‘White Christmas’

“WE get to help Grandpa make the Christmas pizzas!” Bianca said.

“And after that we get to eat them,” added Cathy.

“Well then, I can’t wait to have a slice too,” Grandma said, helping them take off their sweaters.

“Why doesn’t it snow here?” complained Cathy.

“Because it’s California,” sighed Bianca. “It never snows here.”

“Why not?” asked Cathy.

“It has to be cold,” Bianca explained. “Or high up.”

Cathy held out her sweater. “It’s kinda cold here,” she said.

“Not as cold as the North Pole,” Bianca huffed, as she touched the Christmas tree. “It would be nice if it snowed on Christmas,” she said, swiping a branch.

They could hear Grandpa’s voice, “When the moon hits your eye

“Like a big pizza pie

“That’s amore,” finished Bianca.

The girls raced to the kitchen. Grandpa stood laughing in his white painter clothes and apron.

“Grandpa!” they yelled.

“Look,” Cathy said, pointing at the table, “pepperonis!”

“And green peppers, onions and yummy black olives,” said Bianca.

Tasty smells filled the air.

“I’m hungry!” Cathy cried.

“Me too!” said Bianca, eyeing the thick slices of white cheese.

“Let’s make the pizzas!” the girls shouted.

“Not yet,” Grandpa said, as he sank his hand into a bag. He picked up a handful of flour and tossed it at them.

Cathy quickly joined in. “Take that, Grandpa,” she said, as more flour filled the room.

Grandpa chuckled as he scuffed across the floor to the stove. He lifted the lid off a large pot. Dough puffed out the rim. He punched it down. The dough disappeared.

“Where did the dough go?” Cathy asked.

Bianca shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s pretend we are inside a glass snowball,” she said, releasing a handful of flour into the air.

They looked like a family of snow people. Cathy twirled under the drifting flour, sticking her tongue out to get a taste.

“This is fun,” Bianca shouted. “We can make our own white Christmas!”

“So we can,” said Grandpa. “But how about a big hug first?”

Grandma was smiling as she snapped their picture.

This story will be on The Times’ website at latimes.com/kids. Look for the Kids’ Reading Room Mondays through Fridays in Comics Plus.