After waiting for a long time, I was inclined to return home but the two boys implored me to remain

PLOP! ALL AT ONE I was wide awake, awakened by that familiar sound coming rom my only bedroom window which faced the backyard. I tip-toed to the window and opened it cautiously.

    "Who's down there?" I asked, softly.

    A answer came in the from of a whistle, and I knew that it was my friend, Johnny. It was just like Johnny to wake me up at this time of the night. He then whispered to me to join him as he had some urgent matter to convey. Urgent! I almost spluttered. How well did I know that word and how many times was I being awakened at midnight just to investigate some of his fantastic conclusions that some persons were about to rob or kidnap the banks or millionaires!

    At first I was adamant in my refusal to join him but after some persuasion on his part (Johnny was very good at that, I must admit) I agreed, although half-heartedly. Soon I was down in the backyard, listening to and excited version of some men wanting to rob a bag of registered parcels and letters from the Post Office at midnight. I could not believe him, and reminded him of his previous assertions him, and reminded him of his previous assertions which proved ot be fruitless adventures on our part. But Johnny was confident this time and covinced me that it was not a haox.

    "I have a boy here who will corroborate my suspicion," he replied and subsequently whistled. An untidy-looking boy appeared from behind our sole rambutan tree. He was introduced ot me as Ah Hock. He told me that earlier that evening, while he was playing hide-and-seek with some of his friends, he had overheard two men talking of wanting to rob a bag of registered letters and parcels from the Post Office that night. My belief swelled by now because the evidence sounded vocincing. Still, wise from previous experiences, I put in a warning. "If it turns out to be a fals move, I'll.......... I'll............. Well, it had better not be a hoax," I warned Johnny.

    As it was approaching midnight, we decided to hasten to the Post Office. The night was warm and enchanting, revealing many of nature's nocturnal birds. All the way, Johnny, who was never silent for a moment, told both of us how he would tackle the thieves. His karate techniques would enable him to subdue the two men. Really, from what he said, it was as if we had cought the thieves already!

    On reaching the Post Office, we hid behind some bushes beside the building, under a canopy of leaves which gave us a good hiding place. After waiting for a long time, I was inclined to return home but the two boys implored me to remain for another hour since they could not do without me. Flattered, I obliged. Watching the building all the time made me sleepy, and soon I was dozing off on the soft earth, dreaming that I was chasing a thousand theives everywhere in the world at the same time! I was rudely awakened from my dream by someone shaking me.

    "What the heck .......... " I began indignantly.

    "Sh........sh..........sh.......sh.......," whispered johnny, and asked me to look at the Post Office. I did so and to my mixed fellings of excitement and drowsiness, I saw a burly man striding towards the solitary door of the Post Office, never suspecting that three pairs of eys were watching his movements a few yards away.

    Just as he was about to open the door, the moon sailed out of the clouds and a stream of moonlight shone on him. To my amazement, I saw that he was the most wanted man in the town for robberies and manslaughter. His name was Abdul Wahad, commonly knows as "Scarface", for he had a long scar on his right cheek - a souvenir of the fight which he had with the police a few months back.

    "Scarface" opened the door easily and walked cautiously in. We decided to act then. I sent Johnny to fetch the police which he did so with much grumbling. Together with Ah Hock, we walked softly towards to door. To my undescribable delight, I discovered the key still in the lock. Quickly, I shut the door quietly and locked it. With pounding heartbeats, we waited for the police to come.

    A few minutes later, they arrived on foot. There were about eight of them, including and inspector. They were taking no chances for Abdul Wahad was a dengerous man. The Inspector obtained the key from me, unlocked the door and left it open for the unsuspecting burglar. When he finally came out, with the bagful of mail, he was so amazed to see himself surrounded that he gave himself up without struggling.

    At sending us home in a police car and showing their appreciation, the police went off. My parents, awakened by the siren of the car, asked me what I had been up to. Expecting them to reprimend me, I was certainly surprised when they showed pride instead. I went straight to bed and asleep almost immediately.

    Next morning, the capture of "Scarface" and his unsuccessful brgalry made headlines in the newspaper. Hohnny, Ah Hock and myself were swarmed with reporters and photographers that day. We received rewards from the police but what was more wonderful was the visit of the Police Superintendent, praising us for our initative nad courage and telling us that the country could do with more people like us. But as usual, my joy was shortlived by the behaviour of Johnny, who strutted like a peacock and repeated to me: "I told you so!"