Mara kept going.
“She said people would believe it.”
Silence.
Dana looked at Clarissa.
“Did you say that?”
Clarissa shook her head.
“Not like that.”
Mara’s voice strengthened.
“You said exactly that.”
Clarissa turned.
“Mara, we were under pressure.”
“You told me not to mention the water.”
“That was because I didn’t want the children hearing staff arguments.”
“No.”
Mara shook her head.
“You told me to keep serving and not explain why the soup tasted different.”
Bernice looked at Clarissa.
“So you had the lie ready before anyone even tasted it.”
“I did not have a lie ready.”
“You knew people might complain.”
“Yes.”
“You knew why.”
“Yes.”
“And you told Mara what to say.”
Clarissa’s jaw tightened.
“I was trying to protect this cafeteria.”
Bernice’s voice remained quiet.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You were protecting yourself.”
Clarissa looked at Dana.
“This is getting distorted.”
Dana replied, “Then clarify it.”
Clarissa opened her mouth.
Nothing came.
Bernice stepped closer.
“And you picked me because you thought I’d be too old to fight back.”
Clarissa’s face changed.
“I never said your age had anything to do with anything.”
Mr. Bennett responded before Bernice could.
“You didn’t need to.”
Clarissa glared.
He continued.
“You built the whole explanation around people believing an older woman forgot.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
Mara spoke again.
“You’ve been saying things about her memory for months.”
Clarissa turned sharply.
“What things?”
Mara began counting.
“You asked me to double-check Bernice’s temperature logs even though they were always right.”
“That’s supervision.”
“You told Otis not to let her carry stockpots.”
“Safety.”
“You told me she was getting ‘set in her ways.’”
Clarissa said nothing.
“You said the district needed younger energy in the kitchen.”
Bernice looked toward Clarissa.
That one was new.
“When?”
Mara immediately regretted saying it.
But Dana asked.
“When did she say that?”
“Last month.”
Clarissa shook her head.
“That was taken completely out of context.”
Bernice’s eyes stayed on her.
“What context?”
Clarissa sighed.
“Bernice, please.”
“No.”
Bernice’s voice was stronger now.
“You wanted me off this line before today.”
“That isn’t true.”
“Then why have you spent months asking whether I remember things?”
“Because sometimes your methods are outdated.”
“My methods passed every inspection you scheduled.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“Then what is?”
Clarissa’s voice rose.
“If one bad lunch rattles you this badly, maybe this kitchen has passed you by.”
Bernice stopped.
For a second, Clarissa looked almost triumphant.
Then Bernice nodded.
“The lunch didn’t break me.”
Her eyes were wet now.
She did not hide it.
“Being blamed for your decision almost did.”
The entire cafeteria seemed to shrink around those words.
Dana stepped between them.
“That’s enough, Clarissa.”
Clarissa stared.
“You don’t get to humiliate her again.”
Dana pointed toward the office door beside the kitchen.
“Step away from the line.”