Made-for-TV Robbery

	The Kids From B.A.D.
	*Stories by Allen Morgan*
	detective story collection
	no illustrations
	six stories - 128 pages

The Made-For-TV Robbery (part 8)

"Sorry we're late," he said. "There was a big fight and the hockey game went on longer than it was supposed to."

"I've got my costume," added his uncle.

"Okay," John began, "let's start the scene." Then he stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the man with the gun. "Who's that?"

"I don't know," Sally gasped. "We thought he was your uncle!"

"I ain't nobody's uncle," said the robber. "Watch your mouth."

"This is my uncle here," said John. "I told you he was going to do the bandit part. Why'd you get someone else?"

"We didn't get someone else. He isn't someone else," Sally told him, "he's the real robber!"

"That's right," said the man with the gun. "I'm the real robber and I'm really robbing this store. And now I'm robbing your uncle too since he decided to join in the game. Hands up!"

John's uncle frowned and slowly raised his hands. So did John. Joe's eyes got wider and wider as he realized what was happening. The bandit motioned John's uncle over to the cash register. He made him put his hands out on the counter and searched his pockets, taking all his money and his watch and rings.

Then he turned and glared at the others. "Took you guys a while to catch on but you're finally starting to get the idea," he told them. "Now I'm going over to that shelf for the fifty-dollar bill Pops here was so kind to tell me about, and I don't want nobody to move a muscle. No funny business, see? I don't like no rough stuff as a rule but I'm getting close to losing my patience with you guys."

With a final glare he moved to the shelf and reached for the money. Just at that moment Mike came bounding up the stairs from the basement. When he saw the man reaching for the shelf, he realized he was just in time for his cue. Before anyone could stop him he jumped up on the bandit's back.

"The jig's up," he cried triumphantly, wrapping both arms around the robber's head.

In a flash everyone else was jumping to his aid. John belted the bandit in the belly; Sally bit his arm. He shouted in pain and dropped his gun. It clattered to the floor and Sally jumped on it. John's uncle grabbed the bandit's other arm and twisted it behind his back. Suddenly it was all over.

Sally held up the gun for everyone to see. "It's only a cap pistol," she announced, and everyone laughed with relief. Everyone except the bandit. He didn't even crack a smile.