Stuck in the usual Monday morning traffic on their way to college, Willow unexpectedly turned down the volume of the radio, startling Lucy.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“Aren’t you nervous, Lucy? Twenty per cent of our final mark is a huge chunk for one ‘mystery challenge’ and I just know we’re heading into a deadly test trio: difficult, demanding and decisive. It’s scaring the tan right off me!”

“You’ll do great, Willow. You put so much unnecessary pressure on yourself before every test, then end up sailing right through,” Lucy said. This was her standard pep talk whenever Willow seemed to lose it. “Whatever the mystery ingredient is, stick to your strengths and don’t try to impress by trying something you’re not familiar with. That’s the advice my grandmother gave me, which I’m sharing with you. She calls you my ‘funny friend’.”

Laughing, Willow inched the car forward as the traffic jerked to life. “I must thank her and get her something special for that, especially for making me laugh,” she said.

“The only reward she wants is our success, so turn up that music and let’s get positive,” Lucy said, throwing up her hands and drumming them against the roof to the beat of Beyoncé’s Hold my Beer.

After changing into their chef’s whites, they headed to the kitchens, each absorbed in their thoughts about what lay ahead of them.

“Oh, Lucy-loo is trying to wish away the challenge. Scared much?” Christian’s taunt snapped Lucy from her deliberation.

“I hope you’re wearing extra undies, because I’m beating your ass today, Christian,” Lucy said with confidence, causing everyone to break into raucous laughter and wolf whistling.

Just then the kitchen door opened. Christian sidled in nodding a greeting to Chef Miranda, who was, it seemed, their invigilator.

“Quiet please! Enter in an orderly manner and check the notice board for your assigned workstation,” she barked standing aside to let them through. “Check that you’re all where you’re supposed to be.”

“Yes, Chef,” they replied in unison.

Being the strictest lecturer, Chef Miranda didn’t have to ask twice – everyone was scared of her acerbic tongue and dared not misinterpret her instructions.

Lucy looked around, trying to see who would occupy the still-vacant workstation opposite. It was Christian who came to a halt in front of her.

“It’s you and me, Loser,” he said, with a strange glint in his eyes.

“I’ve had better company, Christian, but I won’t even know you’re here,” she said, smiling while looking directly into his eyes. He looked away, suddenly interested in the oven’s mechanisms.

“Is everyone ready?”

“Yes, Chef.”

“Very well. Your Mystery Basket ingredient is …” Chef Miranda paused while raising the lid off the basket, “pineapple. And the challenge starts now!”

Lucy smiled and dashed for the fresh produce counter, startling the others, who were still busy contemplating how to use pineapple. She grabbed two of the largest pineapples, plus an orange, then dashed off to the student pantry and fridges for the rest of her ingredients.

Back at her workstation, she shoved her items out of sight, ready to start, while the majority of the students were still deep in thought.

“Five minutes. You have five minutes left to make a decision and get your ingredients,” announced Chef Miranda. “Those of you who are stocked up may start immediately.”

While scrambling for her ingredients, she’d mentally planned her prep list. Since the pineapple flower garnish would take the longest to complete, she started with that.

Tell us what you think: What is Christian planning?