Apples and Oranges

“Mama, who’s your favorite kid?” Jill asked.

“Mama, am I your No. 1?” Andrew asked.

“It’s like apples and oranges,” Mama said and smiled at them in the rearview mirror on the way home from the farmers market.

“Mama, who’s a better kid?” Andrew asked.

“Mama, am I your No. 1?” Jill asked.

“It’s like apples and oranges,” Mama said as they helped her unload the bags from the car and bring them into the house.

“But Mama, I won the science prize,” Jill said.

“And I won the blue ribbon for art!” Andrew said.

“It’s like apples and oranges,” Mama said as she cut slices of apples and oranges and arranged them prettily on a plate for an afternoon snack.

“Mmm. I love apples,” Andrew said, biting into a fresh slice.

“Me, too!” Jill said. “They are so sweet and crunchy!”

They munched on the fruits in silence.

“Oooooh! And oranges are so good!” Jill said. “I love them!”

“Yes!” Andrew said. “They are so juicy and good!”

“How can we pick one over the other?” Jill asked.

“We can’t!” Andrew said. “They are different but perfect!”

“See,” Mama said, joining them at the kitchen table. “I love you both--just like apples and oranges!”

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Cecil Castellucci is proud to be a Reading by 9 volunteer at Mayberry Elementary school. She loves all kinds of fruit and all kinds of people. This story will be on The Times’ Web site at www.latimes.com/kids.