TASK 5: ON THE JOB .
&&. HEADCANON .
Being a chef was in her blood. At least, that’s what her dad always used to playfully tell her. There are tons of wonderful, fond memories that she likes to call back on from time-to-time; how she would sneak back into the bustling kitchens of Double C Diner when she was just a little girl to try and catch a glimpse of all the big, impressive cooks in action — wanting nothing more than to take part in all of it herself.
Not long after, when she was at last old enough to properly ( and safely ) handle knives and work with heating appliances was when it became clear to all those around her the raw talent and passions the girl had — especially when she up and won Castleport’s huge pie making contest for the first time at age 12, only to go on and do the exact same thing every year after that.
The picture she made in her teen years was definitely an interesting one; a young goth girl with brightly colored streaks in her hair, walking around with old, annotated cookbooks mixed in with Edgar Allan Poe and Harry Potter. A good portion of her free time was spent trying new recipes and styles at the diner, which, of course, her parents were absolutely thrilled by. Soon enough, she started making goals that were far, far away from her little, limiting town. Tina dreamed of going out to New York or Paris and becoming a head chef in a 3 star Michelin restaurant, or even better than that, start one of her own. College only pushed those desires even higher, along with the praises from her professors, Double C’s patrons, and her friends. There was nothing she wanted more, and nothing that would stop her.
Or . . . so she thought.
It wasn’t long after she’d graduated from Ohio University that her parents pulled her aside and excitedly told her of their intentions for her; how they wanted her to take over Double C’s permanently one day in the distant future. It was a sweet sentiment to be sure, and as much of a soft spot as she had for the restaurant she grew up in, it wasn’t at all what she wanted.
Then, the rejection letters started coming in one right after the other. Each one was a further, devastating blow to her heart and ego. No matter how hard she tried, no one wanted her. Yet, despite all of those no’s she wasn’t ready or willing to give up that easily. Not only that, but she was going to find a way to gently, but firmly tell her parents that she wouldn’t be taking over at the diner.
That was the fateful day it happened: a huge restaurant in New York reached out and seemed rather interested in her and her work and wanted her to come out and cook a bit for them in a job interview of sorts. Tina nearly fell over at the offer — it was finally happening — and she’d just barely bought her flight out when, without warning, it all came crashing down at her feet.
Her father had passed out in the living room ( later scans showing that it was cancer ), and desperate and distraught at the news, her mother begged for her to stay behind; to stay and help the family and their business while her father began his immediate radiation and treatment. Of course, Tina loved her parents to the moon and back, and as hard as it was to do, she declined the New York interview and the opportunity of a lifetime for them, without question. There was no other option or alternative.
Besides, the optimist in her knew that it wouldn’t be long before her dad was back on his feet ( because he was going to get well, period ). He was strong and stubborn as hell, and then she could reapply and go back. They’d liked her, right? It would all work out in the end.
. . . but her dad has only been getting worse and worse as the years go by, she still hasn’t had the heart to tell her struggling parents about what she wants for herself, and her recent string of applying for jobs in secret is getting her absolutely nowhere.
The dreams that once seemed so close, are now miles and miles away — most likely for good, and Tina doesn’t know what in the world to do.











