The Slice Beside the Crescent

Ages 9-12

At the garden table, Ilana bites a radish slice. A pale crescent is missing from its red edge.

She sets the slice beside her hand.

"Radishes are terrible."

Rahel takes a slice from the dish and eats it.

The woman at the table sets down a second small dish of washed, cut radishes.

Ilana takes a slice from it. She holds it above the piece with the crescent missing, then puts it in her mouth.

She chews and reaches toward the small dish again.

"I thought you didn't like radishes." Rahel takes another slice.

"I don't."

Ilana withdraws her hand and rests it beside the crescent-bitten piece.

Rahel eats her slice.

Ilana moves her hand past the first piece and takes another slice from the small dish.

"I like this one."

She bites it, then eats the rest.

Ilana takes a third slice from the small dish and lays it beside the crescent-bitten first piece.