Rough Draft: From behind the pizza boxes

13 Jun 2026, 01:03 · The Fresno Bee

Samie Hartley

It took me 42 years, but for once, in my life, I was undoubtedly popular - among high school kids, no less! - and I did it all in one night.

Granted, I was giving away free pizza so that may have influenced my rapid ascension in the social ranks - but I'm adding this footnote to my resume: Popular, Pizza-Providing Provocateur.

And full disclosure, these were former high school students - some shedding their student personas just hours after picking up diplomas.

I volunteered at Grad Nite 2026 having no idea what I was getting into. All I knew is that I was going to be out well past my bedtime with the hope of bringing some post-commencement enjoyment to a gaggle of recent high school graduates from across Napa County.

Editor and Publisher Dan Evans wrote about his turn volunteering at Grad Nite 2025, so when the call for volunteers went out this year, I decided to sign up. I'm not with Rotary or Kiwanis. I just like helping out from time to time. And I remember how much my grad night meant to me, so I wanted to make sure this new group of grads also had a night of memories to take with them on their next adventure.

While Dan loved his time stationed at the blackjack table, I didn't want my night to include any form of math, so I opted for the food court instead. While I have no formal training, I know how to keep a food table stocked, so I figured that's where my talents would shine.

I ended up at the pizza table because I was the volunteer closest to the designated pizza table when the pies arrived. Logically, that made me "provider of pizzas," and I unloaded boxes of Fazerrati's Pizza onto a card table adorned with string lights in quick order.

As students began to arrive, I realized I was more than the pizza lady - I was the unofficial greeter of the entire food court, so I quickly created a spiel (accompanied with directional body language) that I would repeat dozens of times over the night: "I've got sausage, pepperoni and cheese. You've got mac and cheese, and tacos at the food trucks. Burgers and hot dogs are behind you. Candy and baked goods, sweet and salty snacks; coffee, slushies, sodas - that way."

I was gesturing wildly like the Genie in "Aladdin" explaining the exits on the magic carpet. Some students disappeared before I could finish my sales pitch. Others waited patiently before letting me know they'd already made up their minds - pepperoni.

As the crowds began to pick up, the head food court volunteer asked me to include one very important word to my pitch: "free."

Yes, everything was indeed free with the price of admission, so I adjusted my speech accordingly. "Free pizza!" I called out into the night as groups of students meandered near the food court. Despite the shadows, I could see the light reflecting off my yellow volunteer vest in their eyes as dozens of students turned to look my way like hungry velociraptors.

As they began to approach, I realized I had to amend my pitch further to let the students know they could have more than one slice, and they could keep coming back as long as I had pizzas on the table. I ran out of pepperoni just before midnight, but there was plenty of cheese and sausage pizzas to last the night.

As the evening went on, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic for my own grad night more than 20 years ago. It was nothing like this. It wasn't a party for all the grads in the area. It was just me and the kids I'd grown up with on the last night we'd all be together. I remember that thought made me feel sad then, and it stung a bit more now. Friendships fade, people move on and pass on. Life changes in unexpected ways.

I watched as they squealed at reuniting with each other - even though they'd just graduated days ago. I watched as they swapped stories and took selfies and talked about all the plans they had for the summer. They talked about college and future plans.

Behind the pizza boxes, I watched them talk like they had it all figured out - while I'm trying to figure out if I should switch to a face cream with retinol to fight off fine lines.

But this night wasn't about me. It was about them, and so I hopped off the nostalgia train and doubled down on my food court duties.

Next to the pizza table was candy and baked goods. I watched for several hours as teen after teen approached the table and thoughtfully selected a single piece of candy before departing.

These recent grads were politer than I expected. Knowing there were bags of candy under the table yet to be opened, I had to intervene.

"Please take as much as you want," I insisted. While most reluctantly took a second piece, others began to take the hint and took handfuls.

"Stuff those pockets!" I encouraged. "You're going to need fuel if you're going to be up all night."

I offered to hold plates of pizza while students tucked Tootsie Pops and Airheads into the sleeves of their hoodies. Team work at its finest.

I eventually had to duck out just after midnight. I wasn't about to turn into a pumpkin, but my feet can only take so much with planter fasciitis. As I shuffled back to my car using my cell phone to light my way through the Napa Valley College parking lot, I had to laugh at myself. What would recent high school grad Samie think of this - limping like an old lady back to my car?

She probably wouldn't have noticed. She would have been far more interested to see a cell phone with a flashlight.