The grocer then handed her a sugar cookie. Maria thanked him again, but she did not make any sign of eating the sugar cookie.

"Marietta," he asked her, "what are you going to do with that cookie?"

"Well... I was going to give it to my little sister Ersilia." Maria explained. Then, thanking Giovanni for being so good to her family, Maria said good-bye and headed for the door.

But Giovanni was going to do something for Maria.

"Maria!" he called. She walked back to the counter.

"It would hurt me very much if you did not accept a little gift from me." Giovanni told her.

He then gave her another cookie. Maria did not want to hurt Giovanni at all, and she ate the cookie right there in the store, and he received another thank you.