Gidda's Team
The door closed behind Malik, making Mama look up from the hot meal. "Just in time for dinner. Will you 1Gidda, please?"
Gidda was staying in Malik's bedroom. He didn't2giving up his room for his 82-year-old grandmother at first. But then she didn't leave. Malik3over her suitcase on the floor. "Sorry," Gidda said. "I'm just a nuisance(讨厌的人) here. I'm4." Malik didn't answer as he helped her up from her chair.
At dinner, Mama asked Malik, "How's your 5with the coach?"
Malik was captain of school soccer team, and he had to discuss a fundraiser with the coach. They'd have to raise hundreds of dollars to6their old shirts, and that seemed unlikely unless Malik came up with a(n) 7plan.
Unwillingly, Malik said, "It's just team stuff." Changing the8, Malik turned to Gidda. "Do you want to go sit outside after dinner?"
Gidda agreed. In the soft warmth of the evening, Gidda settled herself beneath the enormous fig(无花果) tree. "Feels like home," she said. But Malik9, "It drops figs everywhere." Right then, a fig landed on his head. Gidda laughed, picked it up, and took a10. "Perfect. Pick me a bunch. I'll make fig cakes."
The next morning, Malik found Gidda making fig cakes in the kitchen. She offered him one. Malik, hoping it wasn't too awful, put it in his mouth. His eyes11as he chewed. It was delicious. He eyed the tree in the backyard. How many fig cakes could it12?
Malik grabbed his phone and started 13in a rush of excitement. An hour later, most of the soccer team gathered in the kitchen, and ate up fig cakes.
"Gidda's Fabulous(极好的) Fig Cakes!" Malik said. "We'll 14them! Gidda said they were easy to make; she'll15us how."
At dinner that night, Gidda shared their plan with Mama, smiling16as she repeated the title Malik gave on her, "Team Grandmother."
The next day, the kitchen was full of17. Walking slowly among the excited boys, Gidda taught them to make fig cakes. Soon the fig cakes piled up.
As Malik 18, Gidda's Fabulous Fig Cakes were a huge hit and they were quickly sold out.
When the new19arrived just in time for the opening game, Coach Garcia invited
Gidda to watch. She arrived early, and waved at Malik. Then she turned 20to show off her shirt. On the back were the words Team Grandmother.
