The Great Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery
By 11:42 on Friday morning, fifth grade had a problem. A serious problem. A chocolate-chip-sized emergency. "They're gone," announced Jordan, staring through the cafeteria serving window as if someone had just informed him that summer vacation had been canceled.
"What do you mean, gone?" Maya asked. "The cookies." Jordan pointed dramatically at an empty silver tray. "Every last one." Behind them, the lunch line stopped moving. "No cookies?" someone whispered.
"But the menu said chocolate chip cookies!" another student cried. Within thirty seconds, the investigation had already gone completely out of control. "I heard sixth grade took two each," said Eli. "My brother's in sixth grade," Maya replied.
"He wouldn't waste his time stealing cookies. He has other hobbies." "I heard the teachers get the extras," said Jordan. Mrs. Delgado, their teacher, raised one eyebrow.
"Interesting," she said. "And where exactly did you hear that?" Jordan paused. "From Eli." Everyone looked at Eli. Eli shrugged.
"I heard Jordan say it yesterday." Mrs. Delgado smiled. "Excellent. We have now discovered a source that cites itself." Nobody seemed to know what that meant, but it did not sound good for Jordan's investigation.
At the table, theories multiplied. Someone suggested the principal had hidden the cookies for a faculty meeting. Someone else claimed the cafeteria oven had broken. Maya heard a student at the next table announce that the cookies had probably been recalled because chocolate chips were dangerous.
"Chocolate chips are not dangerous," Maya said. "You don't know that." "I've eaten approximately eight thousand of them." "That actually might prove my point." Maya sighed. Then Eli leaned forward. "Did you know chocolate chip cookies were invented by accident?" That got everyone's attention.
"What?" Maya asked. "Yep. A lady was making cookies and ran out of regular chocolate, so she broke up a chocolate bar and threw it in. She thought the pieces would melt into the dough, but they didn't."
"Boom. Chocolate chip cookie." "Where did you learn that?" Maya asked. Eli thought for a moment. "My cousin told me." "The cousin who told you sharks can smell a cheeseburger from twelve miles away?" "Different conversation."
Mrs. Delgado, who had been listening from the end of the table, pulled up a chair. "You know," she said, "this is becoming a very useful lunch." "We have no cookies," Jordan replied. "I strongly disagree." "You have something even better." Jordan looked suspicious. "Is it brownies?" "You have a mystery."
That afternoon, Mrs. Delgado wrote two questions on the board. 1. What happened to today's chocolate chip cookies?