Junie peeked out the gap between the cabinets and felt a shiver of excitement rush through her. There, discarded and forgotten on the kitchen floor, was a prize that would bring her family wealth and prestige: a whole peppercorn, dark and heady, as big as her two fists. Even after they split off a piece large enough to enjoy for months to come, they would still have plenty left to trade.
All she had to do was get to it and get back again before the resident mouse noticed it.
Somewhere nearby, the cat surely lurked. The race was on.
Author’s Note: All her sister brought home was a cilantro leaf from the compost bin!
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