MY INVISIBLE BRA

Hello. My name is Brianna Mendez, my few and closed-friends call me ‘Brae’. I am the

only child of my parents that’s why I feel so blessed because of their over flowing love and

support for me. I was brought up in an atmosphere of love and happiness. Growing up I was

nurtured in good values of kindness, respect, compassion and sense of responsibility. I never had

problems with money and never struggled in school. They gave me what I want and all my needs

are provided for. In return, I am good and obedient to them. I always excel in class and am

consistent honor student since grade school. Am always happy and contented with my parents –

they’ve been always my source of strength. I always do my best to make my parents proud of

me.

One may think that I have a perfect family life but deep within me I am broken.

Few years back, I was betrayed by my childhood best friend because she didn’t kept her

promise to keep my secret about my medical condition and it hurts me so badly and hated her

that I can’t extend her my forgiveness even up to this day. When I was 13 years old my left breast

was operated on to remove a malignant tumor. Said operation devastated my self-confidence

and self-esteem. Since then I always thought this was the reason why I have few friends and I am

looked down by many that resulted to years of bullying by my classmates and friends. They

always made fun of me every single day in school calling me… ‘a single-boob Brae’.
 Home is my haven and comfort zone. Despite of what is happening to me in school, I tried

to ignore it and simply concentrate on my studies knowing that I have loving and supportive

parents.

“Good morning! Lalalalalala... lalalalalala… I’m so happy today!.. Yahoo! It feels so great!

Thank you for my 18th birthday party with my friends last night! It was a blast! Thank you for all

your support, I love you mom and dad! You are both my angels!” I exclaimed while giving morning

kisses and hugs to my parents one morning on a breakfast table. They just smiled at me, look at

each other and said, “Brae, we are so happy for you and we love you too, but we all need to talk.

You need to know something my child”. In a snap I was nervous because they seem so serious. I

sit slowly to the dining chair and tried to listen. “I and your dad believe that this is the right time

for you to know everything. We are extremely proud of you my child, you’ve been so kind,

obedient and a perfect daughter for us, we always thanked God that you came into our lives, but…

she sighed. What do you mean? Tell me mom! Tell me! I pleaded. We are not your biological

parents”… I was stunned, my world was turned upside-down and my brain’s function functioning

seemed to shut down. After that I didn’t hear anything else!

I ran out from our house crying. I was almost hit by a car but I continuously ran going

nowhere and I started to think… “Who am I? Where I came from? How and why?” I asked myself.

When I felt the exhaustion I stopped and rested at the park, I sat on the bench and burst my heart

out. I felt useless and insignificant. I can live without my best friend because of her betrayal but
I can’t accept that my parents also lied to me for so long. I can accept my disability but not losing

my identity. I feel like they been away since from the very beginning and am miserably alone.

( then nakatulog pala…)

Still longing for answers and with a heavy heart I pick some tissue inside my bag. In my surprise I

found out that there is a gift addressed to me but the sender is unknown. The gift is a skin tone

colored bra with a note that it is a magical item that could heal any ailing part of the body it

touches, further that it is visible only to me but not to others. I find it funny and disregarded the

ridiculous message. Then I decided to return home and pack up my belongings. On my way home

I came across a sickly and crying child. The child’s hands and feet are covered with bruises and

her eyes a mirror of deep pain. I ask the child about her parents and why she is wandering in the

park. The child answered that she had known no parents; she grew up in the custody of relatives

who inflicted her person with maltreatment and injuries, forcing her to escape from that place;

that she roam the streets asking for food and alms to survive. I feel pity and compassion for her.

Instinctively I was able to relate with her pains and misery. She was betrayed by her biological

parents when they choose to abandon her and be vulnerable to abuse. Then I realize that I am

fortunate and should be grateful to my step parents, despite of absence of any biological ties

with them I was treated as part of their family. I was accorded food, clothing, shelter, education

and most important of all love which others do not experience. The child beg for food and some

medicine for her cough, since I have no food nor money at that time I offered to her a prayer

which the former gladly accepted. Then I remembered the gift that was given to me and I was

curious if that item was indeed magical as claimed. In order to verify if it has healing powers I get

it from my bag and placed it on her back while I pray for her. After I have prayed for her I was
surprised to notice that her hands and feet were healed and her eyes were filled with joy. The

child expressed her thanks gave me a cheerful smile and a warm hug and they parted fleet-

footedly.

