The Made-For-TV Robbery (part 6)

They taped the first part of the story without a hitch. Everyone remembered just what to say and Ben told them it looked fine through the camera.

"Where's your uncle?" Sally asked John when they stopped for a break.

"I don't know," John replied. "He told me he'd be over right after the hockey game was finished. He should've been here by now."

"You better go get him," said Mike.

John left and the others took their places to practice the next scene. When that was ready they set up the videotape. Ben checked the script. "Okay," he called out from behind the curtain, "this is the part where Mike goes downstairs to the bathroom."

"I fixed the toilet last night," Joe whispered to Mike.

"He doesn't have to use it," Sally whispered back. "He's just going to act like he has to."

"You may be just acting, but I really gotta go," said Mike.

"It's to the left at the bottom of the stairs," said Joe.

"Quiet on the set," ordered Ben. "Ready ... set ... action! "

They taped the scene without a mistake. When they were done Mike went downstairs and headed for the bathroom. Ben turned off the camera.

"We're ready for John's uncle," he said. "Where is he?"

"Here he comes now," Joe answered.

Sure enough, a moment later the door opened and a man in a trench coat came in. His hat was pulled low over his eyes and he had a stocking over his head, just the way they had planned it. One hand was in his coat pocket and the outline of a gun was just visible.

"This is a stick-up," he growled. "Everybody stay right where you are and do exactly what I say." He kicked the door shut without looking at it and started toward the counter.

Sally and Joe grinned at each other. "John's uncle is perfect," said Joe. "He looks just like the real thing."

"He's a natural, all right," Sally agreed. "The only trouble is, Ben wasn't ready for him. Look, his camera light isn't on so he didn't get it on tape." She turned to the man coming toward the counter.
"Start it again," she told him.

"Start what again?" he demanded.

"The robbery," Sally explained. "We weren't ready."

"You ain't supposed to be ready."

"Well, that's all right, we are now," said Sally. She started to lead the man back to the door. He pushed her away.

"Don't get smart, kid. I got a gun."

"Of course you've got a gun," said Sally. "And don't push me yet. You're supposed to push me later."

"Isn't he supposed to take his gun out?" asked Joe.

"I always keep my gun in my pocket," said the man. "Don't tell me how to do it; I know how to do it." He glanced out the store window and checked the street. The light on Ben's camera blinked on.

"Okay," Sally whispered. "You can start now."

"What?" said the man, glaring at her.

"The robbery," whispered Sally. "Take it from the top."