“Meera!” called Mummy. “I am going out to buy some vegetables. Do you want to come?”

“Yes, Mummy,” said Meera. She loved to go to the market with Mummy. She ran to put on her shoes.

Meera held Mummy’s hand as they walked down the road. It was a very busy road. Cars and buses were racing down it very fast. Meera knew she had to walk on the pavement. She kept close to Mummy.

Mummy stopped at the zebra crossing. They had to cross the road. The traffic light turned red. The cars and buses stopped. Mummy and Meera crossed quickly and carefully.

Soon they were at the market. Meera loved the noisy, busy crowds. Some people were bargaining loudly. Others were laughing and talking. The market smelled of fruits and vegetables, flowers and spices, all mixed up together. Meera thought it was wonderful.

Mummy went first to the stall selling tomatoes. Meera helped her choose the firm, red ones. Next, Mummy bought potatoes. The potatoes were brown and lumpy. They were covered in earth. Meera laughed as she brushed the mud off her fingers. Mummy’s basket was soon full of vegetables.There were purple aubergines, a fat white cauliflower and long, green beans.

There was a round cabbage, and some peas as well. Meera liked to shell the peas. She hoped they could have peas for dinner that night.

Mummy moved to the stalls selling fruit. Meera liked this part best. She ate some purple grapes from a bunch that Mummy had bought. They were sweet and juicy. Then Mummy bought some oranges and bananas.

A woman selling sweet yellow guavas from a basket on her head came up to them. Mummy bought three large ones.

At the end Mummy bought a large, prickly pineapple. She asked the fruit seller to peel it for them. Meera watched him cut the prickly skin off. He then wrapped the juicy yellow inside of the pineapple and gave it to Mummy. Mummy put it carefully in her basket.

Meera hoped they could have pineapple and peas for dinner.

As Meera and Mummy were leaving the market, Meera noticed a flower seller sitting on the pavement. He had red and yellow roses, colourful gladioli and lots of other bright flowers.

Meera loved flowers. “Mummy,” she said, pulling at her mother’s sari. “Please may I have some flowers today?”

Mummy smiled. “Very well, Meera. You have been very good, so you may buy some.”

Meera chose a beautiful red rose. ‘May I take this to school tomorrow for Mrs. Ray?’ she asked. Mrs. Ray was Meera’s teacher.

‘Yes, of course’, said Mummy.

Meera skipped all the way home, holding her rose very carefully. It was wrapped in silver paper along with some tiny white flowers. Mummy said it looked pretty. Meera knew that Mrs. Ray would like it.

That night Meera helped Mummy to shell the peas. Mummy cooked them with potatoes, the way Meera liked them.

After everyone had eaten, Mummy served thick sweet slices of pineapple. Meera told her older sister Rani how the fruit seller had peeled the pineapple for them.

Meera hoped Mummy would take her shopping again soon. It really was fun.

The End.