“Sorry I’m late.” Sylvie pulled out Godard’s note and made her way toward Boris. Dozens of sturdy desks were neatly spaced apart. At the front of the room was a lecturing board, a stainless-steel workbench, a demo kitchen, and a dishwasher. Sylvie loved food trucks. They had tons of them back home in Los Angeles, serving up fluffy pork buns, hot bowls of ramen, and tacos slicked with colorful salsas. But a food truck classroom?Brindille really is the coolest.“I was with Godard.”
Boris’s bulging eyes roamed across the slip of paper Sylvie handed him. “Very well. Your tardiness is excused. Now please find a seat.”
Sylvie turned around, hoping to find an empty desk tucked in the back. If she was lucky, she’d blend in with the fruit leather posters on the walls. She searched through the sea of faces. There was only one spot left, right next to Georgia.Maybe this is my chance to finally make amends?
“Well, go on, Miss Jones.” Boris waved her toward the empty desk.
Georgia scooted over.
Sylvie made her way to the seat and tried to figure out what to say. Maybe she could open with,“I’m sorry for ruining your blouse, and pulling your hair.” Or would it be weird to just blurt that out?
Sylvie stood there grinning for a moment. “Umm … hello.”
Georgia gave her an odd look, as if she couldn’t believe that was Sylvie’s opening line. Finally, her lips curled into a partial smile. “Hi.”
Hello?Sylvie kept her eyes fixed forward as she silently scolded herself.That’s what you came up with? Like you’re chatting with somerandom relative on the phone? Now, Georgia probably thinks you’re nuts.
“Toadstools are the backbone of many magical recipes,” said Boris, placing the glistening green disk onto a sheet pan loaded with long knobs of fungi. A slender stem with a white lacy crown was now pinched between his fingers. “Who can tell me what this is and how to use it?”
Thanks toThe Giddy Garden,Sylvie knew the answer. She raised her hand.
“Go ahead, Miss Jones.”
“It’s the veiled lady.”
Boris gave an approving nod. “And how do you use it?”
“The mushroom must be soaked in water for two minutes,” said Sylvie. “Like humans, mushrooms need oxygen to breathe. Depriving the fungi of air causes them to suffocate.”
“Very good!” said Boris.
“How did she know that?” Vihaan whispered.
Carlos shrugged.
Boris plopped the mushroom into a bowl of water. Bubbles drifted to the surface. Slowly at first. Then more. The white lace thrashed frantically beneath the surface. Boris glanced at the fizzing bowl. “Drowning mushrooms takes practice. If you want the flesh to stay firm, water temperature and pH must be precise. But that is only half the battle. The right ingredients are the key to every recipe. Use the wrong ones … you could end up like this toadstool.”
The crocheted cap slowly floated to the surface, limp as wet hair.
“So, what sort of recipes can this be used for?” Boris scanned the room.
Sylvie stared at the floating remnants.The Giddy Gardenfocused on growing plants, not cooking them. Though Sylvie got the feeling she’d seen a dish prepared with this mushroom before. Before Sylvie could give it another thought, the hand next to her shot up.
“Yes, Georgia.”
“The veiled lady can be used in sauce suprême. It’s perfect for a variety of transformation spells.”
A broad smile spread across Boris’s face. “Very good, Miss Shaw.”
Sylvie stole a sideways glance at Georgia. This was the second time Georgia had upstaged her. It was both impressive and unsettling.
“For the next part of class, we’ll break into teams,” said Boris, pulling Sylvie from her thoughts. “When cooking up magic, it is important to learn to use all your senses and to collaborate. Therefore, the person seated to your right will be your cooking partner for this exercise.”
Georgia slowly turned to Sylvie, her face puckered. “So, I guess that means we’re … working together.”
Sylvie tried to ignore Georgia’s look of horror. Naturally, after everything that had happened between them—the insults, the accusations, the destroyed shirt—working as a team might feel a little …awkward. Forget about all that. This is a chance to start fresh,Sylvie reminded herself.
Georgia pulled a pink pen from between her locks. “This pairing will probably go over as well as my mama’s shrimp salad… . She makes it in a ring mold, mixed with strawberry Jell-O.”
