Mari and the Great Market Swap
When customers can’t reach the weekly market, Mari comes up with a creative solution to help her fellow vendors.
“I guess it’s cassava, cassava, cassava for me dis week,” said Wendy.
“Here, take some o’ my guava,” giggled Mari.
“Thanks. You want a cassava?” That gave Mari the brightest idea of all.
Mari loves helping Granny sell their ripe, sweet guavas at the weekly market. Every Saturday, the whole place feels alive. She hears Miss Hyacinth singing, “Come get your mangoes, sweet and juicy,” Fitzroy calling, “Fish, fish—flying fish, only one dollar,” and Mamee cheerfully asking, “Sugar cakes? Tamarind balls? Guava cheese?” At the market, everyone feels like one big family.
But today, Mari’s friend brings worrying news: a sugarcane truck has toppled over on the main road, and now customers can’t reach the market. Without customers, the vendors won’t earn enough money to buy what they need for their families and their stalls.
Mari thinks hard. She’s a problem solver, after all. Then she gets a bright idea. What if… they have a great market swap?
