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she was going to have to bake the best cakes of her short, and so far unsuccessful, cooking career. Could she do it?



The competition was about to begin. Madame Ombre had led the junior choc chefs into the huge bakery kitchen where there was a workbench for each contestant. EJ’s was at the front of the room. Each bench was laid out with ingredients, had a store cupboard underneath holding pots and pans and held a stove and oven.
    Madame Ombre stood at the front of the kitchen, close to EJ, to address the girls. ‘So you think you can cook? We will see. In front of you are the ingredients for a simple cupcake. But do not be fooled, oftenthe simplest thing is the hardest to perfect, and I want perfection. If I don’t get it, you will go home. Now, enough chitty chatty, commence!’
    EJ was nervous. She must not lose. She must not be sent home. She hadn’t even begun her mission. She looked at the ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar, cream, chocolate, pretty much the same as at Isi’s house. She looked at the recipe. Simple enough. Certainly the other contestants seemed to think so for they were all well underway with their mixing.
    First she needed to melt some chocolate and cream. How hard can that be? she thought. She followed the instructions, putting some water in a saucepan and bringing it to the boil. She then tipped the cream and chocolate into a bowl and put the bowl into the saucepan, being careful that the water did not touch the sides. Soon, the boiling water began melting the chocolate. So far, so good.

    A phone rang in Madame Ombre’s office, at the front of the kitchen.
    â€˜Keep cooking and no chitty chatty, I can see you all,’ cried Madame Ombre as she strode into the office. Through the glass, EJ could see Madame Ombre talking animatedly, angrily.
    Hmm, something has really whipped her into an even worse temper, thought EJ. I need to find out what. EJ took her chocolate charm from her bracelet and twisted. Seconds later she was holding what looked like a little chocolate bar. Remembering her briefing, EJ separated the first two rows. But how was she going to get the transmitter into Madame Ombre’s office?
    Suddenly, and luckily, for EJ at least, there was a crash as one of the contestants dropped a glass bowl. Madame Ombre had slammed the phone down and was out of her office in a flash.
    â€˜Who is making such a noise in my kitchen?’ she fumed as she stormed to the back of the kitchen where the poor girl was desperately trying to pick up pieces of glass.
    EJ took her chance. She had only seconds. While Madame Ombre, with her back turned, beganto berate the girl in front of the other shocked contestants, EJ slipped in to the office. She left the choc charm on Madam Ombre’s desk. She placed it next to some other chocolates already lying there—the choc charm would go unnoticed. She hoped.
    EJ left the office and quickly returned to her bench. Madame Ombre was still yelling at the poor girl. It was then that EJ saw her saucepan. She had left it on the stove and the water had boiled over and into the chocolate and cream mixture. EJ was dismayed as she looked at the watery slop that was supposed to be her creamy chocolate. It was ruined. She looked back at Madame Ombre who was now almost exploding with rage.
    â€˜No, you butter fingers, this will not do. You cannot break things in my kitchen. You will have to leave the Choc Chef competition. Now. Someone will show you out. Au revoir. And the rest of you, you are warned, no mistakes!’
    The other contestants watched in shocked silence as the now teary girl was escorted out of the competition. EJ looked back at her own mistake inthe saucepan. She needed to hide it before Madame Ombre saw it and threw her out of the competition as well. Madame Ombre was now storming back towards the front of the kitchen, towards EJ and her chocolate water. EJ held her breath.

    The phone was ringing again. Madame Ombre let out