Erika Benton-Martin

Akili and the Marigolds

The weather outside was hot and dry. It hadn’t rained in months. Akili and her mother had grown a beautiful, flourishing garden. Akili’s grandfather taught her mother how to grow a variety of crops like corn, pepper, tomato, okra and watermelon. Akili’s mother was known for selling the best produce at the local market. They were both looking forward to harvesting the summer crops but a sweltering heatwave caused their reaping to wither away. They looked at the crops disappointedly as they moved through the garden.