Remember G-Day 10/22/09

Of all the great things that have come out of the 2009-2010 school year of the senior class at Maggie L. Walker Governors School for Government and International Studies, the Grill Club has to be the most memorable so far. For those of you who don't know what the Grill Club is, or even that it existed... good. While it lasted, it was a secret society. A secret society of lovers of fine dining. Connoisseurs of taste and palette, unsatisfied with the meager daily provisions of the school cafeteria, or even bagged lunch. Brave students willing to sacrifice their own time, money and efforts to provide for a more wholesome, filling meal. THIS was the Grill Club.

The entire premise of the Grill Club was to use the school's gas grill, which is only used two or three times a year at pep rallies, to cook fine meats for the members (who will go unnamed) of the club to enjoy. Knowing full and well that this operation would be unsustainable for more than 8 or so people, the founders decided to keep its existence a secret and to limit membership to a hand-picked few. So, with their ranks filled and stomachs empty, the Grill Club set their sights on their first mission: steak. And after the necessary administrative permissions had been granted and the raw meats attained, on the 22nd of October, 2009, in the school courtyard, they grilled.

1-inch thick slabs of fine beef sprinkled with homemade seasoning and flavored with just a dab of soy sauce cooked for four minutes at about 650°F. Lunch was served, and they feasted. It seemed as though the entire operation had been a success, but the celebration had begun too soon. Almost as quickly as the last steak had hit the iron grate, a single, disgruntled member of the administration was on the scene. It seemed as though he were the only representative of the faculty against the club, but his imposed say on the matter was enough. On charges of illegal vending and improper methods of approval, the Grill Club was officially disbanded. On both its first and last grill day, it came to its end. With a look of defiant submission in his eyes, the president and grillmaster of the club dragged the gas grill back to its storage room to be left undeservedly idle for countless months until its inevitable calling to be used to cook such low plates as burgers or hot dogs at the next pep rally. A demoralizingly quick end to a beautiful thing.

Or was it? As we know, the club had been officially disbanded, but if it had never actually been officially approved to assemble in the first place, yet achieved so much, could clerical closure truly bring about its end? We may never find an answer, but some believers say that its members were too dedicated, too rebellious, too hungry for it to be over. Some say that somehow, someway, out of the sight of administrative eyes, the Grill Club lives on, and that G-Day was only the first of many meals to come. Some believe that in secret, those valiant few dine on.