The Made-For-TV Robbery (part 4)

"We could hide the camera," Ben said finally. "I could work it from behind that curtain where you keep the empty boxes. Then if any customers come in they won't see me. They won't even know I'm filming at all."

"And the show will be good for business, not bad," John added. "We're going to show it at school. All the kids will want to come into your store to see where we did it. And I bet they'll all buy something while they're looking."

Joe considered it for a minute and then nodded. "Well, I could use more business," he admitted.

"You'll get lots of business from it," Mike assured him.

"So here's the rest of the story," John continued quickly. "My uncle comes in, takes your money, ties you up and..."

"Ties me up?"

"Not hard or anything," said Sally reassuringly. "It's only pretend."

"He uses her jump rope," John explained. "Then he gags you and..."

"He what?"

"Gags you. He's got to gag you. Crooks always do that."

"It's not for long anyway," said Mike. "I come back up from the bathroom and see the robber. I jump him from behind..."

"We all jump him," Sally put in. "I take his gun..."

"And John comes in and arrests him," finished Ben.

Joe's mind was whirling. "Do I get untied?" he asked finally.

"Of course you do," John assured him. "And when we untie you you give us free candy bars, as much as we can eat, for a reward."

"I do?" said Joe. "For real or just pretend?"

"Well, it's just pretend but we'll have to eat a few for the camera to make it look good," Said John. The others nodded.