A New City Spread

Nori pressed her face against the airplane window as Los Angeles stretched out below her like a giant puzzle of highways and buildings. Her stomach grumbled loudly.

"Finally," she muttered, adjusting her bright yellow athletic jacket.

The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom. "Welcome to Los Angeles, where it's a sunny seventy-eight degrees."

Nori's green eyes sparkled with excitement. Her ponytail bounced as she grabbed her backpack from the overhead compartment. Moving to a new city meant leaving her friends behind, but it also meant discovering new places.

At baggage claim, she spotted her mom waving frantically near the exit.

"How was the flight, sweetie?" Mom asked, pulling her into a hug.

"Long. And the airplane food was terrible." Nori wrinkled her nose. "Can we get something good to eat? I'm starving."

Mom laughed. "I know just the place. Los Angeles has the most amazing food trucks. Wait until you try the Korean tacos."

Nori's stomach growled again, louder this time.

The Calling of Colors

Twenty minutes later, Nori stood in front of the first food truck, her eyes wide as dinner plates. The Korean taco truck smelled like heaven mixed with barbecue sauce.

"Two bulgogi tacos, please," Mom ordered.

Nori bit into the first taco and nearly melted. The spicy-sweet meat combined with crispy vegetables made her taste buds dance. Before she knew it, both tacos were gone.

"More," she said, pointing to the next truck.

Mom laughed. "Slow down, sweetie."

But Nori was already walking toward a bright yellow truck selling churros. The warm, cinnamon-sugar pastries disappeared in three bites. Then came fish tacos from a blue truck, followed by Thai noodles from a red one.

"Nori, maybe we should—" Mom started.

"Look!" Nori interrupted, spotting a woman with short dark hair serving enormous ice cream sundaes from a pink truck. "Just one more?"

Mom shook her head but smiled. "You're going to make yourself sick."

Nori barely heard her. The ice cream was calling her name, and Los Angeles suddenly felt like the most delicious city in the world.