When I was about to cross the street from the park I heard a woman shouting at a man. The

woman is in her early thirties with a sophisticated appearance. It can be clearly seen that the

man and a woman are a couple. The woman is continuously cursing the man and based on what

I have heard the former was accusing the latter of infidelity. The man tried to pacify the woman

by explaining his side and admitting his mistake but to no avail since the woman could see no

reason and was blinded by her raging emotion. The woman removed a ring from her left hand

and threw it against the man. The ring found its way at my feet and as I picked it to return to the

woman I remembered my best friend who betrayed my trust. I approached the woman to give

back her ring, the latter apologize, begging for understanding for her unbecoming and scandalous

conduct. The man having departed she related how she was disillusioned and made mad by his

infidelity, hence, her reaction. Surprisingly the woman started to unburdened herself by relating

her story. I learned that they had been husband and wife for almost fifteen years when she

discovered by accident that he is having an affair with another woman, seeing that the invisible

bra is still in my right hand and remembering the wonders it did to the little girl I decided to gently

pat with it the back of the woman. After a while the woman having noticeably calmed down she

admitted her shortcomings in their relationship. She confessed that she dedicated more time

with her work’s demands than with her family’s needs. As we went along in our conversation I

observed that the hostile feelings displayed earlier had already subsided and the woman soon

realized that within their marriage there were great moments shared with her husband. The
woman decided to give her husband a second chance as her love is far greater than her pain. The

women hurriedly left intent to catch up with her husband. That opened my eyes to the realization

that some relationship are worth saving and fighting for.

When I am about to reach my house I saw an old woman walking aimlessly at the middle of a

busy street. She was embracing a picture frame and extremely lonely. I immediately approached

and guided her to the sidewalk. I told the old woman that it is dangerous for her to stand at that

place. She suddenly cried and told me that her loved one died yesterday after struggling with

cancer for almost a year. She showed me the picture that she was embracing, it was a family

picture. The picture contain the image of herself, her husband and their children, however for

some reason the images of her children were blurred. She told me that because she is all alone

in her pains and misery that she could no longer endure, hence, her desire to end her life. I then

asked her if which of her relatives passed away. She answered by pointing to the picture

indicating that it was her husband who died. Then I ask about their children but the old woman

could not remember any of them. She told me that I should leave her be as it is the only way she

knows to escape from and forget her suffering. She manifested her desire to be reunited with

her husband and attempted to go back to the center of a busy street. I refused to comply with

her request, held her hand while arguing and placed the invisible bra between her arms and the

picture. I told her that god given life is precious and should not be unilaterally or arbitrarily ended

based only on human whims and caprices. It is normal to be sad or lonely but we should not

surrender thereto. Her formerly blank stare become focused to the picture frame and wonder of

wonders! the blurred picture of her children were restored and became visible. I saw that it was

a picture of beautiful and happy family members. Tears profusely flowed from her eyes but
evidently, this time, there were tears of joy. I was deeply moved and at that instance I forget all

my concerns my heart seem to beat and cadence with that of the old woman’s. I seemed to

possess her restored hopes and joys. I heard a voice calling my attention “wake up young lady”

it was the park’s caretaker who was touching my right shoulder shaking me lightly. Suddenly I

come to the realization that it was all a dream. I checked my bag to find the gift but try hard as I

did I failed find to it. With its sudden disappearance my heart seemed to be abruptly drained with

all the negative emotion that I formerly harbored. Once again I could appreciate the bright early

morning raise, the sweet chirping of the birds and the tranquility and beauty of the surroundings!

I rush to the house and finding my mother embraced her tightly. With tears flowing down my

eyes I exclaimed:” forgive me mother; I will never attempt to leave our house again I love you

and dad so much!”

(in my dream…)
My realizations……

Your left breast was removed but this is where your heart is still on. So don’t feel incomplete.

The world may leave you but your parents will stay forever.

Count your blessings instead of your frustrations in life.

Chef Interview Questions

1. Why did you decide to become a chef?

2. Did you go to culinary school?

3. What did you like best about the education experience? What did you like least?

4. Where and how were you trained?

5. What is your management style? What management style do you prefer for your

supervisor to have?

6. How many employees report to you?

7. Are you a team player? Describe your usual role in a team-centered work

environment? Do you easily assume a leadership role?

1. Do you have a sense of humor?

2. Tell me about a difficult situation and how you handled it?

3. Describe the relationship between back-of-the-house and front-of-the-house

operations.

4. Tell me about your experience with employee and workforce management.

Describe the last time you had to discipline a subordinate.

5. Are you able to work flexible hours?

6. Is there a chef you admire the most? Who and why?

7. What is your favorite cuisine? How many different types of cuisine are you

capable of producing?

8. What is your favorite cuisine to cook?

1. What is your favorite wine?

2. Tell me about your wine knowledge.

3. Tell me about pairing wine and food.

 4. What trends are you noticing regarding wine and food pairings?

5. What is an example of a springtime menu you would prepare for me?

6. If you were asked to reduce fat and sodium in a menu, what would you do

maintain flavor in the quality of the dish?

7. What do you do to stay current on new trends? Describe two or three of the most

interesting industry trends.

8. How do you test the quality of your ingredients?

9. Describe your knowledge of food safety.

1. How involved are you in the beverage component of your establishment?

2. How involved are you with menu development and overall design?

3. When are you happiest at work?

4. If you were told that your food cost was high, what five things would you look at

first?

5. What is the average annual revenue of the restaurants you have worked in?

6. How involved are you in the financial aspect of the business?

7. Tell me about your budgeting, purchasing and inventory control experience.

8. Do you consider yourself creative?

This is good for someone who is in a strict diet