Marron woke early on training day with the kind of nervous energy that made sleep pointless after five bells.
She'd spent the previous evening preparing materials with Jenny—recipe cards written in clear script, ingredient lists, equipment recommendations, quality standards checklists. Everything a new franchisee would need to succeed. But theory and practice were different animals, and today would reveal whether their business model actually worked.
By six bells, she was dressed and reviewing her notes at the kitchen table. The Precision Blade rested nearby, already making her hyper-aware of how she was holding her pen (inefficient grip, too much pressure, wasted motion). She adjusted without thinking, and the words flowed more smoothly across the page.
I'm being taught even when I'm not cooking, Marron realized. That's... actually useful.
"You're up early," Mokko observed, emerging from his sleeping corner with his usual quiet grace.
