Closed for the Season

That night, Arthur and Logan sneak out and head to Wal-Mart, where they expect to see Violet waiting for them. Danny arrives soon after, however, covered in bruises and looking for his mother. According to Danny, Silas had come to force Violet to show him where the money was buried. Danny cries and rants wildly about his father. Bear is the only thing that brings him comfort and calms him down.

The three children and Bear head to the Magic Forest to rescue Violet and look for the briefcase. They follow Arthur as he reads the map and leads them through the abandoned amusement park covered in kudzu. They occasionally get lost, but eventually they end up in front of the Witch’s Hut. Bear barks to get their attention and manages to find one of the gingerbread men. Bear leads them to another hole, and soon they uncover all twelve gingerbread toys. In the spot closest to the hut, they find the briefcase. They quickly retrieve it and hide in the hut with Bear and Danny when they hear the sound of voices coming closer.

Outside, Silas threatens and hits Violet, swearing at her to tell him where the briefcase is located. Danny bursts out of their hiding place with Bear and they both tackle Silas to the ground. Violet tells Arthur and Logan to run and get the police but the third person there, Mr. DiSilvio, brandishes a gun and tells them not to move. Danny and Bear continue to attack Silas until the older man hits Bear, which only enrages Danny even more. Silas threatens to break Danny’s head open if he attacks him again.

Both Arthur and Logan must use all their strength to keep Bear from rushing at Silas and getting hurt. DiSilvio threatens the boys, and eventually, Danny tells him where they hid the briefcase. Just then, Billy, Johnny, and Nina all arrive, the former two demanding to get their cut of the cash. Nina then reveals that she is part of the Richmond police and that the woods are surrounded with cops. She tries to arrest Mr. DiSilvio, but he takes Violet captive.

Danny saves his mother by launching himself at DiSilvio, making the older man lose hold of Violet and the gun. In the chaos, Silas, Billy, and Johnny run off into the woods. To further add to the confusion, a mass of protestors dressed in costumes arrive en masse. In the rush of people, Bear runs away to chase after DiSilvio. Danny, Arthur, and Logan follow after him.

Danny has DiSilvio’s gun and he demands that Arthur and Logan go home. Danny wants to punish DiSilvio and his father. They catch up with him soon after, and they find Danny pointing the gun at Mr. DiSilvio. Policemen arrive and they all attempt to talk Danny down, to prevent him from doing something rash. Danny only lets go of the gun when Violet rushes out of the woods and hugs him.

Danny pulls away from her, and rushes to Bear with Arthur and Logan, fearful for the dog’s safety. Bear breaks free from them again, however, and leads the three boys straight to Willie the Whale. They find Silas in there, who pretends to be one of the protestors. Silas tries to get Danny to vouch for him, but he does not. The police arrest Silas and Violet consoles her son.

Arthur returns with the briefcase and gives it to Violet. In it, she finds a letter from her mother telling her about DiSilvio and Silas’s plans to steal the money. Mrs. Donaldson tells Violet that she loves her, and that she has earned the twelfth gingerbread man by finding the briefcase. Nina arrives then and tells Violet that she has to collect everything as evidence, though she promises to try and get the gingerbread man and a copy of the letter returned to her.

Bear leaves with Danny and Violet to return home; Logan and Arthur are frustrated by this and determined to get him back. The boys confront Nina and she tells them that she lied to Mrs. Forbes about the incident in the library because Arthur was getting in the way of her investigation. She promises to talk to Logan’s mother and tell her the truth. Nina also insists that they will find Billy and Johnny eventually. Soon after, real reporters arrive, and the boys get their moment in the spotlight. 

The Magic Forest will no longer be demolished as Mr. DiSilvio, its owner, is currently facing charges. When the boys get home, they are thoroughly scolded. Nina does, however, convince Logan’s mother to change her mind about Arthur. The next day, Mrs. Forbes has also changed her mind about the DiSilvios, despite being entirely enchanted by them previously. Logan and his father are amused by this and share “another moment of male bonding” (164).

Johnny and Billy are arrested in Richmond and later that week, Arthur and Logan try to get Bear back. The three boys decide to let Bear choose who to stay with and the dog ends up choosing Danny, much to Arthur and Logan’s dismay. School starts two days after that, and the boys are extremely popular due to their sleuthing skills. Arthur even stands up for Danny when someone makes fun of him.

The boys learn that the DiSilvios are bankrupt and that Rhoda and Anthony moved to Richmond. Later that day, Arthur and Logan speak with a well-dressed, seemingly healthier-looking Danny. Danny insists that they will not be getting Bear back, but the other two boys say they are close to convincing their guardians to get them each a dog. Danny makes the other two boys promise not to tell anyone that he cried at the Magic Forest and they agree. In return, Danny and his friends no longer bully Arthur. The book ends with Logan looking forward to rest of the school year.