The boys watched as the man crossed the street.
"We have to follow him," Bobby almost shouted.
"Maybe we should find the police," Cy said uncertainly.
"We don't have time. Come on!"
Bobby made sure the street was clear.
Then he ran over to the other side.
His brother followed him.
The man walked quickly.
He kept looking at his watch.
"He must be meeting someone," Bobby said.
Hiding behind a car, the boys watched the man.
He stopped in front of a dark van.
The window opened.
Another man with a ponytail was inside.
Bobby pointed and exclaimed, "He's getting into that van!"
"What's the license plate?"
Cy searched for the numbers.
The van started its engine and sped down the street.
"I memorized the numbers," Cy said.
"Let's go find the police."
The boys ran and ran until they found an officer.
"Officer!" they shouted.
"Where's the fire, boys?" the policeman laughed.
Cy and Bobby explained what they'd seen.
The officer stopped laughing.
He looked very serious as he wrote down the numbers.
"Thanks for your help," the officer said.
Then the boys headed back home.
"What took so long?"
Aunt Martha said as she took the bread from Cy.
The boys explained what had happened.
The townspeople listened too.
Not long after, Panther walked into the kitchen with a police officer.
It was the same one the boys had spoken to.
"The bank robbers have been caught," he announced.
Everyone cheered loudly.
"You can thank the boys,"
the officer said, patting them on the back.
Cy and Bobby turned red.
Their neighbors shook their hands.
They gave them hugs.
"I'm so proud of you," cried Aunt Martha.
When everyone had left, the children flopped onto the sofa.
Outside it was getting dark.
"I guess people here aren't that bad," said Panther.
"But after the sun sets, they'll forget what happened," Bobby said in a sad voice.
"They'll forget all about us," Cy added.
"At least we know people can be nice," Jane said.
The children watched as the sun disappeared.
A sharp knock on the door startled them.
Cy opened the door.
It was Farmer Jenkins.
"I brought some homemade jam for our heroes," he said, smiling.
"Huh?" Bobby was confused.
"What for?" asked Panther cautiously.
She still remembered how much jam they owed Farmer Jenkins.
"For helping to catch the robbers," the farmer chuckled.
"I hope you kids enjoy this."
He handed the jars to Cy then waved good-bye.
The children looked at the jam guiltily.
"Why did he remember the robbery?"
Bobby was still confused, looking outside at the dark.
"Huey said everything returns to normal once the sun sets."
No one could explain it.
Early the next morning, the children went to see Huey.
As soon as Cy pulled him up, Bobby started to throw out questions.
"Whoa!" Huey held up his hand.
"What exactly was your wish again?"
"For something exciting to happen," answered Bobby.
"And did it?" Huey asked.
"There was a bank robbery," said Bobby.
"It was more kind of scary than exciting."
"What else happened?" Huey asked.
"We got to meet many new people," said Cy.
"So maybe the bank robbery wasn't the wish," said Huey.
"I don't understand," said Bobby.
"How did it feel to meet new people?" asked Huey.
The children were thoughtful.
Finally Bobby answered.
"It was kind of exciting," he said.
"Maybe that was your wish."
Huey spread his hands like a magician.
"But the wish ended yesterday," said Jane.
"Will they stop being our friends now?"
"That depends on you," said Huey.