The morning sun shone through the window of the cooking class. The women were gathered around the table, cutting vegetables and chatting. The air smelled of onions, flour, and butter.

Suddenly, one of the women frowned and said, “This water is terrible. It smells bad. How are we supposed to cook with it?”

Another woman joined in, “Yes, I can’t use this. Maybe we should tell the teacher to get bottled water instead.”

The room filled with murmurs. Some women began pouring their water down the sink.

Faye looked up from her table. She had been stirring the batter quietly, but now she stepped forward. “There’s nothing wrong with the...