Should+he+run?

The boy ran, so far away. She’d gone way too far this time. The child had been learning magic tricks from her since May, her husband died in July, and it was now August. But the young boy, Carl, I think his name was, ran to the end of the block and turned into a small store that he had Mrs. Gretchen, the now witch, buy his magic set. After he heard the //ding-dong// of the door, Carl saw that the magic sets were sold out. An old man behind the counter, Mr. Buckner, slightly glanced at him but then turned back to adjust the saltwater taffy. “Mr. Buckner!!” Carl cried, kind of out of breath. “She…drink…I dunno…” The man behind the General Store’s counter turned back to him for a conversation. “Was it this?”

Was it the same thing? or Wasn't it?