The Made-For-TV Robbery (part 7)

The man growled, "This is a stick-up and it's the last time I'm telling you. Open the cash register, Pops, and hand over the money."

Joe smiled his biggest smile and did what he was told. "Here you are, sir, right away. Take it all. It's my whole life's savings, you know, all I have in the world."

"You're breaking my heart, Pops," said the man, grabbing the money.

Joe kept smiling and looked over his shoulder at the camera from time to time. The man frowned. "What're you so happy about?" he demanded.

"Happy? I feel terrible. You just got my last cent," said Joe. But he kept flashing his smile for all he was worth.

"Now's when you tie him up," Sally whispered.

The man looked at her as if she was crazy. "Tie him up?" he whispered back. "What for?"

"He's got some more money hidden in the store," whispered Sally. "He doesn't tell you where until you tie him up."

"And what do I tie him up with, if you don't mind me asking?"

"My jump rope," she answered, holding it out to him.

He looked at it for a long moment. Then he shook his head. "You got more money somewhere?" he growled at Joe.

"You can't have it," cried Joe, but he held out his hands for the man to tie up.

"Bunch of crazies," muttered the man, snatching Sally's jump rope.

As he was tying Joe up Sally grabbed his arm. "Leave him alone! Leave him alone!" she cried dramatically.

"What are you doing, kid?" the man demanded. "First you want me to tie him and then you start yelling at me."

"I have to yell at you," Sally whispered. "I'm supposed to try to stop you and that's when you push me."

"Stop playing games, kid," said the man. "All I want is the money. Tell me where it is and you won't get hurt."

"Joe tells you," whispered Sally. "But not until you push me."

The man swore and pushed Sally away. That was Joe's cue. "Stop, stop, don't hurt the little girl," he pleaded. "I'll tell, I'll tell." He pointed over to the shelf of soup cans.

The man looked up and saw the fifty-dollar bill sticking out. "This is the craziest bunch ever," he muttered to himself as he started for the money. Just then the front door opened and he swung around, pulling the gun out of his pocket.

In walked John, his uncle right behind him.