Mo took a slow sip of coffee as the cookie rolled toward him.

“This seems avoidable,” he said.

Chip hurried after it.

“I have the situation completely under control.”

The cookie hit the edge of the path and hopped into the air.

Chip stopped.

“That part was unexpected.”

Socks crouched beside the machine and examined one of its gears.

“It may have interpreted delivery as a broader creative concept.”

Chef Crumbs took a slow breath.

“Can you stop it?”

Socks reached for the controls.

The machine clicked.

Then it rattled.

Then it released three more cookies.

Chip stared as they rolled in different directions.

“I would like to revise my earlier statement.”

Mo raised his mug slightly.

“Good instinct.”

One cookie headed toward the fountain.

Another curved toward the flowers.

The last rolled beneath the giant tree, directly toward Dozer’s blanket.

Everyone turned.

Dozer was still asleep.