Before the teacher could answer, the Brownies saw Raymond Curry, the life guard striding down the sand. He looked very grim, as if displeased.
“What goes on here?” he demanded of the children.
“We’re hunting jellyfish,” Jane informed him. “I’m the leader because I just found another! That makes me two!”
“Hunting jellyfish!” the lifeguard retorted. “Littering up the beach, you mean. I don’t allow you to toss wet balloons around. We don’t permit picnics here either.”
Miss Gordon and Mrs. Williams had come up by this time. They apologized to the guard, assuring him that they would pick up all the scattered balloons. “We didn’t know about the rule against picnics,” Mrs. Williams added. “We’ve been having them at the cottage beach. Barney Fulsom, the guard there, never objected.”
“Well, Barney doesn’t care if his beach looks like a garbage dump,” the hotel guard replied. “We’re more particular here.”
Miss Gordon, Mrs. Williams and the Brownies thought Raymond Curry was being most unfair. They were willing to obey all the rules. However, they had not scattered balloons or paper plates.
“Mr. Fulsom’s beach is nice,” Vevi said. “It’s as clean as this one!”
Mrs. Williams gave her a quick glance, so Vevi did not say any more. But she and all the other girls were provoked that the hotel guard had spoiled their morning’s fun.
“Who wins the prize?” Jane asked as they began gathering up their belongings.