A Place at the Table

Mrs. Hameed teaches the students how to make samosas during the cooking club class. While they prepare their samosas, Elizabeth and Sara discuss having their moms meet at a tea shop that offers authentic British tea. Elizabeth is worried about the timing because she has not mentally prepared the conversation with her mom ahead of time. Elizabeth tastes the finished products—which she relates to a Jewish food she’s familiar with—and loves the samosas.

Sara and Mrs. Hameed settle in at Bean Heaven, a coffee and tea shop. The two start a conversation about school and Sara’s art project; they are interrupted when Elizabeth and her mother arrive. The kids introduce the adults, and Elizabeth casually mentions that Mrs. Hameed is also an immigrant studying for the citizenship test. The parents bond over their shared experience of emigrating from their home countries and the difficulties they experience studying for the citizenship test. While the women talk, the girls step away to discuss their cooking project. Sitting outside, they discuss the differences between their religions and upbringings. Elizabeth tries to understand Sara, and Sara does the same. However, the mood sours when Elizabeth defends Maddy and says she is not that bad, despite Maddy’s comments about Sara.