The bricks were power-washed and dried in the sun and they were ready to begin painting the background. Keith had his hands on his hips. He was wearing black shorts and a white t-shirt that had a ton of paint splatter on it already.

"This may just take forever." Keith said, closing one eye and holding up a thumb to gauge the proportions.

Lance smiled. "I've hired some people."

Keith looked at him. "Really? Because we may need a LOT of people."

"Come on out, guys!" Lance shouted. The troops of Boy and Girl Scouts came out- their troop leaders, the high school volunteers, and some of the single moms and their children that the bank served. He smiled. "Enough people?"

Keith laughed, "Yeah. I think so."

They set up ladders and only allowed the high-schoolers up. Keith showed his sketch to the volunteers and they got to work painting the sky on the ladders and the base colors on the bottom where the kids could reach.

Keith opened his trunk and pulled out a plastic crate, which he placed on the trunk after closing it. He took out a plastic cup with a handle and poured some black acrylic in the cup.

"What're you up to now?" Lance asked.

Keith smiled. "You wanted to paint some stuff, right?"

"Yes!" Lance cheered. 

"I'll make the outlines and the kids can color it in. I'll teach you how to blend colors. You'll be a professional in no time."

Lance bit his cheek. "I don't know- I don't want to mess it up I more so... fix car engines."

"So you have attention to detail." Keith reasoned. "You'll be amazing. You already are."

Keith got up on a ladder and started top, down. The group took a break to drink some water and eat some sandwiches that the Girl Scouts made. Keith's outlines dried. He painted some numbers in gray paint that matched colors on cans of paint so the volunteers had some sort of guide.

"Here." Keith said, standing behind Lance and raising Lance's hand with a brush. "Blend. Paint downward strokes- just like that."

Lance could feel Keith's calm breathing on his neck. "Got it." He grinned.

The sun was still out at 7. It was summer, yet no one expected it to take that long but finally everyone stepped away and looked at the piece. Lance grabbed a paintbrush and a can of paint. He handed the brush to Keith. "And now- your signature, please."

Keith smiled. "Okay."

He knelt down at the corner of the painting and painted Keith K. in cursive. "Done."

Everyone applauded and Keith smiled.

"And for your payment-" Lance said, grinning. "We'll give you food for FREE!"

Keith laughed and rolled his eyes. It was a food bank. The food was always free.

It was 8:15 when the sun went down. Everyone had long gone but Keith sat beside Lance on the hood of his car.

"You're amazing." Lance breathed.

Keith looked over. "You're amazing." He rested his head on Lance's shoulder as the sun went down.

"Can I help out tomorrow?" Keith asked.

"I'll even give you canned peaches." Lance smiled.

"Deal." Keith laughed.

Lance kissed the top of Keith's head. The sun set, sending their shadows reaching over to the mural.

"I love canned peaches."

-----

END- This food bank is based on Food for Others here in Northern Virginia. I worked there for a hundred hours. We served a lot of college students and single parents. If you or someone you know is struggling to make ends meet, there is no shame in turning to ask for help.

<3 CSP