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118. Promotion Ceremony
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
A few days ago, Emoni, ’Buela, and Julio sat down to hash out Emoni’s plan. Now, Emoni is walking alone to Café Sorrel; she’s kept the card from Chef Ayden’s friend for months. Entering the restaurant, Emoni asks to speak to the chef. After an anxious 10 minutes, Chef Williams finally barges out of the kitchen. Emoni introduces herself, and Chef Williams recognizes Emoni. Emoni says she’d like a job, and she has her family’s help so she can commit to long hours. She’ll be attending Drexel’s Culinary Arts program part-time, so she could be here to work the lunch rush. Shrugging, Emoni adds that she wants to work and learn in Philly so she can give back to her hometown. Chef Williams asks when Emoni can start, and Emoni says she can start today.
As Emoni approaches Café Sorrel, she does so with her family’s full support. They want to see her succeed—and presumably, they accept her desire to both receive a formal education in culinary arts, as well as to learn on the job at Café Sorrel. Emoni also now recognizes the importance of something Julio taught her, which is to stay connected to her roots and her wider Philly community. This community is the one that raised Emoni, and so it’s the one she feels compelled to one day, hopefully, give back to.
Themes
