"Picu's family is very poor. In the dry foothills, her mother must feed fourteen people--her kids, her relatives' kids, and the hired hand's kids--every day. One morning Picu, the youngest sister, is sent to get a marrow bone from a faraway neighbor. The bone will add flavor, and nutrition, to the lunchtime soup for all the hungry mouths. Her mother warns her not to dawdle on the two-hour walk, each way, through the wild landscape. But Picu can't help looking at butterflies, sampling cactus fruit, and exploring other delights. She also daydreams about using the marrow bone as a football because her family doesn't have a ball. Will the neighbor let them keep the bone after the soup is made? Will her mother let her play with it, or will it go to one of the older children who work so hard?"--
