***

  Rufus, Tom, Chester, and Arthur huddled in their various homes cowering from the storm’s wrath. The cheery Punch Fabuloso buzz had worn off, and all of them were scared. A common thought occupied their minds:

  I’m sure glad it isn’t me back in that old house!

  Only one of them caught an inkling of how terrible the situation had truly become.

  “You don’t suppose Johnny went on the roof to fix that leak he mentioned?” Rufus wondered aloud. “Naw ... nobody could be that dumb!”