V.T. Bidania - Astrid and Apollo and the Magic Pepper

To my mom, who took us gardening VTB

	Hi, Im Astrid. My twin brother is Apollo, and we were born in Minnesota. We live here with our mom, dad, and little sister, Eliana.
	Hi, Im Apollo! Our mom and dad were both born in Laos. They came to the United States when they were very young and grew up here.

dee (DEE) cucumber. Hmong spelling: dib dee lia (DEE lee-YAH) watermelon. Hmong spelling: dib liab Gao Chee (GOW chee) shiny girl. Hmong spelling: Nkauj Ci Gao Hlee (GOW lee) moon girl. Hmong spelling: Nkauj Hlis Gao Nou (GOW new) sun girl. Hmong spelling: Nkauj Hnub gao (GOW) girl; it is often placed in front of a girls name. Hmong spelling: nkauj Hmong (MONG) a group of people who came to the U.S. from Laos. Many Hmong from Laos now live in Minnesota. Hmong spelling: Hmoob karr (KAW-er) a bamboo basket with straps that is worn on a persons back. Hmong spelling: kawm lay (LAY) a woven mat from Southeast Asia. Hmong spelling: lev naw maw (NAW maw) to eat. Hmong spelling: noj mov Nia Thy (nee-YAH thy) grandmother on the mothers side. Hmong spelling: Niam Tais Nou Kou (NEW koo) star. Hmong spelling: Hnub Qub tou (TOO) boy or son; it is often placed in front of a boys name. Hmong spelling: tub

Eliana was sitting next to Astrid and Apollo outside their house. She pointed at a blue van driving down the street. Nia Thy! she said.

Its Uncle Mengs van, said Apollo.

Eliana, you were right! said Astrid.

Mom and Dad came out of the house. Yes, Grandma and Uncle Meng are visiting today, said Mom.

Theyre bringing fruits and vegetables from Grandmas farm, Dad said.

Eliana said, Nia Thy is here!

Everyone waited as Uncle Meng parked in the driveway.

Hi, Uncle Meng! Apollo walked over to the van. Astrid and Eliana followed him.

Hi! said Uncle Meng as he stepped out of the van.

Grandma stepped out of the other side.

Grandma, we missed you! said Astrid.

Hi, Grandma! said Apollo.

Eliana ran up to Grandma. Hi, Nia Thy!

Grandma hugged the kids. Nia Thy missed you too! Even if I just saw you last week, said Grandma.

Uncle Meng opened the vans side door. A dropped onto the ground.

Coo-coo-ber! said Eliana.

Apollo picked up the cucumber.

Heres more! Uncle Meng reached in the van and took out a large paper bag. Grandma and I picked them today.

Are they for the ? Mom asked.

Uncle Meng gave Dad the bag. These ones are for you to eat.

Dad looked in the bag. This is a lot of cucumbers!

Uncle Meng nodded. We still have a big field of cucumbers left. Kids, want to help us pick them tomorrow? Well be selling them at the farmers market on Saturday.

Oh, I love going to the farmers market! And I want to visit Grandmas farm! said Astrid.

Me too! Apollo said.

Thats a great idea, said Dad.

Mom agreed. I like that. Now lets go inside and taste these cucumbers!

As they walked into the house, Uncle Meng said, I call the farmers market the magic market. What we sell there grew from a seed, like magic! Wait, whats that?

He leaned down and put his hand next to Elianas ear. He pulled out a coin and said, Ta-da! See? Magic!

Wow! said Eliana. She stared at the coin and everyone laughed.

The next day, Uncle Meng and Grandma arrived early to pick up the twins. Mom and Dad walked them outside.

Have fun! said Dad.

Remember to wear your hats and . Also, ask Grandma to tell you stories, said Mom.

Astrid and Apollo nodded and climbed into the van.

Good morning, you two! Uncle Meng said.

Good morning. Astrid and Apollo both yawned.

Grandma smiled from the front seat. My little Gao Nou and Nou Kou are so tired. You can sleep. Its a long drive to the farm.

The twins slept the whole way. They didnt wake up until the van went over big bumps in the dirt road.

Sorry. The road here is very bumpy, said Uncle Meng.

Apollo looked out the window. This farm is huge! he said.

Outside were large green fields. Each field had tall and small plants. Thick stems and leaves grew around them. People were already in the fields, picking fruits and vegetables.

Which part is Grandmas? Astrid asked.

Grandmas garden is right there. Its near that little tree, said Uncle Meng. He parked on the grass by the tree.

Astrid and Apollo got out of the van.

Grandma handed them big baskets. These are for cucumbers, she said.

Then Grandma put a karr, a Hmong basket with straps, on her back. Next she put on her big straw hat.

Astrid and Apollo rubbed sunscreen on their faces and arms. Then they put on their hats. Astrid had a floppy pink gardening hat. Apollo wore Dads old blue fishing hat.

Uncle Meng smiled and gave them gloves. You kids look ready to work in your hats.

We dont want to get sunburned, said Astrid.

Thats smart, said Uncle Meng. He put on his baseball cap.

Grandma pointed to the field. See the cucumbers? We pick from these rows here. When were done, well pick over there, she said.

Astrid and Apollo looked at the rows of cucumbers. Wooden poles stood between the plants. Leaves and vines twisted up the poles.

Then Apollo said, I see a cucumber!

Apollo pointed to a little cucumber hanging near a big leaf.

Astrid smiled. It looks like a pickle.

That ones not ready yet. Find the long ones. Dont pull them off. Use these to cut the stem, said Uncle Meng. He gave them garden scissors.

Thanks, said Astrid and Apollo.

Uncle Meng pointed all around.

Can you feel the magic here? he asked. Now you two help Grandma pick cucumbers. Ill go pick green beans. He walked to the other side of the farm.

The twins followed Grandma.

Uncle Meng likes talking about magic, said Apollo.

It is magical if you think how everything here came from little seeds, Astrid said.

Apollo shrugged. I guess. Grandma, how do we know which cucumbers to pick?