"Now what do you boys want to do?" Bet was in her snappiest form, business-like and full of energy. "You can paint that strip around the wall where we've marked it, or you can paint the window, or you can paint chairs or tables. Now just take your choice of work, I don't care what you do, as long as you paint."
"But I wanted to do basketry or clay figures," teased Bob. "Didn't you, Phil?"
"No indeed. I wanted to paint. I'm a noble soul. I'm just dying to paint, in fact I must paint!"
"Then get to work!" cried Kit. "And don't waste so much time! This is our busy day. No parking here!"
"Slave drivers! No hand-out, and not a minute to collect our thoughts!"
"You don't need to worry, Bob, it won't take you that long to collect your thoughts! One second will be enough," retorted Joy.
"And we don't get anything to eat?" asked Phil.
But while the merry nonsense went on the two boys were preparing the paint and getting ready to work. Phil took a step ladder and began on the outside of the store, painting the frame of the window in bright orange.
"There now that stands out, all right," he exclaimed as he finished the job. "You can see that a mile off."
Bob finished the frame on the inside, about the same time and together they started on the broad strip that was marked off around the walls.