The sun beats down on Grandma's backyard fruit garden. Tia stands under the tallest tree. She tilts her head all the way back, staring at the branches.
A giant, rock-hard green mango hangs just out of reach. Tia stretches high on her tiptoes. She gives the tough skin a firm tap with her finger.
She drops back to her heels. She crosses her arms tight and frowns at the fruit. "Hurry up and turn yellow!" she tells it.
Tia stomps over to the patio and drags back her heavy wooden art box. It leaves a long trail in the dry grass.
She scoops up a huge handful of bright, gloopy yellow paint. She smears it all over the stubborn green skin. She wipes a sweaty smudge from her forehead.
Her clever trick doesn't last. The wet yellow paint slowly slides down the smooth fruit. It falls into the dirt with a quiet splat.
Next, Tia runs inside and fetches a shiny plastic megaphone. She marches right back to the hanging mango and takes a deep breath.
She holds the megaphone up close. "Wake up and get sweet!" she yells. A loud echo rings out through the quiet garden.
The sudden noise makes a flock of gray pigeons flap away in a panic. But the giant mango stays perfectly still, as green as ever.
Tia marches back to the house. She grabs her thickest, fuzziest winter blanket. She hauls the heavy fabric across the sunny yard.
She tosses the blanket over the mango, wrapping it tight to bake the fruit warm. She taps her foot, blowing a stray curl out of her face.
A sudden breeze rips through the garden. The wind snatches the fuzzy blanket right off the branch. The exact same unripe mango swings in the air.
Tia lets out a loud groan. She drops her hands to her sides and plops down into the scratchy grass to wait.
Afternoon shadows stretch long and dark across the empty yard. A cool wind rustles the thick leaves high above the ground.
Thwack! Something heavy shakes the ground right next to Tia's sneakers. She gasps and rolls over in the grass.
The giant mango glows a bright, sunny yellow. Tia takes a huge bite of the soft fruit. "Perfect," she whispers.
