Katie Carew and Jeremy Fox stood outside Louie’s Pizza Shop and read the sign in the window. “Christmas pizza?” Jeremy asked. “What’s that? Does he use green dough or something?” Katie made a face. “Ewww. I hope not,” she said. “Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Jeremy said. He opened the door and walked into the restaurant. Katie followed close behind. Katie was really hungry. She’d been shopping for Christmas gifts all morning. So far, she’d bought only one present—a Christmas tree-shaped doggie toy. It was for her cocker spaniel, Pepper. As Katie walked into the pizza place, she spotted her best friend Suzanne Lock. Suzanne was sitting at a table with Jessica Haynes, a girl from Suzanne’s class. Katie’s other friends, George Brennan, Kevin Camilleri, and Manny Gonzalez, were seated at the next table. Katie smiled. Louie’s was the perfect place for kids to hang out while their parents shopped. “Hi, Jeremy. Hey, Katie Kazoo!” George called, using the super-cool nickname he’d made up for Katie last year in third grade.
