Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

A little girl with a costume chef’s hat on. It’s a little too big for her head, causing

it to fall into her eyes. She pushes it up out of her face, shooting me a toothless

grin as she holds up a handmade sign that reads, in haphazard crayon…

“ABBY, U R MY HERO!”

Tears come to my eyes, but I blink them away. Suddenly, I’ve found my voice

again. I clear my throat, stand up straight, and start to speak.

“I want to say how grateful I am to stand here as a woman in a profession that

has long been dominated by men. And not just as a woman, but as someone

who believes in the power of diversity, of giving chances to those who are often

overlooked.”

Enter title…

I pause, choosing my words carefully. “But it’s not just about me,” I continue, “it’s

about all of us here. The incredible chefs who have come to compete, the staff

who make this show possible, and you—the audience, who make us want to be

better.”

I see Daniel roll his

moment, I contemplate going further, confronting his negativity right here

won’t work here. It’s not right. It’s

you for all of the love,” I continue, “but please, I ask you to

love to my opponents—no, not my opponents, but rather

chefs—because, at the end of the day,

to celebrate the art of cooking, to

in

cheers takes over the studio. I lean back

sweeping across the faces of

contestants, and lastly to Karl, who gives me an

today,” I add, “what truly matters

a community, cheering each other

the real victory, and it’s one we can

Daniel’s once more. He’s still scowling at me, but

the most important

her head, her

if I don’t win today, I will try my hardest…

the microphone

round of

loves you, but we’re all dying to know— who is your sous chef

today?”

dart to Karl, whose

“If

the