"I'm starving!" Jackie announced. "Can I

buy one of those big chocolate chip cookies?" It was ten-thirty in the morning, and they had just walked through the gates.

"You're hungry already?" Kristy said doubtfully.

"Yes." Jackie rubbed his stomach as if he hadn't eaten in days.

"I guess so." Even as she said the words, Kristy felt a little tingle of dread go through her. Something will go wrong, she thought. Something always goes wrong when Jackie is involved. She settled herself on a towel, watching as Jackie headed for the snack bar. So far, so good. Archie and Shea were playing in the shallow end of the pool, right next to her, so that was no problem. But Jackie? She just couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was about to happen.

A few minutes later, Jackie headed back, carefully unwrapping his cookie. It looked crumbly and delicious, the size of a small dinner plate.

"Look what I've got," he called happily to his brothers.

"Hey, gimme a bite!" Archie yelled.

"No way, Jose." Jackie stood at the edge of the pool, waving the cookie playfully in front of Archie's nose. Archie made a grab for the

cookie, Jackie stepped back, and then — the cookie fell into the pool!

"Aw!" Jackie wailed.

Kristy jumped to her feet and stared at the huge cookie, which was dissolving into a zillion pieces. She felt like crying. "Quick, get one of the lifeguards," she said to Shea. She knelt at the edge of the pool, trying to scoop up the floating mess in her hands, but it was hopeless. Jackie had dropped the cookie right next to a large circulation vent (naturally!) and goo was spinning everywhere.

"Yuck! What a mess," a male voice said.

Kristy glanced up to see a lifeguard standing next to her with a net. He made a face as he tried to capture some of the floating debris.