The Secret Ingredient

She grabbed the receiver, hoping it was her grandmother. “Hello?”

“Is this the Katie Lynn Cookie Company?” a strange voice asked.

What?

Was this some kind of joke? “Is that you, Tina?”

“No. This is Jason Chesterfield. I’m the owner of Chesterfield’s Restaurant. I’d like to put in an order for cookies. Is there someone there who can help me?”

Katie Lynn had to sit down before she could answer. “Uh, well, yes, I guess that’s me.”

To Ruth, my “twin connection”—
and to
Gwen and Charles and James and Tambye,
with all my love

Grandma’s Cookies

“I
am
so
hungry,” Tina said. “Do you have anything to eat in your house?”

Katie Lynn chuckled. “Are you serious? You know what an awful cook my mom is. My dad always throws away the leftovers when she’s not looking.”

“But I’m starving to death, Katie Lynn! I forgot to eat breakfast this morning.” Tina paused. “Is there anything your mom
didn’t
cook?”

“Well, maybe we can find something.” Katie Lynn stopped the porch swing with her bare feet. “Come on. Let’s go look.”

Katie Lynn led the way to the pantry.

“Wow! I’ve never seen so many cans of soup before!” Tina cried. “Who eats them all?”

“My dad. After my mom goes to bed.”

“Hey! Wait a sec! There’s a bag of cookies up there—on the top shelf.”

Katie Lynn looked up. “I think we’ve had those since Christmas.”

“Who cares,” Tina said, climbing up onto the counter.

Tina handed the bag of cookies to Katie Lynn. “Let’s take them up to your room.”

When the girls got upstairs, they both went for the big beanbag. Tina won, so Katie Lynn flopped on her bed.

Tina took a cookie out of the bag and stuffed it in her mouth. “Eww!” she said after a couple of chews. “It’s kind of dry.” She threw a cookie to Katie Lynn. “Taste one.”

Katie Lynn ducked. The cookie hit the wall and crumbled onto the carpet. Katie Lynn picked up the pieces and threw them at Tina.

“War!” Tina shouted, jumping to her feet. She started hurling cookies, one after the other.

“Stop it! Stop it!” Katie Lynn cried. She covered her head and started giggling.

Finally, there were no more cookies in the bag. But there
were
cookie pieces all over the room.

Katie Lynn looked around. “What a mess!”

“Those cookies were awful,” said Tina. “Now I have a bad taste in my mouth. And I’m still hungry.” Tina’s stomach made a gurgling sound.

Katie Lynn laughed.

“It’s not funny,” Tina said. But soon she was laughing, too.

Katie Lynn sighed. “I wish my grandmother was here. She makes great cookies.” Just thinking about her grandmother’s cookies made her mouth water.

Tina rolled over and looked out the window. “I feel like we’ve been out of school for a hundred years. It’s so boring around here. There’s nothing to do.”

“If Jonathan Wilbarger were here, we could go to his house,” Katie Lynn said. “But he’s on vacation. He won’t be back for a week.”

“We’ll be gone for a week, too,” Tina said. “My dad said we’re going to the lake again this summer. Are you going anywhere?”

Katie Lynn thought for a minute. “Florida. To see my grandma. I’ll get a vacation and some of my grandma’s cookies, too!”

Her parents hadn’t actually told her they were going to Florida that summer. But Katie Lynn was sure they would like the idea. Her mother was always saying, “I wish your grandmother could see you now!”

“In fact, I’m going to get a head start on packing,” Katie Lynn said. She stood up. “If you want, you can stay and help.”

The Trip to Florida

“I
wish we were going to Florida, too,” Tina said sadly. “I’m tired of that dumb old lake.”

Katie Lynn frowned. “Really? I thought you liked it there.”

“I do. But we go every summer,” Tina explained. “And I’ve never been to Florida before.”

“Tina! I have a great idea! Why don’t you come with us?”

Tina frowned. “Do you think your parents would let me?”

“Of course they will!” Katie Lynn said. “You’re my best friend!”

Katie Lynn started taking clothes out of her closet. “I can’t wait for you to meet my grandma. You’ll love her.”

“I don’t know about your grandmother, but those cookies sure sound good.” Tina
headed toward the door. “I better go pack, too. Call you later.”

Katie Lynn started cleaning up cookie crumbs. When she was finished, she went downstairs. Her parents were in the living room, talking in low voices.

“Mom, where are the suitcases?”

Mrs. Cooke grinned. “Why do you need a suitcase, dear? Are you planning to run away?”

“Don’t be silly, Mom. I’m packing for my trip to Grandma’s.”

Her parents gave each other a look.

“I don’t think we can go to Grandma’s this summer,” Mr. Cooke said. “I may be busy.”

“That’s okay, Dad. You and Mom don’t have to go. Tina’s going with me.”

Her father sighed. “I don’t think so,
Katie Lynn. The truth is, we can’t afford it.” Mr. Cooke picked up the newspaper and pretended to read.

Katie Lynn didn’t know what to say.