BACK AT THE PALM WOODS

"Okay" Katie announced. "I set up a race around the Palm Woods. You'll have to jump over hurdles at one point. I set up some minor obstacles for you, to make it a little more challenging. Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan are going head to head to head to head."

"Define minor obstacles" Logan said. "Shush" Katie said. "Anyway, whoever gets to the finish line first wins. I set up tracks, so you'll know where to go."

"When did you set this all up?" Kendall demanded. Katie chose not to answer that. Possibly because Mrs. Schmidt, Camille, and Jo had all came to watch, and were not too far away from them.

"And whoever wins gets this!" Katie said impressively. She held up a large gold trophy that said 1ST PLACE on it. "Did you make it?" James inquired. Katie nodded. Possibly she was still guilty about taking Lucky, and lying to James. "Yeah, Mr. Bitters helped me make it" Katie replied. "We took some metal, melted it, let it cool, painted it…oh, and we shined it with a polishing cloth. And we painted the 1st place on it."

"Mr. Bitters helped you melt metal?" Kendall asked, appalled. "How did you get him to? He hates you!" Katie shrugged. "Did you bribe him with an ice cream cone again?" Kendall asked her. "Let's start the race!" Carlos cried, impatiently.

"Okay" Katie announced, clapping her hands. "And remember, the loser has to buy the other three smoothies! Everyone, feet on the finish line! Ready, set...go!"

All four of them took off, across the lawn. When they reached the pool, there were pool noodles arranged next to each other. Logan, who was the only one who had listened to Katie, jumped over the pool noodles, like they were hurdles. James quickly caught on, and jumped over them, too. Kendall was too late. A rope connected to the inside of the pool noodle flew out from under him, and Kendall got pitched into the water.

"YOU OWE US THREE SMOOTHIES!" Carlos yelled at Kendall over his shoulder, as Jo ran to help Kendall. "Katie!" Mrs. Schmidt said, reproachfully. "Is that a very nice thing to do to your brother?" Katie was pretending to be highly interested in the bug zooming around, and didn't answer.

"Here comes obstacle number two" Katie murmured sneakily, when her mother's back was turned. Apparently, Katie had placed a giant bush on the tracks. While James and Logan sped off the tracks, swerved around the bush, and continued running, Carlos ran right into the bush. "! ARGHH!" Carlos was screaming. His arm poked out of the bush for a fraction of a second, then was quickly whipped back in.

"Okay, I have to admit, that pool noodle thing was pretty impressive" Kendall remarked, leaning on the side of the pool to watch Carlos yelling prayers, having to do with helmets. Meanwhile, James and Logan were still sprinting up the track.

"They're neck and neck!" Mrs. Schmidt exclaimed. "It's going to be a tie!"

"Yes" said Katie. "If they survive the attack of the sprinklers!" Camille and Mrs. Schmidt both looked at each other. "The attack of the…" Camille started to say, but there was a big whoosh of water, and the sprinklers burst to life, knocking Logan backwards. James dodged the spray of water, and leapt over the only sprinkler that hadn't been activated yet.

"How…what?" Mrs. Schmidt said, speechless. Katie didn't answer. She was rolling around on the ground, pounding her fists on the grass. James ran the remainder of the track, and crossed the finish line. Katie let out a cheer, and ran over to James, clutching the trophy, and thrust it into his arms.

"I got Mr. Bitters to turn on the sprinklers", Katie announced. Carlos scrambled out of the bushes, and fell flat on the ground. He was covered in sharp pine needles. "Are you okay?" Mrs. Schmidt asked him. "Never…" moaned Carlos, rolling over. "Never again…"

"So…" said Katie. "Logan, if the smoothies cost $1:40 each, how much would three cost?" "4:20, AND CAN YOU TURN THESE THINGS OFF?" Logan yelled, who was being attacked by two sprinklers at once.

Katie gave Mr. Bitters a signal, which must of meant to turn the sprinklers off, because they did.

"Woo hoo!" James yelled triumphantly. "I WON! I KNEW IT!" Kendall sheepishly climbed out of the pool. Mrs. Schmidt frowned. Katie did a giggle. "I knew Carlos would get caught in the bush. Some of this you need to use your brain for, too!" "Well. I did" James bragged.

"You were just following me, I was the one who listened to Katie" said Logan. "Yeah, but you had to suffer the killer sprinklers!" James fired up, at once. "It's okay Logan, I can dry you off" Camille said. "Uh…no, that's okay," said Logan, nervously twisting away from her, and nearly falling on top of James. "Watch it, you're gonna ruin my brand new trophy!" James cried.

Carlos got up unsteadily, and staggered over to the others. "You can dry me off" Kendall joked. Camille chucked a towel at him.

"So" said James. "I just remembered we have an autograph signing tomorrow!"

"Has anyone seen my helmet?" said Carlos, scratching his head. "After the concert, I left it in on my bed!" "No" they all said together. "Oh no!" Carlos burst out. "You know how I am without helmet! I can't do an autograph signing without him! He brings me luck!"

Everyone assured him they had not taken his helmet. But as they started to walk inside, James saw Katie, writing in a spiral notebook. She ripped the paper out she had been writing on, and called, "Carlos! You lost your helmet, eh? Well, we're sure to find it! Don't worry I have a list of suspects! I even have a helmet scanner!" James shook his head. That kid was too much.