The Day Mai Cooked Dinner for Her Family

Mai had always watched her mother cook, but she had never cooked a full meal by herself. Last Saturday, her parents went to a wedding, and Mai decided to cook dinner for her little brother.

She found the recipe that her grandmother had given her years ago. It was for a simple noodle soup that the whole family loved. Mai had never used the stove alone before, so she felt a little nervous.

First, she boiled water in a big pot. While she was waiting, she cut the vegetables and prepared the chicken. "If I follow the recipe carefully, everything will turn out fine," she told herself.

After twenty minutes, the soup started to smell wonderful. Mai's brother, who had been playing video games in his room, came into the kitchen. "Wow, that smells amazing!" he said. "Have you finished cooking yet?"

"Almost," Mai answered. "I've already added the vegetables. I just need to add the noodles now."

When the soup was ready, Mai poured it into two bowls and set them on the table. Her brother tasted it first. "This is the best soup I've ever had!" he said with a big smile.

That evening, when their parents came home, Mai told them the good news. Her mother was surprised because she had never expected Mai to cook alone. "If you keep practicing, you will become a great cook one day," her mother said proudly.

Mai smiled. She had learned that cooking was not as difficult as she had thought, and she felt more confident than ever.