The rangoli (印度传统地画艺术) was a giant good-luck charm. Grandma used to make one for the start of the new year. First, she would draw on the floor with chalk. Then, she would fill the drawing with uncooked1 rice.
This year, Manju was old enough to help. He2 paper into a cone (圆锥体) and filled it with rice. Side by side, he placed rice across the drawing together with Grandma. Sometimes his rice skittered outside the drawing, sometimes he used the3 color. And sometimes he rubbed away the4 , so Grandma had to redraw it. But5 , the bright swirls of rice transformed into a beautiful peacock. When Manju admired the peacock, he6 a small piece of tile (瓷砖) peeking through on Grandma's side.
A7 ? But Grandma was away to answer the telephone. Should he fix it?
"I'll surprise Grandma!" He decided. He8 across, trying to reach the gap. Almost. His left leg inched up. There! Suddenly, Manju began to 9 . His proud smile vanished. "No!" He crashed down onto the rangoli, scattering rice10 .
Manju rose to his feet and pushed the rice back. But the colors were11 . When Grandma came back, Manju12 . He said, "I'm sorry. I should have waited for you." Grandma shook her head. "You saw a13 and tried to fix it. I'm proud of you." They picked up the rice,14 each grain by color. Just before nightfall, they finished fixing the rangoli.
Grandma lit candles around the rangoli. In the flickering light, the peacock seemed15 with mystical powers. Manju smiled. The new year felt full of good luck, thanks to Grandma—and him.
