July 10, Thursday

Chez Alice is already a success, and Nora has gained a lot of attention with her new concept in food. There have been articles in the newspapers, radio interviews and even a segment on the local TV news. I couldn’t love my job more. I take every opportunity to eavesdrop on Nora and the sous chefs, and make note of the many dishes in my little notebook.

It’s almost midnight, the end of the shift, and everyone has cleaned their stations and prepared for tomorrow’s business. Some of the line cooks are hanging around the back door passing around a joint, and the pungent smell of marijuana smoke wafts into the kitchen. It’s part of the culture here and seems harmless, it just doesn’t interest me.

I’ve finished my work and clocked out and I’m trimming and chopping the ugly vegetable stubs to take home for soup, just like I did in the officers’ kitchen in Brazil.

“What are you doing?” Nora’s sharp voice splits the air.

I look up at her and stammer a little bit. “Oh, I’m sorry, Nora, Guy told me I could keep the vegetable ends that are put in the compost. I thought it was okay, I’m sorry.”

Her face is serious but she makes a waving motion. “No, that’s not what I meant. Where did you learn knife work?”

I let out my breath in relief. “Oh, I worked cooking in Brazil, but I started learning back when I was a kid.”

She leans forward and looks at me as if for the first time. “Where did you work? What sort of food did you cook?”

“I worked my way up in the officers’ dining-room kitchen in Brazil’s capital. When I left Brazil I was sous chef. Chef Orlando taught me, he was trained in France.”

“Mmmm. Well, carry on. I hate waste, so eating is better than compost.”

I finish chopping and clean the station, putting the vegetables in a container that I then put in my bag. As I gather my things to leave, Guy calls me over to the bar. “Eva, Nora wants to try you on prep. Come in a little early tomorrow so you can get oriented.”

My chest wants to burst with excitement. “Yes, Guy, absolutely. Thank you so much!”

“It’s a trial, so we’ll have to see how you do before we make any permanent changes.”

I want to skip like a kid as I walk home, the fireflies dancing and the crickets singing in the darkness.