Blaine looked close to tears. "But we've organized dozens of events together. We know how to follow instructions!"
As Ray worked on our third batch, I noticed a change in his movements. His face had relaxed, his breathing synchronized with the rhythm of grinding. He was no longer overthinking each step but allowing his muscles to guide the process.
"I think I've got it," he said quietly, his eyes half-closed in concentration. "It's like when you find your stride on a long run—suddenly your body just knows what to do."
When we presented this batch to Khun Yai Pranee, she dipped her finger in, tasted, and gave a small, approving nod.
"Good base," Chef Malida translated. "Now make two more exactly the same."
Without complaint, Ray began again with fresh ingredients. His body had internalized the movements, developed the muscle memory necessary to recreate the same result. I found my own rhythm in the preparation, anticipating when each ingredient would be needed.
Our fourth and fifth batches matched perfectly. When we presented all three pastes side by side to Khun Yai Pranee, she inspected them carefully, tasting each one.
After what felt like an eternity, she smiled. "Same same," she said in English, before adding something in Thai.
"She says your hands have learned what your mind could not teach them," Chef Malida translated. "This is true mastery."
We high-fived, both of us exhausted but triumphant. As we prepared to leave, I felt a twinge of sympathy for Gemini and Blaine, who were still struggling with their sixth attempt, their judge shaking her head once again.
"Should we give them some advice?" I asked Ray quietly.
He considered it for a moment, then nodded. We approached their station, where Blaine was starting yet another batch with trembling arms.
"Try switching roles," Ray suggested gently. "Fresh muscles might help."
"And remember, it's not about following the recipe perfectly," I added. "It's about finding the rhythm. Let your body learn the motion."
Gemini looked at us gratefully, her usual confidence replaced by genuine appreciation. "Thanks, y'all. You guys make this look so easy."
"Twenty-five years of practice," Ray said with a smile. "It eventually becomes second nature."
We wished them luck, but as we headed for our next destination, I had a sinking feeling that our advice wouldn't be enough to save them from elimination.
Chapter 33
Make Merit
When we reached the Stop’n’Go at eight in the evening, we were team number three, behind Fletcher and Adrienne and Zara and Maxwell. Soon after we arrived, Alex and Ross showed up, having finished the rice challenge. It was already well after dark by the time Gemini and Blaine showed up.
In the end, our advice to the sorority sisters wasn’t enough to keep them in the race. “We gave it everything we had,” Gemini told Julie, her arms visibly trembling from the exertion.
“But some things just take years of practice,” Blaine added with a rueful smile.
The next morning, we woke in Bangkok ready to start the next challenge, and met Julie at the departure mat at 8 AM. Our destination card read, “Travel to Luang Prabang in Laos and find your next card at Wat Xieng Thong, the Golden City Temple.”
“Laos,” Ray said. “How do we get there?”
We rushed across the street to an office with a big Travel Agency sign. We explained where we wanted to go, and the agent turned to her computer.
While she worked I looked at a map of Southeast Asia on the wall. “How far is Luang Prabang from Vientiane?” I asked.
“By plane is very quick, only one hour. By bus could be six or seven hours.”
I felt that familiar knot of anxiety. Being third to leave meant Adrienne and Fletcher had a nearly two-hour head start, and Alex and Ross were forty-five minutes ahead of us.
The agent consulted her computer, growing apologetic. "There is a morning flight at 9:30, with a connection to Luang Prabang. I am sorry, but you could not make it to the airport in time for that flight.”
My heart sank. Since the first two teams had left long before us, they’d probably caught that flight. “The next flight with direct connections is tomorrow at 9:30 AM."
