More to Life ✔

Chapter 25 Proud Market

Rialoves2cook: My final creation this round is tom kha gai, the first dish I tried in Thailand. I've fallen in love with the food here. While I need more practice to achieve that perfect Thai flavour, it turned out well, and the oyster mushrooms are a fun addition. I'm looking forward to perfecting it during my stay. Things have been tough, and your messages mean the world to me as I navigate a new career and country. I want to shout out a million 'thank you's in case this is my last contest post. Good luck to everyone!

A big thanks to my coworkers who gave up their Halloween plans to help make this recipe happen. You're the best!

#goodvibes #FromThailandwithlove #soupforthesoul #hopefullynotgoodbye

Posted Oct 31, 9:50 PM

***

In the staffroom, Maria stared down a tower of English workbooks on her desk. Marking them all tonight would be as enjoyable as blistering sunburn.

"They don't bite hard," Tom joked. Maria jumped and spun around in her desk chair. He frowned. "Sorry."

She slowed her breathing. Next to her, Emma grinned as she worked on their shoe-box dioramas for science class.

"How's the first week in grade fours treating you?" Tom asked.

While leaning back, Maria threaded her fingers through her tangled hair. Most days, she fought the desire to cry at the out-of-control nature of her classes. She kept expecting the administration to review the CCTV footage of her class and fire her, or for kids to complain and for the parents to petition for her removal. Despite her struggles, she wouldn't unload her mess of emotions onto a pleasant, unsuspecting co-worker.

"It's fine."

"Fine? That's great."

Tom's expectant smile made her long for quiet time to finish her work or better yet, her apartment where she didn't have to pretend she could handle this. Maybe returning his grin would send him on his way.

"Are you heading to RCA tonight?" Tom asked.

Maria sighed. Emma had mentioned the Royal City Avenue clubbing street, but Maria lacked the energy to get dolled up or deal with crowds, plus she had the final recipe to prepare for the contest. "I'm thinking of calling it a night after this marking."

"At least come to Proud Market for supper." Emma rolled a ball of peach clay into an ear. "Great snacks, shopping, and you might catch people lurking in costume."

With work today, Maria had forgotten it was Halloween. She gave Emma a faint smile. "I'm a little tight on cash this month." Not to mention her corrections would take forever since she kept procrastinating.

"I got you covered," Emma said.

"I appreciate the offer, but I have enough to feed myself." Maria opened a grammar workbook and groaned. "Is it me or does this not even resemble English?"

Emma took the book and squinted at the page. "They're trying, but questions eleven through twenty are gibberish. What is the next one like?"

After Maria passed her two more, Emma shook her head. "They didn't understand this assignment. Why don't you review it with them tomorrow, and they can copy the answers? Then you'll have nothing to mark."

Maria looked from Tom to Emma with wide eyes. "Can I do that?"

He nodded. "Sounds more engaging than scribbling red on their books."

Maria returned the workbooks to her tower. That freed up her evening and was one less period to plan for tomorrow. If she could get most kids to listen, Emma's idea was genius. Maria's hands fidgeted as she recalled the challenge of getting them on task today.