cooked and boiled.

The various implications of food production are neither part of his education. Why should gratitude be expected from him?

Before he sets him free, Earth genius asks John to encourage the creation of a garden at school. ?It is regrettable?, he says, ?that, despite the fertile soil and climate which has made your country what it is today, many schools are concrete- dominated structures, where the absence of flowers, plants and gardens robs children of the contact with nature.?

He adds that running a garden would nurture the values of patience, delayed gratification and care while weighing the efforts involved in producing vegetables and fruit amongst others.

He also asks John to promise he will help his parents prepare the meals. ?Besides enjoying being a caring child, you will learn to be autonomous. One day, your diet won?t consist of ready-made meals with their health risks.?

The genius stresses on the importance of respecting food and those who have prepared it. ?Try your best to share meals with your family; food keeps people together?, he adds before disappearing. From outer space, he reads John?s thoughts and knows that he will now have a different outlook. He knows he will not be indifferent to the plight of those who are denied this basic right, he knows he will take his time to appreciate the food he is given.

Most importantly, Genius hopes John will from thereon encourage activities such as visits to farms and food-processing plants; gardening and elementary food preparation at school will help inculcate these newly acquired values in others. Does he not deserve to be encouraged?

Happy Food Day