Bobby could find only one item on Aunt Martha's list: tomato soup.
He took it to the counter.
Mr. Keefer peered at him from behind thick glasses.
Bobby tried to smile, but being a shy boy, he felt very uncomfortable.
Jane was the most outgoing of the children.
She smiled and talked to everyone.
Bobby noticed colorful balloons tied to a teddy bear on the counter.
"How much for a balloon?" he asked.
Lamb loved to play with balloons, so Bobby wanted to get him some.
"Twenty-five cents," replied Mr. Keefer.
"I'll take two," Bobby said as he counted out the money.
"Aren't you a little old for that?"
Aunt Martha said from behind.
"Not for me," giggled Bobby, "for Lamb."
Aunt Martha gave Bobby a strange look.
"Who?" she asked.
"For the bab . . . ,"
Bobby began before he realized that there was no Lamb.
"Uh, nothing. Maybe I won't take them," he said quickly.
For some reason, Bobby suddenly felt like crying.
"Do you want a candy?"
Mr. Keefer held out a jar full of colored sweets.
Bobby carefully took one.
"Go on," Mr. Keefer said, "take more."
Usually Bobby had to share everything with his brother and sisters.
Since he was alone now, he could have more of everything.
Happily, Bobby grabbed a handful of candies.
Aunt Martha was upset that Bobby had not helped more with the shopping.
Still, she made him his favorite sandwich before leaving to meet her friend.
Even though Bobby loved peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, it was no fun to eat this snack alone.
The silence around him was making him sad, so he went outside.
He picked up a soccer ball, but there was nobody to play with.
He got on his bike, but it was no fun riding by himself.
He looked up at the bright sunny sky.
"How long before the sun sets?" he wondered.
The day seemed to be unusually long.
Bobby thought very hard of all the bad things his brother and sisters did to him.
He tried to act as if he didn't miss his siblings.
"Cy always teases me," he said aloud.
"Jane always screams.
Panther acts like she's the boss.
Lamb cries all the time."
But the truth was, he missed them terribly.
Then a horrible thought entered his head.
What if he never saw Cy or Panther or Jane or Lamb again?
Bobby's heart began to thump loudly.
"What if Huey is gone and my wish will never be undone?" he said.
Too scared to say anything more, Bobby ran as fast as he could through the woods.
He reached Huey's well and tried to pull the bucket up.
"Huey! Huey! I've changed my mind!"
Bobby cried, pulling with all his might.
For some reason, the bucket would not move.
"No! No!" screamed Bobby, but the rope remained stiff, and the bucket stuck firmly to the bottom of the well.
Bobby fell to the ground, crying, afraid, and very much alone.
Exhausted and tired, he closed his eyes.
When Bobby opened his eyes again, it took a moment for him to remember where he was.
He must have fallen asleep next to Huey's well.
"Bobby?" a familiar voice called from the distance.
Bobby's heart skipped a beat.
He knew that voice.
From the trees, Cy, Panther, and Jane came running toward him.
Bobby could not hold back his tears.
"I'm so sorry,"
he cried as he hugged his brother and sisters.
They looked at him strangely, but did not say anything.
As the sun disappeared behind the hill, Bobby was so glad to see his family again that he could have burst with happiness.