The ODE store has become a central part of ODE’s community. We flock there every lunch hour for candy, chips, and treats and yet most know very little about the small treat carrying cart. It’s time we all learned a little more about it.
The 25th was the last week before the 2 week long semester break. Many of you may remember it as costume day. I had been curious about the workings of the ODE store long before that day and I knew that I needed to get to the bottom of it. As I mentioned before, many of us live in ignorance of how the ODE store functions and how it came to be. This is most likely because we’re all too busy scrambling for candy to ask questions. It was on that Friday that I decided to conduct an interview with Lavonia Black and her sister Willow Black, the two responsible for manning the ODE store during lunch time. I was able to speak to the two during lunch, however Lavonia shooed her sister away in favor of answering the questions herself.
Q: How long has the ODE store been around?
A: Lavonia, with some hesitation, answered that the store had been around for 4 years, however she advised me not to quote her on that. Luke Fisher interjected and said that ODE store had actually been around for 4 and a half years, much to Lavonia’s annoyance.
Q: My next question is How long have you been working at the ODE store?
A: 3 years.
Q: How has the store changed over the years you’ve been working here?
A: It has become much better.
Q: In what ways?
A: I started working here and took over. And after that, lets just say it went uphill.
Q: Was there any difference in the stuff sold? Candy wise or food wise?
A: Yeah, we didn’t use to sell so many chocolate items like these milk duds.
Q: Who was working at the store before you?
A: My mother, Cassy, and that’s it. It was basically run by my mom.
(For those who don’t know, Cassy has been a helper here at ODE for many years)
Q: Why do you think the ODE store is important?
A: It gives food to people who want food. We provide food for those starving.
Q: Have you gotten complaints about the ODE store?
A: Yes!
Q: What type?
A: People expect me to sell things that are just ridiculous!
Q: What types of things? Give me examples.
A: Sushi, gatorade, cheese, like no! I’m not gonna straight up get cheese!
Q: Where does the money go?
A: Into buying more stuff.
Q: You don’t get paid?
A: Well, not usually.
Here is where I concluded my interview with Lavonia, having gleaned so much new information from the experience. However, i was not done. After the interview I went to ask others their opinion on the ODE store.
Sammy Amador: My opinion is that its been going pretty well for a good amount of time, but, and I have bought a lot of things and it has given me some free stuff, but my respect could be higher for it if they had cheese. Then I would actually bring money and buy cheese because I buy cheese on a regular basis.
Q: Luke(Fisher), do you have any information on the development of the ODE store?
A: It has devolved and turned into a cart.
Q: No, like, why was the ODE store started?
A: I think because they knew that everybody would bring out their wallets to pay for stuff.
Lavonia, who was nearby, corrected Luke Fisher.
Lavonia Black: That is not why it started! Its because people didn’t bring enough food and they were hungry at lunch.
Most opinions from the ODE upper school were overwhelmingly positive. Upper school students often said that they find the store to be a good thing. Students praise the store for having a good variety of food. Abby Amador claimed to be “in love” with the ODE store and saying it is “her life”. Students find the store to be a useful addition because they don’t have to worry so much about bringing a lunch. Ivy Merrill expressed that she the ODE store should give her free Caprisuns every week because she is “a really good person”.
While almost all of the opinions on the store were positive, one student, Jayden Cervantes, had a few complaints.
Jayden: You know, my opinion about it is that y’all need better snacks, its wack. Y’all get in like that gluten free stuff and I don’t mess with that.
While its been established that the ODE store does not take suggestions, the store has still provided us with so much. From meaningful interactions, to snacks and candy. Most students rely on the ODE store for their lunch and many more enjoy it for the snacks and candy. For all the the ODE store gives us, the least we can do is to know more about it so that we can appreciate the ODE store as more than a cart of goodies.