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.”

eye, I see Daniel roll his eyes, his

further, confronting his negativity right here

but that won’t work here. It’s

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

my opponents—no, not my

at the end of the day, we’re

art of cooking, to challenge ourselves, and most

in

wave of applause and cheers takes over the studio. I lean back

faces of the

to Karl, who

home the prize today,” I add, “what truly

cheering each other on,

the real victory, and it’s one we can all

more. He’s still scowling at me, but I

Because to me, the most important thing is

for her head, her grin missing

even if I don’t win today, I

microphone back. “What a lovely speech,”

round of cheers before he continues. “Abby,

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

today?”

Karl, whose

I say. “If you all don’t mind, he has asked

identity private for the duration of